ABSTRACT
BackgroundWith the onset of COVID-19, general practitioners (GPs) and patients worldwide swiftly transitioned from face-to-face to digital remote consultations. There is a need to evaluate how this global shift has impacted patient care, healthcare providers, patient and carer experience, and health systems. ObjectiveWe explored GPs perspectives on the main benefits and challenges of using digital remote care. MethodsGPs across 20 countries completed an online questionnaire between June - September 2020. GPs perceptions on main barriers and challenges were explored using free-text questions. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Results1,605 respondents participated in our survey. The benefits identified included reducing COVID-19 transmission risks, guaranteeing access and continuity of care, improved efficiency, faster access to care, improved convenience and communication with patients, greater work flexibility for providers, and hastening the digital transformation of primary care and the accompanying legal frameworks. Main challenges included patients preference for face-to-face consultations, digital exclusion, lack of physical examinations, clinical uncertainty, delays in diagnosis and treatment, overuse and misuse of digital remote care, and unsuitability for certain types of consultations. Other challenges include the lack of formal guidance, higher workloads, remuneration issues, organisational culture, technical difficulties, implementation and financial issues, and regulatory weaknesses. ConclusionAt the frontline of care delivery, GPs can provide important insights on what worked well, why, and how. Lessons learned during the emergency phase can be used to inform the stable adoption of virtual care solutions, and co-design processes and platforms that are technologically robust, secure, and supported by a strategic long-term plan.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Multiple studies suggest that SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with a pro-thrombotic state and thrombotic events have been recorded in several organs and systems. We report a patient with no respiratory symptoms, presented with abdominal pain and an extensive splenic infarction after COVID-19. CASE REPORT: A 67 year-old man was admitted to the emergency department with a moderate, dull, left-sided abdominal pain. The patient denied respiratory symptoms but referred contact with family members positive for COVID-19. He tested positive for COVID-19 and had increased D-dimer levels. Imaging studies revealed splenic infarcts and ground-glass opacities in bilateral pulmonary bases. He was treated with full-dose anticoagulation and was discharged home on oral Rivaroxaban. DISCUSSION: Although rare in the literature, cases of acute abdomen in COVID-19 patients associated with vascular infarctions have increased. Coagulopathy may be present even without clinical respiratory manifestations of the disease. Patients meeting disseminated intravascular coagulation criteria or with markedly elevated D-dimer may benefit from anticoagulant therapy. CONCLUSION: Clinicians should suspect of abdominal visceral infarctions in COVID-19 patients presented with acute abdominal pain, despite the absence of respiratory symptoms.
ABSTRACT
Apresentamos um caso de um adolescente de 14 anos, atleta da categoria sub-15 de um clube de futebol do Brasil, com diagnóstico de fratura de fêmur distal Salter-Harris tipo II por um mecanismo de hiperextensão do membro inferior. Foi optado por tratamento conservador com uso de órtese para imobilização e muletas para deambulação. O acompanhamento foi feito com 7, 21, 56 e 86 dias de evolução com o auxílio de tomografia computadorizada, ressonância magnética e radiografia simples de joelho. O atleta não apresentou nenhum sintoma ou incapacidade após os 90 dias de acompanhamento, mas foi verificada uma epifisiodese no exame de imagem. Apesar de ser uma fratura da placa de crescimento femoral distal comum em adolescentes entre 11 e 14 anos de idade por trauma direto ou por angulação do fêmur distal por um pé fixo ao solo que é golpeado pelo lado por outro individuo, não há relatos de fratura Salter-Harris tipo II por mecanismo de hiperextensão do membro inferior na literatura
We report a case of a 14-year-old athlete in the U-15 category of a soccer club in Brazil with a diagnosis of Salter-Harris type II distal femur fracture due to a hyperextension mechanism of the lower limb. Conservative treatment with bracing and crutches for ambulation was used. Follow-up was performed with 7, 21, 56 and 86 days of evolution with the aid of computed tomography, magnetic resonance and simple knee radiography. The athlete did not present any symptoms or disability after the 90 days of follow-up, but an epiphysiodesis was verified in the image exam. Despite being a common distal femoral growth plate fracture in adolescents between 11 and 14 years-old due to direct trauma or distal femur angulation by a foot fixed to the ground that is struck by the side by another individual, there are no reports of fracture Salter-Harris type II by mechanism of hyperextension of the lower limb in the literature