Lung ultrasound as a screening tool for SARS-CoV-2 infection in surgical patients.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of lung ultrasound (LUS) in screening for SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients requiring surgery. METHODS: Patients underwent a LUS protocol that included a scoring system for screening COVID-19 pneumonia as well as RT-PCR test for SARS-CoV-2. The receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve was determined for the relationship between LUS score and PCR test results for COVID-19. The optimal threshold for the best discrimination between non-COVID-19 patients and COVID-19 patients was calculated. RESULTS: Among 203 patients enrolled (mean age 48 years; 82 males), 8.3% were COVID-19-positive; 4.9% were diagnosed via the initial RT-PCR test. Of the patients diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2, 64.7% required in-hospital management and 17.6% died. The most common ultrasound findings were B lines (19.7%) and a thickened pleura (19.2%). The AUC of the ROC curve of the relationship of LUS score with a cutoff value >8 versus RT-PCR test for the assessment of SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia was 0.75 (95% CI 0.61-0.89; sensitivity 52.9%; specificity 91%; LR (+) 6.15, LR (-) 0.51). CONCLUSION: The LUS score in surgical patients is not a useful tool for screening patients with potential COVID-19 infection. LUS score shows a high specificity with a cut-off value of 8.

An 80-Year-Old Woman with Alzheimer Disease and Accidental Poisoning with Pyrethroid Pesticide Successfully Treated with Intravenous Lipid Emulsion.

BACKGROUND Pesticides are commonly used in the agricultural industry. Overdose can be lethal due to its effects generating closure of the voltage-gated sodium channels in the axonal membranes. Most case reports of toxicity refer to skin exposure and there are very few that refer to effects due to its oral intake. CASE REPORT We report the case of an elderly woman with Alzheimer disease who accidentally swallowed 50 g of Lambda Cyhalothrin (GOLPE 5 M E®), a pyrethroid of medium toxicity containing a cyano group. It severely harmed the woman's health, causing severe central nervous system depression and refractory vasodilated shock requiring the use of vasopressors. Its management was challenging, requiring orotracheal intubation, vasopressors, and admission to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The emergency care team decided to use intravenous lipid emulsion, which clearly helped with the recovery and successful discharge of the patient. CONCLUSIONS The use of intravenous lipid emulsion for the treatment of pyrethroid poisoning can lead to successful outcomes, as described in this case report.

Trauma team conformation in a war-influenced middle-income country in South America: is it possible?

INTRODUCTION: Trauma teams (TTs) improve outcomes in trauma patients. A multidisciplinary TT was conformed in September 2015 in a tertiary level I trauma university hospital in southwestern Colombia, a middle-income war-influenced country. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of a TT in admission-tomography and admission-surgery times as well as mortality in a tertiary center university hospital in a middle-income country war-influenced country. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective analytical study. Patients older than 17 years admitted to the emergency room 15 months prior and 15 months after the TT implementation were included. Patients prior to the TT implementation were taken as controls. No exclusion criteria. Four hundred sixty-four patients were included, 220 before the TT implementation (BTT) and 244 after (ATT). Demographic data, trauma characteristics, admission-tomography, and admission-surgery time interval as well as mortality were recorded. Requirement of CT scan or surgery was based on physician decision. The analysis was made on Stata 15.1®. Categorical variables were described as quantities and proportions, and continuous variables as mean and standard deviation or median and interquartile range (IQR). Categorical variables were compared using χ2 or Fisher's test and continuous variables using Student's T test or Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney. A multiple logistic regression model was created to evaluate the impact of being treated in the ATT group on mortality, adjusted by age, trauma severity, and physiological response upon admission. RESULTS: The admission-tomography time interval was 56 min (IQR 39-100) in the BTT group and 40 min (IQR 24-76) in the ATT group, p < 0.001. The admission-surgery time interval was 116 min (IQR 63-214) in the BTT group and 52 min (IQR 24-76) in the ATT group, p < 0.001. Mortality in the BTT group was 18.1% and 13.1% in the ATT group. Adjusted OR was 0.406 (0.215-0.789) p = 0.006 CONCLUSIONS: A trauma team conformation in a war-influenced middle-income country is feasible and reduces mortality as well as admission-surgery and admission-tomography time intervals in trauma patients.

Successful Outcome Following Intravenous Lipid Emulsion Rescue Therapy in a Patient with Cardiac Arrest Due to Amitriptyline Overdose.

BACKGROUND The management of patients with tricyclic antidepressant drug overdose can be a challenge for the emergency department physician. Tricyclic antidepressants block alpha-adrenergic receptors and the anticholinergic effects may lead to cardiotoxicity, resulting in arrhythmias and hypotension that can lead to patient mortality. This report is of a case of a 28-year-old woman who presented with cardiac arrest due to amitriptyline overdose and who responded to intravenous lipid emulsion (ILE) therapy. CASE REPORT A 28-year-old woman was admitted to the emergency department with amitriptyline overdose. She suffered a cardiac arrest followed by cardiovascular and neurological complications. Hypotension and lack of a pulse did not respond to treatment with high-dose sodium, but she stabilized following treatment with ILE. The prompt response from the emergency team guaranteed rapid intervention that may have influenced the successful results. CONCLUSIONS Despite the frequency and severity of poisoning with tricyclic antidepressants, there is little consensus among physicians regarding patient management. This case showed the successful use of ILE as rescue therapy in a patient in cardiac arrest following amitriptyline overdose. However, the successful outcome obtained in this case is not a recommendation for the use of ILE as a first-line treatment for the management of patients with tricyclic antidepressant drug overdose. Controlled clinical studies are required to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ILE in the management of tricyclic antidepressant drug overdose.

Medical student researchers in Colombia and associated factors with publication: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Gaps between evidence-based research and clinical-public health practice have been evident for decades. One of the aims of medical student research is to close this gap. Accordingly, evaluating individual and environmental factors that influence participation of medical students in research are needed to understand and identify potential targets for action. This study aims to identify characteristics of medical student researchers in Colombia and the associated factors with scientific publications. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of Colombian medical students involved in research using a validated, self-administered, online survey. The survey was distributed through the Colombian Association of Medical Students' Associations (ASCEMCOL). Data sets were analyzed using descriptive and summary statistics. Bivariate analysis and a multiple logistic regression model were conducted to identify predictors of scientific publications. RESULTS: A total of 133 responses were analyzed from students at 12 Colombian cities and 20 higher-education institutions. Although 94% of responders had at least one research proposal, only 57% had completed a project, and 17% had published their findings. Barriers for undertaking research included time restrictions and a lack of mentorship. Motivational factors included opportunity to publish findings and good mentorship. Students planning to do a specialization (OR = 3.25; 95% Confidence interval [CI] = 1.27-8.30), innovators (OR = 3.52; 95%CI = 1.30-9.52) and committed (OR = 3.39; 95%CI = 1.02-11.29), those who had previously published their findings (OR 9.13 IC95% 2.57-32.48), and were further in their medical education (OR 2.26 IC95% 1.01-5.07), were more likely to publish scientific papers. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings describe medical students understanding of the process of conducting research in Colombia. Although there appears to be motivation to participate in research, very few students achieve publication. Barriers such as time constraints and mentorship seem to play a critical role. This highlights opportunities where barriers to research can be overcome in medical school and other levels.

Síndrome doloroso regional complejo: [revisión] / Complex regional pain syndrome: [review]

Introducción. El síndrome doloroso regional complejo (SDRC) es una entidad que se presenta después de una lesión. Sus principales características son dolor, cambios en la coloración y temperatura de la piel, edema y cambios tróficos. Objetivo. Presentar una revisión actualizada de la literatura para mejorar la comprensión de este síndrome. Metodología. Se seleccionaron 48 artículos de revistas indexadas y 4 capítulos de libros sobre medicina del dolor. Conclusión. El SDRC suele ser de difícil manejo, y de no ser tratado adecuadamente, la funcionalidad de la extremidad afectada puede verse comprometida. El diagnóstico temprano y el manejo oportuno reducen la severidad y duración de esta entidad.

Introduction. Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic disabling disorder that occurs after an injury. Pain, changes in the color and temperature of the skin, edema and trophic changes are the main characteristics of this syndrome. Objective. To provide a current literature overview of the CRPS to improve its understanding.Methodology. An extensive literature search both in indexed journals and pain medicine books was performed. Forty eight articles and 4 book chapters about pain medicine were included. Conclusion. CRPS is difficult to manage and if it is not treated adequately, functionality of the affected limb can be compromised. Early diagnosis and treatment may reduce the severity and duration of this condition.