Mean Serum Lactate Levels in Patients with Sepsis Presenting to the Department of Emergency Medicine of a Tertiary Care Center: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study.

Introduction: Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection. Serum lactate is useful in predicting the prognosis of critically ill patients. Elevated blood lactate levels as well as delayed clearance have been linked to higher mortality in sepsis. Shock index is a simple and effective bedside assessment means of gauging the degree of shock and is an important predictor of identifying high-risk patients. Monitoring lactate levels may aid clinicians in understanding tissue perfusion and detecting unrecognized shock and making prompt therapy adjustments. This study aimed to find out the mean serum lactate levels in patients with sepsis presenting to the Department of Emergency Medicine of a tertiary care centre. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care centre among the patient with sepsis presenting to the emergency department from 1 September 2022 to 30 November 2022. Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Committee of a tertiary care centre (Reference number: 26082022/02). History taking and detailed examination were done. Blood was sent for serum lactate and other parameters as proforma was sent. The shock index was calculated. Convenience sampling was done. Point estimate and 95% confidence interval were calculated. Results: Among 53 sepsis patients, the mean serum lactate level in sepsis patients was 2.84+2.02 (male: 2.83+1.70 and female: 2.85+2.42). Conclusions: The mean serum lactate level in patients with sepsis is similar as compared the studies done in similar settings. Keywords: emergencies; lactate; sepsis.

Dyslipidemia among Patients with Ischemic Stroke Admitted to the Department of Medicine of a Tertiary Care Centre.

Introduction: Sudden neurological deficits due to an acute focal vascular injury of the central nervous system is stroke. It is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Dyslipidemia is any abnormality in the parameter of the lipid profile which has been associated with stroke. The aim of this study was to find out the prevalence of dyslipidemia among patients with ischemic stroke in the Department of Medicine of a tertiary care centre. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in a tertiary care centre among admitted ischemic stroke patients from 5 August 2022 to 14 March 2023 after obtaining ethical approval from the Institutional Review Committee. Overnight fasting blood samples were collected for lipid profile. Convenience sampling method was used. The point estimate was calculated at a 95% Confidence Interval. Results: Among 79 ischemic stroke patients, 42 (53.16%) (42.09-64.23, at 95% Confidence Interval) had dyslipidemia where high cholesterol was seen in 21 (50%), high triglyceride in 22 (52.38%), high low-density lipoprotein 14 (33.33%) and low high-density lipoprotein in 20 (47.61%). Conclusions: The prevalence of dyslipidemia among ischemic stroke patients was lower than the similar studies done in similar settings. Keywords: cross-sectional studies; dyslipidemia; hyperlipidemias; ischemic stroke.