Do biomarkers have predictive value in the treatment modality of the patients diagnosed with bowel obstruction?

SUMMARY OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the ability of the biomarkers to predict the surgery treatment and mortality in patients above 18 years of age who were hospitalized with the diagnosis of bowel obstruction from the emergency department. METHODS: This is a 2-year retrospective study. The patients' demographic data, laboratory parameters on admission to emergency department, treatment modalities, and the length of hospital stay were recorded. Patients were divided into two groups: conservative and surgical treatment. Statistical analysis was performed to investigate the value of biomarkers in predicting mortality and the need for surgery. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 22. RESULTS: A total of 179 patients were included in this study. Of these, 105 (58.7%) patients were treated conservative and 74 (41.3%) were treated operatively. The elevated procalcitonin (PCT) level, C-reactive protein, blood urea nitrogen-to-albumin ratio, and lactate-to-albumin ratio were significantly correlated with surgical treatment, length of hospital stay, and mortality. procalcitonin threshold value of 0.13 ng/mL was able to predict the need for surgical treatment, with a sensitivity of 79% and a specificity of 70.3%. Procalcitonin threshold value of 0.65 ng/mL was able to predict the mortality rate of the patients, with a sensitivity of 92.9% and a specificity of 78.1%. CONCLUSIONS: Biomarkers, especially procalcitonin, may be useful in bowel obstruction treatment management and may predict mortality.

Perfusion index: Could this be a new triage tool for upper gastrointestinal system bleeding in the emergency department? A prospective cohort study

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Many scoring systems for predicting mortality, rebleeding and transfusion needs among patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) have been developed. However, no scoring system can predict all these outcomes. OBJECTIVE: To show whether the perfusion index (PI), compared with the Rockall score (RS), helps predict transfusion needs and prognoses among patients presenting with UGIB in emergency departments. In this way, critical patients with transfusion needs can be identified at an early stage. DESIGN AND SETTING: Prospective cohort study in an emergency department in Turkey, conducted between June 2018 and June 2019. METHODS: Patients' demographic parameters, PI, RS, transfusion needs and prognosis were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 219 patients were included. Blood transfusion was performed in 174 patients (79.4%). The PI cutoff value for prediction of the need for blood transfusion was 1.17, and the RS cutoff value was 5. The area under the curve (AUC) value for PI (AUC: 0.772; 95% confidence interval, CI: 0.705-0.838; P < 0.001) was higher than for RS (AUC: 0.648; 95% CI: 0.554-0.741; P = 0.002). 185 patients (84.5%) were discharged, and 34 patients (15.5%) died. The PI cutoff value for predicting mortality was 1.1, and the RS cutoff value was 7. The AUC value for PI (AUC: 0.743; 95% CI: 0.649-0.837; P < 0.001) was higher than for RS (AUC: 0.725; 95% CI: 0.639-0.811; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: PI values for patients admitted to emergency departments with UGIB on admission can help predict their need for transfusion and mortality risk.

QTc, Tp-e Interval and Tp-e/QTc Ratio in Patients with Hypocalcemia-case Control Study

Abstract Background: To the best of our knowledge, there are studies related to QT and QTc interval in patients with hypocalcemia, but there are no studies evaluating T wave peak and end interval (Tp-e interval), Tp-e/QT and Tp-e/QTc ratios used to evaluate cardiac arrhythmia risk and ventricular repolarization changes rates. Objectives: Therefore, we aimed to investigate whether there is a change in Tp-e interval, Tp-e/QT and Tp-e/QTc ratios in patients with hypocalcemia. Methods: Retrospectively, 29 patients with hypocalcemia in the emergency department were included in the study. Twenty-nine patients with similar age and sex distribution were included in the study as the control group. All patients underwent 12-lead electrocardiography (ECG). In addition to routine measurements, Tp-e interval, Tp-e/QT and Tp-e/QTc ratios were measured on ECG. The study data were grouped as patients with and without hypocalcemia. Results: The mean age of the patients was 66.24 ± 4.95 years. QTc interval, Tp-e interval and Tp-e/QTc values were found to be significantly higher in patients with hypocalcemia (p <0.001 for each). QTc interval, Tp-e interval and Tp-e/QTc ratio showed a significant negative correlation with calcium levels. Conclusion: Tp-e interval and Tp-e/QTc ratios are significantly increased in patients with hypocalcemia compared to those without hypocalcemia and this can be used more effectively in the follow-up of cardiac fatal arrhythmias.

Evaluation of the frequency of patients with cancer presenting to an emergency department

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: This study aims to determine the demographic characteristics of cancer patients admitted to an emergency department and determine the relationship between the frequency of admission to the emergency department and oncological emergencies and their effect on mortality. METHODS: This observational, prospective, diagnostic accuracy study was performed in the ED of a tertiary care hospital. Patients over the age of 18 who were previously diagnosed with cancer and admitted to the emergency service for medical reasons were included in the study. We recorded baseline characteristics including age, gender, complaints, oncological diagnosis, metastasis status, cancer treatments received, the number of ED admissions, structural and metabolic oncological emergency diagnoses in the ED, discharge status, length of hospital stay, and mortality status. RESULTS: In our study, 1205 applications related to the oncological diagnosis of 261 patients were examined. 55.6% of the patients were male, and 44.4% were female. The most common metabolic oncological emergency was anemia (19.5%), and the most common structural oncological emergency was bone metastasis-fracture (4.6%.) The mean score of admission of patients to the emergency department was four times (min: 1 max: 29) during the study period. A total of 49.4% (n: 129) of the patients included in the study died during follow-up, and the median time of death was 13 days after the last ED admission. CONCLUSION: The palliation of patient symptoms in infusion centers that will be established in the palliative care center will contribute to the decrease in the frequency of use of emergency services.

RESUMO OBJETIVO: Este estudo tem como objetivo determinar as características demográficas dos pacientes com câncer admitidos no setor de emergência e determinar a relação entre a frequência de admissão no setor de emergência e emergências oncológicas e seus efeitos na mortalidade. MÉTODOS: Este estudo observacional, prospectivo e de precisão diagnóstica foi realizado no pronto-socorro de um hospital terciário. Pacientes com idade superior a 18 anos que foram previamente diagnosticados com câncer e admitidos no serviço de emergência por razões médicas foram incluídos no estudo. Registramos características basais, incluindo idade, sexo, queixas, diagnóstico oncológico, status de metástase, tratamentos de câncer recebidos, número de admissões ao DE, diagnósticos de emergência oncológicos estruturais e metabólicos no DE, status de alta, tempo de internação e estado de mortalidade. RESULTADOS: Em nosso estudo, foram examinadas 1205 aplicações relacionadas ao diagnóstico oncológico de 261 pacientes. 55,6% dos pacientes eram do sexo masculino e 44,4% eram do sexo feminino. A emergência oncológica metabólica mais comum foi anemia (19,5%) e a emergência oncológica estrutural mais comum foi fratura óssea causada por metástase (4,6%). A média de admissão dos pacientes no pronto-socorro foi de quatro vezes (min: 1 máx: 29) durante o período do estudo. Um total de 49,4% (n: 129) dos pacientes incluídos no estudo morreram durante o acompanhamento, e a mediana para o tempo de morte foi de 13 dias após a última admissão ao ED. CONCLUSÃO: A paliação dos sintomas de pacientes nos centros de infusão que serão estabelecidos nos centros de cuidados paliativos contribuirá para a diminuição da frequência de uso dos serviços de emergência.