The Oldest Old in the Emergency Department: Impact of Renal Function.

OBJECTIVES: The ageing population implicates an increasing numbers of older adults attending Emergency Departments (ED). We assessed the effect of estimated glomerular filtration rate as a predictor of clinical outcomes in oldest-old patients ≥ 85 years attending the ED in an university teaching hospital. DESIGN: Within three years, 81831 patient contacts were made in our ED. 7799 (9.5%) were older than 85 years, in whom we analyzed the impact of renal function on various outcome parameters. Furthermore, this patient group was compared to the patients < 85 years. RESULTS: Within the group of patients ≥ 85 years, not older age, but as denominator decreased glomerular filtration rate led to significant longer hospital stays. In addition, impaired kidney function was associated with lower heart rates, lower blood pressure, lower oxygenation, a higher rate of established ambulant care setting, as well as higher mortality. Compared to younger patients, the oldest-old significantly differed with regard to medical attribution (e.g. internal medicine, surgery), sex distribution, length of hospital stay, Manchester triage score, Glasgow Coma Scale, visual analogue pain scale, heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation as well as fall prophylaxis, outpatient care, and presence of relatives. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, in this large collective of oldest-old patients, impaired kidney function seems to be a more important determinant in adverse outcome and thus increased health care costs than age per se. Adapted strategies in EDs to adjust diagnostic and treatment strategies for this population are thus warranted.

[Rheumatic patients in the intensive care unit]. / Der rheumatologische Patient auf der Intensivstation.

The mortality of patients with rheumatic diseases in the intensive care unit is generally high despite their relatively young age. In these patients, it is often difficult to make the diagnosis of the underlying autoimmune disease or to differentiate between septic complications and an acute flare; likewise, the complexity of the specific antirheumatic therapy can also be accompanied by problems. The following article gives an overview of problems in the diagnosis and treatment of critically ill patients with autoimmune diseases in the intensive care unit.

Clinical signs in the diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis.

AIM: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is an insidious disease wherein more than 15 different clinical signs are described. The aim of this work was to focus on these clinical signs and to test them for their importance in making a diagnosis of DVT. METHODS: All patients treated with a tentative diagnosis of DVT in the emergency department were asked to take part in the study. Out of the 254 patients who were examined in order to exclude DVT, 204 patients agreed to participate in the study. The patients who agreed to take part were tested for fifteen clinical examination signs. The Wells score was then determined. RESULTS: Sixty-two were diagnosed with DVT. For 142 patients, DVT could be ruled out. The probability of DVT for 9 signs together is 88%, and for 3 signs is 78%. The negative predictive values are 91-95%. The combination of the clinical signs showed a specificity of 100%, independent if the patients were old, comorbid, and were diagnosed with the thrombosis in the lower limbs. The determination of the Wells score resulted in no convincing evidence for or against the diagnosis of DVT. CONCLUSION: We suggest a modified Wells score integrating missing clinical signs with more reliable predictive values. Even with the availability of ultrasound, clinical signs have not become superfluous. They are quick to carry out, safe, cheap and an important addition to the Wells score, particularly for multimorbid and elderly patients.

[41-year old patient with obscure diarrhea]. / 41-jähriger Patient mit unklarer Diarrhö

Chronic inflammatory diseases can induce further complications such as secondary amyloidosis. Being a rare but serious complication it affects typically the kidneys resulting in a nephrotic syndrome. Further sites of AA amyloid deposition are liver, heart and the autonomic nervous system. We report about a patient with congenital neutropenia, AA amyloidosis and chronic intestinal bowel inflammation due to amyloid deposition in the bowel.

[A 36-year old female patient presenting with hypoglycemic coma]. / Hypoglykämisches Koma bei einer 36-jährigen Patientin.

A 36-year-old female was admitted to the emergency department with a hypoglycemic shock of unknown origin. Initial diagnostic procedures could exclude diabetes mellitus, postprandial hypoglycemia, insulinoma, tumor, drug side effects, and exogenous insulin application. Detailed evaluation of the patient's history revealed that the patient had not been able to lactate after an uncomplicated pregnancy and delivery 3 years ago. Endocrinological evaluation showed a complete adrenocorticotropic insufficiency caused by a Sheehan syndrome. Concomitantly, an empty sella syndrome was visible in MRI. Even after an uncomplicated delivery and even with normal laboratory values, Sheehan-Syndrome can become manifest in a hypoglycemic shock due to hypopituitarism with insufficiency of the adrenocorticotropic axis.

[Acute emesis]. / Akutes Erbrechen. Lebensgefahr für Kinder, Alte und Schwerkranke.

Causes of acute vomiting are mostly harmless and readily amenable to treatment, so that the condition thus has a good prognosis. In more rare cases, however, it might also be a symptom accompanying a more serious--even life-threatening--illness. A meticulous diagnostic investigation and effective treatment is therefore mandatory.