"Penumbra sign" in knee pain: a case of distal femur osteomyelitis

"Penumbra sign" is a characteristic finding in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of Brodie's abscess, a rare variant of subacute osteomyelitis. We aimed to discuss the imaging finding penumbra sign that will help in the diagnosis of osteomyelitis and may be useful to clinicians in differential diagnosis. A 26-year-old male patient presented to the emergency department with complaints of pain and limping in the right knee that did not go away. He had a history of arthroscopic debridement and percutaneous fixation surgery due to osteochondral fragment 3 years ago. There were no additional findings in the patient's vital parameters, physical examination, and medical history. X-ray imaging revealed two screws in the distal femur and a well-defined sclerotic rim surrounding a radiolucent lesion anterior to the screws. MRI revealed a lesion in the distal femoral metaphysis with low-density fluid and hyperintense granulation tissue surrounding it. After surgical abscess drainage and local debridement, bone cement was placed in the resulting cavity. Teicoplanin treatment was started. The patient was discharged and complete recovery was achieved in the second month. The diagnosis of osteomyelitis is often missed or confused with bone tumors in non-traumatic cases presenting with persistent bone pain. MRI imaging is frequently used in differential diagnosis, and detection of characteristic imaging signs such as the penumbra sign accelerates the diagnosis. In this context, emergency department clinicians, in particular, should be cautious and not forget that early treatment can be started by recognizing these signs.

Alcance para Colombia de la declaración de la World Society of Emergency Surgery 2022 sobre el entrenamiento en cirugía digestiva mínimamente invasiva de emergencia / Scope for Colombia of the World Society of Emergency Surgery 2022 declaration on training in emergency minimally invasive digestive surgery

Introducción. El currículo para la formación del cirujano general exige precisión, ajuste al contexto y factibilidad. En 2022, la World Society of Emergency Surgery formuló cinco declaraciones sobre el entrenamiento en cirugía digestiva mínimamente invasiva de emergencia que puede contribuir a estos propósitos. El objetivo del presente artículo fue examinar el alcance de estas declaraciones para la educación quirúrgica en Colombia. Métodos. Se analizó desde una posición crítica y reflexiva el alcance y limitaciones para Colombia de cada una de las declaraciones de la World Society of Emergency Surgery, con base en la evidencia empírica publicada durante las últimas dos décadas en revistas indexadas nacionales e internacionales. Resultados. La evidencia empírica producida en Colombia durante el presente siglo permite identificar que el país cuenta con fundamentos del currículo nacional en cirugía general, formulado por la División de Educación de la Asociación Colombiana de Cirugía en 2021; un sistema de acreditación de la educación superior; un modelo de aseguramiento universal en salud; infraestructura tecnológica y condiciones institucionales que pueden facilitar la adopción exitosa de dichas declaraciones para el entrenamiento de los futuros cirujanos en cirugía digestiva mínimamente invasiva de emergencia. No obstante, su implementación requiere esfuerzos mayores e inversión en materia de simulación quirúrgica, cooperación institucional y fortalecimiento del sistema de recertificación profesional. Conclusión. La educación quirúrgica colombiana está en capacidad de cumplir con las declaraciones de la World Society of Emergency Surgery en materia de entrenamiento en cirugía digestiva mínimamente invasiva de emergencia.

Introduction. The general surgeon training curriculum requires precision, contextual fit, and feasibility. In 2022, the World Society of Emergency Surgery formulated five statements on training in emergency minimally invasive digestive surgery, which can contribute to these purposes. This article examines the scope of these declarations for surgical education in Colombia. Methods. The scope and limitations for Colombia of each of the statements of the World Society of Emergency Surgery were analysed from a critical and reflective position, based on empirical evidence published during the last two decades in national and international indexed journals. Results. The empirical evidence produced in Colombia during this century allows us to identify that the country has the foundations of the national curriculum in general surgery, formulated by the Education Division of the Colombian Association of Surgery in 2021; a higher education accreditation system; a universal health insurance model; technological infrastructure, and institutional conditions that can facilitate the successful adoption of said statements for the training of future surgeons in emergency minimally invasive digestive surgery. However, its implementation requires greater efforts and investment in surgical simulation, institutional cooperation, and strengthening of the professional recertification system. Conclusion. Colombian surgical education is able to comply with the declarations of the World Society of Emergency Surgery regarding training in emergency minimally invasive digestive surgery.

Experiencia en el manejo de anafilaxia en un Departamento de Emergencias Pediátricas

Introducción: La anafilaxia es una reacción multisistémica potencialmente mortal; su reconocimiento temprano y abordaje oportuno son fundamentales. La variabilidad de presentación y gravedad requieren la utilización de criterios diagnósticos para la mejora de la atención en urgencias. Objetivo: Describir las características clínicas, criterios de diagnóstico y tratamiento de los pacientes con anafilaxia atendidos en un Departamento de Emergencias Pediátricas (DEP). Materiales y métodos: Revisión retrospectiva, descriptiva, de casos ingresados en el DEP de enero 2015 a diciembre 2020. Los criterios diagnósticos fueron aplicados por dos observadores emergentólogos evaluando la concordancia con el índice к de Cohen. Se utilizó estadística descriptiva: proporciones, medianas y rango intercuartílico. Resultados: Se aplicaron los criterios NIAID/FAAN a 65 historias clínicas con diagnóstico de egreso de anafilaxia encontrándose una concordancia de 0,64 (IC 95%: 0,41-0,88). De ellos, 35 (54%) cumplieron los criterios diagnósticos. El 66% (23/35) recibió adrenalina. La mediana de edad fue de 7 años (RIC: 3-11,5). Antecedente de asma en 9/35, atopia en 7/35 y anafilaxia previa en 7/35. Como factor desencadenante se constató consumo de medicamentos en 16/35, alimentos en 8/35. La estadía hospitalaria tuvo una mediana de 18 horas (RIC: 12-24). Conclusiones: Los resultados sugieren una brecha entre identificación precisa de los casos de anafilaxia y el tratamiento oportuno con adrenalina cuando se utilizan criterios estandarizados.

Introduction: Anaphylaxis is a potentially fatal multisystem reaction; early recognition and timely approach are essential. The variability in its presentation and severity requires the use of diagnostic criteria to improve emergency care. Objective: To describe the clinical characteristics, diagnostic criteria and treatment of patients with anaphylaxis treated in a Pediatric Emergency Department (PED). Materials and methods: This was a retrospective and descriptive review of cases admitted to the PED from January 2015 to December 2020. The diagnostic criteria were applied by two emergentologist observers; Cohen's к index was used to evaluate their agreement. Descriptive statistics were used: proportions, medians and interquartile range. Results: The NIAID/FAAN criteria were applied to 65 medical records with a discharge diagnosis of anaphylaxis, finding an agreement of 0.64 (95% CI: 0.41-0.88). Of these, 35 (54%) met the diagnostic criteria. 66% (23/35) received adrenaline. The median age was 7 years (IQR: 3-11.5). 9/35 had a history of asthma, 7/35 had atopy and previous anaphylaxis was noted in 7/35. As a triggering factor, medication consumption was found in 16/35, and food in 8/35. The hospital stay had a median of 18 hours (IQR: 12-24). Conclusions: The results suggest a gap between accurate recognition of anaphylaxis cases and timely treatment with adrenaline when standardized criteria are used.

Disección carotídea espontánea: Presentación de un caso clínico con revisión de la literatura / Carotid Artery Dissection. Case Report and Literature Review

Resumen Introducción: La disección carotídea consiste en el desgarro de la pared del vaso. Es una patología infrecuente, pero es la causa más común de enfermedad vascular cerebral (EVC) isquémica en personas menores de 45 años. Las manifestaciones clínicas son muy variables. Método: Utilizamos las recomendaciones CARE para el reporte de casos clínicos. Caso clínico: Hombre de 45 años previamente sano, con debilidad aguda de la extremidad torácica derecha sin causa aparente. La tomografía simple de cráneo no evidenció alteraciones. La resonancia magnética mostró una oclusión completa de la arteria carótida interna en todos sus segmentos y disminución del flujo de la arteria cerebral media izquierda. La evolución clínica fue desfavorable. Conclusión: La disección carotídea debe sospecharse en personas con EVC sin factores de riesgo cardiovascular.

Abstract Introduction: Carotid dissection consists of a tear in the vessel wall. It is a rare pathology, but it is the most common cause of ischemic cerebral vascular disease (CVD) in people under 45 years of age. The clinical manifestations are very variable. Method: We used CARE recommendations for reporting clinical cases. Clinical case: Previously, a healthy 45-year-old man with acute weakness of the right thoracic extremity without apparent cause. The simple skull tomography did not show any alterations. MRI showed complete occlusion of the internal carotid artery in all its segments and decreased flow of the left middle cerebral artery. The clinical evolution was unfavorable. Conclusion: Carotid dissection should be suspected in people with CVD without cardiovascular risk factors.

Use of hand-held ultrasound to perform E-FAST by general surgery residents in a trauma reference center: First experience in the Colombian Caribbean region / Uso de ecografía portátil para realizar E-FAST por residentes de cirugía general en un centro de referencia en trauma: primera experiencia en la región del Caribe colombiano

Introduction. Extended focused assessment with sonography for trauma (E-FAST) can be performed with minimal training and achieve ideal results. It allows easy transport and use in austere environments such as the Colombian Caribbean, where many centers do not have 24-hour radiology services. The objective of this study was to determine the performance of the use of E-FAST in the evaluation of trauma by second-year general surgery residents in the emergency department. Methods. Retrospective observational study that evaluated the diagnostic performance of E-FAST with Butterfly IQ, in patients with thoracoabdominal trauma, who attended a referral center in the Colombian Caribbean between November 2021 and July 2022. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were evaluated, compared with intraoperative findings or conventional imaging. Results. A total of 46 patients were included, with a mean age of 31.2 ± 13.8 years, 87.4% (n=39) were male. The main mechanism of trauma was penetrating (n=32; 69.5%). It was found that 80.4% (n=37) of the patients had a positive E-FAST result, and of these, 97% (n=35) had a positive intraoperative finding. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 92.1%, 75%, 94.6%, and 66.6%, respectively. The positive likelihood ratio was 3.68, while the negative likelihood ratio was 0.10. Conclusion. General surgery residents have the competence to perform accurate E-FAST scans. The hand-held ultrasound device is an effective diagnostic tool for trauma and acute care surgery patients.

Introducción. La evaluación enfocada extendida con ecografía en trauma (E-FAST, extended focused assessment with sonography for trauma) puede realizarse con entrenamiento mínimo y lograr resultados ideales. Su fácil transporte permite usarla en entornos austeros, como el Caribe colombiano, donde muchos centros no disponen de servicio radiológico las 24 horas. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar el rendimiento del uso de E-FAST por residentes de cirugía general de segundo año en la evaluación del paciente con trauma en urgencias. Métodos. Estudio observacional retrospectivo que evaluó el rendimiento diagnóstico de E-FAST con Butterfly IQ, en pacientes con trauma toracoabdominal que acudieron a un centro de referencia del Caribe colombiano, entre noviembre de 2021 y julio de 2022. Se evaluaron sensibilidad, especificidad, valores predictivos positivo y negativo, comparando la descripción de la ecografía con los hallazgos intraoperatorios o imagenología convencional. Resultados. Se incluyeron un total de 46 pacientes, con una media de edad de 31,2 ± 13,8 años, siendo el 87,4 % (n=39) hombres. El principal mecanismo de trauma fue penetrante (n=32; 69,5 %). Se encontró que el 80,4 % (n=37) de los pacientes tuvo resultado E-FAST positivo, y que, de estos, el 97 % (n=35) tuvo un hallazgo positivo intraoperatorio. Se calculó una sensibilidad de 92,1 %, especificidad de 75 %, valor predictivo positivo de 94,6 % y negativo de 66,6 %; la razón de verosimilitud positiva fue de 3,68 y la negativa de 0,10. Conclusión. Los residentes de cirugía general están capacitados para realizar exploraciones E-FAST precisas. El ecógrafo portátil es una herramienta de diagnóstico eficaz para pacientes traumatizados.

Learning to switch gears — Steering palliative care into emergency medicine

Emergency care is largely seen as synonymous with resuscitation and saving lives. In most of the developing world where Emergency Medicine (EM) is still evolving, the concept of EM palliative care is alien. Provision of palliative care in such settings poses its own challenges in terms of knowledge gaps, socio-cultural barriers, dismal doctor-to-patient ratio with limited time for communication with patients, and lack of established pathways to provide EM palliative care. Integrating the concept of palliative medicine is crucial for expanding the dimension of holistic, value-based, quality emergency care. However, glitches in decision-making processes, especially in high patient volume settings, may lead to inequalities in care provision, based on socio-financial disparities of patients or premature termination of challenging resuscitations. Pertinent, robust, validated screening tools and guides may assist physicians in tackling this ethical dilemma.

Uso de ecografía en trauma pediátrico en el servicio de urgencia / Use of ultrasound in pediatric trauma in the emergency department

Introducción: La ecografía es una herramienta fundamental al momento de enfrentarse a un paciente grave en el servicio de urgencia. El protocolo "Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma" (FAST), es la utilización del ultrasonido en contexto de trauma, el cual está extensamente validado para medicina de urgencia de adultos. Sin embargo, en pediatría existen escasas publicaciones que resuman la evidencia relacionada. Objetivo: Dar a conocer la evidencia actualizada del uso de ecografía bajo el protocolo FAST en el trauma abdominal contuso pediátrico en el servicio de urgencia. De forma secundaria describir los pasos para realizar el examen e interpretación de sus hallazgos. Metodología: Revisión bibliográfica en las principales bases de datos, en idioma inglés o español, desde el año 2000 hasta la actualidad. Se seleccionaron estudios de rendimiento diagnóstico y revisiones narrativas relacionadas con el tratamiento y pronóstico del trauma general y abdominal en pediatría. Resultados: Se encontraron 998 artículos, de los cuales 22 fueron seleccionados y considerados para la revisión. La ecografía permite la identificación de líquido libre, que se relaciona con lesión intraabdominal en el contexto de trauma pediátrico. El protocolo FAST en el contexto de trauma contuso abdominal tiene una alta especificidad y una baja sensibilidad para su diagnóstico. El uso de ecografía en pediatría evita la exposición a los efectos dañinos de las radiaciones ionizantes. Conclusión: El uso de ecografía por parte de la medicina de urgencia se ha transformado en una herramienta esencial y segura al momento de evaluar pacientes. La presencia de un hallazgo positivo nos permite realizar diagnóstico de lesiones intraabdominales, pero un hallazgo negativo, no nos permite descartarlo, requiriendo exámenes complementarios.

Introduction: Ultrasound is an essential tool in diagnosing trauma in critical patients in the emergency room. The "Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma" (FAST) is the ultrasound protocol in the trauma context. It has been extensively validated for adult patients. However, few reviews have exposed and summarized the related evidence in pediatric emergency medicine. Objective: To present the FAST ultrasound protocol updated evidence in pediatric blunt abdominal trauma in the emergency department. Secondarily, to describe the steps to perform the examination and interpretation of their findings. Methodology: A bibliographical review was carried out in the main English or Spanish databases from 2000 to the present. Diagnostic studies and reviews of trauma treatment and prognosis in pediatrics were selected and summarized. Results: We found 998 articles, of which 22 were selected and screened for review. Ultrasound allows the identification of free fluid related to intra-abdominal injury in the context of pediatric trauma. Using ultrasound avoids children's exposure to the harmful effects of ionizing radiation. The FAST protocol in the context of blunt abdominal trauma has high specificity and low sensitivity for its diagnosis. Conclusion: The use of ultrasound in the field of emergency medicine has become an essential and safe tool. A positive finding allows us to diagnose intra-abdominal injuries, but a negative finding does not allow us to rule it out, requiring additional tests. The scientific evidence in the pediatric setting is more limited compared to adults.

Presença da família durante ressuscitação e procedimentos invasivos: percepção de estudantes de enfermagem e medicina / Presencia de la familia durante reanimación y procedimientos invasivos: percepción de los estudiantes de enfermería y de medicina / Family presence during resuscitation and invasive procedures: perception of nursing and medical students

Objetivo: verificar os fatores associados à percepção de estudantes de enfermagem e medicina quanto à presença da família durante a ressuscitação cardiopulmonar e/ou procedimentos invasivos. Métodos: estudo descritivo e transversal realizado com 105 concluintes dos cursos de enfermagem e medicina de três universidades brasileiras. Os dados foram coletados entre maio e agosto de 2021, por meio de formulário on-line e analisados a partir da estatística descritiva e inferencial. Resultados: a maioria demonstrou ser contrária à presença familiar. Estiveram associados a percepções mais favoráveis: desejar acompanhar o atendimento de familiar, acreditar que a presença é um direito da família e que autorizaria essa presença durante a prática profissional, bem como o contato teórico ou prático com o cuidado centrado na família. Conclusão: sugere-se que durante a formação os estudantes aprendam sobre o cuidado centrado na família para desenvolver percepções mais favoráveis acerca da presença familiar na ressuscitação e/ou procedimentos invasivos.

Objective: To verify the factors associated with nursing and medical students' perception regarding family presence during cardiopulmonary resuscitation and/or invasive procedures. Methods: A descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted with 105 nursing and medical graduates from three Brazilian universities. Data were collected from May to August 2021 by means of an online form, and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: Most participants were against family presence. Theoretical or practical contact with family-centered care, wanting to accompany a family member under care, and believing that family presence is a right and would authorize it during professional practice were factors associated with more favorable perceptions. Conclusion: Students should learn about family-centered care in graduation so that they can develop more favorable perceptions about family presence during resuscitation and/or invasive procedures.

Objetivo: verificar los factores asociados a la percepción de los estudiantes de enfermería y de medicina sobre la presencia de la familia durante la reanimación cardiopulmonar y/o procedimientos invasivos. Métodos: estudio descriptivo y transversal realizado con 105 egresados de las carreras de enfermería y de medicina de tres universidades brasileñas. Los datos se recolectaron entre mayo y agosto de 2021 mediante un formulario en línea, y para su análisis se utilizó la estadística descriptiva e inferencial. Resultados: la mayoría se mostró en contra de la presencia de la familia. Las percepciones favorables estuvieron relacionadas con: querer acompañar la atención familiar, creer que la presencia es un derecho de la familia y que durante la práctica profesional la autorizaría, así como el contacto teórico o práctico con el cuidado centrado en la familia. Conclusión: se sugiere que, durante la formación, los estudiantes aprendan sobre el cuidado centrado en la familia para que puedan desarrollar percepciones más favorables sobre la presencia de la familia en la reanimación y/o procedimientos invasivos.

Estudio transversal en profesionales de la salud sobre aplicación y percepción de conocimientos bioéticos adquiridos en urgencias pediátricas / Estudio transversal en profesionales de la salud sobre aplicación y percepción de conocimientos bioéticos adquiridos en urgencias pediátricas

Introducción En comparación con ciencias clínicas básicas o aplicadas, la bioética es considerada una disciplina secundaria y subutilizada en la práctica diaria. Sin embargo, el razonamiento ético es indispensable para la calidad del cuidado. Existen pocos estudios sobre bioética en unidades de emergencia pediátrica. Nuestro objetivo fue evaluar la percepción sobre la importancia y la suficiencia del conocimiento teórico adquirido y la aplicación de los principios bioéticos en casos estandarizados. Métodos Realizamos un estudio descriptivo transversal en profesionales médicos y de enfermería que se desempeñan en unidades de emergencia pediátrica de Puerto Montt. Mediante una encuesta, evaluamos la percepción de la importancia y suficiencia del conocimiento bioético obtenido y la aplicación de los principios bioéticos en casos hipotéticos, pero probables, en la atención de urgencias pediátricas. Resultados De una población total de 50 médicos y 53 enfermeras, participaron en nuestro estudio 30 médicos (60%) y 20 enfermeras (37,7%). La mayoría reportó formación ética en pregrado (84%). Una minoría reportó formación durante la práctica (20%). Sin embargo, sólo 60% percibía tener conocimientos suficientes de bioética y 72% la consideraba importante para la práctica diaria. Además, al aplicar los principios de Beauchamp y Childress a casos clínicos estandarizados, el 82,7% no reconoció el principio de justicia y solo 50% reconoció los principios de autonomía y no maleficencia. Conclusión Aunque la mayoría de los profesionales de la salud tienen formación en bioética, el aprendizaje muchas veces se considera insuficiente y no se incorpora a la práctica diaria en las unidades de emergencia pediátrica.

Background Compared to basic or applied clinical sciences, bioethics is frequently considered as a secondary discipline and underutilized in daily practice. However, ethical reasoning is indispensable for the quality of care. There are few studies on bioethics in pediatric emergency units. Our objective was to evaluate the perception of the acquired bioethical knowledge and the application of bioethical principles in standardized cases. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional descriptive study in medical and nursing professionals working at pediatric emergency units in Puerto Montt. Through a survey, we assessed the perception of the sufficiency of the acquired bioethics knowledge and the application of bioethical principles on hypothetical, but probable cases in emergency pediatric care. Results Of a total population of 50 physicians and 53 nurses, 30 physicians (60.0%) and 20 nurses (38.7%) participated in our study. The majority reported ethics training in undergraduate education: 84%. A minority reported training during practice: 20%. However, only 60.0% perceived having sufficient knowledge of bioethics and 72.0% considered it important for daily practice. Further, when applying the principles of Beauchamp and Childress to standardized clinical cases, 82.7% did not recognize the justice principle and only 50.00% the principles of autonomy and nonmaleficence. Conclusion Although most health professionals undergo bioethics training, learning is often considered insufficient and not incorporated into daily practice at pediatric emergency units.

Intoxicación por monóxido de carbono: estudio observacional de pacientes que acudieron a Urgencias durante 2020 / Carbon monoxide poisoning: an observational study of patients admitted to Emergency Department during 2020

El objetivo fue describir las intoxicaciones monóxido de carbono. Se diseñó un corte transversal que incluyó una muestra consecutiva de mediciones de carboxihemoglobina (COHb), realizadas Enero y Diciembre 2020 en la Central de Emergencias del Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires. Se utilizaron bases secundarias y revisión manual de historias clínicas para recolección de varia-bles de interés. Durante el período de estudio hubo 20 pacientes confirmados, con media de 50 años (DE 20), 55% sexo masculino, 20% tabaquistas, y una única embarazada. El 70% correspondieron al trimestre Junio-Julio-Agosto. La fuente de intoxicación más frecuente se debió a accidentes domésticos (calefón, estufa, brasero, hornalla, salamandra) que representaron el 50% de los casos, 30% por incendios, y el 20% restante explicado por tabaco o factor desconocido. Los estudios de laboratorio más solicitados fueron: 95% recuento de glóbulos blancos, 85% glucemia, 70% CPK, y 55% troponina. Los hallazgos relevantes fueron COHb con mediana de 7.15%, CPK con mediana de 89 U/mL, y troponina con mediana de 8.5 pg/mL. La totalidad se realizó electrocardiograma: 15% presentaron arritmia como hallazgo patológico, y ninguno isquemia. En cuanto la presentación clínica: 30% presentó cefalea, 15% síncope, 15% coma, 10% mareos y 10% convulsiones. Sólo 25% tuvieron tomografía y 15% resonancia de cerebro, sin hallazgos críticos. Sin embargo, 15% fueron derivados para trata-miento con cámara hiperbárica. La mayoría ocurrieron en invierno y explicados por accidentes domésticos. Será necesario un fortalecimiento del rol preventivo que apunte al control de la instalación y el buen funcionamiento de artefactos, como mantener los ambientes bien ventilados (AU)

The objective was to describe carbon monoxide poisoning. A cross sectional was designed, which included a consecutive sample of carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) measurements, carried from January to December 2020 at the Emergency Department of tHospital Italiano de Buenos Aires. Secondary databases and manual review of medical records were used to collect variables of interest. During the study period there were 20 confirmed patients, with a mean age of 50 (SD 20), mostly male (55%), 20% smokers, and only one pregnant woman, 70% corresponded to June-July-August. The most frequent source of poisoning was explained to domestic accidents (water heater, stove, brazier, stove, salamander) which represented 50% of cases, 30% due to fires, and the remaining 20% by tobacco or unknown factor. The most laboratory studies were: 95% white blood cell count, 85% glycemia, 70% CPK, and 55% troponin. Meanwhile, relevant findings were carboxyhemoglobin with a median of 7.15%, CPK with a median of 89 U/mL, and troponin with a median of 8.5 pg/mL. All underwent an electrocardiogram: 15% presented arrhythmia as a pathological finding, and none ischemia. Regarding the clinical presentation: 30% presented headache, 15% syncope, 15% coma, 10% dizziness and 10% seizures. Only 25% had brain tomography and 15% MRI, without pathological findings. However, 15% were referred for treatment with a hyperbaric chamber. Most of the cases occurred in winter and explained by domestic accidents. It will be necessary to strengthen the preventive role that aims to control the installation and the proper functioning of devices, such as keeping rooms well ventilated (AU)

Pediatric emergency triage systems / Sistemas de triagem em emergência pediátrica

ABSTRACT Objective: The aim of this study was to perform a narrative review of the leading pediatric triage systems in emergency departments (EDs). Data source: Articles published between 1999 and 2019 were identified by searching the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and PubMed databases using the keywords "pediatric triage", "pediatric assessment tools", and "emergency department triage" with an emphasis on studies that evaluated the validation and reliability of triage systems. Data synthesis: A total of 105 articles on pediatric emergency triage systems in 12 countries were evaluated. Triage systems were divided into two groups: color-stratified triage systems and alert systems. The color-stratified triage systems included in this review were the Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale (CTAS), Manchester Triage System (MTS), Emergency Severity Index (ESI), and Australasian Triage Scale (ATS), and the alert systems included were the Paediatric Observation Priority Score (POPS), Pediatric Early Warning Score (PEWS), and Pediatric Approach Triangle (PAT). Evidence corroborates the validity and reliability of MTS, PaedCTAS, ESI version 4, PEWS, POPS, and PAT in pediatric emergency services. Conclusions: These are fundamental tools for risk classification of patients seeking treatment in EDs. Not all triage systems have been assessed for validity and reliability; nor are they well suited for all regions of the world. Employing triage systems in Brazil requires cultural adaptation and rigorous training of the local health staff, in addition to validation and reliability studies in our country, since the social and cultural context of this country differs from those where these tools were developed.

RESUMO Objetivo: Realizar uma revisão narrativa dos principais sistemas de triagem pediátrica nos serviços de emergência. Fontes de dados: Artigos publicados entre 1999 e 2019, obtidos por meio de busca nos bancos de dados Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (Medline), Embase e PubMed usando as palavras-chave "pediatric triage", "pediatric assessment tools" e "emergency department triage", com ênfase em estudos que avaliaram a validação e a confiabilidade desses sistemas. Síntese dos dados: Foram avaliados 105 artigos sobre sistemas de triagem na emergência pediátrica de 12 países. Os sistemas de triagem foram divididos em dois grupos: estratificados por cores e de alerta. Os sistemas de triagem com estratificação por cores incluídos nesta revisão foram: Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale (CTAS), Manchester Triage System (MTS), Emergency Severity Index (ESI) e Australian Triage Scale (ATS). Os sistemas de alerta incluídos foram: Paediatric Observation Priority Score (POPS), Pediatric Early Warning Score (PEWS) e Pediatric Approach Triangle (PAT). Há evidências que corroboram a validade e a confiabilidade do MTS, PedCTAS, ESI v.4, PEWS, POPS e PAT em serviços de emergência de pediátricos. Conclusões: Os sistemas de triagem são ferramentas fundamentais para o atendimento de pacientes que procuram serviços de emergência. Nem todos os sistemas de triagem foram avaliados para validação e confiabilidade nem se aplicam a todas as regiões do mundo. Para a aplicação de sistemas de triagem no Brasil, devem ser feitos adaptação cultural e treinamento do estafe de saúde local, bem como estudos de validação e confiabilidade em nosso país, dado o seu contexto social e cultural diferente daquele dos países onde essas ferramentas foram desenvolvidas.

Development and delivery of a higher diploma in emergency medicine and critical care for clinical officers in Kenya

The provision of emergency medicine and critical care in a cost-efficient manner has the potential to address many preventable deaths in low- and middle-income countries. Here, utilising Kern's framework for curriculum development, we describe the origins, development and implementation of the Emergency Medicine and Critical Care Clinical Officer training program; Kenya's first training programme for clinical officers in emergency medicine and critical care. Graduates are scattered across the country in diverse settings, ranging from national referral hospitals in the capital, Nairobi, to rural hospitals in northern Kenya. In these locations, they provide clinical care, leadership, and teaching. Similar programmes could be replicated in other locations to help plug the gap in critical care provision in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Challenges and opportunities to improve efficiency and quality of prehospital emergency care using an mHealth platform: Qualitative study in Rwanda

Introduction: Prompt, high-quality pre-hospital emergency medical services (EMS) can significantly reduce morbidity and mortality. The goal of this study was to identify factors that compromise efficiency and quality of pre-hospital emergency care in Rwanda, and explore the opportunities for a mobile health (mHealth) tool to address these challenges. Methods: In-depth interviews were conducted with 21 individuals representing four stakeholder groups: EMS dispatch staff, ambulance staff, hospital staff, and policymakers. A semi-structured interview guide explored participants' perspectives on all aspects of the pre-hospital emergency care continuum, from receiving a call at dispatch to hospital handover. Participants were asked how the current system could be improved, and the potential utility of an mHealth tool to address existing challenges. Interviews were audio-recorded, and transcripts were thematically analyzed using NVivo. Results: Stakeholders identified factors that compromise the efficiency and quality of care across the prehospital emergency care continuum: triage at dispatch, dispatching the ambulance, locating the emergency, coordinating patient care at scene, preparing the receiving hospital, and patient handover to the hospital. They identified four areas where an mHealth tool could improve care: efficient location of the emergency, streamline communication for decision making, documentation with real-time communication, and routine data for quality improvement. While stakeholders identified advantages of an mHealth tool, they also mentioned challenges that would need to be addressed, namely: limited internet bandwidth, capacity to maintain and update software, and risks of data security breaches that could lead to stolen or lost data. Conclusion: Despite the success of Rwanda's EMS system, this study highlights factors across the care continuum that could compromise quality and efficiency of prehospital emergency care. Mobile health tools hold great promise to address these challenges, but contextual issues need to be considered to ensure sustainability of use.

Certain issues for medical evacuation and support after traumatic brain injury at high altitude / 中华创伤杂志

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is much more complex considering the unique pathophysiological changes under high-altitude hypoxic environment. Moreover, because of limited source of medical transportation and facilities at high altitude, TBI patients often lack urgent and standard treatment and have to be transported to the district medical center at high altitude or even the neurotrauma center at plain region as soon as possible. The transportation has high risk and takes serious effect on lives and prognosis of the TBI patients. Up to date, the evacuation and support process for TBI patients in the western plateau region of China has been improved through years of practice, but there are still deficiencies compared to the Critical Care Air Transport Team (CCATT). The authors sought to discuss certain issues related to medical evacuation and support after TBI at high altitude from aspects of early damage control operation and timely safety medical transportation, aiming to improve the survival rate, neurological outcomes and life quality for these patients.

Rethinking on the promotion of the traumatology discipline system construction with Chinese characteristics / 中华创伤杂志

China has experienced three-year anti-epidemic struggle against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic and obtained fruitful achievements in the construction of rescue system for major infectious disease. Treatment of severe mass trauma is a major national need. How to learn from the successful experiences of the construction of this rescue system for major infectious disease is a question worth considering. The author rethink s on how to further promote the construction of the traumatology discipline system with Chinese characteristics from six aspects, ie, the construction of the traumatology discipline system as a national strategy, the connotation of the trauma treatment system with Chinese characteristics, the role of the self-characteristics of traumatology in the trauma treatment chain, the new breakthrough in the basic theory and key technology of trauma treatment, the construction of innovative talents in traumatology to a new level as well as public training and education and the legislation strengthening.

Diagnostic value of soluble interleukin 7 receptor in combination with other biomarkers for emergency sepsis / 中国医师杂志

Objective:To investigate the diagnostic value of soluble interleukin 7 receptors (sIL-7R) in combination with other biomarkers for emergency sepsis.Methods:A prospective study method was used to select 102 emergency patients from the Chuiyangliu Hospital affiliated to Tsinghua University and Baoding First Central Hospital from December 2020 to June 2022. They were divided into sepsis group (80 cases) and non-sepsis group (22 cases), and 20 healthy people in the same period were selected as the control group. The patient data were collected, the relevant biomarker examination was improved and the values were recorded. Using statistical methods, the significance of sIL-7R for the diagnosis of sepsis was assessed, and important indicators related to the presence of sepsis were also screened to construct a model for the early diagnosis of sepsis.Results:The levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), age and sIL-7R in sepsis group were significantly higher than those in non-sepsis group and control group (all P<0.01). Further, the sIL-7R, age, CRP, and IL-6 were selected as important diagnostic indicators of sepsis by comparing the sepsis and non-sepsis groups using R-language statistical software. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted, and the area under the curve (AUC) for diagnosing sepsis of the four indexes were calculated as 0.759, 0.622, 0.716 and 0.640, respectively. The diagnostic model based on the four indexes performed better than other indexes, and the AUC value reached 0.869. The AUC of sIL-7R in the diagnosis of sepsis was higher than that of the other three indexes, and the detection of SIL-7R in combination with other inflammatory indexes was significantly higher than that of the four indexes, which had obvious advantages for the early diagnosis of sepsis. Conclusions:sIL-7R is a good biological marker for the early diagnosis of sepsis, and its combination with age, CRP, and IL-6 can better improve the early diagnosis of sepsis.

Application of Mini-Clinical Evaluation Exercise combined with direct observation of procedural skills in standardized training of emergency medicine guided by professional physician qualification examination / 中华医学教育探索杂志

Objective:To investigate the application effect of Mini-Clinical Evaluation Exercise (Mini-CEX) combined with direct observation of procedural skills (DOPS) in standardized training of emergency medicine guided by professional physician qualification examination.Methods:Based on the time of emergency medicine teaching reform in Ruikang Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, 32 standardized training residents in Emergency Department before September 2020 were included as control group and were given traditional teaching, and 32 standardized training residents after September 2020 were included as observation group and were given Mini-CEX combined with DOPS teaching under the guidance of professional physician qualification examination. The two groups were compared in terms of Mini-CEX score, DOPS score, assessment score of comprehensive emergency skills, pass rate of professional physician qualification examination, and comprehensive teaching quality. SPSS 25.00 was used to perform the t-test and the chi-square test. Results:Compared with the control group after training, the observation group had significantly higher scores of Mini-CEX, DOPS, and comprehensive emergency skill assessment ( P<0.05). There were no significant differences between the two groups in the pass rates of theoretical and practical examinations in professional physician qualification examination, and the observation group had a significantly higher total pass rate than the control group ( P<0.05). The observation group had significantly higher comprehensive teaching quality scores than the control group ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Mini-CEX combined with DOPS guided by professional physician qualification examination can help to improve the teaching effectiveness of standardized training residents in emergency, enhance their comprehensive skills and emergency professional skills, achieve a relatively high pass rate of professional physician qualification examination, and improve their post competency, and thus it holds promise for clinical application.

Emergency department approach to monkeypox / 世界急诊医学杂志（英文）

@#BACKGROUND: Monkeypox (mpox) is a viral infection that is primarily endemic to countries in Africa, but large outbreaks outside of Africa have been historically rare. In June 2022, mpox began to spread across Europe and North America, causing the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare mpox a public health emergency of international concern. This article aims to review clinical presentation, diagnosis, and prevention and treatment strategies on mpox, providing the basic knowledge for prevention and control for emergency providers. METHODS: We conducted a review of the literature using PubMed and SCOPUS databases from their beginnings to the end of July 2023. The inclusion criteria were studies on adult patients focusing on emerging infections that described an approach to a public health emergency of international concern, systematic reviews, clinical guidelines, and retrospective studies. Studies that were not published in English were excluded. RESULTS: We included 50 studies in this review. The initial symptoms of mpox are non-specific: fever, malaise, myalgias, and sore throat. Rash, a common presentation of mpox, usually occurs 2-4 weeks after the prodrome, but the presence of lymphadenopathy may distinguish mpox from other infections from the Poxviridae family. Life-threatening complications such as pneumonia, sepsis, encephalitis, myocarditis, and death can occur. There are documented co-occurrences of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other sexually transmitted infections that can worsen morbidity. CONCLUSION: The initial presentation of mpox is non-specific. The preferred treatment included tecovirimat in patients with severe illness or at high risk of developing severe disease and vaccination with two doses of JYNNEOS. However, careful history and physical examination can raise the clinicians’ suspicion and point toward a prompt diagnosis. There are different modalities to prevent and treat mpox infection.

Analysis of external quality assessment results of quality indicators for national emergency examination turnaround time / 中华检验医学杂志

Objective:To establish preliminary quality specifications for emergency examination turnaround time (TAT).Methods:The National Center for Clinical Laboratories organized 31 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities directly) and Xinjiang production and Construction Corps centers to launch a synchronous Quality Indicators (QIs)-External Quality Assessment (EQA) program and the collected data were reported via developed online EQA system. The essential information of the clinical laboratories, the data of pre-examination and intra-laboratory TAT quality indicators of emergency departments at each specialty (biochemistry, automatic immunity, three routines tests and coagulation) and four specific tests (blood potassium, troponin I/T, white blood cell count and international normalized ratio (INR)) were collected from 2019 to 2021. TAT returned the median and 90th percentile ( P90) of the specified month were calculated. The median (lower quartile, upper quartile) of the TAT returned laboratories were calculated and second result grading statistics for 2021 (2 422 tertiary hospital and 5 088 secondary hospital) were performed to understand the difference of pre-examination and the laboratory TAT between different tertiary hospitals. Results:From 2019 to 2021, there were 9 540 laboratories, 9 709 laboratories and 10 653 returned laboratories. The pre-examination TAT of each specialty was similar, and the results were relatively stable. The median distribution was about 15 (10, 30) min, and the monthly P90 distribution was about 20 (10, 30) min. The distribution results of the median intra-laboratory TAT in each specialty were as follows: automatic immunity≥biochemistry>coagulation>three routine tests. The distribution of the latest (second result in 2021) survey results of each specialty were as follows: automatic immunity 53 (30, 60) min, biochemistry 45 (30, 60) min, coagulation 30 (23, 40) min, and three routine tests 20 (11, 30) min. The median results of monthly P90 of intra-laboratory TAT were as follows: 60 min for automatic immunity and biochemistry specialty, about 38 min for coagulation specialty, and about 27 min for three routines tests. The hierarchical statistical results showed that the monthly P90 distribution of laboratory TAT of the pre-examination and intra-laboratory TAT from the tertiary hospital was higher than that of the secondary hospital. The pre-examination TAT of each specialty of the tertiary hospital/secondary hospital was as follows: biochemistry 35 (22, 60)/20 (11, 30) min, automatic immunity 33 (20, 60)/20 (10, 30) min, three routine tests 30 (20, 49)/20 (10, 30) min and coagulation 31 (20, 58)/20 (10, 30) min, the intra-laboratory TAT of each specialty of the tertiary hospital/secondary hospital was as follows: biochemistry 65 (50, 91)/60 (40, 70) min, automatic immunity 75 (55, 113)/60 (40, 90) min, three routine tests 30 (23, 38)/28 (19, 30) min and coagulation 53 (36, 72)/35 (30, 57) min. In terms of the distribution results of the median of intra-laboratory TAT of the four specific tests, 96.76% (9 484/9 801) of the blood potassium and 95.96% (8 733/9 101) of the troponin I/T medical institutions were TAT within 69 min in the laboratories, 95.34% (9 679/10 152) of the white blood cell count medical institutions were TAT within 31 min in the laboratories, and 98.85% (9 462/9 572) of the INR medical institutions were TAT within 66 min in the laboratories. Conclusions:This survey provides a preliminary quality specification for the emergency department turnaround time at each specialty. Lower quartile, median and upper quartile of the monthly P90 at the tertiary and secondary hospitals can be used to define the best, appropriate and minimum performance levels, respectively.