Urine in the lung: An uncommon cause of transudative pleural effusion.

Urinothorax [UT], the accumulation of urine in the pleural space, is an uncommon cause of pleural effusions resulting from trauma, obstruction, or iatrogenic causes. Thoracentesis with pleural fluid analysis and evaluation of biochemical characteristics, such as pleural fluid creatinine (PCr) to serum creatinine ratio (Scr), is necessary to establish this diagnosis. This case illustrates a 93 year old man with a complicated past medical history including chronic kidney disease stage 4, adenocarcinoma of the prostate status post brachytherapy complicated by proctitis, high grade transitional cell carcinoma of the right kidney with right hydronephrosis, and recurrent hematuria who was hospitalized for worsening hematuria and suprapubic pain. The patients CXR showed a large right pleural effusion. A repeat thoracentesis was performed removing 1.85L clear yellow fluid. PCr and SCr were 4.1 mg/dl and 3.94 mg/dL respectively. This confirmed the diagnosis of UT with a PCr to SCr ratio of 1.04. Again, diagnosis requires pleural fluid analysis and is associated with a paucicellular, transudative effusion with an ammonia-like odor, acidotic pH less than 7.4, and a PCr to SCr ratio greater than 1.0. Management is dependent on correcting the underlying pathology, such as repairing traumatic GU injury or obstruction.

Photoplethysmographic Signal to Screen Sleep-Disordered Breathing in Hospitalized Heart Failure Patients: Feasibility of a Prospective Clinical Pathway.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the plethysmographic signal-derived oxygen desaturation index (ODI) as an inpatient screening strategy to identify sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). BACKGROUND: SDB is highly prevalent among patients hospitalized with CHF but is widely underdiagnosed. We evaluated overnight photoplethysmography as a possible screening strategy for hospitalized patients with CHF. METHODS: Consecutively admitted heart failure patients with high clinical suspicion of SDB and ODI ≥5 were offered outpatient polysomnography (PSG), which was completed within 4 weeks of discharge. PSG was considered positive if the apnea hypoxia index (AHI) was ≥5. A Bland-Altman plot was used to assess agreement between ODI and AHI. Receiver-operator characteristics were determined for ODI ≥5 and AHI ≥5. RESULTS: A screening questionnaire identified 246 of 282 consecutive patients with positive symptoms for SDB. Of these patients, 105 patients were offered further evaluation and 86 had ODI ≥5 (mean ODI 17 ± 17). Among these 86 patients, 68 underwent outpatient PSG within 4 weeks of discharge. PSG showed that 64 (94%) had SDB, with a mean AHI of 28. Inpatient ODI correlated well with PSG-derived AHI. The area under the curve was 0.82 for AHI ≥5. The Bland-Altman plot revealed no major bias. Matthew's correlation coefficient revealed that the optimal cut-off for ODI is 5. CONCLUSIONS: Screening hospitalized patients with heart failure using targeted inpatient ODI identifies a cohort of patients with a high prevalence of SDB. Our screening strategy provides a potentially cost-effective method for early detection and treatment of SDB.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Obese Hospitalized Patients: A Single Center Experience.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is an important health problem associated with significant morbidity and mortality. This condition often is underrecognized in hospitalized patients. The aim of this study was to conduct a clinical pathway evaluation (CPE) among obese patients admitted to a tertiary care hospital. We also assessed oxygen desaturation index (ODI, measured by overnight pulse oximetry) as a potential low-cost screening tool for identifying OSA. METHODS: This was a prospective study of 754 patients admitted to an academic medical center between February 2013 and February 2014. Consecutive obese patients (body mass index ≥ 30) admitted to the hospital (medical services) were screened and evaluated for OSA with the snoring, tiredness during daytime, observed apnea, high blood pressure (STOP) questionnaire. The admitting team was advised to perform follow-up evaluation, including polysomnography, if the test was positive. RESULTS: A total of 636 patients were classified as high risk and 118 as low risk for OSA. Within 4 w of discharge, 149 patients underwent polysomnography, and of these, 87% (129) were shown to have OSA. An optimal screening cutoff point for OSA (apnea-hypopnea index ≥ 10/h) was determined to be ODI ≥ 10/h [Matthews correlation coefficient = 0.36, 95% confidence interval = 0.24-0.47]. Significantly more hospitalized patients were identified and underwent polysomnography compared with the year prior to introduction of the CPE. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that the CPE increased the identification of OSA in this population. Furthermore, ODI derived from overnight pulse oximetry may be a cost-effective strategy to screen for OSA in hospitalized patients.