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Swiss Emergency Research collection

2025

  • Espejo, T., Grossmann, F. F., Riedel, H. B., Bingisser, R., and Nickel, C. H. “The Emergency Severity Index (Esi) Version 5: Simulation Of Predictive Validity And Triage Level Distribution”. J Emerg Med 78: 57-70. doi:10.1016/j.jemermed.2025.07.035.
    Abstract: BACKGROUND: The Emergency Severity Index (ESI) was updated to the 5th version which emphasizes identification of abnormal vital signs in low acuity patients (ESI levels 3, 4, and 5) to prevent undertriage. OBJECTIVE: We conducted a simulation of the ESI 5th version (sESI-v5) with data of consecutive emergency department (ED) patients to (1) investigate changes in triage level distribution caused by vital signs assessment, (2) investigate the predictive validity (assessing resource utilization, length of stay, disposition, and mortality), and (3) identify individual cases with potential benefits from the ESI update. METHODS: In this prospective cohort, ESI 4th version (ESI-v4) was used for triage. sESI-v5 was applied retrospectively, and predictive validity (resource utilization, ED length of stay, disposition, and mortality) was compared. Patients with potential benefits from sESI-v5 (uptriage from ESI-v4 level 3, 4, or 5 to sESI-v5 level 2 with admission to intensive care unit [ICU] or early death) were identified. RESULTS: In 6,230 adult ED patients, uptriage to ESI level 2 would have occurred in 636 patients (10.2%). The sESI-v5 showed a similar predictive validity to ESI-v4. We identified 30 (0.5%) patients with potential benefits from sESI-v5, as they were admitted to ICU or died within 30 days (29 were uptriaged from ESI-v4 level 3, 1 from ESI-v4 level 4, and none from ESI-v4 level 5). CONCLUSIONS: Adopting ESI-v5 could increase the identification of high-risk patients but at the cost of significantly expanding the number of patients classified as ESI level 2. This shift may overwhelm ED resources and delay care for truly critical patients without clear evidence of improved outcomes. While ESI-v5 demonstrated similar predictive validity to ESI-v4, only a small subset of patients would have potentially benefited from the update.
    Tags: competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared, emergency department, emergency nursing, emergency severity index, Esi, prognosis, to influence the work reported in this paper., triage, triage quality improvement.
  • Ziaka, M., Hautz, W., and Exadaktylos, A. “A Comprehensive Review Of Fluid Resuscitation Strategies In Traumatic Brain Injury”. J Clin Med 14, no. 17. doi:10.3390/jcm14176289.
    Abstract: The current management of severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) focuses on maintaining cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) to prevent or minimize secondary brain injury, limit cerebral edema, optimize oxygen delivery to the brain, and reduce primary neuronal damage by addressing contributing risk factors such as hypotension and hypoxia. Hypotension and cardiac dysfunction are common in patients with severe TBI, often requiring treatment with intravenous fluids and vasopressors. The primary categories of resuscitation fluids include crystalloids, colloids (such as albumin), and blood products. Fluid osmolarity is a critical consideration in TBI patients, as hypotonic fluids, such as balanced crystalloids, may increase the risk of cerebral edema development and worsening. Hyperosmolar therapy is a common therapeutic approach in patients with intracranial hypertension; however, its use as a resuscitation fluid is not associated with benefits in patients with TBI and is not recommended. Given the contradictory results of trials on blood transfusion strategies in patients with TBI, the transfusion approach should be tailored to individual systemic and cerebral physiological parameters. The evaluation of recent randomized clinical trials will provide insight into whether a liberal or restrictive transfusion strategy is preferred for this patient population. Hemodynamic and multimodal neurological monitoring to assess cerebral oxygenation, autoregulation, and metabolism are essential tools for detecting early hemodynamic alterations and cerebral injury, guiding resuscitation management, and contributing to improved outcomes.
    Tags: arterial blood pressure, blood transfusion, cerebral perfusion pressure, fluid management, fluids, hemodynamic monitoring, multimodal monitoring, traumatic brain injury.
  • Geiser-Micheloud, V., Rossetti, A. O., and Alvarez, V. “Guidelines Adherence In Status Epilepticus First Steps Treatment: Factors Associated With Non-Compliance And Effect On Outcome”. J Neurol 272, no. 9: 602. doi:10.1007/s00415-025-13349-w.
    Abstract: OBJECTIVE: We investigate adherence to acute-phase treatment guidelines for status epilepticus (SE) in a university and a community hospital, assessing factors influencing compliance and its impact on SE duration and outcomes. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed two prospective cohorts, including 452 adults with SE (excluding post-anoxic SE). Adherence was defined as administration of a correctly dosed benzodiazepine (BZD) as first-line therapy, followed by a non-sedative antiseizure medication (ASM) as second-line treatment. We examined associations between adherence, clinical and demographic factors, and discharge outcomes. RESULTS: Only 129/452 (29%) patients received guideline-adherent treatment. A treatment delay > 1 h (p = 0.03) was the only factor significantly associated with non-adherence. Among 323 non-adherent treatment, 283 (89%) received a BZD, but only 66 (28%) at the correct dose. Older age, decreased consciousness, and pre-existing epilepsy influenced BZD treatment patterns. Adherence to treatment sequence did not affect clinical outcomes, but SE duration was significantly shorter in patients treated per guidelines (272 vs. 880 min, p = 0.0003). CONCLUSIONS: Adherence to SE treatment guidelines remains low. Guideline-based treatment shortens SE duration but does not significantly impact discharge outcomes. While age, history of epilepsy and consciousness disorders influence BZD use, the lack of clear predictors of overall adherence suggests possible gaps in guideline awareness among healthcare providers.
    Tags: *Anticonvulsants/therapeutic use, *Benzodiazepines/therapeutic use, *Guideline Adherence/statistics & numerical data, *Status Epilepticus/drug therapy, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Antiseizure medication, approved by swiss ethics committee (CER-VD, 116/13 and CCVEM 013/15). Patient, Benzodiazepines, Community hospital, consent: Patient's consent was waived (quality assessment involving anonymized, data, Female, Humans, interest to disclose. We confirm that we have read the Journal's position on, issues involved in ethical publication and affirm that this report is consistent, Male, Middle Aged, Outcome, procedures and treatments that are part of standard care) according to, Prospective Studies, Retrospective Studies, Status epilepticus, Swiss law., Treatment Outcome, University hospital, with those guidelines. Ethical approval: Observational data collection was.
  • Rahimi, S., Hariton, W. V. J., Khalaj, F., Ludwig, R. J., Borradori, L., and Muller, E. J. “Desmoglein-Driven Dynamic Signaling In Pemphigus Vulgaris: A Systematic Review Of Pathogenic Pathways”. Npj Regen Med 10, no. 1: 39. doi:10.1038/s41536-025-00426-x.
    Abstract: Epithelial tissue integrity is maintained through specialized intercellular junctions known to coordinate homeostatic processes. In this context, outside-in signaling and mechanotransduction through desmosomal cadherins, the building blocks of desmosomes and main stress bearers in epithelial tissue, are only starting to emerge. To better understand the dual function of desmosomal cadherins in structural integrity and cellular signaling, we here performed a systematic, unbiased review on pathogenic signaling effectors identified in models and patients with pemphigus vulgaris (PV). PV is an autoimmune blistering disorder characterized by disruption of desmosomal transadhesion through autoantibodies mainly targeting the desmosomal cadherins desmoglein (Dsg) 3 or Dsg1 and Dsg3. The survey of functionally validated pathogenic pathways published since inception in 1977 up to mid-2024 identifies 128 studies and 128 signaling molecules, highlighting a coherent network of biomechanical, bioelectrical, and biochemical signaling events. This in-depth analysis will stimulate future research as well as development of potential therapeutic applications beyond PV.
    Tags: Antigen Binding, Article, Biomechanics, Building Blockes, Cadherin, Calcium, Calcium Channel, Caspase, Cell Adhesion, Cell Adhesion Molecule, Cell Junction, Cell Membrane, Cytoskeleton, Desmoglein, Desmosomal Cadherin, Desmosome, Endocytosis, Epithelial Tissue, Epithelium, Growth Factor Receptor, Homeostatic Process, Human, Intercellular Junction, Mechanotransduction, Nonhuman, Pathogenic Pathways, Pemphigus Vulgaris, Protein Tyrosine Kinase, Signal Transduction, Signaling, Systematic Review, Systematic Review (topic), Tissue, Tissue Homeostasis, Tissue Integrity, Tumor Necrosis Factor.
  • Urbach, K. H., Wunderle, C., Tribolet, P., Lutz, T. A., Koster-Hegmann, C., Stanga, Z., Mueller, B., and Schuetz, P. “Ghrelin's Role In Regulating Food Intake Among Inpatients At Nutritional Risk: A Secondary Analysis Of The Randomized Clinical Trial Effort”. Nutrition 140: 112910. doi:10.1016/j.nut.2025.112910.
    Abstract: BACKGROUND: Ghrelin is an orexigenic hormone that stimulates food intake by hypothalamic actions. There is limited data on its circulating levels, pathophysiological role, and prognostic and therapeutic potential in disease-related malnutrition. METHODS: We investigated via this secondary analysis of the randomized controlled Effect of early nutritional support on Frailty, Functional Outcomes, and Recovery of malnourished medical inpatients Trial (EFFORT) the association of admission ghrelin levels in terms of malnutrition phenotype, nutritional target achievement, and treatment response. The primary outcome was 30-day all-cause mortality. RESULTS: A total of 997 patients with available ghrelin measurements were included. We found an association between high ghrelin levels upon admission and malnutrition severity according to the Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 (NRS) and an inverse association between high ghrelin levels and nutritional intake. Patients with high ghrelin levels had a 1.4-fold greater chance of reaching nutritional targets during hospitalization compared to those with lower levels (adjusted OR 1.40 [95% CI 1.01-1.93], P = 0.045). High ghrelin levels were not associated with mortality, complications, or adverse events, and both high and low ghrelin groups showed a similar response to nutritional therapy. CONCLUSION: We observed an association between high ghrelin levels upon admission in patients with more severe malnutrition according to the NRS and its components. A hypothesis may be generated that the hormone's orexigenic effect is impaired due to ghrelin resistance. However, under nutritional therapy, patients with high ghrelin levels were more likely to achieve nutritional targets. Ghrelin analogs during hospitalization may help facilitate beneficial nutritional intake in this vulnerable patient population. Nevertheless, future research should investigate where this resistance stems from and differentiate between active and total ghrelin, as this could influence efficacy.
    Tags: bioMerieux, Nestle Health Science and Abbott Nutrition. that includes: funding, declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal, Disease-related malnutrition, Food intake, Ghrelin, grants. Zeno Stanga reports a relationship with Nestle Health Science, Fresenius, interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing, interests: Philipp Schuetz reports a relationship with Roche, Thermo Fisher,, Kabi and B. Braun that includes: funding grants. If there are other authors, they, Nutritional support, paper., relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this.
  • Ziaka, M., and Exadaktylos, A. “Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: Pathophysiological Insights, Subphenotypes, And Clinical Implications-A Comprehensive Review”. J Clin Med 14, no. 15. doi:10.3390/jcm14155184.
    Abstract: Increased epithelial and endothelial permeability, along with dysregulated inflammatory responses, are key aspects of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) pathophysiology, which not only impact the lungs but also contribute to detrimental organ crosstalk with distant organs, ultimately leading to multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS)-the primary cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with lung injury (LI) and ARDS. It is predominantly manifested by hypoxemic respiratory failure and bilateral pulmonary infiltrates, which cannot be fully attributed to cardiac failure or hypervolemia, but rather to alveolo-capillary barrier dysfunction, dysregulated systemic and pulmonary inflammation, immune system abnormalities, and mechanical stimuli-related responses. However, these pathological features are not uniform among patients with ARDS, as distinct subphenotypes with unique biological, clinical, physiological, and radiographic characteristics have been increasingly recognized in recent decades. The severity of ARDS, clinical outcomes, mortality, and efficacy of applied therapeutic measures appear significant depending on the respective phenotype. Acknowledging the heterogeneity of ARDS and defining distinct subphenotypes could significantly modify therapeutic strategies, enabling more precise and targeted treatments. To address these issues, a comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed using predefined keywords related to ARDS pathophysiology, subphenotypes, and personalized therapeutic approaches. Optimizing the identification and characterization of discrete ARDS subphenotypes-based on clinical, biological, physiological, and radiographic criteria-will deepen our understanding of ARDS pathophysiology, promote targeted recruitment in prospective clinical studies to define patient clusters with heterogeneous therapeutic responses, and support the shift toward individualized treatment strategies.
    Tags: acute respiratory distress syndrome, alveolo-capillary barrier dysfunction, biomarkers, inflammatory cascades, lung injury, precision medicine, subphenotypes.
  • Bretagne, L., Roten, C., Mosimann, S., Blum, M. R., Debieux, M., Martin, A., Kraege, V., et al. “Association Of Part-Time Clinical Work Of Hospitalists With Efficiency And Quality Of Care On Medical Wards: A Retrospective Study”. Bmj Open 15, no. 8: e098255. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2024-098255.
    Abstract: BACKGROUND: Physicians are increasingly interested in part-time employment. However, the impact of part-time work on efficiency and quality of care of inpatients is unknown. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association between part-time clinical work of hospitalists in General Internal Medicine (GIM) and resource utilisation and short-term patient outcomes. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: GIM wards of 3 Swiss teaching hospitals. PARTICIPANTS: Each inpatient was categorised as having received care mainly (>50%) by part-time or full-time hospitalists. Part-time clinical work was defined as employment of <100% as a clinician. We included 3557 cases cared for mainly by part-time and 4973 by full-time physicians. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcome was length of hospital stay, secondary outcomes included 30-day readmission, in-hospital mortality, hospitalisation cost and time to completion of the discharge letter. We assessed the association between both groups and outcomes using generalised estimating equations, clustering for individual patients and adjusting for patient and hospitalist characteristics. RESULTS: There was no statistically relevant difference in length of stay in cases cared for mainly by part-time (mean 7.3 days, 95% CI 7.1 to 7.6) compared with full-time hospitalists (mean 7.6 days, 95% CI 7.3 to 7.8; p=0.18). Time to completion of the discharge letter was longer in the part-time (mean 11.4 days, 95% CI 11.0 to 11.8) versus full-time group (mean 10.9 days, 95% CI 10.6 to 11.2, p=0.049). There was no statistically significant difference between groups for the other outcomes. CONCLUSION: We found no evidence that part-time clinical work of hospitalists negatively affects resource utilisation and short-term patient outcomes compared with full-time work.
    Tags: *Hospitalists/statistics & numerical data, *Internal Medicine, *Quality of Health Care, Adult, Aged, Female, Health Care Costs, Hospital Mortality, Hospitals, Teaching, Humans, Internal medicine, Length of Stay/statistics & numerical data, Male, Middle Aged, Patient Readmission/statistics & numerical data, Physicians, Retrospective Studies, Switzerland.
  • Robinson, E., Zellner, M., Osuna, E., Seiler, M., Theiler, M., Sidorov, S., von Felten, S., Berger, C., and Meyer Sauteur, P. M. “Evolving Clinical Features Of Mycoplasma Pneumoniae Infections Following Covid-19 Pandemic Restrictions: A Retrospective, Comparative Cohort Study”. Eur J Pediatr 184, no. 8: 535. doi:10.1007/s00431-025-06326-y.
    Abstract: Since its delayed re-emergence after non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) against the COVID-19 pandemic, Mycoplasma pneumoniae has caused community-acquired pneumonia outbreaks worldwide. In this study, we aimed to investigate how the clinical characteristics and severity of M. pneumoniae infections have changed after COVID-19 pandemic restriction, in order to enable adequate interpretation of clinical features and response to future M. pneumoniae epidemics. This retrospective, comparative cohort study compared clinical features and severity of children with M. pneumoniae detection by PCR during the periods April 1, 2015, to March 31, 2020 (pre-NPI); April 1, 2020, to March 31, 2022 (NPI); and April 1, 2022, to March 31, 2025 (post-NPI). Clinical features were compared between periods by Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test or Fisher's exact test, as appropriate. Moreover, we compared hospitalization and intensive care unit (ICU) admission using generalized linear models. In total, 321 patients were included in the study. Since the first detection of M. pneumoniae after the COVID-19 pandemic in summer 2023, the re-emergence has shown a bimodal curve with two distinct peaks (post-NPI first-year and second-year). The median age of patients was higher in the post-NPI than the pre-NPI period (9.05 vs 8.20 years), particularly during the first-year peak (11.00 years). Obstructive diseases were observed more frequently post-NPI compared to pre-NPI (18.6% vs 9.6%). Moreover, more patients presented with chest pain (8.9% vs 2.4%) and pleural effusions (45.7% vs 28.9%) post-NPI than pre-NPI. Conversely, extrapulmonary manifestations were less frequent post-NPI (18.6% vs 30.1%), particularly dermatological (15.7% vs 25.3%) and neurological (1.3% vs 4.8%) manifestations. Hospitalization rate (38.6% post-NPI vs 43.9% pre-NPI) and length of stay (median, 4 [IQR, 2-5] vs 4 [IQR, 3-6] days) were similar, while generalized linear models showed a trend toward fewer hospitalizations post-NPI (odds ratio [OR], 0.72 [95% CI, 0.42-1.23]; P = 0.22). The same applied to ICU admission rate (5.1% post-NPI vs 4.9% pre-NPI), with a trend toward fewer ICU admissions post-NPI (OR, 0.90 [95% CI, 0.29-3.34]; P = 0.86). CONCLUSION: We observed notable changes in the clinical presentation of re-emerging M. pneumoniae infections compared to the pre-COVID-19 pandemic period, particularly an increase in obstructive phenotypes and pleural effusions. However, overall disease severity appeared to remain largely unchanged. WHAT IS KNOWN: * The delayed re-emergence of M. pneumoniae in late 2023 was substantial in terms of case numbers across many geographical locations. * No statistically increased proportion of severe or worse outcomes of re-emerging M. pneumoniae infections could be observed globally compared with pre-COVID-19 pandemic epidemics. WHAT IS NEW: * Clinical features of M. pneumoniae infections in children partly changed following COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, with new signs like obstructive phenotypes and pleural effusions. * The findings suggest that there has been no overall increase in disease severity; in fact, extrapulmonary manifestations were fewer, with trends toward reduced hospitalizations and ICU admissions.
    Tags: *COVID-19/epidemiology/prevention & control, *Pneumonia, Mycoplasma/epidemiology/diagnosis, Adolescent, Child, Child, Preschool, Community-acquired pneumonia, consent for further use of health-related data as part of the previous myCAP, Epidemiology, Extrapulmonary manifestations, Female, General consent at the University Children's Hospital Zurich or written informed, Hospitalization/statistics & numerical data, Humans, included in the study. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing, Infant, interests., Male, Mycoplasma pneumoniae/isolation & purification, Non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), Pandemics, Retrospective Studies, SARS-CoV-2, Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), Severity of Illness Index, study [4] (BASEC no. 2016-00148) was available from every individual participant, the Canton of Zurich, Switzerland (BASEC no. 2025-00039). Consent to participate:.
  • Glowinski, D., Buchheit, F., Badier, E., Celi, J., Bolore, S., and Fassier, T. “Innovative Sensor-Based Technology And Measurement Solution For Interprofessional Simulation In Crisis Resource Management”. Simul Healthc 20, no. 4: 250-258. doi:10.1097/SIH.0000000000000855.
    Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Interprofessional simulation (IP-Sim) training in crisis resource management (CRM) is widely used to improve team performance. Emerging social sensor-based technology and measurement provide an opportunity to enhance IP-Sim. Using these methods, signals generated by team members in action are collected, analyzed, and presented in a debriefing session as visual aids and statistics that summarize behavioral markers of teamwork and taskwork. We developed a novel social sensor-based measuring system and tested it in a pilot study to demonstrate its feasibility, acceptance, and relevance during IP-sim in CRM. METHODS: During 6 immersive scenario-based IP-Sim sessions, we gathered both quantitative (survey) and qualitative (videotaped debriefing) postsimulation exposure data. Six experimental teams, each containing 3 trainees (2 nurses and 1 physician), were involved in a scenario in which a life-threatening emergency in a hospital setting had to be identified and managed. RESULTS: By conducting successful deployment in a simulated environment, we demonstrated the viability of the proposed system and outlined the remaining obstacles (feasibility check). We documented users' successful and unsuccessful methods for incorporating the solution into existing training frameworks (acceptability check). In addition, we determined how users interpreted behavioral markers during debriefing such as space occupation, gaze dynamics, and verbal interaction to improve situational awareness and common understanding (relevance check). CONCLUSIONS: We detailed the conditions under which a new sensor-based approach can be successfully integrated into immersive scenario-based simulation and identified areas for further development. The findings indicated that social sensor technology and measurement have the potential to enhance the overall experience of IP-Sim sessions in CRM.
    Tags: *Interprofessional Relations, *Patient Care Team/organization & administration, *Simulation Training/methods/organization & administration, crew resource management, data science [MeSH], debriefing, health care [MeSH], Humans, Interprofessional education [MeSH], Pilot Projects, sensor-based technology and measurement solutions, simulation training [MeSH].
  • Hall, N., Metrailler-Mermoud, J., Rousson, V., Conforti, C., Dupasquier, A., Carron, P. N., Grabherr, S., et al. “Use Of The Hope Score To Assess Survival Outcome Of Hypothermic Cardiac Arrest Selected By Ecls Rewarming”. Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med 33, no. 1: 132. doi:10.1186/s13049-025-01445-9.
    Abstract: BACKGROUND: We studied adult hypothermic cardiac arrest (CA) patients admitted to a University Hospital (UH) and a Regional Hospital (RH) for whom Extracorporeal Life Support (ECLS) was implemented. We used the HOPE score to estimate individual survival probabilities and to compare overall results between hospitals. METHODS: We included hypothermic CA patients who underwent ECLS between 2000 and 2022. We assessed the predicted survival probabilities by calculating the HOPE scores, both at individual and hospital levels. We assessed the performance of a HOPE score cutoff of 10% in predicting survival to hospital discharge, as ECLS rewarming is currently recommended when the HOPE is >/= 10%. We also assessed the utility of the HOPE score in evaluating and comparing patient management within and between two hospitals. RESULTS: In the 46 patients with successful ECLS implementation, a HOPE score < 10% would have contraindicated and therefore prevented futile ECLS rewarming procedures for 17 patients (37%) who did not survive, while finding that ECLS was indicated for 100% of survivors. The observed survival rate was 24% (UH: 35%, RH: 11%) whereas the HOPE score predicted a survival rate of 35% (UH: 41%, RH: 26%), suggesting underperformance of ECLS rewarming among both hospitals. The difference of survival between the two hospitals was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirmed the utility of the HOPE score in estimating individual survival probabilities. The HOPE score may also be used to estimate the overall survival rate in a patient cohort, enabling internal quality-control and outcome results comparisons between different settings.
    Tags: *Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation/methods, *Heart Arrest/mortality/therapy, *Hypothermia/complications/mortality/therapy, *Rewarming/methods, 2022-01206). An anonymised data transfer agreement between the two participating, Accidental hypothermia, Adult, Aged, Benchmarking, Cardiac arrest, collection were approved by the local ethics committee "Commission cantonale, d'ethique de la recherche sur l'etre humain - Vaud (CER-VD)", Switzerland (N degrees, Ecls, Environmental hypothermia, Female, HOPE score, hospitals was obtained. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing, Humans, interests: The authors declare no competing interests., Male, Middle Aged, Retrospective Studies, Survival Rate/trends.
  • Pugnale, S., Galofaro, L., Puricel, S. G., Garin, D., Guechi, Y., Cook, S., and Ribordy, V. “What Is The Effect Of Volunteer Community Responders Network On Out-Of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Outcomes In The Swiss Canton Of Fribourg? A Five-Year Retrospective Observational Study”. Resusc Plus 25: 101009. doi:10.1016/j.resplu.2025.101009.
    Abstract: AIM: This study aims to assess the impact of the Volunteer Community Responders (VCR) Network on the outcomes of Out-of-hospital Cardiac Arrest (OHCA) patients in the Swiss Canton Fribourg from 2018 to 2022. METHODS: We collected data from the SWISSRECA registry of all OHCA occurring in the Swiss Canton of Fribourg between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2022. The patients were divided in two groups according to whether a VCR intervened and were compared using descriptive statistics. We constructed exact multivariable logistic regression models to analyse the association of a VCR intervention with Return of Spontaneous Circulation (ROSC) rate, survival to hospital admission and survival to hospital discharge, adjusting for age, sex, emergency services arrival time, witness status, initial rhythm and location of the OHCA. RESULTS: We included 559 patients, 319 in the VCR intervention group and 240 in the other group. The key differences were more home located OHCA (80% vs 63%; p-value = < 0.001), longer EMS arrival times (13 [11, 17] vs 11 [8, 14] minutes; p-value = < 0.001) and more pre-EMS CPR performed (95% vs 63%; p < 0.001) and pre-EMS AED usage (48% vs 13%; p < 0.001) in the VCR intervention group. In the adjusted model, the odds ratios with VCR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) were 0.82 (95% CI: 0.39-1.74; p = 0.61) for ROSC, 0.65 (95% CI: 0.27-1.53; p = 0.32) for survival to hospital admission and 1.22 (95% CI: 0.26-5.74; p = 0.80) for survival to hospital discharge. In the sub-cohort of home-located OHCA, consisting of 192 patients the VCR intervention group and 202 in the other group, the adjusted odds ratios of VCR CPR were 0.78 (95% CI: 0.34-1.81; p = 0.57) for ROSC, 0.75 (95% CI: 0.27-2.08; p = 0.58) for survival to hospital admission and 1.34 (95% CI: 0.23-7.79; p = 0.75) for survival to hospital discharge. CONCLUSION: The rates of CPR performed and AED usage before EMS arrival were higher in the VCR intervention group. However, the VCR intervention was not independently associated with ROSC rate, survival to hospital admission and survival to hospital discharge. Potential key explanations are the sequential manual activation of the VCR network, leading firstly to potential delays in VCR deployment and secondly to potentially more VCR deployment on home-located OHCAs or on OHCA with longer expected EMS travel time. Updating the deployment system of the emergency medical communication centre could be a key improvement measure to address this. Further studies are needed to explore these issues and to improve the chain of survival including the VCR Network.
    Tags: Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, Clinical Outcomes, Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest, personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in, Survival to Hospital Discharge, Swiss Canton Fribourg, this paper., Volunteer Community Responder.
  • Engeler, J., Stricker, D., Birrenbach, T., Fadini, D., Mattsson, B., Luck, B. N., Straub, D. R., et al. “Designing And Validating Entrustable Professional Activities For Emergency Medicine: A Stringent, Construct-Validity Enhancing Approach”. Bmc Med Educ 25, no. 1: 866. doi:10.1186/s12909-025-07449-4.
    Abstract: BACKGROUND: Entrustable professional activities (EPAs) are a cornerstone in many postgraduate medical education programs. However, the design of EPAs varies widely across programs, the validity of newly developed EPAs is rarely tested, and there is little agreement on how to validate them. This study aimed to describe and evaluate the consensus finding and validation process for the development of EPAs in Emergency Medicine (EM) in Switzerland following a stringent, construct-validity-enhancing approach. METHODS: A conceptual framework was adopted as a template for the development and validation process. In the first step, a multi-institutional, core expert panel of EM physicians was assembled and received preparatory training. This group subsequently identified, developed, and revised EPAs in iterative rounds using Delphi and nominal group techniques. In the final step, a second expert panel, which was not involved in the development process, carried out validations of the EPAs using EQual rubric scores, generalizability analysis, and intra-class correlation coefficients. RESULTS: The development process resulted in 24 EPAs subdivided into 7 junior EPAs and 17 senior EPAs. The validation of the EPAs showed a mean total EQual rubric score of 4.08 (+/- 0.04) on a 5-point scale for all EPAs. The generalizability analysis yielded a phi-coefficient of 0.66 and an intra-class correlation coefficient of 0.83. CONCLUSIONS: By using and challenging existing strategies and validity-enhancing instruments, we were able to develop and validate EPAs in EM. Key elements in this process were the adherence to a conceptual framework as a structural planning template, multimodal preparatory education of experts, and validation by a second, independent expert group via appropriate tools such as the EQual rubric score. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12909-025-07449-4.
    Tags: All participants signed an informed consent form. Confidentiality of data was, applicable., approval based on the national legislation "Bundesgesetz uber die Forschung am, Competence-Based medical education (CBME), compliance with the Helsinki Declaration and is deemed exempt from ethical, data were only discussed within the research team. The study is in, Emergency medicine, Entrustable professional activities (EPA), https://www.admin.ch/opc/de/classified-compilation/20061313/index.html ), as no, interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Clinical trial number: Not, maintained, Menschen", Art.2, Abs.1 (, patient data was involved. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing, study was voluntary, and participants could discontinue the study at any time., Validation.
  • Schöne, Laurin, Klukowska-Rötzler, Jolanta, Exadaktylos, Aristomenis K., Olariu, Radu, Vögelin, Esther, and Rothenfluh, Esin. “Epidemiology And Characteristics Of Hand Burns: A 12-Year Retrospective Analysis At A University Hospital”. Burns Open 11. doi:10.1016/j.burnso.2025.100413.
    Abstract: The purpose of this study was to assess epidemiological features and injury characteristics of hand burn injuries based on a retrospective data collection from 2012 to 2023 at a maximum care University Hospital. 1809 burn injuries were registered in the Emergency Department of the Hospital, including 538 chemical burns to the eye. Deducting the latter of the total number, 24 % affected the hand as an isolated burn and 37 % as a combined burn injury. 43 % of all hand burns (combined and isolated) were female and 57 % were male. The age group from 20 to 29 years was significantly most affected. 21 % of hand burns happened at work, with 80 % of them being male. The most prevalent cause was contact (24 %), at home and at work. 84 % of all hand burns were treated non operatively and did not cause high costs. In general, there has been a decrease of burn injuries worldwide, but we did not recognize a declining trend of hand burns, some of them related to work. Most patients with hand burns present with mild degrees, but particularly work-related hand burns can be more severe with long term sequelae. The study highlights the importance of prevention programs and initiatives.
    Tags: Accident Prevention, Adult, Aged, Article, Asphalt, Burns, Chemical Burn, Child, Clinical Feature, Conservative Treatment, Controlled Study, Debridement, Electric Burn, Emergency Ward, Epidemiology, Explosion, Eye Burn, Female, Fire, First Degree Burn, Friction, Groups By Age, Hand Burn, Hand Burn Severity Score, Hand Burns, Hand Injuries, Home, Hospital Admission, Hospitalization Cost, Human, Injury Severity, Length Of Stay, Major Clinical Study, Male, Middle Aged, Occupational Accident, Oil, Population Research, Prevalence, Prevention, Retrospective Study, Scald, Seasonal Variation, Skin Transplantation, Third Degree Burn, University Hospital, Very Elderly, Water Vapor, Wax.
  • Gloor, S., Quante, M., Lehmann, B., and Schnuriger, B. “Breaking The Silence: Communication Failures Are The Leading Errors Identified In 10-Years Of Trauma Morbidity And Mortality Conferences”. Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg 51, no. 1: 242. doi:10.1007/s00068-025-02913-8.
    Abstract: BACKGROUND: Despite global efforts to reduce trauma-related morbidity and mortality, diagnostic and therapeutic errors occur due to the urgency and complexity of care. Trauma morbidity and mortality (Trauma M&M) conferences aim to identify and address such errors to improve clinical outcomes. While most existing data on Trauma M&M conferences originate from the US, insights from Western Europe remain scarce. METHODS: This single-center, retrospective case series analyzed trauma patients discussed at the monthly Trauma M&M at a Swiss Level I trauma center over 10 years (2013-2022). Data were collected from Trauma M&M records and electronic medical charts, including demographics, injury characteristics, timelines, and documented errors. A novel error categorization system was developed, encompassing communication, skill/knowledge deficits, delays, missed injuries, and deviations from algorithms. RESULTS: Out of 198 trauma cases reviewed, 189 with complete data were further analyzed. The median Injury Severity Score was 32 (IQR 25-43). Of these patients, 77% died within 90 days. A total of 130 potential errors were identified, with communication errors (n = 29) being the most frequent, followed by skill/knowledge deficits (n = 24) and procedural delays (n = 19). Communication errors often triggered subsequent errors, such as missed diagnoses, under-triage, and deviations from protocols. Discussions during the Trauma M&M led to the introduction or refinement of clinical algorithms, including updates to triage protocols. CONCLUSION: Communication errors emerged as the leading cause of errors in trauma care, highlighting the need for focused communication training. The Trauma M&M serves as an essential platform for interdisciplinary collaboration, quality improvement, and education. Future research should explore the ripple effects of communication errors and evaluate targeted interventions to optimize trauma care systems.
    Tags: Education, Medical errors, Morbidity, Mortality, Wounds and injuries.
  • Von Rhein, Michael, Krayenbühl, Niklaus, Meyer-Heim, Andreas, Manzano, Sergio, Gualco, Gianluca, Gualtieri, Renato, Romano, Fabrizio, Mack, Alexander, Hauser-Angst, Larissa, and Seiler, Michelle. “High Data Retrieval Rates With Swisspeddata For Paediatric Traumatic Brain Injuries In Children’s Hospitals: A Multicentre, Point-Prevalence Study”. Swiss Medical Weekly 155, no. 6. doi:10.57187/s.4065.
    Abstract: STUDY AIMS: SwissPedNet aims to improve the quality of multicentre research through standardised documentation of routine healthcare data. Therefore, SwissPedDa-ta was developed as a set of defined common data elements to be documented in each electronic patient file in a standardised format. This study evaluates the prepared-ness of the ten SwissPedNet hospitals for SwissPedDa-ta before its nationwide implementation, focusing on: (a) whether the defined common data elements are effectively documented and can be retrieved for children presenting with traumatic brain injuries to paediatric emergency departments, and (b) analysis of the content of these common data elements to assess how children with traumatic brain injuries are treated in paediatric emergency departments across Switzerland. METHODS: This multicentre point-prevalence study, con-ducted in June 2023, included all children up to 16 years presenting with traumatic brain injuries to ten SwissPed-Net paediatric emergency departments over one calendar week. To assess the documentation of common data elements, a questionnaire was developed, consisting of 21 common data elements defined by SwissPedData, covering patient demographics, accident details, symptoms, paediatric emergency department course, and if applicable, inpatient course. Each hub retrospectively collected data from the electronic health records of all traumatic brain injury patients during the specified week. The primary objective was to assess the rate of successful data retrieval, defined as the presence of documented information for specific common data elements. Data were classified as missing if no information regarding a specific common data element was found in the electronic health record. The retrieval rate of each common data element was evaluated, and the average time investment per patient was recorded to estimate the associated workload. The secondary objectives focused on the content of the compiled common data element information, assessing causes and symptoms of traumatic brain injuries and injury severity and comparing management procedures for traumatic brain injury patients across Switzerland. Logistic regression was used to assess associations between specific patient characteristics (e.g. symptoms), the probability of having computed tomography (CT) scans in paediatric emergency departments, and the rate of hospitalisations. RESULTS: During the study period, a total of 349 children with traumatic brain injury were treated; the median age was 4.0 years (interquartile range [IQR] 2.0–7.5 years). Data retrieval rates exceeded 90% for each common data element; specifically, common data elements with numeric information were extracted in 98.3% to 100% of cases, while those with standardised options or free-text entries had a retrieval rate of 91.7% to 100%. However, data on written discharge information were available for only 51.2% of outpatients and 53.3% of inpatients, with significant variability among hospitals. Data collection efforts varied among the ten participating hubs, with an average time investment per patient ranging from 0.5 to 2 hours and limited involvement of information technology (IT) departments. The prevalence of traumatic brain injury patients at the paediatric emergency departments was 6% (range: 3% to 11.5%), with most traumatic brain injuries occurring at home (48%) or on playgrounds (18.9%). The primary trauma mechanism was a fall (56.5%), usually from a height of less than 1 metre. Most patients (99.1%) had a normal Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). CT scans were performed in ten cases in the paediatric emergency departments, revealing pathologies in four cases, and resulting in neurosurgical intervention in one case. Factors associated with undergoing a CT scan or being hospi-talised included lower triage category numbers and loss of consciousness. CONCLUSIONS: Common data elements are conscientiously documented within clinical information systems for patients with traumatic brain injuries in paediatric emergency departments, but data extraction require consider-able time and effort, underscoring the need for additional technical support. Although traumatic brain injuries are a common reason for paediatric emergency department vis-its, they are generally mild in severity. Although Switzerland has no national guidelines for treating children with traumatic brain injuries, management practices, particularly the low rate of CT scans in children with traumatic brain injury and normal GCS, appear to be fairly consistent across hospitals. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
    Tags: Accident, Anticoagulant Agent, Article, Built Environment, Child, Clinical Feature, Clinical Research, Cohort Analysis, Computer Assisted Tomography, Data Quality, Demographics, Disease Course, Documentation, Electronic Medical Record, Emergency Ward, Female, Glasgow Coma Scale, Health Care Planning, Health Data, Home Accident, Hospital Care, Hospital Discharge, Hospital Patient, Hospitalization, Human, Information Retrieval, Information Technology, Logistic Regression Analysis, Major Clinical Study, Male, Medical Information System, Pediatric Hospital, Pediatric Patient, Pediatrics, Playground, Point Prevalence, Preschool Child, Questionnaire, Retrospective Study, Standardization, Switzerland, Symptom, Traumatic Brain Injury, Workload.
  • Unlu, L., Margenfeld, F., Zendehdel, A., Griese, J. A., Poilliot, A., Muller-Gerbl, M., Nickel, C. H., and Dedic, M. “Ultrasound-Guided Emergency Pericardiocentesis Simulation On Human Cadavers: A Scoping Review”. West J Emerg Med 26, no. 3: 685-691. doi:10.5811/westjem.39696.
    Abstract: OBJECTIVES: Emergency pericardiocentesis is a critical but infrequently performed procedure in emergency medicine, necessitating effective training modalities for emergency physicians. In this scoping review we aimed to identify existing literature on simulation of ultrasound-guided pericardiocentesis in human cadavers. METHODS: We carried out a scoping review based on a search on the use of sonography on human cadavers. The following databases were searched: MEDLINE; EMBASE; CENTRAL; BIOSIS Previews; and Web of Science Core Collection. Additionally, we performed a gray literature search. Title and abstract screening were done by a single reviewer, and full-text review was performed by two independent reviewers. Studies included were limited to those published in English or German, focusing specifically on ultrasound-guided pericardiocentesis training models in human cadavers, with no restrictions on publication year or outcomes. RESULTS: Our search strategy yielded 9,821 publications and 1,440 reports were assessed for eligibility. Ultimately, four studies met the inclusion criteria. All were conducted in the USA; two used soft-embalmed cadavers, one reported using fresh frozen cadavers, and one did not specify the cadaver type used. All studies accessed the pericardial sac using large-bore catheters or peripheral lines, filling it with (colored) water for simulation. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence on ultrasound-guided emergency pericardiocentesis simulation on human cadavers remains limited, but based on the four studies we reviewed human cadavers could be used for (emergency) pericardiocentesis simulation.
    Tags: *Emergency Medicine/education, *Pericardiocentesis/methods/education, *Simulation Training/methods, *Ultrasonography, Interventional/methods, Cadaver, Humans.
  • Starvaggi, C. A., Affentranger, S., Lengeler, N., Siebert, J. N., Galetto-Lacour, A., Tan, R., Jaboyedoff, M., Kuehni, C. E., Hartley, M. A., and Keitel, K. “Infokids+: A Validation Study Of A Pediatric Acuity Risk Stratification Algorithm”. Mayo Clin Proc Digit Health 3, no. 2: 100220. doi:10.1016/j.mcpdig.2025.100220.
    Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To prospectively validate InfoKids+, a pediatric acuity electronic risk stratification algorithm (eRSA), against a nurse-based triage standard (nbTS). PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: We conducted a prospective validation study in a Swiss university hospital pediatric emergency department to assess the performance of a pediatric acuity eRSA, InfoKids+, on the basis of a well-established parental guidance application, InfoKids. Participants completed the eRSA once seated in a consultation booth. We compared the acuity levels from InfoKids+ (urgent, <4 hours; nonurgent, <24 hours; and no emergency, >/=24 hours) against an nbTS. The primary outcome was the level of agreement and rate of alignment between InfoKids+ and the reference standard. RESULTS: We included 1990 participants from June 3, 2020, through January 31, 2022. InfoKids+ showed a slight level of agreement with the nbTS (kappa(lw)=0.08; 95% CI, 0.06-0.10). InfoKids+ triaged 1762 (89%) cases as urgent (<4 hours), 106 (5%) as nonurgent (</=24 hours), and 122 (6%) as no emergency (>/=24 hours), compared with 810 (41%), 843 (42%), and 337 (17%) triages by the nbTS, respectively (P<.001). InfoKids+ acuity level aligned with the reference standard in 888 (45%) cases, whereas it overreferred and underreferred in 999 (50%) and 103 (5%) cases, respectively (P<.001). CONCLUSION: In summary, our study uncovered notable discrepancies between the InfoKids+ algorithmic triage and conventional nurse-based triage. Our results highlight the critical need for rigorous validation of such tools for accuracy and safety before public release to ensure these tools are beneficial and do not inadvertently cause harm or misallocation of resources.
  • Dunser, M. W., Behringer, W., and Critical Care in Emergency Medicine Interest, Group. “Reply Of The Authors: "Emergency Critical Care - Life-Saving Critical Care Before Icu Admission: A Consensus Statement Of A Group Of European Experts"”. J Crit Care 89: 155148. doi:10.1016/j.jcrc.2025.155148.
    Tags: Belgium, bleeding, burn, critical illness, critically ill patient, emergency care, emergency critical care, emergency ward, heart arrest, hospital admission, human, injury, intensive care, intensive care unit, Letter, morbidity, mortality, opioid poisoning, patient care, resuscitation, thorax pain.
  • Pietsch, U., Muller, M., Hautz, W. E., Jakob, D. A., and Knapp, J. “The Importance Of Normocapnia In Patients With Severe Traumatic Brain Injury In Prehospital Emergency Medicine”. J Am Coll Emerg Physicians Open 6, no. 4: 100193. doi:10.1016/j.acepjo.2025.100193.
    Abstract: OBJECTIVES: Severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Optimal management of cerebral perfusion and intracranial pressure already at the prehospital setting can have a positive influence on the outcome of these patients. Both target values are influenced by the arterial PaCO(2). We investigated the association between PaCO(2) immediately on hospital admission and mortality of patients with severe TBI. METHODS: This study conducted a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from trauma patients who were admitted to 2 Swiss level 1 trauma centers with severe TBI between 2017 and 2022 that were selected from the hospitals' databases. Relationship between PaCO(2) obtained from arterial blood gas analysis (aBGA) immediately on hospital admission and 28-day mortality was examined by multivariable logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Of the 866 eligible patients, we observed an association between PaCO(2) and 28-day mortality, with mortality increasing at values above 35 mm Hg. CONCLUSION: A target PaCO(2) in the lower normal range as early as in the prehospital phase of treatment of patients with severe TBI seems to be associated with a reduced overall 28-day mortality. Our results support the need for a randomized controlled trial of aBGA-guided ventilation in TBI patients in the prehospital setting.
    Tags: hypocapnia, normocapnia, outcome, prehospital, target ventilation, traumatic brain injury.
  • Pradhan, S. K., Furian, M., Todeschini, G., Schurer, Q., Wang, X., Chen, B., Li, Y., and Gantenbein, A. R. “Daith Piercing, A Social Media Hype On Youtube For The Treatment Of Migraine? A Systematic Video Analysis”. Health Sci Rep 8, no. 6: e70880. doi:10.1002/hsr2.70880.
    Abstract: BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Nowadays, the social media video-sharing website YouTube is globally accessible and used for sharing news and information. It also serves as a tool for migraine sufferers seeking guidance about Daith piercing (DP) as a potential migraine treatment; however, shared and disseminated video content is rarely regulated and does not follow evidence-based medicine. This study aims to investigate the content, quality, and reliability of YouTube videos on DP for the treatment of migraine. METHODS: YouTube videos were systematically searched from the video portal inception until 17th January 2024. "Daith piercing" AND "migraine" were the applied search terms. The primary outcome of interest was assessing the Global Quality Scale (GQS) and DISCERN to evaluate each video blog's quality, flow, and reliability. Secondary outcomes included the relapse time of migraine after DP, and further outcomes related to DP. RESULTS: In the final analysis, 246 videos were included (N = 69 categorized as Personal Experience; N = 176 as Others, defined as videos from bloggers, piercers, or other persons; and N = 1 as Healthcare Professionals). The GQS rating in the category Personal Experience revealed that the quality of 50.7% of videos was very poor; 29.0% poor; 11.6% moderate, and 8.7% good. In the category Others, GQS rating showed that the quality of 60.8% of videos was very poor; 25.6% poor; 11.9% moderate, and 1.7% good. The one video in the category Healthcare Professionals was rated "poor quality". Ratings applying the DISCERN tool were comparable. Overall, 111 (45.1%) videos recommended and 14 (5.7%) discouraged DP for migraine relief. CONCLUSION: Based on the GQS and DISCERN scores, the information, usefulness, and accuracy of most YouTube content on DP for migraine treatment are generally of poor quality and reliability. The lack of high-quality and reliable videos might expose users to potentially misleading information and dissemination of unproven medical interventions.
    Tags: acupuncture, analysis., complementary and alternative medicine, headache disorders, migraine piercing, pain, Pradhan had full access to all of the data in this study and takes complete, responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data, YouTube.
  • Hejrati, N., Stengel, F. C., Fehlings, M. G., Maschmann, C., Stienen, M. N., Jensen, K. O., and Swiss Trauma, Registry. “Spinal Cord Injury In Severely Injured Patients: Results From The Swiss Trauma Registry”. Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med 33, no. 1: 103. doi:10.1186/s13049-025-01420-4.
    Abstract: BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Traumatic spinal cord injuries (SCIs) in the context of severe trauma are rare, and patient demographics are infrequently reported. This study aimed to assess patient demographics in acute traumatic SCI in the context of severe injuries in Switzerland and to evaluate differences in demographics and outcomes stratified by timing of surgery. METHODS: We analyzed data from the Swiss Trauma Registry (STR) from 2015 to 2024. The STR includes patients with major trauma (injury severity score [ISS] >/= 16 and/or abbreviated injury scale [AIS] head >/= 3) admitted to any level-one trauma centre in Switzerland. We evaluated patient characteristics, complications, and hospital outcomes, which were further stratified by early (< 24 h) and late (>/= 24 h) surgery. RESULTS: Among 24,328 patients, 6,819 (28%) sustained spinal injuries, and 383 (1.6%) had a concurrent SCI with an incidence of 0.44 cases per 100'000 inhabitants. The median age was 52 years (IQR 31-70) and 73.6% were male. The primary causes were falls (63.1%) and road traffic accidents (29.6%). The in-hospital mortality rate was 4.7%. Late surgery patients more often had concomitant moderate or severe traumatic brain injuries (31% vs. 14%, p = 0.009) and were more likely to have no fractures or dislocations of the spine (22.8% versus 6.8%, p = 0.001). Patients who underwent early surgery had shorter hospital stays (9d [5-16], versus 16 d [9-24]; F = 13.92, p < 0.001). Late surgery was associated with a higher likelihood of developing two and more complications (OR 2.57, 95% CI 1.18-5.63, p = 0.018), including urinary tract infections (OR 12.13, 95% CI 2.76-53.41, p = 0.001) and multiple organ failure (OR 12.99, 95% CI 1.64-102.83, p = 0.015). CONCLUSIONS: This study offers insights into the characteristics and outcomes of acute SCI care in severely injured patients. Despite its low incidence, the acute management of this patient population remains highly challenging. Our findings suggest early stabilization of spinal injuries in severely injured patients may reduce hospital stays and complications.
    Tags: article, human, register, spinal cord injury.
  • Schuetz, P. “A Key Step Toward Gaining A Deeper Understanding Of Individual Responses To Protein Supplementation”. Am J Clin Nutr 122, no. 2: 375-376. doi:10.1016/j.ajcnut.2025.05.030.
  • Pfortmueller, C. A., Hahn, M., Eggimann, A., Rodemund, N., Kokoefer, A., Lindner, G., Schefold, J. C., and Waskowski, J. “Long-Term Mortality After Stage 1 Acute Kidney Injury In Critically Ill Patients - An Observational Cohort Study”. J Crit Care 89: 155130. doi:10.1016/j.jcrc.2025.155130.
    Abstract: BACKGROUND: Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) is prevalent in intensive care units (ICU) and is linked with increased mortality. The Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) guidelines define AKI using serum creatinine and urinary output criteria. While moderate and severe AKI according the creatinine criterion correlate with increased mortality, the significance of stage 1 AKI remains debated. METHODS: Retrospective cohort analysis from two tertiary care centres in Switzerland and Austria (2013-2021) to investigate the association between stage 1 AKI (KDIGO creatinine criterion) in the first seven days after ICU admission and one-year mortality in adult ICU patients. Data were extracted using standardized protocols. Baseline creatinine was determined using estimation formulas. We applied multivariable regression models adjusted for key confounders and conducted sensitivity analyses. RESULTS: Of 42,446 patients, 4667 (11 %) developed stage 1 AKI, 13 % (n = 5449) moderate/ severe AKI and 32,330 patients no AKI (76 %). Stage 1 AKI associates with one-year mortality (OR 1.6 [95 %CI 1.48; 1.73], p < 0.001) and increases length of stay in ICU (beta 1.4 [95 %CI 1.2; 1.5], p < 0.001) and hospital (beta 2.7 [95 %CI 2.1; 3.2], p < 0.001). In subgroup-analyses, we observed similar associations in patients with surgery (OR 1.66 [95 %CI 1.45;1.89], p < 0.001) and without surgery (OR 1.61 [95 %CI 1.46;1.78], p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Stage 1 AKI is associated with 1-year mortality in adult ICU patients even in steps below 26.5 mumol/L. This highlights the prognostic significance of subclinical renal injury and underlines the need for increased efforts to diagnose AKI in its full spectrum. The analysis is limited by basing the AKI diagnosis on creatinine criterion.
    Tags: *Acute Kidney Injury/mortality, *Critical Illness/mortality, Abbott AG, Anandic Medical Systems, Pan Gas AG Healthcare, Bracco, Hamilton, Acute kidney injury, Aged, Aki, Astellas, Astra Zeneca, CSL Behring, Novartis, Covidien, Phagenesis Ltd., and, Austria/epidemiology, Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG). NR and AE reports no conflict of, Clinical Research AG, Nestle, Pierre Fabre Pharma AG, Pfizer, Bard Medica S.A.,, Creatinine/blood, Critically ill, Daiichi-Sankyo, Bayer Pharmaceuticals. AK is currently receiving funding from the, Female, GmbH, Glaxo Smith Kline, Merck Sharp and Dohme AG, Eli Lilly and Company, Baxter,, Hospital Mortality, Humans, Intensive Care Units/statistics & numerical data, interest., Kdigo, Kidney diseases, Length of Stay/statistics & numerical data, Lifesciences Services GmbH, Kenta Biotech Ltd., Maquet Critical Care AB, Omnicare, Male, Medical AG, Fresenius Kabi, Getinge Group Maquet AG, Drager AG, Teleflex Medical, Middle Aged, Mortality, no personal financial gain applied. GL received honoraria from Otsuka Pharma,, Nycomed outside the submitted work. The money was paid into departmental funds, Pharma, Abbott Nutrition International, B. Braun Medical AG, CSEM AG, Edwards, Retrospective Studies, Severity of Illness Index, Switzerland/epidemiology.
  • Klocker, E., Wienandts, L., Josi, D., Rauch, S., Albrecht, R., Knapp, J., and Pietsch, U. “High-Altitude Hems Missions-A Retrospective Analysis Of 3,564 Air Rescue Missions Conducted Between 2011 And 2021”. Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med 33, no. 1: 97. doi:10.1186/s13049-025-01419-x.
    Abstract: BACKGROUND: Mountain sport activities are being practiced by an increasing number of people: The number of tourists visiting altitudes greater than 2,500 m above sea level in the Alps has been estimated at around 40 million people per year. For this reason, however, the number of emergencies in remote areas, which can be reached most rapidly by helicopter, has also increased. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all rescue missions conducted by the Swiss Air Ambulance (Rega) in the period 2011-2021 that were carried out at an altitude of more than 2,500 m above sea level. Demographic and epidemiological data, medical measures implemented on scene, and the on-scene time were then analyzed for both trauma and non-trauma patients. Patients were categorized based on the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) score into non-injured (NACA 0), minor injured (NACA 0-3), seriously injured (NACA 4-6), deceased during mission (NACA 7), and already deceased on arrival of the HEMS team. RESULTS: A total of 3,564 rescue missions were analyzed. Of the patients, 66.8% were male and the vast majority (88.4%) were adults. In terms of injury level, 88.1% of the patients were minor injured, with an NACA score of 0-3, while 9.4% were seriously injured, with a score of 4-6. Patients who died in scene (NACA 7) accounted for 2.5% of cases. We observed a significant increase in the number of minor injured patients with traumatic injuries over the period of observation. Factors that significantly influenced the on-scene time included the NACA score, hoist missions, and traumatic injuries in summer. CONCLUSION: Over the last ten years, the number of HEMS missions conducted at more than 2,500 m above sea level with non-injured and slightly injured patients has increased. The large number of HEMS missions with uninjured patients are of a preventive nature. Only around 9% of all rescue missions involved the medical treatment and rescue of seriously injured patients who required advanced medical interventions. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Ethics approval and consent to participate BASEC Nr. Req202200189.
    Tags: *Air Ambulances/statistics & numerical data, *Altitude, *Mountaineering/injuries, *Rescue Work/statistics & numerical data, *Wounds and Injuries/epidemiology/therapy, Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Alpine rescue, authors declare no competing interests., Female, Hems, High altitude, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Mountain medicine, On-scene time, Req-2022-00189. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The, Retrospective Studies, Switzerland/epidemiology.
  • Kuhnen, S. C., Muller, M., Schmeling, A., Zech, W. D., Klaus, J. B., Lombardo, P., Ith, M., Egli, R. J., and Ruder, T. D. “Ct Of The Medial Clavicular Epiphysis For Forensic Age Estimation - Raised Arms Position Recommended”. Int J Legal Med 139, no. 5: 2339-2349. doi:10.1007/s00414-025-03521-2.
    Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect of arm positioning on radiation dose, scan length, and image noise in computed tomography (CT) scans of the medial clavicular epiphysis for forensic age estimation performed with the arms alongside the body (arms-down) versus elevated above the head (arms-up). METHODS: Twenty consecutive CT scans were analysed, ten performed with arms-down and ten with arms-up. The scans were conducted at 120 kVp and 37 mAs reference tube current. Scan length extended from 10 mm above to 10 mm below the medial clavicular epiphysis. Dose-relevant parameters (effective CT tube current, volume CT dose index (CTDIvol), CT dose length product (DLP), and effective dose) as well as scan length and image noise were compared between arms-up and arms-down CT scans. RESULTS: Population characteristics: 19 males, 1 female; mean weight 65.8 +/- 9.2 kg; height 174.6 +/- 7.8 cm; and body mass index (BMI) 21.6 +/- 2.5 kg/m(2). Dose-relevant parameters were significantly lower with arms-up compared to arms-down (effective tube current: 80.9 +/- 21.7 mAs vs. 146.0 +/- 47.5 mAs, p = 0.001; CTDIvol: 5.5 +/- 1.5 mGy vs. 9.9 +/- 3.2 mGy, p = 0.001; DLP: 40.2 +/- 13.7 mGy*cm vs. 63.8 +/- 21.9 mGy*cm, p = 0.010; effective dose: 0.6 +/- 0.2 mSv vs. 0.9 +/- 0.3 mSv, p = 0.010). No significant differences were found in scan length, image noise, or population characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: Removing the arms from the CT beam path reduced radiation dose by 33% without affecting scan length or image noise. Given the importance of dose optimisation in non-medical examinations of potentially minor individuals, CT scans of the medial clavicular epiphysis should be performed with arms elevated above the head.
    Tags: *Age Determination by Skeleton/methods, *Arm, *Clavicle/diagnostic imaging, *Epiphyses/diagnostic imaging, *Patient Positioning/methods, *Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methods, Adolescent, Adult, Arm positioning, Computed tomography, Female, Forensic age estimation, Humans, Male, Medial clavicular epiphysis, Middle Aged, need for informed consent was waived. Conflict of interest: The authors declare, Radiation Dosage, Radiation protection, study by the Ethics Committee of the Canton of Bern (KEK Req-2023-00390) and the, that they have no conflict of interest., Young Adult.
  • von Kanel, R., Neuner-Jehle, S., Kressig, R. W., Guessous, I., Krayenbuhl, P. A., Zimmerli, L., Angelilo-Scherer, A., et al. “Effects Of A Novel Differential Diagnosis Aid For Managing Patients With Unexplained Fatigue In Primary Care: A Prospective Randomized, Controlled, Open And Multicenter Study In Primary Care”. Bmc Prim Care 26, no. 1: 183. doi:10.1186/s12875-025-02873-3.
    Abstract: AIMS OF THE STUDY: Unexplained fatigue is a common reason for encounters in primary care. However, currently no aid orients physicians in detecting its potential causes. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the novel Fatigue Differential Diagnostic Aid (FDDA) supported clinicians in better managing unexplained fatigue. METHODS: This was a prospective, cluster-randomized, controlled, open, and multicenter study comparing the use of the FDDA vs usual care in patients with unexplained fatigue as the main reason for encounter. The primary endpoint was difference in Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC) between groups at 3 months. Among pre-defined secondary endpoints were: Difference in change of PGIC between groups at 6 months; percentage of patients with fatigue reduction; mean reduction in fatigue; clinician's confidence in diagnosis; patient satisfaction with quality of care (diagnostic process and treatment); number of clinician-reported visits; number of referrals to specialists; and time until final diagnosis. RESULTS: 112 primary care practitioners (PCPs) recruited in Switzerland between 2017 to 2020 were randomly cluster-assigned to the FDDA = 57 or usual care = 55 arm. Of these, 15 (FDDA) and 22 (usual care) PCPs recruited 93 patients (FDDA: n = 40, usual care: n = 53). The achieved sample size was less than planned. There was no difference in PGIC at 3 months between groups (D = 0.06, 95%-CI: -0.41 - -0.53, p = 0.802). Among secondary endpoints, no significant differences occurred in PGIC at 6 months, nor in fatigue reduction. However, in the FDDA group, more patients reported less fatigue at 3 or 6 months (D = 18.9%, 95%-CI: -33.6 - -4.3%, p = 0.011), and increased satisfaction with treatment management at 1 month (FDDA 56.8% vs usual care 25.0%, p = 0.004) and 3 months (FDDA 64.9% vs usual care 31.0%, p = 0.003); the FDDA was also associated with higher total number of visits (median 4.0 vs 3.0, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In this pilot study, the FDDA, a structured diagnostic aid for guiding PCPs in identifying the causes of unexplained fatigue in their patients, was not able to show a global improvement in patient outcomes despite improvements in fatigue and satisfaction with care. The evaluation of fatigue in larger-scale studies is warranted. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial was retrospectively registered on ClinicalTrials.gov. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT05861492. Date of registration: 17th May 2023. The ethics committee of Ethikkommission Nordwest- und Zentralschweiz (EKNZ) had originally voiced the opinion that no registration was required because no drug or intervention was involved, i.e., the study was non-interventional and observational. However, the study authors felt that the study should be retrospectively registered because the FDDA could be interpreted to be an active intervention. At the time of registration, two protocol deviations occurred that are explicitly addressed in the Methods section of this manuscript. Because of the low sample size, we statistically compared "patients" instead of "comparing patients nested in doctors" (the latter was performed as an additional analysis). Thus, cluster randomization was performed, but the analysis to consider this was not feasible.
    Tags: (QualiPro Schweiz AG, Switzerland) which was the primary contact for PCPs to, *Fatigue/diagnosis/therapy/etiology, *Medically Unexplained Symptoms, *Primary Health Care, 6-month patient follow-ups by telephone. The study was overseen by an independent, accordance with the European data privacy regulation (GDPR). The study was, Adult, and Health Research, Germany) that hosted the database and carried out data and, as well as writing of the manuscript were conducted independently, and results, by a Contract Research Organization (CRO, Clinical trial, Diagnosis, Differential, Differential diagnosis, Fatigue, FDDA steering committee, no further conflicts. All authors confirm that they have, Female, general practice. The sponsor provided financial support to the study. All, have not been influenced by CSL Vifor., Humans, Male, Member of the FDDA steering committee, no further conflicts. SNJ: Member of the, Middle Aged, or competing interests related to this manuscript. The funding body took part in, participated in the study provided informed consent. Patient data were handled in, Patient relevant outcome, Patient Satisfaction, performed in line with all relevant European and national guidelines and, Primary care, procedures in this study were performed in accordance with the national ethical, project management. The CRO worked in cooperation with a Swiss field organization, Prospective Studies, provide study material and administrative support, as well as conduct the 2- and, psychosomatics, psychiatry, epidemiology, geriatrics, internal medicine, and, read BMC s guidance on competing interests and that they do not have conflicting, regulations for conducting studies with human subjects. Competing interests: RvK:, regulatory authority's requirements (approval no. 2016-01786). The study was, reviewed and approved by the ethics committee "Ethikkommission Nordwest- und, Scientific Steering Committee (the Swiss Fatigue Working Group). This Committee, standards and the Swiss Federal law on data protection (FADP) and met Swiss, Switzerland, the design of the study, however, data collection, analysis, and interpretation,, Treatment outcome, was composed of experts in the field of fatigue, with specialists in hematology,, ZEG Berlin - Center for Epidemiology, Zentralschweiz (EKNZ)" (reference N degrees 2016-01786), Switzerland. All patients who.
  • Bima, P., Lopez-Ayala, P., Koechlin, L., Morello, F., Boeddinghaus, J., Dimitrova, M., Spagnuolo, C. C., et al. “Derivation And Validation Of Esc-0/1-H Algorithm For High-Sensitivity Troponin T And I In Cancer Patients”. Jacc Adv 4, no. 6 Pt 1: 101821. doi:10.1016/j.jacadv.2025.101821.
    Abstract: BACKGROUND: The diagnostic performance of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T/I (hs-cTnT/I) and the efficacy of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) 0/1-h hs-cTnT/I algorithms for the early diagnosis of non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction are lower in cancer patients. OBJECTIVES: The authors aimed to derive new cutoffs for ESC 0/1-h hs-cTnT/I algorithms optimized for use in patients with active or past cancer. METHODS: Patients presenting with suspected non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction to the emergency department enrolled in an international multicenter study were analyzed. Final diagnoses were centrally adjudicated by 2 independent cardiologists according to the fourth universal definition of myocardial infarction. External validation was performed in 2 independent cohorts. RESULTS: Among 541 eligible cancer patients, cancer-optimized ESC 0/1-h hs-cTnT cutoffs, <8 ng/L at presentation (if chest pain onset >3 hours) or <14 ng/L if 0/1 h-delta is <3 ng/L for rule-out and >/=54 ng/L or 0/1-h delta >/=4 ng/L for rule-in, increased the efficacy vs the current cutoffs from 58.6% (95% CI: 54.4-62.7) to 68.0% (95% CI: 64.0-71.8; P < 0.001). Sensitivity and specificity remained high and comparable. Similarly, among 516 eligible patients, cancer-optimized ESC 0/1-h hs-cTnI-Architect cutoffs, <7 ng/L at presentation (if chest pain onset >3 hours) or <10 ng/L if 0/1-h delta is <3 ng/L for rule-out and >/=61 ng/L or 0/1-h delta >/=5 ng/L for rule-in, increased the efficacy vs the current cutoffs from 59.3% (95% CI: 55.0-63.5) to 78.9% (95% CI: 75.2-82.2; P < 0.001). Sensitivity and specificity again remained high and comparable. Findings were confirmed in internal and external validation cohorts (n = 130 and n = 195 patients, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Cancer-optimized ESC 0/1-h hs-cTnT/I algorithm cutoffs increased efficacy maintaining high safety.
    Tags: analysis. All authors have read and approved the manuscript. The sponsors had no, and FEDER, Mapfre, Novartis, Bayer, MSD, Abbott, and Orion-Pharma, outside the, and Sphingotec, as well as speaker honoraria/consulting honoraria from Abbott,, and travel, assay was donated by the manufacturer, who had no role in the design of the, Astra Zeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, BMS, Osler, Novartis, Roche, Siemens,, Bando d'Eccellenza 2023 to EL) and, Basel, the University Hospital of Basel, the Division of Internal Medicine, the, Boeddinghaus, and Mueller had full access to all the data in the study and take, by the Universita degli Studi di Torino (grants MORF_RILO_21_02 and 23_03 to FM)., cancer, cardiac troponin, Cardiorentis, and Sanofi and research grants from the Spanish Ministry of Health, cutoffs, decision to submit the manuscript for publication. The authors designed the, degli Studi di Torino and Fondazione Ricerca Molinette. All other authors declare, diagnosis, Doctoral College Scholarship and received research grants from the University of, Dr Wildi reports funding from the University of Basel, the Swiss National, e-print servers., Fondazione Ricerca Molinette (Torino, Italy, Foundation (320030-231521), the Wesley Medical Research Foundation, and the, Foundation (FF23062), unrelated to the present work. Dr Lopez-Ayala has received, Foundation (P400PM_191037/1), the Prof Dr Max Cloetta Foundation, the Margarete, Foundation, the Swiss National Science Foundation, and the "Freie Akademische, from Roche Diagnostics, Abbott, and Siemens, outside the submitted work. Dr, from the Swiss National Science Foundation, the Swiss Heart Foundation, the, from the University of Torino. Dr Lupia received grant support from Universita, Gesellschaft Basel", has received a research grant from the University of Basel, the Swiss Academy of, honoraria from Quidel, paid to the institution, outside the submitted work. Dr, honoraria from Siemens Healthineers, Roche Diagnostics,, Idorsia, LSI-Medience, Roche, Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, Quidel, Siemens,, Martin-Sanchez has received speaker, advisory, or consulting fees from Novartis,, Medical Sciences, and the Gottfried and Julia Bangerter-Rhyner Foundation, as, Medtronic, Abbott, Beckman Coulter, Bayer, Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, and Orion, MSD, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Pfizer, The Medicine Company, Otsuka, Thermo Fisher,, myocardial infarction, Nestelberger has received research support from the Swiss National Science, Novartis, Ortho Clinical, Quidel, Roche, Siemens, Singulex, SpinChip, Upstream,, Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, Quidel Corporation, and Beckman Coulter, paper, and decided to publish. Drs Bima, Lopez-Ayala, Wildi, Nestelberger,, Pharma, outside the submitted work. Dr Boeddinghaus is supported by an Edinburgh, prognosis, published previously and are not being considered for publications elsewhere in, research grants from the Swiss Heart Foundation (FF20079 and FF21103) and speaker, responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data, role in designing or conducting the study and no role in gathering or analyzing, Science Foundation, the Swiss Heart Foundation, the University Hospital Basel,, SpinChip, and Singulex, outside the submitted work, all paid to the institution., SpinChip, and Singulex. The Turin-cancer cohort study was supported by the, study, gathered and analyzed the data, vouch for the data and analysis, wrote the, study, the analysis of the data, the preparation of the manuscript, or the, submitted work. Dr Mueller has received research support from the Swiss National, support from Edwards Lifesciences, Pronova Medical, Meril, Boston Scientific,, support from Medtronic and Cordis, all outside the submitted work. Dr Koechlin, Swiss Academy of Medical Sciences, the Gottfried and Julia Bangerter-Rhyner, that they have no conflict of interest with this study. The investigated hs-cTn, the data or writing the manuscript. The manuscript and its contents have not been, the University of Basel, Abbott, Beckman Coulter, Brahms, Idorsia, LSI-Medience,, und Walter Lichtenstein-Stiftung (3MS1038), and the University of Basel, the, University Hospital Basel, as well as speaker/consulting honoraria or research, University Hospital Basel, the University of Basel, Abbott, Beckman Coulter,, University of Queensland, all outside submitted work. Dr Morello received grants, We disclose that Dr Bima has received a research grant from the Swiss Heart, well as the "Freiwillige Akademische Gesellschaft Basel," and speaker honoraria, whole or in part in any language, including publicly accessible web sites or.
  • Ahmad, S. J. S., Degiannis, J. R., Head, M., Ahmed, A. R., Gelber, E., Hakky, S., Kieser, A., et al. “Meta-Analysis Of The Optimal Needle Length And Decompression Site For Tension Pneumothorax And Consensus Recommendations On Current Atls And Etc Guidelines”. World J Emerg Surg 20, no. 1: 39. doi:10.1186/s13017-025-00613-7.
    Abstract: BACKGROUND: Tension pneumothorax (TP) is a life-threatening condition. The immediate recommended management is needle decompression (ND), followed by the insertion of an intercostal chest drain. The European Trauma Course (ETC) and the Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) guidelines differ on needle size and decompression site, creating clinical uncertainty. This meta-analysis aims to explore the optimal approach for emergency needle decompression in TP. METHODS: This meta-analysis followed the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. It included English-language RCTs, cohort, case-control, cross-sectional studies, and case series with more than six patients. Studies on adults undergoing needle decompression therapy for TP or with chest wall thickness measurements were included. Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science databases were searched until May 31, 2024. Data were extracted, assessed for quality using OCEBM and GRADE, and analyzed using SPSS and OpenMeta with random-effects models. PRIMARY OUTCOME: needle decompression failure rate. SECONDARY OUTCOMES: patient demographics, cannula size, and chest wall thickness comparisons. RESULTS: This review analyzed 51 studies on needle decompression for TP, with a weighted mean patient age of 36.67 years. Radiological data from 24 studies (n = 8046) indicated a 32.84% failure rate for needle penetration into the pleural cavity (I(2): 99.72%). Increased needle length reduced failure rates by 7.76% per cm. No significant differences in chest wall thickness between genders were observed (T-test, p = 0.77), but thickness at the 5th anterior axillary line (5AAL) and 5th midaxillary line (5MAL) was less than at the 2nd midclavicular line (2MCL). Injury rates were higher at 5AAL than 5MAL, with strong positive correlations between needle length and injury at these sites (0.88, 0.91). CONCLUSION: Based on our meta-analysis, a 7 cm needle may be appropriate for decompression of right-sided tension pneumothorax at either the 5th intercostal space along the midaxillary line or the 2nd intercostal space along the midclavicular line. For left-sided cases, given the potential risk of cardiac injury, the 2nd midclavicular line is a safer option. However, these recommendations should be interpreted with caution due to considerable heterogeneity among the included studies, potential risk of bias, and variability in measurement techniques. Clinical decisions should always be individualized, taking into account patient-specific factors.
    Tags: *Decompression, Surgical/instrumentation/methods/standards, *Needles/standards, *Pneumothorax/surgery, are required for this study. Patients and public involvement: No patients were, authors consent for this version of the paper to be published. Competing, Chest wall thickness, Consensus, Humans, Iatrogenic injury, Intercostal space, interests: The authors declare no competing interests., involved in this study as it is a meta-analysis. Consent for publication: All, Needle decompression, Needle length, Practice Guidelines as Topic, Tension pneumothorax, Trauma care.
  • Schwappach, D., Hautz, W., Krummrey, G., Pfeiffer, Y., and Ratwani, R. M. “Emr Usability And Patient Safety: A National Survey Of Physicians”. Npj Digit Med 8, no. 1: 282. doi:10.1038/s41746-025-01657-4.
    Abstract: Despite widespread adoption of electronic medical records (EMRs), concerns persist regarding their usability and implications for patient safety. This national cross-sectional survey assessed physicians' perceptions of EMR usability across safety-relevant domains. Among 1933 respondents from diverse care settings, 56% reported that their EMR did not enhance patient safety, and 50% perceived their system as inefficient. Usability ratings averaged 52% of the maximum score. Statistically significant differences were observed between EMRs in outpatient (eta(2) = 0.13) and hospital (eta(2) = 0.37) settings. Multilevel modeling attributed 38% of the variance in usability ratings to differences between EMRs, 51% to hospital-level variation within EMRs, and 11% to physician-level differences. Canonical discriminant analysis identified key differentiating usability features, including system response times, excessive alerts, prevention of data entry errors, and support for collaboration. These findings underscore substantial limitations in current EMR systems and reinforce the value of comparative usability assessments to inform targeted improvements in digital health infrastructure.
    Tags: adult, aged, article, Biomedical engineering, Canonical discriminant analysis, controlled study, cross-sectional study, Cross-sectional surveys, digital health, discriminant analysis, Electronic health record, electronic medical record, female, health infrastructure, human, human experiment, Level difference, male, Maximum score, Medical record, middle aged, multilevel analysis, Multilevel modeling, National surveys, outpatient, Patient safety, physician, Physician perceptions, prevention, reaction time, Statistically significant difference, usability, usability testing.
  • Ben Salah, M. H., and Ziaka, M. “Holothoracic Spinal Epidural Lipomatosis: Report Of A Rare Presentation And Review Of Literature”. Sage Open Med Case Rep 13: 2050313X251339051. doi:10.1177/2050313X251339051.
    Abstract: Spinal epidural lipomatosis refers to the abnormal accumulation of unencapsulated fat in the epidural space, possibly associated with spinal canal narrowing and compression of adjacent nerve structures. Risk factors for spinal epidural lipomatosis include older age, male sex, obesity, and systemic corticosteroid use. While spinal epidural lipomatosis typically involves the thoracic or lumbosacral regions of the spinal cord, there are no published cases involving the entire thoracic cord. This report presents the first case of spinal epidural lipomatosis affecting the whole thoracic cord, highlighting the complexity of its diagnosis and management.
    Tags: diabetes/endocrinology, geriatrics/gerontology, research, authorship, and/or publication of this article., surgery.
  • Podsiadlo, P., Mendrala, K., Gordon, L., Pasquier, M., Paal, P., Hymczak, H., Witt-Majchrzak, A., Nowak, E., Czarnik, T., and Darocha, T. “Survival Prediction For Non-Asphyxia-Related Hypothermic Cardiac Arrest Patients After Extracorporeal Rewarming: Development Of The Help Score”. Asaio J. doi:10.1097/MAT.0000000000002456.
    Abstract: The aim of this study was to develop a scoring tool to estimate the probability of survival following extracorporeal rewarming in patients suffering hypothermic cardiac arrest. This is a multicenter retrospective study based on registry data. We included adult patients with hypothermic cardiac arrest not associated with asphyxia, with a core temperature of </=28 degrees C, who underwent extracorporeal rewarming. A multivariable logistic regression model was developed to serve as the predictive tool. Internal validation with bootstrap resampling was performed to adjust model parameters and reduce model optimism. Our study population included 141 patients. The survival rate was 46% (65/141). A total of 88% of the survivors (57/65) had a favorable neurological outcome (Cerebral Performance Category 1-2). The predictive model includes four variables. Outdoor occurrence of hypothermia and a higher hemoglobin level raise survival odds while higher concentrations of potassium and lactate reduce survival odds. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was 0.812 and p value of the Hosmer-Lemeshow test was 0.8. We developed a prognostic model to estimate the probability of survival in adult patients with non-asphyxia-related hypothermic cardiac arrest. This model may aid in identifying candidates suitable for extracorporeal rewarming, though it should not be used as the sole deciding factor.
    Tags: accidental hypothermia, cardiac arrest, extracorporeal life support, patient outcome assessment, resuscitation.
  • Wildi, K., Gimenez, M. R., Boeddinghaus, J., Nestelberger, T., Lopez-Ayala, P., Koechlin, L., Gerstenberger, M., et al. “Possible Misdiagnosis Of Myocardial Infarction Using Regulatory-Approved And Close-To-Bioequivalent Upper Limits Of Normal For Cardiac Troponin”. J Am Heart Assoc 14, no. 10: e040468. doi:10.1161/JAHA.124.040468.
    Abstract: BACKGROUND: Possible misdiagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) may occur due to inappropriate upper limit of normal (ULN) for cardiac troponin and has the potential to harm patients. In this observational international multicenter study, we aimed to assess to what extent the novel hs-cTn-assays are affected. METHODS: A total of 6646 patients presenting with suspected AMI to the emergency department were enrolled. All level pairs (n=18 732) of 4 widely used high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T/I (hs-cTnT/I) assays using (1) the regulatory-approved uniform and sex-specific clinical ULN and (2) mathematically derived close-to-bioequivalent ULNs were assessed. The primary outcome was the quantification of the incidence of inconsistencies in the diagnosis of AMI. Inconsistency was defined as hs-cTnT/I concentration above the recommended ULN in one but not the other assay: for example, hs-cTnT-Elecsys+/hs-cTnI-Architect- or hs-cTnT-Elecsys-/hs-cTnI-Architect+. RESULTS: AMI was the adjudicated diagnosis in 1422 patients (21.4%). When the regulatory-approved uniform ULN was used, the rate of inconsistent AMI diagnoses was 17.6% (Elecsys/Architect), 18.8% (Elecsys/Centaur), 14.2% (Elecsys/Access), 4.9% (Architect/Centaur), 8.3% (Architect/Access), and 7.4% (Access/Centaur), respectively. Overall, diagnostic mismatches were not decreased, but in fact increased using regulatory-approved sex-specific ULNs. In women as compared with men, they were 23.8% versus 17.6% (Elecsys/Architect), 30.1% versus 19.1% (Elecsys/Centaur), 23.2% versus 15% (Elecsys/Access), 7.2% versus 4.5% (Architect/Centaur), 8.3% versus 8.7% (Architect/Access) and 7.8% versus 8.2% (Access/Centaur), respectively. Using close-to-bioequivalent ULNs reduced inconsistencies by 15% to 20% (P<0.001). Findings were confirmed in a sensitivity analysis among all level pairs with final diagnosis of AMI (mismatches in 7.3%-20.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Current regulatory-approved uniform and sex-specific ULNs for hs-cTnT/I result in discordances in binary assay results, possibly impacting the diagnosis of AMI. A regulatory process that defines bioequivalent ULNs could reduce inconsistencies significantly. REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT00470587.
    Tags: *Diagnostic Errors, *Myocardial Infarction/diagnosis/blood, *Troponin I/blood, *Troponin T/blood, addition, she received a PhD scholarship from the University of Queensland,, Aged, Akademische Gesellschaft Basel," and speaker honoraria from Roche Diagnostics,, and received speaker, and speaker's honoraria from Quidel, paid to the institution, outside the, Ayala, and Mueller had full access to the data of the study and take full, Beckman Coulter, Biomerieux, Idorsia, Ortho Cinical Diagnostics, Quidel, Roche,, Biomarkers/blood, Boeddinghaus has received research grants from the University of Basel and the, Brisbane, Australia. Dr Rubini Gimenez reports research grants from the Swiss, Corporation, outside the submitted work. Dr Nestelberger has received speaker, disclosures to report. Author Contributions: Drs Wildi, Rubini Gimenez, Lopez, Division of Internal Medicine, the Swiss National Science Foundation, Female, Foundation, and the University of Basel, all outside the submitted work. In, Foundation, the University of Basel, the Swiss Academy of Medical Sciences, and, Foundation, the Wesley Medical Research Foundation, the Swiss National, Heart Foundation and Swiss National Foundation (P400PM_180828) and speakers', high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T and I, honoraria from Beckman Coulter, outside the submitted work. Dr Lopez-Ayala has, honoraria from Roche, Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, Quidel, and Siemens. Dr, honoraria from Siemens, Roche Diagnostics, Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, and Quidel, honoraria/consulting honoraria from Acon, Amgen, Astra Zeneca, Boehringer, Humans, Ingelheim, Bayer, BMS, Idorsia, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Osler, Roche, Sanofi, and, Innosuisse, the University of Basel, the University Hospital Basel, Abbott,, is, Male, Middle Aged, misdiagnosis of acute myocardial infarction, Predictive Value of Tests, received research grants from the Swiss Heart Foundation (FF20079 and FF21103), Reference Values, responsibility for its integrity and data analysis., Siemens, and Abbott outside the submitted work. Dr Mueller has received research, Siemens, Singulex, SpinChip, Upstream, and Sphingotec, as well as speaker, SpinChip, outside of the submitted work. The remaining authors have no, submitted work. Dr Koechlin received a research grant from the Swiss Heart, support from the Swiss National Science Foundation, the Swiss Heart Foundation,, supported by an Edinburgh Doctoral College Scholarship, the Gottfried and Julia Bangerter-Rhyner Foundation, as well as the "Freiwillige, upper limit of normal clinical decision values.
  • Klug, J., Cortier, D., Wolf, S., Carrera, E., Cerf, C., and Pietsch, U. “Effect Of Extended Intravenous Diclofenac Infusions On Brain Tissue Oxygenation In Patients With Acute Brain Injury”. Intensive Care Med Exp 13, no. 1: 50. doi:10.1186/s40635-025-00759-3.
    Abstract: BACKGROUND: Fever is associated with worse outcomes in patients with acute brain injury. Diclofenac, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, is commonly used as antipyretic therapy. As evidence emerged that short diclofenac infusions (< 1 h) decrease brain tissue oxygen (PtO2) and cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP), clinical practice has shifted to extended infusions (12 h). The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of extended diclofenac infusion for the treatment of fever on cerebral perfusion and tissue oxygenation after acute brain injury. RESULTS: We conducted a retrospective study of prospectively collected data from a cohort of 18 patients with acute brain injury and PtO2 monitoring admitted between November 2018 and April 2024. The hour before and the 12 h during an extended diclofenac infusion were compared. Additionally, we compared the 12 h prior and 12 h during the diclofenac infusion. Cerebral autoregulation and metabolites obtained by microdialysis were assessed in a subgroup of patients. Thirty-nine interventions were analyzed. Core temperature decreased from 38.1 degrees C in the hour before to 37.4 degrees C during an extended diclofenac infusion (p < 0.0001). ICP (11.0 vs 10.0 mmHg, p < 0.0001) and heart rate (84 vs. 77 bpm, p < 0.0001) decreased. CPP and PaCO2 did not vary significantly. PtO2 decreased from 23.1 mmHg (IQR 19.0-31.4) during fever peak to 21.7 mmHg (IQR 17.8-27.2) (p < 0.0001). Median PtO2 during the 12 h before diclofenac was 23.3 mmHg (IQR 18.9-30.5). In a multivariable analysis the effect of treatment was significantly influenced by heart rate and temperature (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Extended diclofenac infusions for the treatment of fever in patients with acute brain injury achieve a clinically significant reduction in temperature but are associated with a small decrease in PtO2, even in the setting of maintained CPP.
    Tags: accordance with Article 34 of the Swiss Federal Act on Human Research. Consent, Brain tissue oxygen, Diclofenac, Fever, for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare that, in accordance with the Helsinki declaration and approved by the local, institutional review board (EKOS22/179 and EKOS 22/198). Consent was waived in, Subarachnoid hemorrhage, Temperature control, they have no competing interests., Traumatic brain injury.
  • Jegerlehner, S., Harris, T., Mueller, M., and Bloom, B. “Association Of Central Capillary Refill Time With Mortality In Adult Trauma Patients: A Secondary Analysis Of The Crash-2 Randomised Controlled Trial Data”. Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med 33, no. 1: 82. doi:10.1186/s13049-025-01407-1.
    Abstract: BACKGROUND: Trauma-related injuries account for up to 4.4 million deaths annually worldwide. Failure to identify haemorrhage in trauma patients increases mortality. This study examines the association of central capillary refill time (CRT) and mortality in adult trauma patients, especially in the subgroup with normal heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP). METHODS: This retrospective observational study analysed data from the CRASH-2 trial, conducted in 274 hospitals across 40 countries and 5 continents between May 2005 and January 2010. A total of 19,054 out of 20,207 adult trauma patients with recorded CRT and complete dataset were included. CRT was taken centrally (sternum) and categorized as </= 2, 3-4, and >/= 5 s. The primary outcome was 28-day mortality, while secondary outcomes included need for transfusion, surgical intervention and thromboembolic events. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis were conducted, incorporating random effects for continent/cluster. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to assess the discriminatory ability of central CRT measurement. RESULTS: Among the patients, 6,756 (35.5%) had a CRT </= 2 s, 9,142 (48%) had a CRT of 3-4 s, and 3,156 (16.6%) had a CRT >/= 5 s. Compared to the reference category (CRT </= 2 s), the odds of death were significantly higher in patients with CRT of 3-4 s (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.6-1.9) and CRT >/= 5 s (OR 3.2, 95% CI 2.8-3.5). Higher CRT was also associated with an increased likelihood of blood transfusion, surgical intervention, and thromboembolic events. The AUC values ranged from 0.63 to 0.74 and were consistent with a significant association between the variables. CONCLUSION: Central CRT is associated with increased mortality and adverse outcomes in trauma patients. In bleeding trauma patients, an increasing central CRT is linked to higher mortality risk, with a central CRT >/= 5 s being particularly predictive of worse outcomes. This also applies to patients with stable vital signs (normal HR and BP), suggesting that CRT may offer additional value as an indicator of hidden hypoperfusion.
    Tags: *Capillaries/physiopathology, *Hemorrhage/mortality/physiopathology/etiology, *Wounds and Injuries/mortality/physiopathology/complications, Adult, applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., Central capillary refill time, conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki, ensuring adherence to, Data Monitoring and Ethics Committee (DMEC) had the responsibility for, Emergency medicine, ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects. The CRASH-2, ethics committees in all 274 participating hospitals. Informed consent procedures, Female, Humans, Injury Severity Score, Male, Middle Aged, Mortality, Pre-hospital, randomization. This is a secondary analysis of data from this trial, and, Retrospective Studies, ROC Curve, Shock, therefore no additional ethics approval was needed. Consent for publication: Not, Trauma, trial had UK Research Ethics Committee approval and was approved by the relevant, were established by local regulation and the appropriate ethics committees. The.
  • Rudolph, S. S., Root, C. W., Tvede, M. F., Fedog, T., Wenger, P., Gellerfors, M., Apel, J., and Unlu, L. “Confined Space Airway Management: A Narrative Review”. Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med 33, no. 1: 79. doi:10.1186/s13049-025-01357-8.
    Abstract: BACKGROUND: Airway management is a critical component of prehospital and emergency care, often complicated by the environment in which it is performed. Confined space airway management (CSAM) refers to scenarios were restricted physical space challenges conventional airway techniques. These situations may occur in unpredictable environments, such as vehicle entrapments or collapsed structures, and controlled settings like helicopters. This narrative review aims to synthesize current knowledge, expert opinions, and evidence on CSAM. MAIN BODY: CSAM poses logistical and technical challenges, including limited access to the patient, restricted movement, and reduced visibility. These factors increase the difficulty of performing standard airway management procedures and increase the risk of complications. Supraglottic airways (SGA), due to their ease of insertion and high success rates, are recommended as a first-line approach in CSAM, especially when intubation is delayed or infeasible. Tracheal intubation (TI) may require significant modifications in technique. Alternative methods and adjuncts such as face-to-face intubation and stylets may be considered but are highly dependent on provider expertise and the specific scenario. Emergency front of neck access (eFONA) is provided with high success rated in confined spaces. In controlled settings, systematic preparation can improve success rates and reduce procedural times. In uncontrolled environments, prioritizing patient extrication and maintaining oxygenation is essential, as definitive airway management may conflict with rescue efforts. CONCLUSION: CSAM requires a strategic blend of medical expertise, adaptive techniques, and logistical planning. A focus on training, preparedness, and the use of supraglottic airway devices may mitigate challenges in these high-stakes scenarios.
    Tags: *Airway Management/methods, *Emergency Medical Services/methods, *Intubation, Intratracheal/methods, Airway management, Confined spaces, conflicts of interest have been mitigated. All other authors have no conflict of, Emergency medical services, from the Stryker Corporation, a medical device manufacturer. All relevant, Humans, interests do declare., Prehospital care, Supraglottic airway devices, Tracheal intubation.
  • van Oppen, J. D., de Groot, B., Nickel, C. H., and Beil, M. “Abcde-Frailty For Critical Presentations: Summary Of The 2025 Esicm Expert Consensus Recommendations”. Eur J Emerg Med 32, no. 3: 158-159. doi:10.1097/MEJ.0000000000001227.
    Tags: article, consensus, diagnosis, frailty, human.
  • Kemnitz, M. G., Lupan-Muresan, E. M., Somville, F., Barcella, B., Shopen, N., de Los Angeles Lopez Hernandez, M., and Heymann, E. P. “A Team Without A Name: Emergency Medicine Recognition And Its Impact On Working Conditions And Well-Being”. Med Klin Intensivmed Notfmed 120, no. 6: 481-486. doi:10.1007/s00063-025-01275-8.
    Abstract: Emergency medicine (EM) has evolved significantly over the past 50 years, transitioning from a focus on acute injuries and illnesses to include primary and specialty care, disaster response, and social issues. To date, nearly 60 countries have officially recognized EM as a medical specialty. However, growing patient demands, healthcare staff shortages, and an aging population have strained emergency departments, worsening working conditions for EM professionals and compromising patient care. To address these challenges, formal recognition of EM as a specialty is crucial.As a specialty, EM offers significant benefits. It improves patient outcomes by ensuring structured, standardized training that equips specialists with the skills to manage acute conditions such as trauma, stroke, and myocardial infarction. Countries with recognized EM specialties have reported reduced morbidity and mortality and enhanced healthcare resilience during crises like pandemics and mass casualty events. Additionally, professional recognition aids in recruitment, retention, and reducing burnout among EM practitioners by establishing clear career pathways. Furthermore, it ensures specific paraclinical training in areas such as patient flow, and it strengthens healthcare systems. However, despite these benefits, challenges remain. Resource diversion from primary care, increased healthcare costs, and the initial investment required for training programs are potential drawbacks to EM specialty recognition. Achieving EM recognition will require a strategic collaborative approach, focusing on education, professional support, and collaboration across healthcare sectors.
    Tags: *Emergency Medicine/education, *Patient Care Team, All studies mentioned were in accordance with the ethical standards indicated in, Burnout, Professional/prevention & control/psychology, E.P. Heymann declare that they have no competing interests. For this article no, each case., Emergency medical services, Empowerment, F. Somville, B. Barcella, N. Shopen, M. de los Angeles Lopez Hernandez and, Humans, Medical specialty, Primary care, Psychosocial risk, studies with human participants or animals were performed by any of the authors., Working Conditions.
  • Bockemuehl, D., Fuchs, A., Albrecht, R., Greif, R., Mueller, M., and Pietsch, U. “Age-Specific Considerations In Aetiology Of Paediatric Out-Of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest”. Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med 33, no. 1: 70. doi:10.1186/s13049-025-01385-4.
    Tags: age, etiology, human, letter, male, out of hospital cardiac arrest, therapy.
  • Hamedi, Z., Brigato, L., Dack, E., Schütz, M., Lehmann, B., Exadaktylos, A., Mougiakakou, S., and Krummrey, G. “Ai-Based Analysis Of Abdominal Ultrasound Images To Support Medical Diagnosis In Emergency Departments”. In, 325:16-21, 2025. doi:10.3233/SHTI250209.
    Abstract: The goal of segmentation in abdominal imaging for emergency medicine is to accurately identify and delineate organs, as well as to detect and localize pathological areas. This precision is critical for rapid, informed decision-making in acute care scenarios. Vision foundation models, such as Segment Anything Model (SAM), have demonstrated remarkable results on many different segmentation tasks, but they perform poorly on medical images because of the scarcity of medical datasets. They lack robust generalizability across diverse medical imaging modalities, and they need to be fine-tuned specifically for medical images, as these images considerably differ from natural images. This study aims to investigate the application of a foundation segmentation model to ultrasound (US) images of the abdomen. We employed SAMed to segment and classify all organs and free fluid present in each US image. A dataset comprising 286 US images, corresponding segmentation masks, and organ-level labels was collected from the Bern University Hospital Inselspital. Due to the relatively small size of our dataset, we pre-trained SAMed on a larger public US dataset to fine-tune it for US imaging. We then applied this fine-tuned SAMed on the Inselspital dataset to generate multi-class masks and assessed its performance against ground truth annotations using standard evaluation metrics. The results demonstrated that the fine-tuned SAMed can identify and classify multiple organs, though challenging cases, such as free fluid segmentation, reveal opportunities for improvement. Furthermore, transfer learning proved to be a reliable solution for managing small datasets, a key obstacle in the medical imaging realm.
    Tags: Abdomen, Abdominal Imaging, Abdominal Ultrasound Images, Artificial Intelligence, Classification, Classification (of Information), Computer Aided Diagnosis, Computer Assisted Diagnosis, Decision Making, Decisions Makings, Diagnostic Imaging, Echography, Emergency Departments, Emergency Medicine, Emergency Rooms, Emergency Service, Hospital, Free Fluids, Hospital Emergency Service, Human, Humans, Image Classification, Image Interpretation, Computer-assisted, Image Segmentation, Informed Decision, Medical Image Processing, Procedures, Sam, Segment Anything Model, Segmentation, Ultrasonic Applications, Ultrasonography, Ultrasound Images.
  • Grosjean, L., Sancosme, Y., Morisod, K., Francois, A., Caitlin, R., Jachmann, A., Grazioli, V. S., and Bodenmann, P. “Experiences Of Healthcare And Administrative Staff Working With Asylum Seekers In The Current Polycrisis Context: A Qualitative Study”. Bmc Health Serv Res 25, no. 1: 620. doi:10.1186/s12913-025-12758-x.
    Abstract: BACKGROUND: Healthcare and administrative staff working with asylum seekers are at risk of burnout, compassion fatigue and vicarious traumatization. Moreover, they face a series of crises, with the refugee crisis in 2015-2016, the Covid-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine and climate change, complexifying their daily practice and increasing the number of asylum seekers. Despite this alarming context, scarce research has explored the personal experiences of healthcare and administrative staff working with asylum seekers. In response, this qualitative study aimed to explore their work-related experiences, resources and needs in the current polycrisis context in Switzerland. METHODS: Participants (N = 24) were part of the front-line care team working with asylum seekers in the Canton of Vaud (Switzerland). The sample included nurses, administrative staff, physicians and psychologists. They participated in semi-structured interviews exploring the personal experiences of their work, difficulties and challenges encountered and their resources and needs. Inductive content analysis was used to organize data and identify themes. RESULTS: Main findings highlighted a significant emotional burden for staff related to their patients' migratory journey and experiences in the asylum system. Next, participants expressed various challenges associated with their work, such as heavy workload, lack of partners in the healthcare network, communication barriers and the polycrisis context. Further, findings documented that participants' strong intrinsic motivation and personal and institutional resources support them in overcoming these difficulties. Finally, participants made some suggestions for the improvement of their working environment, including promotion of exchange between colleagues, collaboration with partners and hiring additional staff. CONCLUSIONS: Healthcare and administrative staff working with asylum seekers are exposed to multiple challenges and emotional difficulties linked to their patients' experiences. Findings suggest the need to address the well-being of this population by developing measures to enhance support for them at individual and structural levels, particularly within the current polycrisis context.
    Tags: *COVID-19/epidemiology, *Health Personnel/psychology, *Refugees/psychology, Administrative staff, Adult, Asylum seekers, Attitude of Health Personnel, Burnout, Professional, Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., Experiences, Female, followed the ethical guidelines outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki. All, Healthcare staff, Hospital because it did not involve clinical data measurement. All procedures, Humans, Interviews as Topic, Male, Middle Aged, participants provided written informed consent. Consent for publication: NA., Polycrisis, Qualitative Research, Qualitative study, SARS-CoV-2, Switzerland, was deemed exempt by the Human Research Ethics Committee of Lausanne University.
  • Elhilali, A., Brügger, V., Tschannen, I., Hautz, W., and Krummrey, G. “Ai-Enhanced Speech Recognition In Triage”. In, 325:31-34, 2025. doi:10.3233/SHTI250213.
    Abstract: Triage is used in emergency departments to ensure timely patient care according to urgency of treatment. However, triage accuracy and efficiency remain challenging due to time-constraints and high demand. This proof-of-concept study evaluates an AI-powered triage system that leverages speech recognition (STT) and large language models (LLMs) to process patient interactions in triage and to assign an Emergency Severity Index (ESI) triage level and a classification of the main presenting complaint according to the Canadian Emergency Department Information System (CEDIS). In Switzerland, different Swiss German dialects add to the complexity of the task. STT models achieved word error rates (WER) of 2.3% for High German and 17.66% for Swiss German. Despite the high WER, the AI's classification accuracy reached 90-100% for ESI levels and CEDIS codes. These results highlight the potential of integrating AI into triage workflows, enhancing consistency and reducing the documentation burden for clinical staff. Future research should address multi-language adaptation and data security to ensure seamless implementation in real-world settings.
    Tags: Artificial Intelligence, Automatic Speech Recognition, Computational Linguistics, Emergency Departments, Emergency Medicine, Emergency Service, Hospital, Hospital Emergency Service, Human, Humans, Information Systems, Information Use, Language Processing, Medicine, Natural Language Processing, Natural Language Processing (nlp), Natural Language Processing Systems, Natural Languages, Organization And Management, Patient Treatment, Patient Triage, Procedures, Severity Index, Speech Communication, Speech Recognition, Speech Recognition Software, Speech-to-text, Switzerland, Text Processing, Triage, Triage System, Triage Systems, Word Error Rate.
  • Ebrahimi, R., Ebrahimi, F., Niess, J. H., Mahdi, A., Chen, S., Di Vece, D., Bian, W., Kutz, A., and Forss, A. “Increased Risk Of Cardiovascular Events After Coronary Interventions In Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Nationwide Matched Cohort Study”. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 61, no. 12: 1904-1912. doi:10.1111/apt.70162.
    Abstract: BACKGROUND: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) have been associated with an increased long-term risk of coronary artery disease due to chronic systemic inflammation. AIM: To evaluate the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) after coronary interventions. METHODS: In this nationwide cohort study of adults undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) (2012-2022), patients with IBD were propensity score-matched 1:10 to comparators without IBD. The primary outcome was MACE, a composite of acute myocardial infarction, stroke, hospitalisation for heart failure, or mortality. Secondary outcomes included each MACE component, 30-day all-cause readmission, revascularisation and in-hospital outcomes including intensive care unit admission and length of hospital stay. We calculated hazard ratios (HRs) and incidence rates (IRs) using Cox proportional hazards modelling. RESULTS: We included 987 patients with IBD and 9571 matched comparators. After a median follow-up of 3.5 years, MACE occurred in 488 patients with IBD (49.4%, IR: 96.5/10,000 person-years [PY]) and in 3857 matched comparators (40.3%, IR: 68.9/10,000 PY); HR 1.37 (95% CI, 1.24-1.52). This equates to one additional MACE for every 36 patients with IBD over 10 years. The risk of each MACE component was increased, except for stroke. There were no differences between IBD subtypes or coronary intervention (PCI vs. CABG). Risks were highest in older individuals and elective interventions. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with IBD were at 37% higher risk of MACE after coronary intervention, indicating a need for intensified cardiovascular risk reduction in these high-risk individuals.
    Tags: *Cardiovascular Diseases/etiology/epidemiology, *Coronary Artery Bypass/adverse effects, *Coronary Artery Disease/surgery, *Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/complications, *Percutaneous Coronary Intervention/adverse effects, Adult, Aged, and Tillotts Pharma. F.E. has served as an advisory board member for Boehringer, Cohort Studies, coronary artery bypass grafting, epidemiology, Female, Humans, Ibd, Incidence, Ingelheim. The other authors declare no conflicts of interest related to this, Mace, Male, Middle Aged, mortality, Myocardial Infarction/epidemiology, percutaneous coronary intervention, Propensity Score, Proportional Hazards Models, Risk Factors, Stroke/epidemiology, study..
  • Voruz, P., Vieira Ruas, M., Fellay, N., Romano, N., Mussini, M., Saubade, M., Faivre, V., et al. “Cluster-Specific Urban Contexts Associated With High Levels Of Sleep Impairment And Daytime Sleepiness: Findings From The Urbasan Collaborative Study”. J Affect Disord 382: 392-398. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2025.04.133.
    Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Impaired sleep is a global health concern. However, the environmental factors contributing to sleep impairment in urban settings are still not well understood. METHODOLOGY: This study involved 179 participants from a Swiss municipality (Yverdon-les-Bains), where sleep quality and diurnal sleepiness were measured using validated questionnaires, alongside environmental and geo-referenced data. RESULTS: The findings revealed a high prevalence of sleep disorders across diverse demographic groups (respectively 15.6 % for diurnal sleepiness and 91.1 % for significantly altered sleep quality). Additionally, sleep disorders were associated with both environmental and socio-demographic factors. Geospatial analysis identified clusters of sleep disturbances in specific neighborhoods, with distinct associations to specific sub-scores (factors) of the sleep evaluation. CONCLUSION: Assessing sleep in urban environments is crucial, as it is linked to elevated levels of sleepiness. Environmental and socio-demographic variables play significant roles in these disturbances. The incorporation of geospatial analyses allows for a more precise identification of patterns within the city, offering opportunities for tailored interventions to address the different patterns of sleep disorders.
    Tags: *Disorders of Excessive Somnolence/epidemiology, *Sleep Wake Disorders/epidemiology, *Urban Population/statistics & numerical data, Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Prevalence, Sleep Quality, Surveys and Questionnaires, Switzerland/epidemiology, Young Adult.
  • Klail, T., Sachs, L., Panos, L. D., Urban, O. Y., Siller, T., Pilgram-Pastor, S., Giger, R., Muller, M., and Wagner, F. “Styloid Process-Related Internal Carotid Artery Dissection: Extensive Literature Review Of Diagnosis, Treatment And Outcomes (Exemplified With A Single-Center Case Series)”. Neuroradiology 67, no. 6: 1355-1364. doi:10.1007/s00234-025-03616-y.
    Abstract: PURPOSE: Internal carotid artery dissection (ICA-D) frequently leads to ischemic stroke in individuals under 50 years. There is mounting evidence on the role of the styloid process (SP) in ICA-D, particularly SP length and the SP-ICA distance. Despite having clear guidelines on the treatment of SP-related Eagle syndrome and ICA-D, the concept of SP-related ICA-D is relatively new and no therapeutic guidelines exist. METHODS: A narrative literature search was performed to identify all articles pertaining to the diagnosis and treatment of ICA-D linked to an ipsilateral elongated SP or short SP-ICA distance. The treatments were evaluated in terms of symptom recurrence after the treatment. As illustrative examples of clinical management, we present an in-house case series of patients with suspected ICA-D related to SP. RESULTS: Treatment efficacy was assessed, with an in-house case series provided. Seventy-five reports and case studies involving 84 patients were analyzed. Conservative treatments were common (52%) but had a high symptom recurrence rate (33%). It is noteworthy that no patients treated initially with styloidectomy exhibited symptom recurrence. CONCLUSION: In case of a correctly diagnosed SP-related ICA-D, a styloidectomy may offer a curative option, but more research is needed for clear indications and standardized guidelines to prevent recurrent symptoms or strokes.
    Tags: *Carotid Artery, Internal, Dissection/diagnostic imaging/therapy/surgery, *Ossification, Heterotopic/diagnostic imaging/complications, *Temporal Bone/abnormalities/surgery/diagnostic imaging, Conflict of interest: All authors approved the final manuscript and there are no, conflicts of interest to declare., consent: For all three patients the general informed consent was provided., Dissection, Female, Humans, Internal carotid artery, Male, Middle Aged, require ethical approval in accordance with local/national guidelines. Informed, Stroke, Styloid process, Treatment Outcome.
  • Wunderle, C., Martin, E., Wittig, A., Tribolet, P., Lutz, T. A., Koster-Hegmann, C., Stanga, Z., Mueller, B., and Schuetz, P. “Comparison Of The Inflammatory Biomarkers Il- 6, Tnf-Alpha, And Crp To Predict The Effect Of Nutritional Therapy On Mortality In Medical Patients At Risk Of Malnutrition : A Secondary Analysis Of The Randomized Clinical Trial Effort”. J Inflamm (Lond) 22, no. 1: 16. doi:10.1186/s12950-025-00442-0.
    Abstract: BACKGROUND: Inflammation is a key driver of disease-related malnutrition and patients with high inflammation may not show the same benefits from nutritional therapy as other patients. We compared in an exploratory manner the prognostic ability of interleukin- 6 (IL- 6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and C-reactive protein (CRP) to predict outcome and response to nutritional therapy, respectively, within a large cohort of patients from a previous nutritional trial. METHODS: This is a secondary analysis of the Swiss-wide, multicenter, randomized controlled Effect of early nutritional therapy on Frailty, Functional Outcomes, and Recovery of malnourished medical inpatients Trial (EFFORT) trial comparing individualized nutritional support with usual care nutrition in medical inpatients. The primary endpoint was 30-day all-cause mortality. RESULTS: We included 996 patients with an overall mortality rate of 6% within 30 days. Compared to patients with low IL- 6 level < 11.2pg/mL, patients with high levels had a more than 3-fold increase in mortality at 30-days (adjusted HR 3.5, 95% CI 1.95-6.28, p < 0.001), but tended to have a less pronounced mortality benefit from individualized nutritional therapy as compared to usual nutritional care (hazard ratio 0.82 vs. 0.32). CRP and TNF-alpha were not associated with mortality, but patients with increased CRP levels > 100 mg/dl also showed a trend towards a diminished response to nutritional intervention (hazard ratio 1.25 vs. 0.47). CONCLUSION: Our findings support the thesis that a high inflammatory state is linked to reduced benefits from nutritional therapy. Apparently, CRP and IL- 6 effectively predict treatment response, but IL- 6 may additionally serve as a prognostic marker for increased mortality. This finding might help to develop improved treatment strategies for patients with elevated inflammatory profiles. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02517476 (registered 7 August 2015).
    Tags: 2014_001) approved the study protocol., All participants or their authorized representatives provided written informed, appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., B. Braun that includes: funding grants. All other authors declare that they have, bioMerieux, Nestle Health Science and Abbott Nutrition that includes: funding, Clinical outcomes, competing interests: PS reports a relationship with Roche, Thermo Fisher,, consent. The trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (, Crp, financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential, grants. ZS reports a relationship with Nestle Health Science, Fresenius Kabi and, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02517476 ). Consent for publication:, Il- 6, in this secondary analysis. All authors accept responsibility for the decision to, Individualization, Inflammation, Informed consent for participation and publication was obtained from all, Mortality, no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have, Northwestern/Central Switzerland (EKNZ, Nutritional therapy, participants included in the study. All authors read and approved the final, Polymorbid, submit for publication. Competing interests: The authors declare the following, TNF alpha, version of the manuscript. All authors confirm, they had full access to all data.
  • Schregenberger, S., Graup, V., Schibli, A., Preiswerk, B., Laube, I., Huber, L. C., and Stussi-Helbling, M. “Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome (Iris): Case Series And Review Of The Literature”. Respir Med Case Rep 55: 102213. doi:10.1016/j.rmcr.2025.102213.
    Abstract: BACKGROUND: Immune-reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) is a dysregulated host inflammatory response following the initiation of appropriate therapy targeting an infectious disease. It is most commonly reported in human immunodeficiency virus patients following the initiation of antiretroviral therapy; however, IRIS can also be seen in immunocompromised patients without HIV, when the immune system is recovering. The diagnosis is confirmed using clinical and laboratory data after excluding differential diagnoses and concomitant infections. CASE SERIES: Here, we describe three cases of patients with IRIS that were treated at our tertiary care center. The first case involves a paradoxical IRIS in an HIV-positive patient with TB, where the re-initiation of ART led to an inflammatory response despite effective anti-tuberculous treatment (ATT). The second case highlights unmasking IRIS in an HIV-positive patient, where the initiation of ART revealed an underlying Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated B-cell lymphoma. The third case describes paradoxical worsening of pulmonary TB in an HIV-negative patient, expanding the scope of IRIS beyond its conventional association with HIV infection. CONCLUSION: These cases illustrate the various manifestations of IRIS and emphasize the need for timely diagnosis and appropriate management strategies to mitigate the potentially severe outcomes associated with this syndrome. Our report highlights the challenges faced in the diagnosis of IRIS which impede prompt onset of therapy.
    Tags: Hiv, Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome, Iris, Lymphoma, personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in, Tb, this paper., Tuberculosis.
  • Lindner, G., and Ravioli, S. “Performance Of The Artificial Intelligence-Based Swiss Medical Assessment System Versus Manchester Triage System In The Emergency Department: A Retrospective Analysis”. Am J Emerg Med 94: 46-49. doi:10.1016/j.ajem.2025.04.023.
    Abstract: BACKGROUND: The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) offers new opportunities for applications in emergency medicine, including patient triage. This study evaluates the performance of the Swiss Medical Assessment System (SMASS), an AI-based decision-support tool for rapid patient assessment, in comparison with the well-established Manchester Triage System (MTS). METHODS: In this retrospective analysis, patients aged 18 years or above presenting to the Department of Emergency Medicine at Kepler University Hospital in Linz, Austria, during November and December 2024 with non-traumatic complaints were included. Each patient underwent emergency triage using MTS, conducted by a registered nurse, with SMASS applied in parallel. SMASS had no influence on clinical decision-making. RESULTS: In the study period, 1021 patients were triaged with both MTS and SMASS. The mean patient age was 60 years (SD: 21), and 53 % were women. Of the patients categorized as "orange" by MTS, 19 % were classified as non-urgent by SMASS. Conversely, 28 % of the patients triaged as "green" by MTS were classified as urgent by SMASS. Additionally, 23 % of patients classified as non-urgent by SMASS required hospitalization following emergency department evaluation and treatment. Agreement between SMASS and MTS in triaging emergency patients was low as measured by a Cohen's kappa of 0.167. CONCLUSIONS: In this study of patients presenting to a large tertiary-care emergency department, SMASS demonstrated considerable discrepancies in triage classification compared to MTS, with significant rates of both over- and undertriage. Further validation is necessary before integrating AI-based triage tools into routine clinical practice.
    Tags: *Artificial Intelligence, *Emergency Service, Hospital, *Triage/methods, Adult, Aged, Artificial intelligence, Austria, Chatbot, Emergency, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, relation to this submission., Retrospective Studies, Triage.
  • Schnetzler, N., Taramarcaz, V., Herren, T., Golay, E., Regard, S., Mach, F., Nasution, A., et al. “Recruiting Medical, Dental, And Biomedical Students As First Responders In The Immediate Aftermath Of The Covid-19 Pandemic: Prospective Follow-Up Study”. Jmir Med Educ 11: e63018. doi:10.2196/63018.
    Abstract: BACKGROUND: Basic life support improves survival prognosis after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, but is too rarely provided before the arrival of professional rescue services. First responder networks have been developed in many regions of the world to decrease the delay between collapse and initiation of resuscitation maneuvers. Their efficiency depends on the number of first responders available and many networks lack potential rescuers. Medical, dental, and biomedical students represent an almost untapped source of potential first responders, and a first study, carried out during the COVID-19 pandemic, led to the recruitment of many of these future professionals even though many restrictions were still in effect. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the impact of an enhanced strategy on the recruitment of medical, dental, and biomedical students as first responders in the immediate aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: This was a prospective follow-up study, conducted between November 2021 and March 2022 at the University of Geneva Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland. A web-based study platform was used to manage consent, registrations, and certificates. A first motivational intervention was held early in the academic year and targeted all first-year medical, dental, and biomedical students. Participants first answered a questionnaire designed to assess their initial basic life support knowledge before following an e-learning module. Those who completed the module were able to register for a face-to-face training session held by senior medical students. A course certificate was awarded to those who completed these sessions, enabling them to register as first responders on the Save a Life first responder network. Since the number of students who had enlisted as first responders 2 months after the motivational intervention was markedly lower than expected, a second, unplanned motivational intervention was held in an attempt to recruit more students. RESULTS: Out of a total of 674 first-year students, 19 (2.5%) students had registered as first responders after the first motivational intervention. This was significantly less than the proportion achieved through the initial study (48/529, 9.1%; P<.001). The second motivational intervention led to the enrollment of 7 more students (26/674, 3.9%), a figure still significantly lower than that of the original study (P<.001). At the end of the study, 76 (11.3%) students had been awarded a certificate of competence. CONCLUSIONS: Contrary to expectations, an earlier presentation during the academic year outside the COVID restriction period did not increase the recruitment of medical, dental, and biomedical students as first responders in the immediate aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. The reasons underlying this drop in motivation should be explored to enable the design of focused motivational interventions.
    Tags: *COVID-19/epidemiology, *Emergency Responders, *Students, Dental/statistics & numerical data, *Students, Medical/statistics & numerical data, Adult, basic life support, biomedical students, blended learning, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, Covid-19, dental students, e-learning, Female, first responder, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, life support, Male, medical student, motivational interventions, motivational strategies, out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, pandemic, Pandemics, Prospective Studies, SARS-CoV-2, student motivation, survival prognosis, Switzerland/epidemiology, undergraduate medical education.
  • Tribolet, P., Wunderle, C., Kaegi-Braun, N., Buchmueller, L., Laager, R., Stanga, Z., Mueller, B., Wagner, K. H., and Schuetz, P. “Evaluating Repeated Handgrip Strength Measurements As Predictors Of Mortality In Malnourished Hospitalized Patients. Secondary Analysis Of A Randomized Controlled Trial”. Eur J Clin Nutr 79, no. 9: 897-903. doi:10.1038/s41430-025-01618-w.
    Abstract: BACKGROUND: Handgrip strength (HGS) is a simple yet effective bed-side tool for assessing muscle strength, which plays an important role in clinical evaluation and monitoring. We hypothesize that repeated measurements of HGS during the hospital stay may serve as a reliable and robust indicator of clinical course and outcomes. METHODS: We re-analyzed data from 565 out of 2028 patients who had repeated handgrip measurement (on admission and on day 7) included in EFFORT, a Swiss-wide multicenter, randomized controlled trial comparing individualized nutritional support with usual care nutrition in medical inpatients. The primary endpoint was 180-day all-cause mortality. RESULTS: The mean change in HGS from baseline to day 7 was 0.6 kg (SD 4.2) in female and 0.7 kg (SD 3.7) in male patients. Patients with a positive HGS trend had a lower risk of dying within 180 days compared to patients without a positive trend (mortality 11.4% vs. 25.4%, adjusted HR 0.45 [95% CI 0.27 to 0.77], p = 0.003). The change in HGS was also associated with the nutritional intake during the hospitalization in male patients: those who met their energy and protein targets were twice as likely to have an increase in HGS during hospitalization (adjusted OR 2.05 [95% CI 1.23 to 3.42], p = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: Achieving nutritional targets was associated with a short-term increase in HGS during hospitalization, and a positive HGS trend was associated with a lower risk of mortality after 180 days. These data provide evidence that repeated HGS measurements are a robust bedside tool for assessing and monitoring patients receiving nutritional therapy in the hospital. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02517476.
    Tags: *Hand Strength/physiology, *Hospitalization, *Malnutrition/mortality/physiopathology/therapy, 2014_001). All participants provided, accordance with the relevant guidelines and regulations. Competing interests: The, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, been published previously in whole or part, except in abstract form., Female, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02517476 ). All methods were performed in, Humans, Institution of P. Schuetz has previously received unrestricted grant money, institution of Z. Stanga received speaking honoraria and research support from, Male, Middle Aged, Nestle Health Science, Abbott Nutrition, and Fresenius Kabi. All other authors, Northwest and Central Switzerland (EKNZ, Nutrition Assessment, Nutritional Status, Nutritional Support, registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (, report no conflicts of interest. The results presented in this paper have not, Switzerland, their written informed consent to participate in this study. The trial was, unrelated to this project from Nestle Health Science and Abbott Nutrition. The.
  • Stetsyk, V., Apostol, I., Belamaric, N., Panico, C., Grbic, M., Kenbaeva, Z., Tereshchenko, H., and Chumak, A. A. “Building While Responding: Moldova's Experience In Developing Clinical Surge Capacity For Radiation Emergency Response”. Disaster Med Public Health Prep 19: e95. doi:10.1017/dmp.2025.72.
    Abstract: To enhance radiological and nuclear emergency preparedness of hospitals while responding to the refugee crisis, the Government of the Republic of Moldova implemented an innovative approach supported by the World Health Organization (WHO). This initiative featured a comprehensive package that integrated health system assessment, analysis of existing plans and procedures, and novel medical training component. The training, based on relevant WHO and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) guidance, combined theory with contemporary adult learning solutions, such as practical skill stations, case reviews, and clinical simulation exercises.This method allowed participants to identify and address gaps in their emergency response capacities, enhancing their ability to ensure medical management of radiological and nuclear events. This course is both innovative and adaptable, offering a potential model for other countries seeking to strengthen radiological and nuclear emergency response capabilities of the acute care clinical providers.
    Tags: *Capacity Building/methods, *Civil Defense/methods, *Disaster Planning/methods/organization & administration, *Radioactive Hazard Release, *Surge Capacity/trends/standards, Clinical pathways, Hospital readiness, Humans, Moldova, Radiological and nuclear preparedness, Simulation, World Health Organization/organization & administration.
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