Prognostic value of lactate to hematocrit ratio score in patients with severe thoracoabdominal trauma.

BACKGROUND: Significant portion of trauma-related deaths occur in the 1st h; therefore, rapid diagnosis and adequate resuscita-tion in trauma patients are essential preventing mortality. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the role of lactate-to-hematocrite ratio (LHR) score for predicting mortality in patients with severe thoracoabdominal trauma. METHODS: In this retrospective, cross-sectional study, we evaluated patients who applied to the emergency room between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2019, due to multiple trauma. We measured the blood gas analysis values and LHR score of patients with severe thoracoabdominal trauma included in the study and investigated the effectiveness of the LHR score in predicting mortality. RESULTS: 106 patients with severe thoracoabdominal trauma were included in the study. The 30-day mortality rate of the patients was 42.5% (n=45). Considering the 30-day mortality rates, the initial hematocrit, lactate, base deficit, and LHR score were statistically different between patients who died and survived. When the cutoff value for the LHR score was taken as 0.187 on the ROC curve to distinguish mortality, the sensitivity was found to be 77.8%, specificity to be 90.2%. CONCLUSION: LHR score is an effective parameter with high sensitivity and specificity in predicting mortality in patients with severe thoracoabdominal trauma.

Effect of Coronary Thrombus Aspiration in Non ST Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome Patients on Three-Year Survival- Does it add any Benefit?

We assessed the effect of thrombus aspiration (TA) during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on in-hospital and 3-year mortality in consecutive non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (n = 189) and unstable angina pectoris (n = 148) patients (n = 337) between 2011 and 2016. In total, 153 patients (45.4%) underwent TA. The number of patients with postoperative thrombolysis in terms of myocardial infarction grade 3 blood flow (P < .001) and myocardial blush grade 3 (P < .001) were significantly higher in all TA groups. At 6-, 12- and 24-month post-PCI, the mean left ventricular ejection fraction was significantly higher in the all TA groups versus the stand alone PCI group (P < .001). Thrombus aspiration was associated with a significant improvement both in epicardial flow, myocardial perfusion and left ventricular ejection fraction. Thrombus aspiration during PCI in all acute coronary syndrome (except ST segment elevation) patients was associated with better survival compared with stand alone PCI group at 3-year follow-up (P = .019).

Do we really know the duration of pain after rib fracture?

INTRODUCTION: The duration of pain after rib fracture is the question physicians are most frequently asked. The duration of pain following a traumatic rib fracture without any comorbidity is not widely published. AIM: We report our experience to investigate the duration of pain following isolated traumatic rib fractures without any traumatic comorbidity. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We examined 182 patients with isolated rib fracture without any trauma to other body parts. The numeric rating scale (NRS) for pain was used to rate the level of pain. The NRS pain scores were evaluated in the emergency department at presentation, on the 15th day, and at the 3rd and 6th months of trauma. The Mann-Whitney U test was performed for the statistical analysis. RESULTS: The pain level of young patients on the 15th day and at the third month and sixth month was lower than that in the old group, and the difference was statistically significant. While patients with two rib fractures had a higher pain level in the emergency room than those with one rib fracture, there was no statistically significant difference at other time points. In patients with anterior fractures, the pain level was significantly lower than in the lateral and posterior regions, whereas in the lateral fractures, the pain score was significantly higher than others at all time points except at the 6th month. The pain score of displaced fractures was significantly higher than that of non-displaced ones at all time points except the 6-month follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Rib fractures cause significant pain and need appropriate medication. The time of the 6th month could be an important milestone.

Multislice computed tomographic measurements of optic nerve sheath diameter in brain injury patients.

BACKGROUND: Currently, the measurement of optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) has been offered as a possible indicator of intracranial pressure (ICP). Increased ICP is observed during intracranial injury. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between increased ONSD and positive intracranial findings from multislice computed tomography (CT) of the brain. METHODS: In total, CT scans of 161 patients were retrospectively reviewed. The image that showed the largest ONSD was magnified five times. RESULTS: The CT scan revealed intracranial lesions in 54 patients and no intracranial lesions in 107 patients. A significant relationship was observed between positive CT findings and increased ONSD: 5.60±0.75 mm vs. 5.35±0.75 mm (p=0.038). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.600 (95% confidence interval, 0.508-0.692; p<0.039). A cut-off value of ≥5.0 mm had a sensitivity and specificity of 80% and 36%, respectively. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated a significant yet poor relationship between intracranial injury and increased ONSD from the multislice CT scan. Severe structural changes in the brain and trauma that causes bleeding have only limited effects on the extension of the optic nerve.

Prognostic value of plasma ST2 in patients with non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to detect plasma ST2 levels in patients who were admitted to emergency department with chest pain and diagnosed with non st segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and to research the relationship between 28-day mortality and ST2 levels. METHODS: The present study was conducted at Emergency Department of Celal Bayar University Hafsa Sultan Hospital between September 2015 and January 2016 as a prospective, single-center, cross-sectional study. Plasma ST2 levels were detected in patients who were diagnosed with NSTEMI based on physical examination, ECG and troponin. The eligible patients were followed up with regard to mortality during 28 days. RESULTS: A total of 88 patients diagnosed with NSTEMI were included in the study and followed up for 28 days. While 18 (20.5%) patients died at the end of 28 days, 70 (79.5%) patients survived. Mean ST2 level of surviving 70 patients was 651.37 ±â€¯985.66 pg/mL and mean ST2 level of dying 18 patients was 2253.66 ±â€¯1721.15 pg/mL (p < 0.001). ST2 value was higher among the dying (non-survivors) compared to the survivors at the end of 28 days and this was found related to mortality. ST2 cut-off value was found as 1000 pg/mL with 72.2% sensitivity and 20.0% specificity. CONCLUSION: Among the patients who were diagnosed with NSTEMI at the emergency department, ST2 levels on admission were found significantly higher among the non-survivors compared to the survivors. ST2 level was accepted as a reliable biomarker for prediction of 28 mortality in patients diagnosed with NSTEMI.

Oblique Chest X-Ray: An Alternative Way to Detect Pneumothorax.

PURPOSE: To identify occult pneumothorax with oblique chest X-ray (OCXR) in clinically suspected patients. METHODS: In this retrospective study, we examined 1082 adult multitrauma patients who were admitted to our emergency service between January 2016 and January 2017. Clinical findings that suggest occult pneumothorax were rib fracture, flail chest, chest pain, subcutaneous emphysema, abrasion or ecchymosis and moderate to severe hypoxia in clinical parameters. All of these patients underwent anteroposterior chest X-ray (APCXR), but no pneumothorax could be detected. Upon this, OCXR was performed using mobile X-ray equipment. RESULTS: Traumatic pneumothorax was observed in 421 (38.9%) of 1082 patients. We applied OCXR to 26 multitrauma patients. Occult pneumothorax was evaluated at 22 patients (2.03%) in 1082 multitrauma patients. The 22 patients who had multitrauma occult pneumothorax on OCXR were internated at intensive care unit (ICU) and follow-up was done using OCXR and APCXR. CONCLUSIONS: OCXR can be an alternative imaging technique to identify occult pneumothorax in some trauma patients at emergency room and also follow period at ICU.

Diagnosis of delayed diffuse axonal Injury.

Diffuse axonal injury is usually caused by head trauma, and patients have significant clinical symptoms during admission to the emergency department. In our case, we present a five-year-old patient who was involved in a car accident. During admission to the emergency department, the patient had no symptoms of trauma. However, 6 h after admission to emergency service, neurological symptoms occurred, and mental status changed. Diffuse axonal injury (DAI) is characterized by diffuse nerve axon injury in the brain and brainstem. This is one of the worst results of a head trauma and occurs in one-third of the patients admitted to the hospital with head trauma. In some studies, it has been reported that diffuse axonal injury is permanent in accelerated and decelerated head traumas without accompanying loss of consciousness. Neurological sequels have occurred in the recovery phase of some patients with diffuse axonal damage. In this study, we present a delayed diffuse axonal injury case accompanying a head trauma.

Prognostic value of serum pregnancy-associated plasma protein A level at the initial ED presentation in elderly patients with CAP.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to compare serum pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) levels in surviving and nonsurviving elderly patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), investigating whether PAPP-A is correlated with CAP prediction scores and whether PAPP-A can successfully predict 28-day mortality rates in elderly patients. METHODS: This prospective, observational, single-center, cross-sectional study was conducted at the emergency department (ED) of Celal Bayar University Hospital in Manisa, Turkey, between January and September 2014. All patients underwent follow-up evaluations 28 days after admission. The end point was defined as all-cause mortality. RESULTS: A total of 100 elderly patients (mean age, 77.3 ± 7.6 years [range, 65-94 years]); 60% men) with CAP were enrolled in this study. All-cause mortality at the 28-day follow-up evaluation was 22%. Admission PAPP-A levels were significantly higher in nonsurvivors compared with 28-day survivors (10.3 ± 4.5 vs 3.8 ± 2.6 ng/mL, P < .001). A significant and positive correlation between admission PAPP-A levels and pneumonia severity index; confusion, oxygen saturation, respiratory rate, blood pressure, and age 75 years or older; and confusion, urea, respiratory rate, blood pressure, and age older than 65 years scores was found (r = .440, P < .001; r = .395, P < .001; and r = .359, P < .001, respectively). Moreover, we determined that the optimal PAPP-A cutoff for predicting 28-day mortality at the time of ED admission was 5.1 ng/mL, with 77.3% sensitivity and 77.9% specificity. CONCLUSIONS: Serum PAPP-A level is valuable for predicting mortality and the severity of the disease among elderly patients with CAP at ED admission. Thus, PAPP-A might play a further role in the clinical assessment of the severity of CAP.

Combination of mean platelet volume and the CURB-65 score better predicts 28-day mortality in patients with community-acquired pneumonia.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate whether mean platelet volume (MPV) is correlated with the CURB-65 (Confusion, Urea, Respiratory rate, Blood pressure, >65 years of age) score, and whether a combination of the CURB-65 score with MPV could better predict the 28-day mortality in patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). METHODS: This prospective, observational, single-center, and cross-sectional study was conducted at emergency department (ED) between September 1, 2013, and July 31, 2014. All patients underwent follow-up evaluations 28 days after admission. The end point was defined as all-cause mortality. RESULTS: A total of 174 patients (mean age, 66.7 ± 15.8 years; 66.1% men) with CAP were enrolled in this study. All-cause mortality at the 28-day follow-up evaluation was 16.1%. A significant and inverse correlation between MPV and CURB-65 score was found (R = -.58, P < .001). We determined that the optimal MPV cutoff for predicting 28-day mortality at the time of ED admission was 8.55 fL, with a 75.0% sensitivity and a 75.3% specificity. For the prediction of 28-day mortality, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.819 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.740-0.898; P < .001) when the CURB-65 score was used alone, whereas it increased to 0.895 (95% CI, 0.819-0.936; P < .001) with the addition of MPV to the score. CONCLUSIONS: Mean platelet volume level is valuable for predicting mortality and the severity of disease among patients with CAP at ED admission. Furthermore, a combination of CURB-65 score and MPV can enhance the predictive accuracy of 28-day mortality.