Selective Arterial Catheterization as a Bridging Therapy for Blunt Traumatic Aortic Injury With Intraperitoneal Organ Malperfusion.

Blunt thoracic aortic injury (BTAI) is fatal and requires thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for its optimal management. Performing TEVAR requires multidisciplinary specialists and supportive facilities.  We report a case of an 89-year-old man who presented to the emergency department with blunt trauma. Whole-body computed tomography (CT) revealed grade II aortic injury with disrupted blood flow to the left kidney. Sudden paralysis of the left lower extremity and distal progression of the aortic dissection occurred. However, TEVAR could not be performed immediately. Therefore, an external shunt from the right common femoral artery to the left lower extremity was created with angioplasty, superior mesenteric artery (SMA) stenting, and celiac artery (CA) balloon dilatation. The patient's condition stabilized, and he was transferred to a hospital where TEVAR was performed. Selective arterial catheterization (SAC) for treating intraperitoneal organ malperfusion caused by BTAI may be an effective bridging therapy for TEVAR.

Understanding the Trajectory to a Diagnosis of Tetanus: A Descriptive Study.

Background and objective Tetanus is a rare but potentially fatal disease in developed countries, including Japan. It is very difficult to diagnose this condition early because of its broad symptomatology and the lack of familiarity with tetanus among both physicians and patients. In this study, we aimed to describe the clinical manifestations of tetanus and to examine as to which departments/branches of medicine patients consult in order to provide helpful information for diagnosing this challenging condition. Materials and methods This was a descriptive, retrospective study conducted at a single tertiary hospital from January 2011 to December 2021. Patients with generalized tetanus, cephalic tetanus, and local tetanus presenting to our emergency department were included in the study. We examined the clinical manifestations and departments that patients with tetanus visited first. Additionally, the initial diagnosis and diagnostic evaluation before the diagnosis were examined. Results Of the total 10 patients included in the study, nine had generalized tetanus and one had cephalic tetanus; the common initial manifestations were neck stiffness (30%), dysarthria (20%), and trismus (20%). Of note, 80% of patients also complained of dysphagia before the diagnosis. Patients first visited various departments, including a dental clinic (30%) and the department of otorhinolaryngology (20%). Only two patients were accurately diagnosed with tetanus at the first department they visited. Physicians performed head imaging for all the patients. Conclusions Based on our findings, in Japan, patients with tetanus present with symptoms that physicians interpret or suspect to be associated with disorders of the central nervous system. Meanwhile, patients themselves tend to consider the symptoms as indicative of oral or dental issues. Further prospective studies involving a larger number of participants are needed to investigate the clinical course of tetanus until the establishment of a diagnosis.

A Phenytoin-Induced Ataxia Mimicking a Stroke.

Acute ataxia is commonly the chief complaint among patients visiting the emergency department (ED). It has multiple causes including infection and immunity-related, metabolic, vascular, and organic causes. Therefore, treating physicians should consider the severity and timing of onset in relation to the initial screening tests when making a differential diagnosis, and must be careful not to miss cases that require urgent treatment, such as stroke and drug-induced ataxia. In this report, we describe the case of a 53-year-old woman with recurrent acute ataxia. She had a history of epilepsy but had not had a seizure for over 10 years. She presented to the ED with ataxia that had started the previous evening. She reported two previous episodes of acute ataxia 14 and 4 days previously. She had visited two different hospitals, and undergone two head magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans which showed no evidence of a stroke, and had been diagnosed with transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) at both hospitals. She underwent a third head MRI during the ED visit, which again revealed no evidence of a stroke. The plasma levels of phenytoin, carbamazepine, and valproic acid were 21.2 µg/mL (normal range: 7-20 µg/mL), 2.1 µg/mL (normal range: 5-10 µg/mL), and 33.5 µg/mL (normal range: 50-100 µg/mL), respectively. She was finally diagnosed with ataxia due to phenytoin toxicity. Her symptoms improved soon after the phenytoin dose was reduced and did not recur during a year of follow-up.

Blood Gas Analysis Results and Serum Lactate Levels in Patients with Psychogenic Hyperventilation and Urinary Tract Infection with Suspected Sepsis: A Retrospective Comparative Study.

Objective The prognosis differs considerably between patients with psychogenic hyperventilation syndrome (HVS) and those with urinary tract infection (UTI)-associated sepsis; however, the nonspecific symptoms and signs make the diagnosis and management difficult. We herein report the utility of a blood gas analysis for distinguishing HVS from UTI with suspected sepsis. Methods This single-center retrospective cohort study was conducted in a tertiary-care hospital in Japan. Patients ≥18 years old with a quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) score ≥2 and HVS or UTIs were included. The results of an arterial blood gas (ABG) or venous blood gas (VBG) analysis of the two groups were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test. We used a receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis of the arterial pH and arterial PCO2 to assess the ability of these analyses to distinguish HVS from UTI with suspected sepsis. Results A total of 64 patients with HVS (ABG, n=14; VBG, n=50) and 53 with UTI with suspected sepsis (ABG, n=35; VBG, n=18) were included. Patients with HVS had alkalemia and lower PCO2 levels than patients with UTI with suspected sepsis, but the serum lactate levels were similar between the groups. The ROC analysis determined the pH cut-off value to be 7.509 (sensitivity: 0.91; specificity: 0.86) and the PCO2 cut-off value to be 21.6 mmHg (sensitivity: 1.00; specificity: 0.64). Conclusion Elevated serum lactate levels alone cannot be used to differentiate between patients with HVS and those with UTI with suspected sepsis, but the degree of pH and PCO2 abnormality can help with the differential diagnosis.

Incidence and timing of biphasic anaphylactic reactions: a retrospective cohort study.

AIM: We investigated the frequency of overall biphasic reactions, biphasic reactions that met the diagnostic criteria of anaphylaxis, and biphasic reactions that caused a severe abnormality in vital signs in patients who visited the emergency department of a tertiary hospital. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included patients aged 18 years or over who presented with anaphylaxis at the emergency department of a tertiary care hospital between January 2014 and December 2016. The primary outcome was the incidence of biphasic reactions that caused a severe abnormality in vital signs and developed within 7 days. Secondary outcomes were the frequency of overall biphasic reactions and those that met the diagnostic criteria of anaphylaxis. RESULTS: In total, 437 patients aged over 18 years visited the emergency department during the study period. Among them, 202 were enrolled in this study. The proportion of patients who had overall biphasic reactions, those that met the diagnostic criteria of anaphylaxis, and those with a severe abnormality in vital signs was 8.9%, 3.0%, and 1.0%, respectively. Overall, 32.7% of patients were hospitalized, but hospitalization aided in the treatment of severe biphasic reactions at the early stage in only one patient. CONCLUSION: We found that 8.9% of adult patients with anaphylaxis had a biphasic reaction, but biphasic reactions together with severe abnormalities in vital signs were rare.

A sudden decrease in voice volume: A rare manifestation of spontaneous pneumomediastinum.

Spontaneous pneumomediastinum (SPM) is a rare condition characterized by free air in the mediastinum that primarily affects young individuals between the ages of 10 and 30 years. The most frequent symptoms of SPM are chest pain and dyspnea. However, a decrease in voice volume without a change of tone is a rare presentation. SPM is generally a benign and self-limiting condition, but it can occasionally cause tension pneumothorax. If a young patient presents with a sudden decrease in voice volume without a change of tone, SPM should be considered as a possible diagnosis.

Mesosalpinx hernia of the sigmoid colon: A cause of lower abdominal pain in women.

Diseases of the uterus and adnexa uteri should be considered when evaluating female patients with lower abdominal pain. Diseases caused by defects in the supporting ligaments of the female reproductive system should also be considered.

A potential association between myocardial ischemia and epinephrine for anaphylaxis.

A previously healthy 60-year-old man presented to our emergency department with anaphylactic shock. We initiated fluid resuscitation with Ringer's lactate solution; injected 0.3 mg epinephrine intramuscularly; and administered d-chlorpheniramine maleate 5 mg, famotidine 20 mg, and methylprednisolone 80 mg intravenously. His symptoms resolved within 10 min. Thirty minutes after the epinephrine injection, he complained of sudden chest discomfort. Physical examination provided no evidence of anaphylaxis. The 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) showed ST-segment depression on leads II, III, aVF, and V3-6. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed normal ventricular contraction. After administration of 0.3 mg of sublingual nitroglycerin, his chest pain resolved immediately and his ECG normalized. A coronary angiogram showed normal coronary artery perfusion. The next day, his high-sensitivity troponin I was slightly elevated. We suspected that he had myocardial ischemia caused by coronary artery spasm. The symptoms of biphasic reaction of anaphylaxis are inconsistent, and using epinephrine for myocardial ischemia following anaphylaxis may aggravate the condition. Nonetheless, epinephrine is the drug of choice for treating anaphylaxis with critical airway, respiratory, and circulatory compromise. Thus, physicians should not hesitate to use epinephrine for patients who present with life-threatening conditions due to suspected anaphylaxis. Physicians should observe patients closely following epinephrine administration, and if they develop some symptoms, should carefully examine the patients because the treatments of anaphylaxis and myocardial ischemia differs. Physicians should be alert to the risk of myocardial ischemia after treatment of anaphylaxis, especially following epinephrine administration.

Clinical Utility of Venous Blood Gas Analysis for the Evaluation of Psychogenic Hyperventilation in the Emergency Department.

Background Patients with psychogenic hyperventilation frequently visit emergency departments (EDs). Arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis is performed to evaluate patients with dyspnea. This may show respiratory alkalosis in patients with hyperventilation. ABG may also reveal elevated serum lactate levels, although psychogenic hyperventilation syndrome is a benign condition. However, arterial puncture is a painful and risky procedure. We hypothesized that venous blood gas (VBG) analysis would be sufficient for evaluating patients with suspected psychogenic hyperventilation. Objectives To compare the clinical utility of VBG analysis with ABG analysis for evaluating psychogenic hyperventilation. Methods This was a single-center retrospective cross-sectional study of patients aged ≥18 years with psychogenic hyperventilation attending a tertiary care hospital. We extracted data on age, sex, vital signs, blood gas components, and serum lactate. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient (ρ) was used to examine the associations between the serum lactate levels and the carbon dioxide partial pressure (PCO2) in the ABG and VBG groups. Results A total of 236 patients (ABG group, n=57; VBG group, n=179) were included in the analysis. Both the ABG and VBG groups had respiratory alkalosis and similarly elevated serum lactate levels (p=0.44). The PCO2 and serum lactate levels were inversely correlated, and the ρ values were -0.74 and -0.50 for the ABG and VBG groups, respectively (both p<0.001). In addition, the bicarbonate ion ([Formula: see text]) level was inversely correlated with the serum lactate level, and the pH was positively correlated with the serum lactate levels in both the ABG and VBG groups. Conclusions Among patients with psychogenic hyperventilation, respiratory alkalosis, and the correlation between the PCO2 and serum lactate levels were similar in the ABG and VBG groups, indicating that VBG analysis might be used as an alternative to ABG analysis for evaluating psychogenic hyperventilation.

Continuous versus intermittent administration of furosemide in acute decompensated heart failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Diuretic therapy is important in critically ill patients because fluid overload impairs organ function and increases mortality. Compared to intermittent administration, continuous infusion of loop diuretics is theoretically superior in terms of diuresis and electrolyte balance. However, the available evidence is susceptible to carryover diuretic effects and resistance in earlier crossover trials. Consequently, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of parallel-group randomized controlled trials to compare these two strategies in adults with acute decompensated heart failure. We searched Medline, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from their inceptions to May 26, 2018. We pooled the data using a random effects model. Our primary outcomes were all-cause mortality, length of hospital stay, and body weight reduction. We analyzed 12 parallel-group randomized controlled trials involving 923 patients. Compared with intermittent administration, continuous infusion of furosemide was not associated with an improvement in all-cause mortality (risk ratio 1.19; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.65 to 2.16), length of hospital stay (weighted mean difference [WMD] - 0.88 days; 95% CI, - 2.76 to 1.01), or 24-h urine output (WMD 489.17 mL; 95% CI, - 183.18 to 1161.51), but was significantly associated with a greater body weight reduction (WMD 0.63 kg; 95% CI, 0.23 to 1.02). No differences in hypokalemia, hyponatremia, increased serum creatinine level, and hypotension were noted. Continuous infusion of furosemide, compared to intermittent administration, is associated with a greater body weight reduction and potential increase in 24-h urine output. The limited available evidence suggests no difference in adverse events between both strategies. Trial registration: PROSPERO (CRD42017083878).

Impact of polymyxin B hemoperfusion in the treatment of patients with sepsis and septic shock: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Polymyxin B hemoperfusion is a strategy to remove circulating endotoxin in patients with sepsis. Previous systematic reviews derived from randomized and non-randomized studies suggested that use of polymyxin B hemoperfusion reduced mortality, based on the pooled data from various time points in the clinical course of sepsis. We conducted a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials to assess the impact of polymyxin B hemoperfusion specifically on 28-day mortality in patients with sepsis and septic shock. METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched for eligible trials from inception through July 30, 2017. All randomized controlled trials were eligible if they examined the impact of polymyxin B hemoperfusion on 28-day mortality in patients with sepsis and septic shock. Risk of bias was evaluated with the Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool. Data were pooled using the DerSimonian and Laird random-effects model. RESULTS: Seven trials involving 586 participants were identified for the analysis. Use of polymyxin B hemoperfusion was not associated with a reduced risk of 28-day mortality [risk ratio (RR), 0.76; 95% CI, 0.54-1.07] compared with usual care. One unpublished trial also showed no significant 28-day survival benefit. CONCLUSIONS: There is no evidence to support the use of polymyxin B hemoperfusion for patients with sepsis and septic shock with respect to 28-day mortality.

5-aminosalicylic acid agents for prevention of recurrent diverticulitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Prevalence of colonic diverticulosis is increasing worldwide with age, and up to 25% of patients who have colonic diverticulosis might experience diverticulitis. However, a definitive approach of preventing recurrent diverticulitis remains unknown. 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) agents are anti-inflammatory agents and have been used to prevent recurrent diverticulitis, and there have been some randomized clinical trials (RCTs). However, the efficacy results for secondary prevention in uncomplicated diverticulitis differed across studies. Our aim was to clarify the efficacy and safety of 5-ASA agents in the prevention of recurrent diverticulitis. METHODS: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane library with no language restrictions. Two reviewers independently assessed and selected RCTs. The data were pooled using a random effect model and were presented in the pooled risk ratio (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Cochrane's Q and I-squared statistics were used to assess heterogeneity. The protocol was registered at PROSPERO. RESULTS: Seven articles with eight RCTs from 329 potentially relevant articles were included. 5-ASA agents were not superior to controls in preventing recurrent diverticulitis (RR 0.86, 95% CI 0.63 to 1.17, I2  = 60%) and the incidence of adverse events was not different between 5-ASA agents and controls (RR 0.97, 95% CI 0.84 to 1.11, I2  = 45%). However, some included studies were few in number of participants and substantial risk of bias. CONCLUSIONS: 5-aminosalicylic acid agents were not associated with prevention of recurrent diverticulitis.

Five-level emergency triage systems: variation in assessment of validity.

INTRODUCTION: Triage systems are scales developed to rate the degree of urgency among patients who arrive at EDs. A number of different scales are in use; however, the way in which they have been validated is inconsistent. Also, it is difficult to define a surrogate that accurately predicts urgency. This systematic review described reference standards and measures used in previous validation studies of five-level triage systems. METHODS: We searched PubMed, EMBASE and CINAHL to identify studies that had assessed the validity of five-level triage systems and described the reference standards and measures applied in these studies. Studies were divided into those using criterion validity (reference standards developed by expert panels or triage systems already in use) and those using construct validity (prognosis, costs and resource use). RESULTS: A total of 57 studies examined criterion and construct validity of 14 five-level triage systems. Criterion validity was examined by evaluating (1) agreement between the assigned degree of urgency with objective standard criteria (12 studies), (2) overtriage and undertriage (9 studies) and (3) sensitivity and specificity of triage systems (7 studies). Construct validity was examined by looking at (4) the associations between the assigned degree of urgency and measures gauged in EDs (48 studies) and (5) the associations between the assigned degree of urgency and measures gauged after hospitalisation (13 studies). Particularly, among 46 validation studies of the most commonly used triages (Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale, Emergency Severity Index and Manchester Triage System), 13 and 39 studies examined criterion and construct validity, respectively. CONCLUSION: Previous studies applied various reference standards and measures to validate five-level triage systems. They either created their own reference standard or used a combination of severity/resource measures.