Universal Repositioning Maneuver: A New Treatment for Single Canal and Multi-Canal Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo by 3-Dimensional Model Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo is the most common peripheral vestibular disorder and is currently treated by many types of repositioning maneuvers. A simplification of this procedure would be desirable. A new, anatomically realistic, 3-dimensional computational simulator of the human labyrinth provides a novel insight to evaluate the viability of any new maneuver. The purpose of this study is to propose a single maneuver with potential to treat canalolithiasis-type benign paroxysmal positional vertigo of any individual canal, or even multiple canals on the same side, based on a 3-dimensional model. METHODS: The benign paroxysmal positional vertigo Viewer, a 3-dimensional model of the human labyrinth, was used to analyze a "Universal Repositioning Maneuver." RESULT: Through the gravity vector, the expected position of the otoliths was demonstrated by moving the model through a single sequence of head positions, successfully promoting otolith migration from the three semicircular canals to the utricular cavity, either individually or together. CONCLUSION: The analysis with the 3-dimensional model predicts the effectiveness of the Universal Repositioning Maneuver for the resolution of each single canal or multiple-canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo canalolithiasis, making treatment much more straightforward.

Multiple Jejunal diverticulosis complicated by perforation: case report and a brief literature review

Background: Multiple small-bowel diverticulosis comprises a rare entity with probable underestimated incidence, and that may be the reason why it is sometimes overlooked when managing cases with peritonitis. Case report: In the present paper, we report the case of a 76-year-old male presenting abdominal pain and fever in an acute setting. Computed tomography (CT) scans revealed jejunal thickening and numerous images of saccular addition that were interpreted as jejunoileal diverticulitis. After an initial period of clinical treatment, surgical management was indicated based on a worsening clinical picture and the presence of an extraluminal focus of gas detected in a subsequent CT scan. Through a laparoscopic approach, multiple small-bowel diverticula and a tamponade perforation were found. A segmental intestinal resection was performed, and the patient was discharged after a ten days. Conclusions: Multiple jejunal diverticulosis is a rare condition that should be remembered in the setting of an acute abdomen. As it prevails among older patients, early diagnosis with radiological aid is crucial to establish the most adequate management, including intestinal resection, if necessary. (AU)

The Role of the Smartphone in the Diagnosis of Vestibular Hypofunction: A Clinical Strategy for Teleconsultation during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond.

Introduction Vestibular disorders (VDs) are highly prevalent in primary care. Although in general they comprise conditions that are not life-threatening, they are associated with significant functional and physical disability. However, the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has imposed limitations on the standard treatment of benign conditions, including VDs. In this context, other resources may aid in the diagnosis and management of patients with VDs. It is well known that teleconsultation and teletreatment are both safe and effective alternatives to manage a variety of conditions, and we maintain that VDs should be among these. Objective To develop a preliminary model of clinical guidelines for the evaluation by teleconsultation of patients with suspected diagnosis of vestibular hypofunction during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Methods A bibliographic review of the diagnostic feasibility in VDs by teleconsultation was carried out in the LILACS, SciELO, MEDLINE, and PubMed databases; books and specialized websites were also consulted. The legal, regulatory, and technical issues involving digital consultations were reviewed. Results We found 6 field studies published between 1990 and 2020 in which the efficiency of teleconsultations was observed in the contexts of epidemics and environmental disorders and disadvantageous geographical conditions. After reviewing them, we proposed a strategy to examine and address vestibular complaints related to vestibular hypofunction. Conclusion The creation of a digital vestibular management algorithm for the identification, counseling, initial intervention, monitoring and targeting of people with possible vestibular hypofunction seems to be feasible, and it will provide a reasonable alternative to in-person evaluations during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

Teleconsultation and Teletreatment Protocol to Diagnose and Manage Patients with Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Introduction Telehealth consists in the application of technology to provide remote health service. This resource is considered safe and effective and has attracted an exponential interest in the context of the COVID pandemic. Expanded to dizzy patients, it would be able to provide diagnosis and treatment, minimizing the risk of disease transmission. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is the most common vestibular disorder. The diagnosis typically rests on the description of the symptoms along with the nystagmus observed at a well-established positional testing. Objectives The aim of the present study was to propose a teleconsultation and teletreatment protocol to manage patients with BPPV during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Specialists in the vestibular field met through remote access technologies to discuss the best strategy to manage BPPV patients by teleconsultation and teletreatment system. Additionally, several scientific sources were consulted. Technical issues, patient safety, and clinical assessment were independently analyzed. All relevant information was considered in order to design a clinical protocol to manage BPPV patients in the pandemic context. Results Teleconsultation for BPPV patients requires a double way (video and audio) digital system. An adapted informed consent to follow good clinical practice statements must be considered. The time, trigger and target eye bedside examination (TiTRaTe) protocol has proven to be a valuable first approach. The bow and lean test is the most rational screening maneuver for patients with suspected positional vertigo, followed by most specific maneuvers to diagnostic the sub-variants of BPPV. Conclusion Although with limited evidence, teleconsultation and teletreatment are both reasonable and feasible strategies for the management of patients with BPPV in adverse situations for face-to-face consultation.

Teleconsultation and Teletreatment Protocol to Diagnose and Manage Patients with Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract Introduction Telehealth consists in the application of technology to provide remote health service. This resource is considered safe and effective and has attracted an exponential interest in the context of the COVID pandemic. Expanded to dizzy patients, it would be able to provide diagnosis and treatment, minimizing the risk of disease transmission. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is the most common vestibular disorder. The diagnosis typically rests on the description of the symptoms along with the nystagmus observed at a well-established positional testing. Objectives The aim of the present study was to propose a teleconsultation and teletreatment protocol to manage patients with BPPV during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Specialists in the vestibular field met through remote access technologies to discuss the best strategy to manage BPPV patients by teleconsultation and teletreatment system. Additionally, several scientific sources were consulted. Technical issues, patient safety, and clinical assessment were independently analyzed. All relevant information was considered in order to design a clinical protocol to manage BPPV patients in the pandemic context. Results Teleconsultation for BPPV patients requires a double way (video and audio) digital system. An adapted informed consent to follow good clinical practice statements must be considered. The time, trigger and target eye bedside examination (TiTRaTe) protocol has proven to be a valuable first approach. The bow and lean test is the most rational screening maneuver for patients with suspected positional vertigo, followed by most specific maneuvers to diagnostic the sub-variants of BPPV. Conclusion Although with limited evidence, teleconsultation and teletreatment are both reasonable and feasible strategies for the management of patients with BPPV in adverse situations for face-to-face consultation.

Impact of lockdown on bed occupancy rate in a referral hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic in northeast Brazil

Abstract Coronaviruses are known to be responsible for infections in humans since the 1960s and have accounted for epidemics in recent human history. More recently, in 2019, a disease caused by a new coronavirus appeared in China, in the province of Wuhan, with a characteristic of greater infectivity, called COVID-19, which has caused a new world pandemic. Considering the need to contain the advance in the number of cases, based on the high rate of transmissibility, several countries have adopted extreme social distancing measures, including the so-called 'lockdown'. Despite the socioeconomic side effects, the aforementioned measure reduced the progression of the pandemic in countries that adopted it. In Brazil, the state of Ceará was one of the first epicenters of the disease in the country and the state capital city of Fortaleza, on May 8, implemented the lockdown measure to contain the increase in the number of cases. It was then observed, in a tertiary hospital, which is a referral for COVID-19 cases, a decrease in the daily occupancy rate of beds reserved for the pandemic after the lockdown onset, evidencing that this measure leads to a sustainable reduction in bed occupation rates, thus preventing the collapse and overload in health services.

Impact of lockdown on bed occupancy rate in a referral hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic in northeast Brazil.

Coronaviruses are known to be responsible for infections in humans since the 1960s and have accounted for epidemics in recent human history. More recently, in 2019, a disease caused by a new coronavirus appeared in China, in the province of Wuhan, with a characteristic of greater infectivity, called COVID-19, which has caused a new world pandemic. Considering the need to contain the advance in the number of cases, based on the high rate of transmissibility, several countries have adopted extreme social distancing measures, including the so-called 'lockdown'. Despite the socioeconomic side effects, the aforementioned measure reduced the progression of the pandemic in countries that adopted it. In Brazil, the state of Ceará was one of the first epicenters of the disease in the country and the state capital city of Fortaleza, on May 8, implemented the lockdown measure to contain the increase in the number of cases. It was then observed, in a tertiary hospital, which is a referral for COVID-19 cases, a decrease in the daily occupancy rate of beds reserved for the pandemic after the lockdown onset, evidencing that this measure leads to a sustainable reduction in bed occupation rates, thus preventing the collapse and overload in health services.

Avaliação de dor e do perfil epidemiológico, de pacientes atendidos no pronto-socorro de um hospital universitário / Pain and epidemiologic evaluation of patients seen by the first aid unit of a teaching hospital

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: Dor é um dos principais motivos de procura por pronto-atendimento. No entanto, nem sempre é bem avaliada, documentada e tratada. O objetivo deste estudo foi descrever o perfil epidemiológico, caracterização da dor, tratamento analgésico instituído e satisfação de pacientes atendidos no pronto-socorro (PS) de um Hospital Universitário (HC). MÉTODO: Estudo prospectivo, transversal, realizado com 309 pacientes atendidos no PS/HC da Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro (UFTM). As informações foram coletadas a partir de instrumento contendo identificação, dados sócio-demográficos, avaliação de dor pela escala numérica de dor (END), prescrição de analgésicos, satisfação com a analgesia. RESULTADOS: Houve predomínio do sexo masculino, cor branca e com ensino fundamental. Média de idade 46,7 anos. Desempregados: 10% e 15% aposentados. Prevalência de dor 45,6%. Principais causas: traumatismos, dor abdominal, cefaleia, picada por animais peçonhentos, vasculopatias. Cerca de 5% dos pacientes foram atendidos com menos de 1h de dor e 40% com mais de 72h. A localização mais comum foi abdômen (25,2%) e membros inferiores (MMII) (23,4%). A dor foi intensa em dois terços dos pacientes, com intensidade média na admissão de 7,8 ± 2,1 pela END. Tempo de melhora após analgesia: menor que 30 minutos para 25% dos pacientes. Em 17,7% dos casos de dor, não houve prescrição analgésica. O analgésico mais prescrito foi a dipirona, com ou sem associação. Apenas 30% tiveram resolução da dor. Apesar destes dados, metade dos pacientes, disseram-se satisfeitos com a analgesia. CONCLUSÃO: A dor foi altamente prevalente no pronto-atendimento, pouco valorizada, mal avaliada e subtratada, com baixa resolutividade e prescrição inadequada de analgésicos.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Pain is s major reason for seeking emergency care. However it is not always accurately evaluated, documented and managed. This study aimed at describing the epidemiologic profile, the characterization of pain, the analgesic treatment instituted and the satisfaction of patients seen by the first aid unit (FA) of a Teaching Hospital (TH). METHOD: This is a prospective transversal study carried out with 309 patients seen by the FA/TH of the Federal University, Triângulo Mineiro (UFTM). Information was collected as from a tool with identification, socio-demographic data, pain evaluation by the pain numerical scale (PNS), analgesics prescription and satisfaction with analgesia. RESULTS: There has been predominance of Caucasian males with basic education. Mean age was 46.7 years. Unemployed were 10% and retired 15%. Pain prevalence was 45.6%. Major causes: traumas, abdominal pain, headache, bites by venomous animals and vasculopathies. Approximately 5% of patients were seen with less than 1 hour of pain and 40% with more than 72 hours. Most common sites were abdomen (25.2%) and lower limbs (MMII) (23.4%). Pain was severe in two thirds of patients, with mean intensity at admission of 7.8 ± 2.1 by PNS. Improvement time after analgesia: less than 30 minutes for 25% of patients. There has been no analgesic prescription for 17.7% of cases. Most prescribed analgesic was dipirone, with or without association. Only 30% had pain resolution. In spite of these data, half the patients reported being happy with analgesia. CONCLUSION: Pain was highly prevalent during first aid visits, was poorly valued and undertreated, with low resolution rate and inadequate analgesics prescription.