International Journal of Emergency Medicine最新文献

Background: The Basic Emergency Care (BEC) course was created by the World Health Organization (WHO) in collaboration with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the International Federation for Emergency Medicine (IFEM) to train frontline providers in low-resource settings. This study aims to evaluate long-term retention and maintenance of emergency care knowledge and confidence among University of Nairobi School of Medicine graduates after completing the BEC course.

Methods: This longitudinal, prospective, comparative study was conducted with recent graduates of the University of Nairobi School of Medicine from October 2021 to May 2023. Participants' retention of emergency medicine knowledge was assessed comparing a pre/post course test and a multiple-choice examination 12 to 18 months after completing the BEC course. A survey assessed participants' confidence in managing patients with emergencies 12-18 months after completing the BEC course using a 4-point Likert scale. These results were compared to a control group of recent University of Nairobi School of Medicine graduates who did not take the BEC course.

Results: The follow-up test scores were lower than the immediate post-course test scores, which suggests some knowledge loss over time. Compared to the control group, the BEC participants had higher test scores during the follow-up period although the difference was not significant. There was no difference between most of the immediate post-course and follow-up survey responses. On follow-up evaluation, BEC participants reported a significant decrease in confidence in understanding emergency drugs and managing an obstructed airway and a patient requiring immobilization. However, compared to the control group, BEC participants had significantly higher self-reported confidence in most areas assessed by the survey.

Conclusion: The WHO BEC course is effective for emergency care training for medical students at the University of Nairobi. However, the participants' decrease in knowledge and confidence 12 to 18 months after the BEC course suggests the need for regular refresher courses.

Acute ischemic stroke is a devastating condition that afflicts more than 12 million people every year. Globally, stroke is the 2nd leading cause of death and 3rd leading cause of disability worldwide. While not all patients can avail themselves of existing acute therapies, all patients can benefit from brain optimization measures. This paper details the 12 steps in the management of acute ischemic stroke in the emergency department.

Introduction: Partial anomalous pulmonary vein connections (PAPVC) are rare congenital abnormalities in which one or more pulmonary veins drain into the right atrium. This pathological condition may present in various ways, such as chest pain and dyspnea, or it may be diagnosed incidentally. Consequently, missed or late diagnoses are common, highlighting the importance of optimal diagnostic modalities. This study presents a case of PAPVC that remained undiagnosed despite two years of symptomatic evaluations.

Case presentation: The patient was a 58-year-old woman who presented with chest pain and dyspnea, New York Heart Association Functional Class (NYHA FC) II, which had started 2 years before. She had been evaluated with a transthoracic echocardiogram, coronary angiography, and chest imaging, none of which resulted in a diagnosis or effective treatment. After being referred for evaluation by a cardiac imaging specialist, the diagnosis of PAPVC was revealed. The patient underwent corrective surgery, resulting in complete recovery and symptom improvement. Post-surgical cardiac overload caused pleural effusion and dyspnea, which were managed with diuretics. Four- and six-month follow-ups showed no abnormal findings on examination and imaging, and the patient reported no new complaints.

Conclusion: The findings in this structural cardiac abnormality are nonspecific and can be missed, and misdiagnosis is relatively common. However, patients with symptoms such as chest pain, dyspnea, increased pulmonary artery pressure, and right ventricle dilation should undergo surgical treatment to avoid more serious complications, such as heart failure.

Key clinical point: Detection of PAPVC is not straightforward in many cases and often requires evaluation with various imaging techniques for accurate diagnosis. Therefore, physicians encountering undefined causes of chest pain or dyspnea should consider multiple imaging modalities. Follow-up is also important, as certain groups of patients may require surgical treatment to prevent complications.

Introduction: The coexistence of gallbladder (LSG) and adenomyomatosis (ADM) is extremely uncommon presenting a novel clinical dilemma that has not been previously documented. LSG refers to a anomaly where the gallbladder is situated to the left of the round ligament deviating from its usual position. This anomaly is rare, with reported occurrences ranging between 0.04% and 1.1%. Identifying LSG before surgery poses challenges. It is often discovered incidentally during procedures necessitating surgical expertise to safely manage anatomical variations.

Case presentation: We report an old man with a history of hepatitis C, carcinoma and liver cirrhosis complained of sudden epigastric pain. A CT scan revealed the presence of an LSG, which's a congenital anomaly. During the cholecystectomy procedure surgeons encountered variations and observed the existence of ADM complicating the operation. The patient recovered smoothly post surgery.

Discussion: This case shows how complicated it can be to diagnose and treat the combination of LSG and ADM. Identifying these conditions before surgery is tough so surgeons often have to adjust their approach during the operation. Although laparoscopic cholecystectomy for LSG is usually safe it requires care to avoid problems like bile duct injuries. For patients at risk a conservative treatment approach might be better. In cases where surgery is necessary surgeons need to adapt their techniques to address the unique anatomical issues.

Conclusion: The combination of LSG and ADM in a setting poses an intricate challenge. Surgeons need to be ready to recognize and address these abnormalities effectively for the well being of the patient and favorable results. This particular case highlights the importance of staying alert and flexible during surgery when dealing with gallbladder variations.

Background: Anticoagulants increase the risk of cardiac tamponade in patients with pericardial effusion (PE). Therefore, inappropriate administration of them in the presence of PE can lead to a catastrophic outcome. This study presents a patient with a provisional misdiagnosis of venous thromboembolism (VTE).

Case presentation: An 83-year-old Iranian female was transferred to the emergency department of a tertiary cardiology hospital complaining of neck swelling concomitant with chest pain and dyspnea. The patient had been diagnosed with jugular vein thrombosis in another local center, and since the chief complaint was neck swelling, she underwent Doppler sonography, and the diagnosis was confirmed. Subsequently, the treatment with unfractionated heparin was started. After 5 h, considering the worsening of symptoms with the suspicious diagnosis of COVID-19 based on her symptoms and laboratory data, a chest computed tomography scan was requested, which showed a massive PE. Subsequently, transthoracic echocardiography confirmed the diagnosis. The patient was immediately transferred to the operating room and underwent pericardiotomy. The post-surgery period was uneventful, and she was discharged 5 days later.

Conclusion: Patients with viral infections, specifically COVID-19, are at risk of undiagnosed severe pericardial effusions. Venous stasis in the jugular veins due to PE can mimic jugular vein thromboembolism, causing a wrong diagnosis. Since treating thrombosis can exacerbate tamponade to hemodynamic instability and collapse, sufficient investigation before starting anticoagulants is necessary.

Clinical key message: Distinguishing VTE from PE is not always straightforward. Therefore, it is important to ensure physicians have reached an appropriate level of certainty about their diagnosis by performing precise diagnostics before using anticoagulants. Mismanagement with anti-thrombotics can result in catastrophic consequences. Therefore, taking an accurate history, performing a precise physical examination, and using rapid and available diagnostic modalities can avoid delays in definitive management.

Background: Ampicillin/sulbactam (ABPC/ SBT) is one of the most common β-lactam antibiotics for patients with status epilepticus complicated with aspiration pneumonia. It is known that β-lactam antibiotics such as penicillin aggravate epileptic seizures or status epilepticus. Here, we investigated whether ABPC/SBT aggravates seizures using electroencephalography (EEG) monitoring.

Case presentation: An 84-year-old male with status epilepticus who presented with a new onset of clonic seizures mainly of his left side and underwent continuous video EEG was analyzed. He had been suffering from severe ulcerative colitis and infectious enteritis, delirium, atrial fibrillation and deep venous thrombosis. His cerebrospinal fluid analysis was unremarkable. Four days after starting levetiracetam, he had a cluster of seizures with impaired consciousness, consistent with status epilepticus. We started fosphenytoin and phenobarbital. We also administered ABPC/SBT twice a day, ten times in total, for aspiration pneumonia while monitoring the patient. He died twelve days after the seizure onset. We analyzed the number and duration of seizures in two hours before and after starting ABPC/SBT for each administration using EEG with trendgraph. After administration of ABPC/SBT, number of seizures significantly increased from 3.2 ± 4.7 to 7.3 ± 9.7 (mean ± SD, p = 0.047, Wilcoxson's signed-rank test) per 2 h. Duration of seizures showed a tendency of increase from 199 ± 275 to 406 ± 536 s (p = 0.079).

Conclusions: In this elderly male patient with status epilepticus, administration of ABPC/SBT aggravated his seizures. EEG monitoring using a trendgraph is useful for evaluation of seizure severity and for analysis of causative factors.

Background: Traumatic head injuries (THIs) are among the leading cause of mortality and intensive care unit (ICU) admission in children worldwide. Most of the published literature concerning THIs arises predominantly from North America and Europe. However, only limited data about the incidence, characteristics and impact on children in Saudi Arabia exists.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of THIs in children (≤ 18 years of age) using data from the Saudi TraumA Registry (STAR) from August 2017 to December 2022. Data included patient demographic characteristics, the mechanism, type and severity of injury. We used multivariable logistic regression to assess the association between outcomes and clinical factors.

Results: We identified 466 children with THI. Most children were over six years of age (69.5%) and male (76.6%). Motor vehicle crashes (MVCs) were the most common cause of THIs (51.9%), with falls being more common in infants (69.8%). Over half of the children required ICU admission. Children with higher injury severity score, heart rate at presentation to the ED, hospital stay duration, respiratory assistance and need for surgery were more likely to require ICU admission. The overall mortality rate was 7.7%, with schoolchildren (age: 6-12 years) having the highest mortality rate (10.8%). Higher rates of ICU admission were associated with increases in the injury severity score (ISS), hospital stay duration, respiratory assistance and the need for surgery.

Conclusions: Children in the 6-12 year age-group had the highest mortality rate, reflecting high injury severities associated with increased ICU admissions. These findings highlight the importance of targeting preventive measures for MVCs in older children and improving trauma care for severe cases.

Clinical trial number: Not applicable.

Background: Ramsay Hunt syndrome (RHS), a rare complication of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) reactivation, presents with ipsilateral facial paralysis, ear pain, and vesicular rash. Early recognition is crucial for prompt treatment and optimal outcomes.

Case presentation: We report a case of a 67-year-old woman with RHS who presented with right-sided facial palsy, severe ear pain, and fluid-filled blisters. Prompt diagnosis and initiation of antiviral and glucocorticoid therapy led to significant symptom improvement.

Conclusions: Healthcare providers should consider RHS in patients with facial palsy, especially when accompanied by ear pain and vesicular rash, to facilitate early intervention and prevent long-term complications.

Background: Spontaneous pneumomediastinum (SPM) and subcutaneous emphysema (SE) are rare, severe, and potentially life-threatening complications associated with asthma exacerbation. Most of these conditions are benign and self-limiting. However, the overlapping symptoms between asthma exacerbation and pneumomediastinum (PM) may delay diagnosis. These conditions can usually be managed through conservative treatment, although unfamiliarity with this presentation may lead some physicians to consider surgical intervention.

Case presentation: We report a unique case involving a 9-year-old patient experiencing a severe bronchial asthma attack and right lobe atelectasis complicated by PM and severe SE that extended to his left eye. The condition was successfully treated conservatively, with aggressive management of asthma exacerbation and close monitoring in the intensive care unit.

Conclusion: This case highlights the effectiveness of conservative management of PM and SE with appropriate asthma exacerbation treatment. Early diagnosis and management can lead to a favorable prognosis and a relatively brief hospital stay.

Clinical trial number: Not applicable.

Background: Elevated initial serum lactate (iSL) levels are frequently employed to assess trauma severity, but their predictive value for mortality and morbidity remains inconsistent. We evaluated the association of iSL with mortality and morbidity at Puerto Rico Trauma Hospital (PRTH).

Methods: This IRB-approved retrospective study included trauma patients ≥ 18 years with iSL measured within the first 48 h of admission to PRTH (July 2014-June 2019). Patients were classified as normal (4.5-19.8 mg/dL) or elevated (≥ 19.9 mg/dL) iSL levels. Group comparisons were conducted using t-tests, Wilcoxon rank-sum tests, Pearson's chi-squared, or Fisher's exact tests. Associations were evaluated with regression and ROC analyses.

Results: Among 536 patients, 54.3% had elevated iSL levels. Initially, elevated iSL was associated with in-hospital mortality (OR: 2.18, 95%CI: 1.36-3.51, p < 0.001), traumatic intensive care unit (TICU) admission (OR: 2.06, 95%CI: 1.46-2.92, p < 0.001), and need for mechanical ventilation (MV) (OR: 2.80, 95%CI: 1.97-3.98, p < 0.001). However, adjusted analyses showed no significant associations (Mortality-AOR: 1.72, 95%CI: 0.97-3.04, p = 0.06; TICU-AOR: 1.11, 95%CI: 0.71-1.75, p = 0.65; MV-AOR: 1.49, 95%CI: 0.89-2.49, p = 0.13). Both iSL (AUC: 0.59, 95%CI: 0.54-0.64) and ISS (AUC: 0.59, 95%CI: 0.54-0.64) demonstrated limited ability to predict mortality, with no statistically significant difference between them (p > 0.99). Patients with elevated iSL experienced prolonged hospital and TICU stays and severe injuries.

Conclusions: Elevated iSL levels may not independently predict mortality, TICU admission, or the need for MV in trauma patients. However, their rapid availability supports their use alongside other clinical markers to guide trauma care decision-making and improve trauma outcomes.