Delayed Diagnosis in Pulmonary Embolism: Frequency, Patient Characteristics, and Outcome.

BACKGROUND: The incidence and the outcomes of pulmonary embolism (PE) missed during emergency department (ED) workup are largely unknown. OBJECTIVES: To describe the frequency, demographics, and outcomes of patients with delayed diagnosis of PE. METHODS: We retrospectively compared patients diagnosed with PE during ED workup (early diagnosis) with patients diagnosed with PE thereafter (delayed diagnosis). Electronic health records (EHR) of 123,560 consecutive patients who attended a tertiary hospital ED were screened. Data were matched with radiology and pathology results from the EHR. RESULTS: Of 1,119 patients presenting to the ED with early workup for PE, PE was diagnosed in 182 patients (80.5%) as early diagnosis. Delayed diagnosis was established in 44 cases (19.5%) using radiology and/or autopsy data. Median age of patients with early diagnosis was significantly lower as compared to delayed diagnosis (67 vs. 77.5 years). Main symptoms were dyspnea (109 patients [59.9%] in early, 20 patients [45.5%] in delayed diagnosis), chest pain (90 patients [49.5%] in early, 8 patients [18.2%] in delayed diagnosis), and nonspecific complaints (16 patients [8.8%] in early, 13 patients [29.5%] in delayed diagnosis). In-hospital mortality was 1.6% in early diagnosis and 43.2% in delayed diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Delayed diagnosis of PE carries a worse prognosis than early diagnosis. This discrepancy may arise from either delayed therapy, confounding variables (e.g., older age), or both. Possible reasons for delayed diagnoses are nonspecific presentations and symptoms overlapping with preexisting conditions.

Prospective randomised comparison of arthroscopic versus mini-open rotator cuff repair of the supraspinatus tendon.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to evaluate whether arthroscopic (ASC) repair of rotator cuff ruptures causes less postoperative pain and better range of motion (ROM) in the early postoperative period than a mini-open (MO) technique. METHODS: Inclusion criteria were a rupture of the supraspinatus tendon with retraction with a maximum to the apex of the humeral head and minor fatty degeneration and atrophy of the muscle. Each group (n = 17) had similar demographics and preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings (mean age 60.1 years, SD 8.8, range 43-71). The ASC group underwent double-row repair with resorbable anchors; the MO group received a transosseous repair. The postoperative rehabilitation was standardised and equivalent in both groups. RESULTS: In the first week fewer nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) tablets were needed in the ASC group. Pain scores on the visual analogue scale were similar in the first three weeks; however, from week four to eight the MO group had less pain (p < 0.05). After six months, the Constant-Murley score and the ROM improved significantly (p < 0.05) in both groups without differences between the groups. Postoperative MRI revealed in three of 16 patients a discontinuity of the tendon in both groups; in the ASC group there were more patients (n = 9) with a thinning of the tendon compared to the MO group (n = 6). CONCLUSIONS: There was less use of NSAIDs in the first postoperative week in the ASC group, indirectly indicating less pain, but higher pain scores in the later course (weeks four to eight) compared to the MO group. ROM, MRI findings and the scores were similar after six months, demonstrating that both techniques are equivalent regarding the outcome in this period.