RESUMO
Introduction: Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a severe form of stroke with substantial morbidity and mortality worldwide. Despite its impact, research has often focused on ischemic strokes, making ICH an essential area to explore. Methods: A retrospective cohort study spanning 5 years was conducted in an Oman-based tertiary care teaching hospital's emergency room. Data from patients diagnosed with spontaneous ICH, confirmed by cranial CT scans, were analyzed. Ethical approval was obtained. Results: Among 163 emergency room (ER)-presented patients with ICH, 89 met the inclusion criteria. Most were male (69.66%), with hypertension (69/89) and diabetes mellitus (43/89) being common comorbidities. Hematoma size was a crucial predictor of poor outcomes, especially for larger hematomas (>60 cm³). Midline shift, intraventricular hemorrhages, elevated systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and low Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores were significantly associated with unfavorable outcomes. However, variables such as age, gender, history of heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, and anticoagulant use did not show significant associations with disability outcomes. Favorable outcomes (mRS <3) were observed in 47.2% of patients, while 30.3% had a major disability (mRS 3-5), and 22.5% succumbed to their illness (mRS 6). Conclusion: This study enhances our understanding of ICH outcomes, highlighting the importance of hematoma size, midline shift, intraventricular hemorrhage, blood pressure control, and GCS scores in predicting disability. Future research could explore additional prognostic factors and interventions for ICH patients. How to cite this article: Al-Alawi AKA, Hazra D, Al-Hassani MJK, Al-Jamoudi ASA. Unveiling the Crystal Ball: Predictors of Adverse Outcomes in Intracerebral Hemorrhage Patients. Indian J Crit Care Med 2023;27(12):895-901.
RESUMO
Objective: Multiple factors contribute to decision fatigue experienced by emergency physicians (EPs). This study examines the association between decision fatigue and the frequency of computed tomographic (CT) scan requests and inpatient referrals among EPs. Methods: This retrospective database analysis was done for 3 months. Scans and inpatient referral requests were coded and analyzed to assess the impact of physician fatigue on decision-making. Subsequently, the outcomes were evaluated. Results: The majority of patients (n = 481; 51.1%) had a CT brain request. Among these requests, the morning shift (8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.) accounted for the highest number (n = 400; 42.5%), followed by the evening shift (3:00-11:00 p.m.) (n = 345; 36.7%). Approximately one-third of the patients (n = 301; 31.9%) had positive CT scan findings. Statistical analysis comparing the first and the second halves of each shift did not reveal significant variations in the percentage of negative CT results (p-value: 0.093). Inpatient referral was necessary for over half of the patients (n = 1,048; 52.7%), and the majority of these referrals (n = 778; 74.2%) were deemed necessary for treatment under various surgical or medical specialties. There was a statistically significant difference in the proportion of negative inpatient referrals between the first and the second halves of the afternoon shift (p-value < 0.001). Conclusions: Fatigue among EPs was observed, leading to more frequent consultations without inpatient admission during the latter half of the afternoon shift. However, the study found no significant impact of decision fatigue on CT scan decision-making. How to cite this article: Al-Arimi AH, Hazra D, Al-Alawi AKA. Impact of Fatigue on Emergency Physicians' Decision-making for Computed Tomographic Scan Requests and Inpatient Referrals: An Observational Study from a Tertiary Care Medical Center of the Sultanate of Oman. Indian J Crit Care Med 2023;27(9):620-624.
