Can capillary lactate improve early warning scores in emergency department? An observational, prospective, multicentre study.

AIMS: To determine the prognostic usefulness of the National Early Warning Score-2 (NEWS2) and quick Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) scores, in isolation and combined with capillary lactate (CL), using the new NEWS2-L and qSOFA-L scores to predict the 30-day mortality risk. METHODS: Prospective, multicentre and observational study in patients across four EDs. We collected sets of vital signs and CL and subsequently calculated NEWS2, qSOFA, NEWS2-L and qSOFA-L scores when patients arrived at the ED. The main outcome measure was all-cause mortality 30 days from the index event. RESULTS: A total of 941 patients were included. Thirty-six patients (3.8%) died within 30 days of the index event. A high CL level has not been linked to a higher mortality. The NEWS2 presented AUROC of 0.72 (95% CI: 0.62-0.81), qSOFA of 0.66 (95% CI: 0.56-0.77) (P < .001 in both cases) and CL 0.55 (95% CI: 0.42-0.65; P = .229) to predict 30-day mortality. The addition of CL to the scores analysed does not improve the results of the scores used in isolation. CONCLUSION: NEWS2 and qSOFA scores are a very useful tool for assessing the status of patients who come to the ED in general for all types of patients in triage categories II and III and for detecting the 30-day mortality risk. CL determined systematically in the ED does not seem to provide information on the prognosis of the patients.

Adolescente con autolesiones no suicidas en un entorno de adversidad psicosocial / Adolescent with non-suicidal self-harm in a psychosocial adversity environment

Las conductas lesivas no suicidas suponen un problema sanitario de creciente importancia, con una prevalencia en muestras comunitarias de adolescentes del 15-20 %. Las autolesiones pueden tener un significado diverso; se clasifican en intrapersonales o interpersonales; son un factor de riesgo y evolutivo, con inicio en la adolescencia temprana. Se presenta el caso de una adolescente de 12 años con factores de riesgo psicosociales, que acudió a la consulta por cortes autoinfligidos en los brazos y las piernas, realizados con una cuchilla de afeitar, detectados en el colegio. Se intervino potenciando la autoestima y en regulación de emociones con intervención multidisciplinar (sistema educativo, servicios sociales, psiquiatría infantojuvenil y pediatría), con una evolución positiva. Es vital su detección y abordaje con el paciente y su familia para evitar riesgos futuros, especialmente, de patología psíquica. La intervención se realiza desde la Atención Primaria, pero precisa la colaboración de otros profesionales.

Non-suicidal harmful behaviors pose a health problem of increasing importance, with a prevalence in community samples of adolescents of 15-20 %. Self-harm can have adverse meaning, qualifying in intrapersonal or interpersonal; they are a risk and evolutionary factor, with an age of onset in early adolescence. We present the case of a 12-year-old adolescent with psychosocial risk factors, who went to the consultation for self-cuts in arms and legs, made with a razor, detected in the school. It was enhanced her self-steem an guided in regulation of emotions with multidisciplinary intervention (educational system, social services, infantile-juvenile Psychiatry and Pediatrics), with a positive evolution. It is vital to detect and approach this issue with the patient and the family to avoid future risks, especially psychic pathology. The intervention is done from Primary Care, but it is necessary the collaboration of other professionals.

[Adolescent with non-suicidal self-harm in a psychosocial adversity environment]. / Adolescente con autolesiones no suicidas en un entorno de adversidad psicosocial.

Non-suicidal harmful behaviors pose a health problem of increasing importance, with a prevalence in community samples of adolescents of 15-20 %. Self-harm can have adverse meaning, qualifying in intrapersonal or interpersonal; they are a risk and evolutionary factor, with an age of onset in early adolescence. We present the case of a 12-year-old adolescent with psychosocial risk factors, who went to the consultation for self-cuts in arms and legs, made with a razor, detected in the school. It was enhanced her self-steem an guided in regulation of emotions with multidisciplinary intervention (educational system, social services, infantile-juvenile Psychiatry and Pediatrics), with a positive evolution. It is vital to detect and approach this issue with the patient and the family to avoid future risks, especially psychic pathology. The intervention is done from Primary Care, but it is necessary the collaboration of other professionals.

Las conductas lesivas no suicidas suponen un problema sanitario de creciente importancia, con una prevalencia en muestras comunitarias de adolescentes del 15-20 %. Las autolesiones pueden tener un significado diverso; se clasifican en intrapersonales o interpersonales; son un factor de riesgo y evolutivo, con inicio en la adolescencia temprana. Se presenta el caso de una adolescente de 12 años con factores de riesgo psicosociales, que acudió a la consulta por cortes autoinfligidos en los brazos y las piernas, realizados con una cuchilla de afeitar, detectados en el colegio. Se intervino potenciando la autoestima y en regulación de emociones con intervención multidisciplinar (sistema educativo, servicios sociales, psiquiatría infantojuvenil y pediatría), con una evolución positiva. Es vital su detección y abordaje con el paciente y su familia para evitar riesgos futuros, especialmente, de patología psíquica. La intervención se realiza desde la Atención Primaria, pero precisa la colaboración de otros profesionales.

Predictive value of the prehospital NEWS2-L ­National Early Warning Score 2 Lactate­ for detecting early death after an emergency. / Valor predictivo del preNEWS2-L (Pre-hospital National Early Warning Score 2 Lactate) para la detección de la mortalidad precoz en el ámbito prehospitalario.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the ability of the prehospital National Early Warning Score 2 Lactate (preNEWS2-L) to predict early mortality, defined as death within 48 hours of the index event. We also explored the predictive capacity of the score for 7- and 30-day all-cause mortality. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prospective, observational longitudinal study in patients attended by ambulance responders and transferred to the emergency departments of reference hospitals. We collected demographic, physiologic, clinical, and analytical data and the main diagnosis. The main outcome measure was all-cause mortality. RESULTS: s. A total of 707 patients were included. Thirty-seven patients (5.2%) died within 48 hours of the index event. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) for the preNEWS2-L score's prediction of early death was 0.91 (95% CI, 0.83-0.96). The AUCs for death within 7 and 30 days were 0.86 (95% CI, 0.79-0.92) and 0.82 (95% CI, 0.76-0.87), respectively, showing that the score's ability to predict death decreases by almost 10% between 48 hours and 30 days. CONCLUSION: The preNEWS2-L is a useful prognostic tool that can be assessed quickly and easily in prehospital settings.

OBJETIVO: Evaluar la capacidad de la escala Pre-hospital National Early Warning Score 2 lactate (preNEWS2-L) para predecir la mortalidad precoz (antes de 48 h) desde el suceso índice. Además, como objetivo secundario, analizar el rendimiento de la nueva escala para la mortalidad a 7 y 30 días por cualquier causa. METODO: Estudio observacional, prospectivo y longitudinal de pacientes que son atendidos por unidades móviles de emergencias y trasladados a los servicios de urgencias de su hospital de referencia. Se recogieron variables demográficas, fisiológicas, clínicas, analíticas y de diagnóstico principal. La variable de resultado principal fue la mortalidad por cualquier causa. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron 707 pacientes. La mortalidad precoz tras el suceso índice antes de las primeras 48 h fue de 37 pacientes (5,2%). La escala preNEWS2-L obtuvo un área bajo la curva (ABC) de la característica operativa del receptor (COR) de 0,91 (IC 95%: 0,83-0,96; p < 0,001), 0,86 (IC 95%: 0,79-0,92; p < 0,001) y 0,82 (IC 95%: 0,76- 0,87; p < 0,0017) para la mortalidad a 2, 7 y 30 días, respectivamente. Su capacidad de valorar la mortalidad desciende prácticamente un 10% entre el ABC-ROC a los 2 días y el ABC a los 30 días. CONCLUSIONES: La escala generada, denominada preNEWS2-L, puede ser considerada una herramienta pronóstico muy útil para ser usada en el medio prehospitalario, por facilidad de manejo, rápida obtención y capacidad de predicción.

Analysis of the early warning score to detect critical or high-risk patients in the prehospital setting.

The early warning score can help to prevent, recognize and act at the first signs of clinical and physiological deterioration. The objective of this study is to evaluate different scales for use in the prehospital setting and to select the most relevant one by applicability and capacity to predict mortality in the first 48 h. A prospective longitudinal observational study was conducted in patients over 18 years of age who were treated by the advanced life support unit and transferred to the emergency department between April and July 2018. We analyzed demographic variables as well as the physiological parameters and clinical observations necessary to complement the EWS. Subsequently, each patient was followed up, considering their final diagnosis and mortality data. A total of 349 patients were included in our study. Early mortality before the first 48 h affected 27 patients (7.7%). The scale with the best capacity to predict early mortality was the National Early Warning Score 2, with an area under the curve of 0.896 (95% CI 0.82-0.97). The score with the lowest global classification error was 10 points with sensitivity of 81.5% (95% CI 62.7-92.1) and specificity of 88.5% (95% CI 84.5-91.6). The early warning score studied (except modified early warning score) shows no statistically significant differences between them; however, the National Early Warning Score 2 is the most used score internationally, validated at the prehospital scope and with a wide scientific literature that supports its use. The Prehospital Emergency Medical Services should include this scale among their operative elements to complement the structured and objective evaluation of the critical patient.

Prognostic value of lactate in prehospital care as a predictor of early mortality.

BACKGROUND: Prehospital Emergency Medical Services must attend to patients with complex physiopathological situations with little data and in the shortest possible time. The objective of this work was to study lactic acid values and their usefulness in the prehospital setting to help in clinical decision-making. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a longitudinal prospective, observational study on patients over 18 years of age who, after being evaluated by the Advanced Life Support Unit, were taken to the hospital between April and June 2018. We analyzed demographic variables, prehospital lactic acid values and early mortality (<30 days). The area under the curve of the receiver operating characteristic was calculated for the prehospital value of lactic acid. RESULTS: A total of 279 patients were included in our study. The median age was 68 years (interquartile range: 54-80 years). Overall 30-day mortality was 9% (25 patients). The area under the curve for lactic acid to predict overall mortality at 30 days of care was 0.82 (95% CI: 0.76-0.89). The lactate value with the best sensitivity and specificity overall was 4.25 mmol/L with a sensitivity of 84% (95% CI: 65.3-93.6) and specificity of 70% (95% CI: 65.0-76.1). CONCLUSIONS: The level of lactic acid can be a complementary tool in the field of prehospital emergencies that will guide us early in the detection of critical patients.