Direct ultrasound methods: a confirmatory technique for proper endotracheal intubation in the emergency department.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Early confirmation of incorrect endotracheal tube (ETT) placement is of vital importance when performing emergency airway management. No ideal confirmation technique has been proposed under all circumstances. Recently, ultrasonography was suggested as a useful tool for confirmation of correct positioning of the ETT. The aim of this study is to assess the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonography for detection of proper ETT placement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective study was carried out in the emergency department from February to October 2012. The ultrasonography was performed by a trained senior resident in two phases: (a) as the intubation was being performed (dynamic phase) and (b) after the intubation had been completed (static phase). A linear probe was placed transversely over the cricothyroid membrane during the intubation process (dynamic phase) and on the anterior neck just superior to the suprasternal notch in the static method. Operating characteristics were calculated for both dynamic and static determination of ETT placement. RESULTS: Sixty patients were enrolled in each study group. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the dynamic technique for determining correct endotracheal intubation were 98.1% [95% confidence interval (CI), 88.8-99.9%], 100% (95% CI, 51.6-100%), 100% (95% CI, 91.5-100%), and 85.7% (95% CI, 42-99.2%), respectively. Using the static technique, all testing characteristics listed previously were 100%. CONCLUSION: In this study, we found acceptable sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for prediction of tracheal ETT placement with the use of dynamic and static ultrasonography.

Accuracy of emergency physician-performed ultrasound in detecting traumatic pneumothorax after a 2-h training course.

BACKGROUND: Pneumothorax is one of the leading causes of preventable death in trauma patients. Chest radiograph has a lower sensitivity than a computed tomography (CT) scan for the diagnosis of pneumothorax. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to assess the accuracy of ultrasound (US) in diagnosing post-traumatic pneumothorax using a simplified diagnostic algorithm. METHODS: This prospective study was carried out in two academic emergency departments with a combined annual emergency department census of 70 000 visits per year by convenient sampling. Emergency physicians underwent a 2-h training course using a two-step diagnostic algorithm. The trauma patients included suspected of having post-traumatic pneumothorax were evaluated by thoracic US and chest CT scan. The accuracy of US in identifying pneumothorax was measured by calculating the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictor value, and negative predictor value using CT scan as the gold standard. The performance of US was compared with chest radiograph, which was also done as a part of standard trauma care for all patients. RESULTS: From June 2009 until July 2009, a total of 153 patients were included. US had a sensitivity of 86.4%, a specificity of 100%, a positive predictor value of 100%, and a negative predictor value of 95.6%. Chest radiograph showed a sensitivity of 48.6%, a specificity of 100%, a positive predictor value of 100%, and a negative predictor value of 85.1%. The mean time to perform chest radiograph was 12 min, which was significantly higher than US, with a mean time of 2 min. All missed pneumothoraces in US evaluation were small in size. CONCLUSION: After just a 2-h training course, emergency physicians showed a good success rate in finding pneumothoraces. Thoracic US can be an easy to learn and an accurate diagnostic modality for the detection of traumatic pneumothorax in emergency departments.

Prevalence of occupational exposure to blood and body secretions and its related effective factors among health care workers of three Emergency Departments in Tehran.

BACKGROUND: Accidental exposure to blood and body secretions is frequent among health care workers (HCWs). They are at risk of acquiring blood-borne diseases. In this study, we have investigated the prevalence and risk factors of occupational exposure among the HCWs of the Emergency Departments (ED) at three teaching hospitals in Tehran. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted this observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study using a self-reporting 25-question survey, related to occupational exposures, in February 2010. It was carried out among 200 HCWs (specialist physicians, residents, medical interns, nurses, laboratory personnel, housekeepers, cleaners, and others), who were working in the EDs of the three teaching hospitals of the Tehran University of Medical Sciences. The age, sex, and job category of the HCWs suffering from the injury were determined, as also the risk factors responsible for the exposure of the HCWs. RESULTS: One hundred and fifteen (57.5%) of the 200 HCWs had had at least one episode of blood or body fluid exposure in their professional life. Hollow-bore needles accounted for the highest amount of injuries, with 41.5%, followed by suture needles (18.5%). The most prevalent procedures associated with injuries were suturing (17.5%) and recapping used syringes (16.5%), respectively. All the specialist doctors in this study reported at least one exposure. The percentage of exposure in the other participants of our study was 74.3% for ED residents, 61.1% for laboratory technicians, 51.9% for nurses, and 51% for medical interns. Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that male gender, recapping needles, and job profession were independently associated with exposure to blood or body fluids. CONCLUSION: High prevalence of occupational exposure in this study emphasized the importance of promoting awareness, training, and education for the HCWs, for preventive strategies, and also reporting of occupational exposure to blood and body secretions.

Intracorneal ring segment implantation for the management of keratoconus: safety and efficacy.

PURPOSE: To assess the safety and efficacy of intracorneal ring segment (Intacs, Addition Technology, Inc.) implantation in the management of keratoconus. SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology and Ophthalmic Research Center, Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. METHODS: This prospective case series comprised 30 keratoconic eyes (22 patients) with a clear central cornea that had Intacs implantation. All patients were contact-lens intolerant. The main outcome measures were uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA), refraction, keratometry, and pachymetry. Patients were examined before Intacs implantation as well as 1 week and 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively. RESULTS: The mean age of the 5 women and 17 men was 25.9 years +/- 5.29 (SD). The mean UCVA improved from 0.60 +/- 0.311 logMAR preoperatively to 0.29 +/- 0.20 logMAR 6 months postoperatively (P<.001) and the mean BSCVA, from 0.25 +/- 0.16 logMAR to 0.13 +/- 0.14 logMAR, respectively (P<.001). The mean spherical equivalent improved from -6.93 +/- 3.52 diopters (D) preoperatively to -3.23 +/- 2.81 D at 6 months and the mean refractive cylinder, from -4.65 +/- 1.85 D to -3.90 +/- 1.70 D, respectively. The mean keratometry decreased from 49.84 +/- 3.58 D preoperatively to 47.90 +/- 3.58 D postoperatively (P<.001). Three eyes had ring exposure, and 1 eye had bacterial keratitis and ring exposure. CONCLUSION: Intacs implantation appeared to be effective in improving UCVA and BSCVA in patients with mild to moderate keratoconus and contact-lens intolerance.

Microkeratome-assisted posterior lamellar keratoplasty in pseudophakic and aphakic corneal edema.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the outcome of microkeratome-assisted posterior lamellar keratoplasty for replacing diseased endothelium in pseudophakic and aphakic corneal edema. METHODS: Microkeratome-assisted posterior lamellar keratoplasty was performed on 10 eyes with pseudophakic or aphakic corneal edema. A nasal hinged 130- to 250-microm-thick flap was created with an automated microkeratome. The underlying 7.0-mm trephined button of deep stroma and endothelium was substituted with the same size donor button prepared by removing a same-sized flap and trephination of the remaining donor bed. The donor lenticule was fixated without sutures in position; the retracted flap was repositioned and sutured to the peripheral recipient tissue. The viscoelastic content of the anterior chamber was replaced by air to hold the graft in position. RESULTS: All surgeries were uneventful except for one case of donor button posterior dislocation forming a secondary anterior chamber, which was corrected through donor button exchange 1 month postoperatively. All uncomplicated cases had stable refraction and corneal topography as early as 1 month after surgery, which was maintained in follow-up examinations. In two eyes, corneal astigmatism > 5.00 diopters was recorded. One case of prolonged re-epithelialization and two cases of epithelial interface ingrowth occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Microkeratome-assisted posterior lamellar keratoplasty is an alternative to conventional penetrating keratoplasty for patients with diseased corneal endothelium, significantly reducing the time of visual rehabilitation. Determination of the relative advantages of this technique over penetrating keratoplasty and other recent alternative endothelial graft procedures relies on controlled prospective studies.