Plasmapheresis for a Female with Cryptogenic New-Onset Refractory Status Epilepticus Not Benefiting from Monoclonal Antibody Therapy

Monoclonal antibodies are pure antibodies that react to a specific epitope. Plasmapheresis is a treatment that separates and eliminates disease-causing substances before replacing the blood with plasma. Plasmapheresis has insufficient evidence for treating new-onset refractory status epilepticus (NORSE). Sequential plasmaphereses gradually improved a female cryptogenic NORSE patient who did not benefit from monoclonal antibody treatment.

Accuracy of medical directors for indirect medical oversight on prehospital care

Objective@#This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of the assessment of medical directors for indirect medical oversight on prehospital care. @*Methods@#Medical directors assessed the same prehospital care run sheets with six cases of cardiac arrest, four cases of withholding or interruption of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and six cases of severe trauma patients. Demographics of the medical directors and the accuracy of their assessment for the prehospital care run sheets were investigated. @*Results@#Board certified emergency physician was 14 of the total 21 medical directors (58%). Eleven medical directors were educated for the medical director course of the Korean council of emergency medical services physicians. The accuracy of the assessment of the medical directors was 50% in the assessment of electrocardiogram using an automated external defibrillator (AED) in cardiac arrest. Pulse check, respiration check, AED monitoring and the reason of interruption for CPR were lower than 60% for withholding or interruption of CPR. The lowest accurate assessment of medical directors was the appropriate treatment for trauma, with 36.5% in severe trauma. @*Conclusion@#Lower accuracy in some assessments of the medical directors for indirect medical oversight on prehospital care was identified. Education and quality control are needed for medical directors to provide high-quality indirect medical oversight.

Reflex and Spontaneous Movements in Adult Patients during the Process of Determining Brain Death in Korea

BACKGROUND@#Brain death is a clinical diagnosis that implies irreversible loss of function of the entire brain, including the brainstem and both hemispheres. Based on previous reports, it is not rare for reflex and spontaneous movements to occur in patients during the process of determining brain death. However, reports of the frequency and common types of these movements vary from study to study. Thus, we evaluated adult patients with impending brain death in Korea to determine the frequency and characteristics of reflex and spontaneous movements.@*METHODS@#Brain dead patients who were admitted to 15 hospitals in the Yeongnam region (Southeast) of Korea were recruited prospectively from January 2013 to September 2016. All patients met the criteria for brain death as established by the Korea Medical Association. All body movements occurred during the process of diagnosing brain death and were assessed by physicians and trained organ transplant coordinators. The frequency and characteristics of these movements were identified and the demographic and clinical factors of impending brain dead patients with and without these movements were compared.@*RESULTS@#A total of 436 patients who met the criteria for brain death were enrolled during the study period. Of these patients, 74 (17.0%) exhibited either reflex or spontaneous movements. Of this subset, 45 (60.8%) exhibited reflex movements only, 18 (24.3%) exhibited spontaneous movements only, and 11 (14.9%) exhibited both reflex and spontaneous movements. The most common reflex movements were the flexor/extensor plantar response and spinal myoclonus. Of the 74 patients, 52 (70.3%) exhibited one movement of the same pattern and 22 (29.7%) exhibited two or more different movement patterns. In addition, 45 (60.8%) exhibited these movements only on a limited area of the body with the leg being most common (n = 26, 57.8%). Patients with hypoxic brain damage and a higher systolic blood pressure exhibited significantly more reflex or spontaneous movements.@*CONCLUSION@#Movements associated with brain dead patients are not rare and thus an awareness of these movements is important to brain death diagnosis. Physicians who perform brain death examinations should understand the frequency and characteristics of these movements to reduce delays in determining brain death.

Reflex and Spontaneous Movements in Adult Patients during the Process of Determining Brain Death in Korea

BACKGROUND: Brain death is a clinical diagnosis that implies irreversible loss of function of the entire brain, including the brainstem and both hemispheres. Based on previous reports, it is not rare for reflex and spontaneous movements to occur in patients during the process of determining brain death. However, reports of the frequency and common types of these movements vary from study to study. Thus, we evaluated adult patients with impending brain death in Korea to determine the frequency and characteristics of reflex and spontaneous movements.METHODS: Brain dead patients who were admitted to 15 hospitals in the Yeongnam region (Southeast) of Korea were recruited prospectively from January 2013 to September 2016. All patients met the criteria for brain death as established by the Korea Medical Association. All body movements occurred during the process of diagnosing brain death and were assessed by physicians and trained organ transplant coordinators. The frequency and characteristics of these movements were identified and the demographic and clinical factors of impending brain dead patients with and without these movements were compared.RESULTS: A total of 436 patients who met the criteria for brain death were enrolled during the study period. Of these patients, 74 (17.0%) exhibited either reflex or spontaneous movements. Of this subset, 45 (60.8%) exhibited reflex movements only, 18 (24.3%) exhibited spontaneous movements only, and 11 (14.9%) exhibited both reflex and spontaneous movements. The most common reflex movements were the flexor/extensor plantar response and spinal myoclonus. Of the 74 patients, 52 (70.3%) exhibited one movement of the same pattern and 22 (29.7%) exhibited two or more different movement patterns. In addition, 45 (60.8%) exhibited these movements only on a limited area of the body with the leg being most common (n = 26, 57.8%). Patients with hypoxic brain damage and a higher systolic blood pressure exhibited significantly more reflex or spontaneous movements.CONCLUSION: Movements associated with brain dead patients are not rare and thus an awareness of these movements is important to brain death diagnosis. Physicians who perform brain death examinations should understand the frequency and characteristics of these movements to reduce delays in determining brain death.

A survey on the perception of emergency medical services (EMS) providers and medical directors toward EMS provider’s field skill proficiency

Objective@#This study aimed to investigate the perception of emergency medical service (EMS) providers and medical directors toward the field skill proficiency of EMS providers. We further examined differences in perception according to the certification and hospital career of individuals. @*Methods@#This survey was conducted enrolling all active EMS providers in Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam, as well as emergency physicians who participated in direct medical direction. Pre-developed questionnaires were sent as text messages to individual EMS providers and emergency physicians using an internet-based survey tool (Google Forms).Questionnaires were composed of 25 items in 7 categories: “airway management”, “ventilatory support”, “circulatory support”, “field assessment and management of trauma patients”, “field assessment and management of patients with chest pain”, “field assessment and management of patients with neurologic symptoms”, and “other items”. The response was based on a five-point Likert scale, where 0 score indicated no experience at all. @*Results@#The questionnaire was distributed to 1,781 EMS providers and 52 medical directors; of these, 1,314 (73.7%) EMS providers and 34 (65.3%) medical directors completed the survey. EMS providers rated themselves as above average (3 points) for most of the questions. However, the majority responded that they had no experience or low proficiency in endotracheal intubation and prehospital delivery (median 2; interquartile range [IQR], 0-3). Conversely, medical directors assessed the EMS provider’s proficiency as above average in use of I-gel, recognition of hypoglycemia, field management of trauma patients, use of oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal airway, use of laryngeal mask airway, and optimal oxygen supply (median, 4; IQR, 3-4), but responded with low scores for most other questions. Based on the EMS provider certification, nurses scored themselves more proficient than level-1 emergency medical technicians (EMTs) for intravenous access (P<0.001), whereas level-1 EMTs recognized themselves more proficient than nurses for endotracheal intubation (P<0.001), use of Magill forceps (P=0.004), and pediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation (P<0.001). @*Conclusion@#This study recognized the discrepancies in the perception of EMS provider’s field skill proficiency, as perceived by EMS providers and medical directors, and between level-1 EMTs and nurses. We propose that regional EMS authorities need to make persistent efforts to narrow these perception gaps through effective educational programs for EMS providers and medical directors.

Factors Affecting the Time Taken to Determine Brain Death in Patients with Impending Brain Death

Background@#and Purpose: The increased demand for donor organs has made it crucial to keep the organs of patients with impending brain death (PWIBDs) suitable for transplantation during the process of determining brain death. This study aimed to identify the time taken to determine brain death (TT-BD) in PWIBDs and the associated influencing factors. @*Methods@#This study analyzed data collected by the Korean Organ Donation Agency from 15 hospitals in the Yeongnam region of South Korea. There were 414 PWIBDs eligible for inclusion in this study. The data consisted of the TT-BD for PWIBDs and the potential variables influencing the TT-BD. @*Results@#The mean age of the 414 PWIBDs was 48.9 years, and 120 of them were female (29.0%). The mean TT-BD was 8.5 days. The presence of spontaneous movements (SMs) and craniotomy significantly affected the TT-BD. The mean TT-BDs were 13.9 and 8.2 days in the PWIBDs with and without SMs, respectively, and 9.8 and 8.0 days in the PWIBDs with and without craniotomy, respectively. @*Conclusions@#The SMs in PWIBDs and a craniotomy performed immediately before starting the process of determining brain death seem to be related to lengthening the TT-BD.

Reflex and Spontaneous Movements in Adult Patients during the Process of Determining Brain Death in Korea

BACKGROUND@#Brain death is a clinical diagnosis that implies irreversible loss of function of the entire brain, including the brainstem and both hemispheres. Based on previous reports, it is not rare for reflex and spontaneous movements to occur in patients during the process of determining brain death. However, reports of the frequency and common types of these movements vary from study to study. Thus, we evaluated adult patients with impending brain death in Korea to determine the frequency and characteristics of reflex and spontaneous movements.@*METHODS@#Brain dead patients who were admitted to 15 hospitals in the Yeongnam region (Southeast) of Korea were recruited prospectively from January 2013 to September 2016. All patients met the criteria for brain death as established by the Korea Medical Association. All body movements occurred during the process of diagnosing brain death and were assessed by physicians and trained organ transplant coordinators. The frequency and characteristics of these movements were identified and the demographic and clinical factors of impending brain dead patients with and without these movements were compared.@*RESULTS@#A total of 436 patients who met the criteria for brain death were enrolled during the study period. Of these patients, 74 (17.0%) exhibited either reflex or spontaneous movements. Of this subset, 45 (60.8%) exhibited reflex movements only, 18 (24.3%) exhibited spontaneous movements only, and 11 (14.9%) exhibited both reflex and spontaneous movements. The most common reflex movements were the flexor/extensor plantar response and spinal myoclonus. Of the 74 patients, 52 (70.3%) exhibited one movement of the same pattern and 22 (29.7%) exhibited two or more different movement patterns. In addition, 45 (60.8%) exhibited these movements only on a limited area of the body with the leg being most common (n = 26, 57.8%). Patients with hypoxic brain damage and a higher systolic blood pressure exhibited significantly more reflex or spontaneous movements.@*CONCLUSION@#Movements associated with brain dead patients are not rare and thus an awareness of these movements is important to brain death diagnosis. Physicians who perform brain death examinations should understand the frequency and characteristics of these movements to reduce delays in determining brain death.

Early immunotherapy in cryptogenic new onset refractory status epilepticus (NORSE), a case series

@#To date, there are no clear guidelines for treatment of cryptogenic new onset refractory status epilepticus (NORSE) syndrome. Immunotherapy was effective for some patients, but the initiation time was often somewhat late. We experienced two cryptogenic NORSE syndrome patients with favorable outcomes with early immunotherapy. A 59 years old male patient and a 58 years old female patient visited our hospital in status epilepticus, who were later diagnosed as cryptogenic NORSE after full evaluation. Since seizures were not controlled by two or more antiepileptic drugs in both patients, immunotherapy began on the fifth day of hospitalization. There was improvement on EEG and clinical symptoms, one or two days after initiation of immunotherapy. Early diagnosis of NORSE and early immunotherapy may result in favorable outcome.

Reflex and Spontaneous Movements of Patients in the Process of Determining Brain Death

Brain death is a clinical diagnosis that implies irreversible loss of function of the entire brain, including the brainstem and both hemispheres. It is not uncommon for reflex and spontaneous movements to occur in patients with impending brain death during the process of determining brain death. When physicians charged with judging brain death witness such movements during this period, unless they know how common these movements are and what they mean, it will be difficult for them to make an appropriate determination of brain death. Movements following brain death have been reported in previous studies of various types, including cohort studies and case series or reports. However, only a few studies have employed verified diagnostic tools and neurological examinations as a standard protocol when diagnosing brain death. According to previous reports, the frequency of these movements ranges from 19.2% to 75.0% of all brain death cases. These reports have also described which movements are commonly seen. However, it is difficult to determine conclusively where these movements originate, i.e., in the spinal cord or in the cerebral motor cortex, and how such information should be considered in determining brain death. Although limited information is available on the characteristics and pathophysiological mechanism of these movements, it will help physicians to diagnose brain death correctly if they obtain sufficient knowledge about them.

Biphasic Anaphylaxis and Delayed onset Cerebellar Ataxia following a Wasp Sting

Anaphylaxis usually develop immediately after wasp sting, but may develop even after few days later. Neurological complications after stings are uncommon, although several cases have been reported involving central and/or peripheral nervous system. Although wasp sting-induced encephalitis has been rarely reported, all reported cases showed mental change and severe neurological deterioration. Herein, we report an atypical case who showed biphasic anaphylaxis and delayed-onset cerebellar ataxia following a wasp sting, characterized by mild cerebellar ataxia and excellent response to corticosteroids.

Effects of Transcranial Direct-Current Stimulation Therapy on Primary Chronic Insomnia: A Proof-of Concept Clinical Trial

OBJECTIVES: To assess the effect and safety of transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) in primary chronic insomnia. METHODS: A one-month, double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled trial was performed. A total of 7 patients with primary chronic insomnia received tDCS using anodal (n=3), cathodal (n=2), or sham stimulation (n=2). They were followed up at 1 week and 1 month after treatment. The primary outcome measures included improvement in total sleep time (TST), sleep latency (SL), and sleep efficiency (SE) at 1 month follow-up. RESULTS: TST and SE were improved with tDCS at 1 month follow-up in all patients (100%) of the anodal group, one (50%) of the cathodal group, and one (50%) of the sham group. tDCS improved SL at 1 month follow-up in two patients (67%) of the anodal group, one (50%) of the cathodal group, and none (0%) of the sham group. With respect to adverse events, transient itching sensation occurred in one patient of the anodal group. None of the other groups reported adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that tDCS may be effective and safe for treatment of primary chronic insomnia. A larger controlled study needs to be further investigated.

Consciousness Recovery by Rituximab after Seizure Control in Cryptogenic New-Onset Refractory Status Epilepticus

BACKGROUND: New-onset refractory status epilepticus (NORSE) occurs in people without a history of seizures. In these cases, the seizure causes are unclear, and the seizures are not controlled by standard treatment. Autoimmune encephalitis (AIE) can be a cause of NORSE. Cryptogenic NORSE may be associated with AIE, but antibodies associated with the condition have not yet been identified. Primary immunotherapy may not be effective for AIE. Rituximab has improved the prognosis in some cases. CASE REPORT: We treated a cryptogenic NORSE patient with a combination of antiepileptic drugs and immunotherapy. On the 13th hospital day, the seizures were controlled, but the patient remained in a coma. The patient rapidly recovered after administration of rituximab started on the 26th hospital day. CONCLUSION: Rituximab may be helpful for cryptogenic NORSE patients in whom primary immunotherapy controls seizures, but fails to improve consciousness.

Biochemical Markers as Predictors of In-Hospital Mortality in Patients with Severe Trauma: A Retrospective Cohort Study / 대한중환자의학회지

BACKGROUND: Initial evaluation of injury severity in trauma patients is an important and challenging task. We aimed to assess whether easily measurable biochemical parameters (hemoglobin, pH, and prothrombin time/international normalized ratio [PT/INR]) can predict in-hospital mortality in patients with severe trauma. METHODS: This retrospective study involved review of the medical records of 315 patients with severe trauma and an injury severity score >15 who were managed at Gyeongsang National University Hospital between January 2005 and December 2015. We extracted the following data: in-hospital mortality, injury severity score, and initial hemoglobin level, pH, and PT/INR. The predictive values of these variables were compared using receiver operation characteristic curves. RESULTS: Of the 315 patients, 72 (22.9%) died. The in-hospital mortality rates of patients with hemoglobin levels <8.4 g/dl and ≥8.4 g/dl were 49.8% and 9.9%, respectively (P < 0.001). At a cutoff hemoglobin level of 8.4 g/dl, the sensitivity and specificity values for mortality were 81.9% and 86.4%, respectively. At a pH cutoff of 7.25, the sensitivity and specificity values for mortality were 66.7% and 77.8%, respectively; 66.7% of patients with a pH <7.25 died versus 22.2% with a pH ≥7.25 (P < 0.001). The in-hospital mortality rates for patients with PT/INR values ≥1.4 and <1.4 were 37.5% and 16%, respectively (P < 0.001; sensitivity, 37.5%; specificity, 84%). CONCLUSIONS: Using the suggested cutoff values, hemoglobin level, pH, and PT/INR can simply and easily be used to predict in-hospital mortality in patients with severe trauma.

Biochemical Markers as Predictors of In-Hospital Mortality in Patients with Severe Trauma: A Retrospective Cohort Study / 대한구급학회지

BACKGROUND: Initial evaluation of injury severity in trauma patients is an important and challenging task. We aimed to assess whether easily measurable biochemical parameters (hemoglobin, pH, and prothrombin time/international normalized ratio [PT/INR]) can predict in-hospital mortality in patients with severe trauma. METHODS: This retrospective study involved review of the medical records of 315 patients with severe trauma and an injury severity score >15 who were managed at Gyeongsang National University Hospital between January 2005 and December 2015. We extracted the following data: in-hospital mortality, injury severity score, and initial hemoglobin level, pH, and PT/INR. The predictive values of these variables were compared using receiver operation characteristic curves. RESULTS: Of the 315 patients, 72 (22.9%) died. The in-hospital mortality rates of patients with hemoglobin levels <8.4 g/dl and ≥8.4 g/dl were 49.8% and 9.9%, respectively (P < 0.001). At a cutoff hemoglobin level of 8.4 g/dl, the sensitivity and specificity values for mortality were 81.9% and 86.4%, respectively. At a pH cutoff of 7.25, the sensitivity and specificity values for mortality were 66.7% and 77.8%, respectively; 66.7% of patients with a pH <7.25 died versus 22.2% with a pH ≥7.25 (P < 0.001). The in-hospital mortality rates for patients with PT/INR values ≥1.4 and <1.4 were 37.5% and 16%, respectively (P < 0.001; sensitivity, 37.5%; specificity, 84%). CONCLUSIONS: Using the suggested cutoff values, hemoglobin level, pH, and PT/INR can simply and easily be used to predict in-hospital mortality in patients with severe trauma.

Evaluation of Preoperative Predictors of 30-Day Mortality in Patients with Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

PURPOSE: Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (RAAA) is a rare, extremely dangerous condition. Previous studies have published preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative data; however, there are not enough studies on the preoperative factors alone. Here we studied the preoperative predictors of 30-day mortality in patients with RAAA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective, consecutive review of the medical records of 57 patients who received management for RAAA between February 2005 and December 2016. We analyzed the association between preoperative predictors and 30-day mortality in patients with RAAA. The initial systolic blood pressure (SBP) and hemoglobin level (HbL), which were proven as significant predictors by multivariate logistic regression analysis, were compared using receiver operating characteristic curves. RESULTS: Overall, early mortality was 29.8%. Results of logistic regression analysis found that 30-day mortality in patients with RAAA was associated with the initial SBP (odds ratio [OR], 0.922; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.874–0.973; P=0.003) and initial HbL (OR, 0.513; 95% CI, 0.289–0.91; P=0.023). Area under the curves were 0.89 for the initial SBP and 0.78 for the initial HbL. The initial SBP with a cut-off value of 90 mmHg had a sensitivity of 85% and specificity of 88.2%. At a cut-off of 10.5, the sensitivity and specificity of HbL for death were 75% and 70.6%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The initial SBP and HbL are independent preoperative predictors of early mortality in patients with RAAA.

Seizure-induced Cerebral Edema Mimicking Multiple Cerebral Infarction

No abstract available.

Incidentally Discovered Direct Carotid-Cavernous Fistula in a Patient With Anterior Choroidal Artery Territory Infarction

Direct carotid cavernous fistula (CCF), which is an abnormal communication between the intracavernous carotid artery and the cavernous sinus, is a very rare condition that is generally associated with head trauma, intracavernous aneurysms, and certain connective-tissue diseases. The case of a patient with an infarction in the anterior choroidal artery territory is described herein. Cerebral angiography was performed during consecutive workups to investigate the discrepancy between the magnetic resonance angiography data. An unexpected direct CCF of the ipsilateral side of the infarction was found. It is possible that the CCF had influenced the development of the infarction in the anterior choroidal artery territory.

Incidentally Discovered Direct Carotid-Cavernous Fistula in a Patient With Anterior Choroidal Artery Territory Infarction

Direct carotid cavernous fistula (CCF), which is an abnormal communication between the intracavernous carotid artery and the cavernous sinus, is a very rare condition that is generally associated with head trauma, intracavernous aneurysms, and certain connective-tissue diseases. The case of a patient with an infarction in the anterior choroidal artery territory is described herein. Cerebral angiography was performed during consecutive workups to investigate the discrepancy between the magnetic resonance angiography data. An unexpected direct CCF of the ipsilateral side of the infarction was found. It is possible that the CCF had influenced the development of the infarction in the anterior choroidal artery territory.