Hypercoagulable State in COVID-19: A Case Series of Three Patients.

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that originated in China in late 2019, has caused significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Although fever, cough, and shortness of breath have been recognized as hallmark symptoms, other lesser known complications continue to be described. We report a series of three patients who presented to the emergency department, who tested positive for COVID-19, and were found to have or subsequently developed thromboembolic complications.

Ingested Fish Bone Lodged in the Vallecula.

Although foreign body ingestions are less common in adults than children, when they do occur, it is often due to a fish or chicken bone. The authors present a case of a fish bone ingestion, and highlight its appearance on imaging.

Delta Lactate (Three-hour Lactate Minus Initial Lactate) Prediction of In-hospital Death in Sepsis Patients.

This study examines the relationship between serial serum lactate levels and in-hospital mortality in an adult cohort of emergency department patients with severe sepsis or septic shock. Of the 164 patients in the cohort, 130 also got three-hour lactate in addition to the initial one. The median initial lactate was 3.01 (interquartile range [IQR]: 1.71-4.62). The median repeat lactate was 2.58 (IQR: 1.4-3.9). The in-hospital death rate was 23% for men and 29% for women. The delta lactate was significantly higher in women (P=0.0070), driven by a lower initial lactate (P=0.0277). In a multivariate regression model controlled for age and gender, a statistically significant correlation was noted between an increase in the delta lactate and in-hospital death (P=0.0323; R2=11.3%). The results of this single-center study suggest that an increase in serum lactic acid is significantly associated with higher in-hospital death.

Ruptured Hepatic Artery Aneurysm.

Aneurysmal ruptures are a life-threatening pathology, and while the aorta is the principal location, any aneurysmal rupture can be fatal. Most result from chronic diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes, and vasculitis. Nevertheless, a rupture can result in acute decompensation and must be recognized and addressed quickly to limit morbidity and mortality. The authors describe a case of a 66-year-old female who presented to the emergency department (ED) for abdominal pain and syncope. Even though imaging did not explicitly show the specific site of rupture of the hepatic artery, the positive Rapid Ultrasound for Shock and Hypotension (RUSH) exam and aortic dissection on computed tomography angiography along with her clinical picture (hypotension, abdominal pain, decreased capillary refill, grey skin) raised our suspicions for critical pathology. Exploratory laparotomy revealed a ruptured hepatic artery aneurysm. Her hospital course was complicated by ischemic necrosis of the gallbladder, spleen, and liver, requiring cholecystectomy, splenectomy, and partial hepatectomy, but she was discharged to rehabilitation and expected to make a recovery. This case displays the importance of using ultrasonography early to aid in expedited diagnosis and treatment as well as maintaining a high suspicion for vascular pathology in the setting of hemorrhagic shock.

Serum Procalcitonin Level Is Associated with Positive Blood Cultures, In-hospital Mortality, and Septic Shock in Emergency Department Sepsis Patients.

This study examines the accuracy of initial and subsequent serum procalcitonin (PCT) levels in predicting positive blood cultures, in-hospital mortality, and development of septic shock in emergency department (ED) patients with severe sepsis. This study includes all patients who presented to our ED with an admission diagnosis of severe sepsis over a period of nine months. The median initial PCT was 0.58 ng/mL, interquartile range (IQR) 0.16-5.39. The median subsequent serum PCT was 2.1 ng/mL, with an IQR of 0.3-11.1. The PCT trend over the initial three hours increased in 67% of the study population. Blood cultures were positive in 38% of the cohort. The median maximum PCT in those with a negative blood culture was 1.06 ng/mL compared to 4.19 ng/mL in those with a positive blood culture (p=0.0116). Serum PCT levels >2.0 ng/mL display significant correlation with positive blood cultures, in-hospital mortality, and development of septic shock and as such may serve as a biomarker for more serious infections.

Assembly Line Education: A Novel Educational Technique for Today's Learners.

Background Education is undergoing a transformation. The traditional passive lectures are failing to capture and inspire the new generation of learners who value more active and collaborative learning techniques. Objective We sought to create a novel educational technique to integrate into our curriculum that would be more personalized, employ more active learning and collaboration, and allow for an effective assessment of resident strengths and weaknesses. Discussion We created a monthly assembly line education academic half-day that evolved to replace one of the typical in-classroom didactics each month. Faculty run small-group simulation rooms, procedure workshops, competitive ultrasound, and wellness stations through which residents and medical students rotate. Conclusion This novel education technique resulted in a more personalized approach that increased resident interest, sparked the creation of a very popular MedEd-Simulation elective, and allowed the faculty to gain a better sense of resident strengths and deficiencies.

Respiratory Distress with Minimal Exertion: A Case of 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pneumonia.

Description COVID-19 is a new coronavirus that can cause severe respiratory distress. Interestingly, patients can present with COVID-19 and appear relatively well but with significant hypoxia, even with minimal movement. The authors present the case of a well-appearing gentleman who became acutely short of breath while undergoing chest imaging, stating he could not breathe. He tested positive for COVID-19 and recovered. His presentation, clinical course and imaging findings are discussed.

Symptomatic May-Thurner Syndrome Without Deep Venous Thrombosis.

The authors present a case of symptomatic May-Thurner syndrome in the absence of a deep venous thrombosis. This is an unusual case, as most cases are diagnosed with a deep venous thrombosis as the underlying finding. The clinical presentation and suggested diagnostic workup are discussed. A key point is the need to consider this frequently under-diagnosed condition. Optimal management is often with a stent, but if not diagnosed, the patient can develop unnecessary clot burden, be placed on lifelong anticoagulation, or both.

Radial Head Dislocation with Elbow Subluxation in an Adult.

Isolated radial head subluxation without fracture, commonly referred to as "nursemaid's elbow," is one of the most common pediatric upper extremity injuries. Radial head dislocation without an associated fracture is rarely seen in adults. They are usually associated with ulnar fractures or an elbow dislocation. We present a case of an adult female presenting with a radial head dislocation and an elbow subluxation sustained while dressing, which was successfully reduced using the techniques commonly used to reduce nursemaid's elbow in pediatric patients.

Effect of a Novel Engagement Strategy Using Twitter on Test Performance.

INTRODUCTION: Medical educators in recent years have been using social media for more penetrance to technologically-savvy learners. The utility of using Twitter for curriculum content delivery has not been studied. We sought to determine if participation in a social media-based educational supplement would improve student performance on a test of clinical images at the end of the semester. METHODS: 116 second-year medical students were enrolled in a lecture-based clinical medicine course, in which images of common clinical exam findings were presented. An additional, optional assessment was performed on Twitter. Each week, a clinical presentation and physical exam image (not covered in course lectures) were distributed via Twitter, and students were invited to guess the exam finding or diagnosis. After the completion of the course, students were asked to participate in a slideshow "quiz" with 24 clinical images, half from lecture and half from Twitter. RESULTS: We conducted a one-way analysis of variance to determine the effect Twitter participation had on total, Twitter-only, and lecture-only scores. Twitter participation data was collected from the end-of-course survey and was defined as submitting answers to the Twitter-only questions "all or most of the time", "about half of the time", and "little or none of the time." We found a significant difference in overall scores (p<0.001) and in Twitter-only scores (p<0.001). There was not enough evidence to conclude a significant difference in lecture-only scores (p=0.124). Students who submitted answers to Twitter "all or most of the time" or "about half the time" had significantly higher overall scores and Twitter-only scores (p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively) than those students who only submitted answers "little or none of the time." CONCLUSION: While students retained less information from Twitter than from traditional classroom lecture, some retention was noted. Future research on social media in medical education would benefit from clear control and experimental groups in settings where quantitative use of social media could be measured. Ultimately, it is unlikely for social media to replace lecture in medical curriculum; however, there is a reasonable role for social media as an adjunct to traditional medical education.