Home > Bibliographic references

Swiss Emergency Research collection

2020

  • Podsiadlo, P., Darocha, T., Svendsen, O. S., Kosinski, S., Silfvast, T., Blancher, M., Sawamoto, K., and Pasquier, M. “Outcomes Of Patients Suffering Unwitnessed Hypothermic Cardiac Arrest Rewarmed With Extracorporeal Life Support: A Systematic Review”. Artif Organs 45, no. 3: 222-229. doi:10.1111/aor.13818.
    Abstract: Prolonged cardiac arrest (CA) may lead to neurologic deficit in survivors. Good outcome is especially rare when CA was unwitnessed. However, accidental hypothermia is a very specific cause of CA. Our goal was to describe the outcomes of patients who suffered from unwitnessed hypothermic cardiac arrest (UHCA) supported with Extracorporeal Life Support (ECLS). We included consecutive patients' cohorts identified by systematic literature review concerning patients suffering from UHCA and rewarmed with ECLS. Patients were divided into four subgroups regarding the mechanism of cooling, namely: air exposure; immersion; submersion; and avalanche. A statistical analysis was performed in order to identify the clinical parameters associated with good outcome (survival and absence of neurologic impairment). A total of 221 patients were included into the study. The overall survival rate was 27%. Most of the survivors (83%), had no neurologic deficit. Asystole was the presenting CA rhythm in 48% survivors, of which 79% survived with good neurologic outcome. Variables associated with survival included the following: female gender (P < .001); low core temperature (P = .005); non-asphyxia-related mechanism of cooling (P < .001); pulseless electrical activity as an initial rhythm (P < .001); high blood pH (P < .001); low lactate levels (P = .003); low serum potassium concentration (P < .001); and short resuscitation duration (P = .004). Severely hypothermic patients with unwitnessed CA may survive with good neurologic outcome, including those presenting as asystole. The initial blood pH, potassium, and lactate concentration may help predict outcome in hypothermic CA.
    Tags: accidental hypothermia, cardiac arrest, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation/instrumentation/*methods, Cold Temperature/adverse effects, extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation, Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation/instrumentation/*methods, Humans, Hypothermia/complications/diagnosis/mortality/*therapy, Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest/etiology/mortality/*therapy, Prognosis, Rewarming/instrumentation/*methods, Severity of Illness Index, Survival Rate, Treatment Outcome, triage.
  • Kaegi-Braun, N., Tribolet, P., Gomes, F., Fehr, R., Baechli, V., Geiser, M., Deiss, M., et al. “Six-Month Outcomes After Individualized Nutritional Support During The Hospital Stay In Medical Patients At Nutritional Risk: Secondary Analysis Of A Prospective Randomized Trial”. Clin Nutr 40, no. 3: 812-819. doi:10.1016/j.clnu.2020.08.019.
    Abstract: BACKGROUND: Among medical inpatients at risk of malnutrition, the use of individualized nutritional support during the hospital stay was found to reduce complications and improve mortality at short-term. We evaluated clinical outcomes at 6-months follow-up. METHODS: We randomly assigned 2028 patients to receive protocol-guided individualized nutritional support to reach protein and energy goals (intervention group) or hospital food as usual (control group) during the hospital stay. The intervention was discontinued at hospital discharge and further nutritional support was based on the discretion of the treating team. We had complete follow-up information of 1995 patients (98%), which were included in the final analysis. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality at 6-months. Prespecified secondary end points included non-elective hospital readmissions, functional outcome and quality of life. RESULTS: At 6-month, 231 of 994 (23.2%) intervention group patients had died compared to 246 of 999 (24.6%) control group patients, resulting in a hazard ratio for death of 0.90 (95%CI 0.76 to 1.08, p = 0.277). Compared to control patients, intervention group patients had similar rates of hospital readmission (27.3% vs. 27.6%, HR 1.00 (95%CI 0.84 to 1.18), p = 0.974), falls (11.2% vs. 10.9%, HR 0.96 (95%CI 0.72 to 1.27), p = 0.773) and similar quality of life and activities of daily living scores. INTERPRETATION: While individualized nutritional support during the hospital stay significantly reduced short-term mortality, there was no legacy effect on longer term outcomes. Future trials should investigate whether continuation of nutritional support after hospital discharge reduces the high malnutrition-associated mortality rates in this vulnerable patient population. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02517476.
    Tags: (1410.000.058 and 1410.000.044). The institution of P.Schuetz has previously, *Hospitalization, *Nutritional Status, *Nutritional Support, Accidental Falls, Activities of Daily Living, Aged, Clinical outcomes, Dietary Proteins/administration & dosage, Energy Intake, Female, Fresenius Kabi. All other authors report no conflicts of interest., grant from the Swiss National Science Foundation to P.Schuetz (SNSF, honoraria and research support from Neste Health Science, Abbott Nutrition and, Humans, Male, Malnutrition, Malnutrition/*prevention & control, Mortality, Nutritional support, Patient Readmission, Professorship, PP00P3_150531) and the Forschungsrat of the Kantonsspital Aarau, Quality of Life, received unrestricted grant money unrelated to this project from Neste Health, Risk Factors, Science and Abbott Nutrition. The institution of Z.Stanga received speaking.
  • Ehrler, F., and Siebert, J. N. “Pedamines: A Disruptive Mhealth App To Tackle Paediatric Medication Errors”. Swiss Med Wkly 150, no. 35-36: w20335. doi:10.4414/smw.2020.20335.
    Abstract: Medication errors are among the most common medical adverse events and an important cause of patient morbidity and mortality, affecting millions of people worldwide each year. This problem is especially acute in paediatric settings, where most drugs given intravenously to children are provided in vials prepared for the adult population. This leads to the need for a specific, individual, weight-based drug-dose calculation and preparation for each child, which varies widely across age groups. This error-prone process places children at a high risk for life-threatening medication errors, particularly in stressful and critical situations, such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation. To limit and mitigate the likelihood of their occurrence, hospitals are increasingly adopting eHealth interventions aimed at supporting and securing each individual stage along the whole medication process, but there is mixed evidence regarding their positive contribution. These technologies are helpful as long as they are used within the scope of their application and users are aware of their limitations, as their introduction has sometimes led to new, often unforeseen, types of errors. The aim of the present work is to provide an overview of some of the main eHealth interventions used across the various stages of the medication process and to highlight areas that require attention in order to implement successful digital technologies. More specifically, the contribution of eHealth technologies in paediatrics is discussed, including the out-of-hospital setting, as well as barriers to their implementation in low- and middle-income countries. Finally, we describe our own work in this field with regards to the development and use of an innovative, evidence-based mobile device application (PedAMINES) to address the unmet need of reducing paediatric medication errors, especially during cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The PedAMINES app has also the potential to make a very effective contribution to the goals of the Third World Health Organization Global Patient Safety Challenge to reduce severe, avoidable medication-associated harm by 50% in all countries over the next 5 years, including low- and middle-income countries.
    Tags: *Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, *Mobile Applications, *Pediatrics, *Telemedicine, Child, Humans, Medication Errors/prevention & control.
  • Zermatten, M. G., Pantet, O., Gomez, F., Schneider, A., Mean, M., Mazzolai, L., Hugli, O., et al. “Utility Of D-Dimers And Intermediate-Dose Prophylaxis For Venous Thromboembolism In Critically Ill Patients With Covid-19”. Thromb Res 196: 222-226. doi:10.1016/j.thromres.2020.08.027.
    Tags: *covid-19, *Venous Thromboembolism/epidemiology/prevention & control, Autopsy, Coagulopathy, Covid-19, Critical Illness, D-dimers, Humans, manuscript., Pandemics, Patients, Prospective Studies, Pulmonary embolism, SARS-CoV-2, Thrombosis.
  • Vanolli, K., Hugli, O., Eidenbenz, D., Suter, M. R., and Pasquier, M. “Prehospital Use Of Ketamine In Mountain Rescue: A Survey Of Emergency Physicians Of A Single-Center Alpine Helicopter-Based Emergency Service”. Wilderness Environ Med 31, no. 4: 385-393. doi:10.1016/j.wem.2020.06.004.
    Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Although ketamine use in emergency medicine is widespread, studies investigating prehospital use are scarce. Our goal was to assess the self-reported modalities of ketamine use, knowledge of contraindications, and occurrence of adverse events associated with its use by physicians through a prospective online survey. METHODS: The survey was administered to physicians working for Air-Glaciers, a Swiss alpine helicopter-based emergency service, and was available between September 24 and November 23, 2018. We enrolled 39 participants (participation rate of 87%) in our study and collected data regarding their characteristics, methods of ketamine use, knowledge of contraindications, and encountered side effects linked to the administration of ketamine. We also included a clinical scenario to investigate an analgesic strategy. RESULTS: Ketamine was considered safe and judged irreplaceable by most physicians. The main reason for ketamine use was acute analgesia during painful procedures, such as manipulation of femur fractures. The doses of ketamine administered with or without fentanyl ranged from 0.2 to 0.7 mg.kg(-1) intravenously. Most physicians reported using fentanyl and midazolam along with ketamine. The median dose of midazolam was 2 (interquartile range 1-2) mg for a 70-kg adult. Monitoring and oxygen administration were used infrequently. Hallucinations were the most common adverse events. Knowledge of ketamine contraindications was poor. CONCLUSIONS: Ketamine use was reported by mountain rescue physicians to be safe and useful for acute analgesia. Most physicians use fentanyl and midazolam along with ketamine. Adverse neuropsychiatric events were rare. Knowledge regarding contraindications to the administration of ketamine should be improved.
    Tags: *Accidents, *Pain Management, Adult, Aged, Air Ambulances, analgesia, Analgesia/*methods, Analgesics/*administration & dosage/adverse effects/pharmacology, contraindications, Data Collection, Drug Administration Routes, drug-related side effects and adverse reactions, Emergency Medical Services, Emergency Responders, Female, Fentanyl/administration & dosage/pharmacology, Hems, Humans, Hypnotics and Sedatives/administration & dosage/pharmacology, Ketamine/*administration & dosage/adverse effects/pharmacology, Male, Midazolam/administration & dosage/pharmacology, Middle Aged, Mountaineering/*injuries, Physicians, Surveys and Questionnaires.
  • Shamdasani, S., Vogel, N., Kaelin, R., Kaim, A., and Arnold, M. P. “Relevant Changes Of Leg Alignment After Customised Individually Made Bicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty Due To Overstuffing”. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 30, no. 2: 567-573. doi:10.1007/s00167-020-06271-3.
    Abstract: PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to analyse the change in knee alignment after customised individually made (CIM) bicompartmental knee arthroplasty (BKA) and the subsequent consequences for patellar tracking. METHODS: Medical records of 23 patients who received 26 CIM BKA (ConforMIS iDuo G2) at our clinic between November 2015 and July 2018 were reviewed. The objective part of the Knee Society Score (KSS), the hip-knee-ankle angle (HKA), the tibial mechanical angle (TMA) and femoral mechanical angle (FMA) were recorded preoperative and four months postoperative. Leg alignment was classified as neutral (HKA = 180 degrees +/- 3 degrees ), varus (HKA < 177 degrees ) or valgus (HKA > 183 degrees ). Furthermore, patellar tracking was determined on skyline view radiographs and adverse events were recorded. Implant survival rate was determined with the Kaplan-Meier method. Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) were pain, satisfaction, overall improvement and if the patient would undergo the surgery again. RESULTS: The mean KSS improved from 61 points preoperative [standard deviation (SD) 14] to 90 points postoperative (SD 7, p < 0.001). The mean change for HKA was 6.3 degrees (SD 3.5), for TMA 1.5 degrees (SD 1.2) and for FMA 3.8 degrees (SD 2.3). Postoperative leg alignment was neutral in 13 CIM BKA (50%), varus in two (8%) and valgus in 11 (42%) and patella tracking was central in 19 CIM BKA (73%) and lateral in seven (27%), respectively. Adverse events occurred in five CIM BKA: three patients required a patella resurfacing and one patient with bilateral CIM BKA needed a revision to a total knee arthroplasty. Implant survival rate was 92.3% at a follow-up of 3.2 years (SD 0.8). PROMs for CIM BKA without revision surgery were available at a mean follow-up of 3.2 years (SD 0.8). Mean pain with level walking decreased to 0.8 points (SD 1.4, p < 0.001) and mean pain with stairs or inclines to 1.6 points (SD 1.3, p < 0.001). Patient satisfaction was very satisfied or satisfied (78%), neutral (17%) or unsatisfied (4%). Overall improvement was much better or considerably better for 91% of all patients; 87% would undergo the surgery again. CONCLUSION: A relevant change of the leg axis away from the treated femorotibial compartment due to overstuffing was observed. Although, neutral leg alignment was not restored in every case, clinical and patient-reported outcomes improved significantly. Further studies with long-term clinical and patient-reported outcomes are required to evaluate whether patients with bicompartmental knee osteoarthritis benefit from CIM BKA. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV, case series.
    Tags: *Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee/methods, *Osteoarthritis, Knee/etiology/surgery, Alignment, Bicompartmental, Customised, Humans, Individualised, Knee Joint/diagnostic imaging/surgery, Leg, Partial knee arthroplasty, Partial knee replacement, Retrospective Studies, Tibia/surgery.
  • Barco, S., Bingisser, R., Colucci, G., Frenk, A., Gerber, B., Held, U., Mach, F., et al. “Enoxaparin For Primary Thromboprophylaxis In Ambulatory Patients With Coronavirus Disease-2019 (The Ovid Study): A Structured Summary Of A Study Protocol For A Randomized Controlled Trial”. Trials 21, no. 1: 770. doi:10.1186/s13063-020-04678-4.
    Abstract: OBJECTIVES: The OVID study will demonstrate whether prophylactic-dose enoxaparin improves survival and reduces hospitalizations in symptomatic ambulatory patients aged 50 or older diagnosed with COVID-19, a novel viral disease characterized by severe systemic, pulmonary, and vessel inflammation and coagulation activation. TRIAL DESIGN: The OVID study is conducted as a multicentre open-label superiority randomised controlled trial. PARTICIPANTS: Inclusion Criteria 1. Signed patient informed consent after being fully informed about the study's background. 2. Patients aged 50 years or older with a positive test for SARS-CoV2 in the past 5 days and eligible for ambulatory treatment. 3. Presence of respiratory symptoms (i.e. cough, sore throat, or shortness of breath) or body temperature >37.5 degrees C. 4. Ability of the patient to travel to the study centre by private transportation, performed either by an accompanying person from the same household or by the patient themselves 5. Ability to comply with standard hygiene requirements at the time of in-hospital visit, including a face mask and hand disinfectant. 6. Ability to walk from car to study centre or reach it by wheelchair transport with the help of an accompanying person from the same household also complying with standard hygiene requirements. 7. Ability to self-administer prefilled enoxaparin injections after instructions received at the study centre or availability of a person living with the patient to administer enoxaparin. Exclusion Criteria 1. Any acute or chronic condition posing an indication for anticoagulant treatment, e.g. atrial fibrillation, prior venous thromboembolism (VTE), acute confirmed symptomatic VTE, acute coronary syndrome. 2. Anticoagulant thromboprophylaxis deemed necessary in view of the patient's history, comorbidity or predisposing strong risk factors for thrombosis: a. Any of the following events occurring in the prior 30 days: fracture of lower limb, hospitalization for heart failure, hip/knee replacement, major trauma, spinal cord injury, stroke, b. previous VTE, c. histologically confirmed malignancy, which was diagnosed or treated (surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy) in the past 6 months, or recurrent, or metastatic, or inoperable. 3. Any clinically relevant bleeding (defined as bleeding requiring hospitalization, transfusion, surgical intervention, invasive procedures, occurring in a critical anatomical site, or causing disability) within 30 days prior to randomization or sign of acute bleeding. 4. Intracerebral bleeding at any time in the past or signs/symptoms consistent with acute intracranial haemorrhage. 5. Haemoglobin <8 g/dL and platelet count <50 x 10(9) cells/L confirmed by recent laboratory test (<90 days). 6. Subjects with any known coagulopathy or bleeding diathesis, including known significant liver disease associated with coagulopathy. 7. Severe renal insufficiency (baseline creatinine clearance <30 mL/min calculated using the Cockcroft-Gault formula) confirmed by recent laboratory test (<90 days). 8. Contraindications to enoxaparin therapy, including prior heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and known hypersensitivity. 9. Current use of dual antiplatelet therapy. 10. Participation in other interventional studies over the past 30 days. 11. Non-compliance or inability to adhere to treatment or lack of a family environment or support system for home treatment. 12. Cognitive impairment and/or inability to understand information provided in the study information. Patient enrolment will take place at seven Swiss centres, including five university hospitals and two large cantonal hospitals. INTERVENTION AND COMPARATOR: Patients randomized to the intervention group will receive subcutaneous enoxaparin at the recommended dose of 4,000 IU anti-Xa activity (40 mg/0.4 ml) once daily for 14 days. Patients randomized to the comparator group will receive no anticoagulation. MAIN OUTCOMES: Primary outcome: a composite of any hospitalization or all-cause death occurring within 30 days of randomization. SECONDARY OUTCOMES: (i) a composite of cardiovascular events, including deep vein thrombosis (including catheter-associated), pulmonary embolism, myocardial infarction/myocarditis, arterial ischemia including mesenteric and extremities, acute splanchnic vein thrombosis, or ischemic stroke within 14 days, 30 days, and 90 days of randomization; (ii) each component of the primary efficacy outcome, within 14 days, 30 days, and 90 days of randomization; (iii) net clinical benefit (accounting for the primary efficacy outcome, composite cardiovascular events, and major bleeding), within 14 days, 30 days, and 90 days of enrolment; (iv) primary efficacy outcome, within 14 days, and 90 days of enrolment; (v) disseminated intravascular coagulation (ISTH criteria, in-hospital diagnosis) within 14 days, 30 days, and 90 days of enrolment. RANDOMISATION: Patients will undergo block stratified randomization (by age: 50-70 vs. >70 years; and by study centre) with a randomization ratio of 1:1 with block sizes varying between 4 and 8. Randomization will be performed after the signature of the informed consent for participation and the verification of the eligibility criteria using the electronic data capture software (REDCAP, Vanderbilt University, v9.1.24). BLINDING (MASKING): In this open-label study, no blinding procedures will be used. NUMBERS TO BE RANDOMISED (SAMPLE SIZE): The sample size calculation is based on the parameters alpha = 0.05 (2-sided), power: 1-beta = 0.8, event rate in experimental group, pexp = 0.09 and event rate in control group, pcon = 0.15. The resulting total sample size is 920. To account for potential dropouts, the total sample size was fixed to 1000 with 500 patients in the intervention group and 500 in the control group. TRIAL STATUS: Protocol version 1.0, 14 April 2020. Protocol version 3.0, 18 May 2020 Recruiting start date: June 2020. Last Patient Last Visit: March 2021. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04400799 First Posted: May 26, 2020 Last Update Posted: July 16, 2020 FULL PROTOCOL: The full protocol is attached as an additional file, accessible from the Trials website (Additional file 1). In the interest in expediting dissemination of this material, the familiar formatting has been eliminated; this Letter serves as a summary of the key elements of the full protocol.
    Tags: Anticoagulants/*administration & dosage/adverse effects, anticoagulation, Betacoronavirus/*pathogenicity, Blood Coagulation/*drug effects, Coronavirus Infections/blood/diagnosis/*drug therapy/virology, Covid-19, elderly, enoxaparin, Enoxaparin/*administration & dosage/adverse effects, Equivalence Trials as Topic, Host-Pathogen Interactions, Humans, Multicenter Studies as Topic, Pandemics, Pneumonia, Viral/blood/diagnosis/*drug therapy/virology, prevention, protocol, Randomised controlled trial, SARS-CoV-2, thrombosis, Thrombosis/blood/diagnosis/*prevention & control/virology, Time Factors, Treatment Outcome, venous thromboembolism.
  • Poole, S., Townsend, J., Wertheim, H., Kidd, S. P., Welte, T., Schuetz, P., Luyt, C. E., et al. “How Are Rapid Diagnostic Tests For Infectious Diseases Used In Clinical Practice: A Global Survey By The International Society Of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (Isac)”. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 40, no. 2: 429-434. doi:10.1007/s10096-020-04031-2.
    Abstract: Novel rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) offer huge potential to optimise clinical care and improve patient outcomes. In this study, we aim to assess the current patterns of use around the world, identify issues for successful implementation and suggest best practice advice on how to introduce new tests. An electronic survey was devised by the International Society of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (ISAC) Rapid Diagnostics and Biomarkers working group focussing on the availability, structure and impact of RDTs around the world. It was circulated to ISAC members in December 2019. Results were collated according to the UN human development index (HDI). 81 responses were gathered from 31 different countries. 84% of institutions reported the availability of any test 24/7. In more developed countries, this was more for respiratory viruses, whereas in high and medium/low developed countries, it was for HIV and viral hepatitis. Only 37% of those carrying out rapid tests measured the impact. There is no 'one-size fits all' solution to RDTs: the requirements must be tailored to the healthcare setting in which they are deployed and there are many factors that should be considered prior to this.
    Tags: *Diagnostic Tests, Routine, *Health Facilities, *Point-of-Care Testing, *Reagent Kits, Diagnostic, Clinical governance, Communicable Diseases/*diagnosis, Humans, Infection, Microbiology, Poct, Point of care, Rapid diagnosis, Surveys and Questionnaires.
  • Boyadzhieva, G., Stickel, M., Christ, M., and Minervini, F. “A Rare Case Of Pyopericardium After Blunt Thoracic Trauma”. Ann Thorac Surg 111, no. 4: e259-e261. doi:10.1016/j.athoracsur.2020.06.069.
    Abstract: The bacterial purulent pericarditis is rapidly progressive and represents a highly fatal infection, with mortality rates reaching up to 100% if untreated. Approximately 40% to 50% of all cases are caused by Gram-positive bacteria, especially Streptococcus pneumoniae. We describe an extremely rare case of S. pneumoniae purulent pericarditis as a delayed complication of a blunt thoracic trauma. The patient was successfully treated with urgent pericardiocentesis, thoracoscopic pericardial fenestration, and broad-spectrum antibiotics. Owing to the high mortality rate of a purulent pericarditis, a high index of suspicion is needed in order to instaurate an appropriate therapy with drainage and antibiotics.
    Tags: Aged, 80 and over, Echocardiography, Female, Humans, Pericarditis/diagnosis/*etiology/microbiology, Pericardium/*diagnostic imaging/microbiology, Pneumococcal Infections/diagnosis/*etiology/microbiology, Radiography, Thoracic, Rare Diseases, Streptococcus pneumoniae/isolation & purification, Thoracic Injuries/*complications/diagnosis, Tomography, X-Ray Computed, Wounds, Nonpenetrating/*complications/diagnosis.
  • Muller, M., Goeldlin, M. B., Gaschen, J., Sauter, T. C., Stock, S., Wagner, F., Exadaktylos, A. K., Fischer, U., Kalla, R., and Mantokoudis, G. “Characteristics And Resource Needs In Patients With Vestibular Symptoms: A Comparison Of Patients With Symptoms Of Unknown Versus Determined Origin”. Bmc Emerg Med 20, no. 1: 70. doi:10.1186/s12873-020-00361-8.
    Abstract: BACKGROUND: Vestibular symptoms are a frequent reason for presenting at the emergency department (ED). Underlying conditions range in severity from life-threatening to benign, but often remain undiagnosed despite extensive investigations. We aimed to identify clinical characteristics that are associated with ED consultations by patients with vestibular symptoms of unknown origin (VUO) and to quantify the ED resources consumed during the investigations. METHODS: This retrospective one-year, single-centre, cross-sectional study assessed ED consultations with patients whose chief complaint was 'vestibular symptoms'. Data on risk factors, clinical characteristics, management and ED resources were extracted from the administrative database and medical records. Consultations were grouped according to the discharge diagnosis as either VUO or non-VUO. We determined clinical factors associated with VUO and compared ED resource consumption by the two patient groups using multivariable analysis. RESULTS: A total of 1599 ED consultations were eligible. Of these, 14.3% (n = 229) were consultations with patients with VUO. Clinical characteristics included in the final multivariable model to determine associations with VUO were sensory disorders, aural fullness, improvement at rest, absence of situational provocation, pre-existing neurological conditions, and age < 65 years. Patients with VUO had higher total ED resource consumption in terms of physicians' work and radiology resources, as a result of more use of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. CONCLUSION: One in seven emergency patients with vestibular symptoms is dismissed without a diagnosis. Clinical characteristics of VUO patients are distinct from patients in whom a diagnosis was made in the ED. VUO triggers higher ED resource consumption, which can be justified if appropriately indicated.
    Tags: *Emergency Service, Hospital, *Health Services Needs and Demand, Adult, Aged, Cross-Sectional Studies, Diagnosis, Differential, Diagnostic Imaging/statistics & numerical data, Dizziness, Dizziness/diagnosis, Emergency department, Female, Health resources, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Paresthesia/diagnosis, Resource allocation, Retrospective Studies, Risk Factors, Switzerland, Vertigo, Vertigo/diagnosis, Vestibular, Vestibular Diseases/*diagnosis.
  • Levis, A., Greif, R., Hautz, W. E., Lehmann, L. E., Hunziker, L., Fehr, T., and Haenggi, M. “Resuscitative Endovascular Balloon Occlusion Of The Aorta (Reboa) During Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation: A Pilot Study”. Resuscitation 156: 27-34. doi:10.1016/j.resuscitation.2020.08.118.
    Abstract: AIM: Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) increases coronary and cerebral perfusion pressure, which might improve neurologically intact survival after refractory cardiac arrest. We investigated the feasibility of REBOA during CPR in the emergency department. METHODS: Patients in refractory cardiac arrest not qualifying for extracorporeal CPR were included in this pilot study. An introducer sheath was placed by ultrasound-guided puncture of the femoral artery, and a REBOA catheter was advanced to the thoracic aorta in 15 patients undergoing CPR. Primary outcome was correct placement within 10 min of skin disinfection. Secondary outcomes included perfusion markers (mean central arterial blood pressure, end-tidal CO(2), non-invasively measured cerebral oxygenation) and procedural information (number and duration of attempts, complications, verification of correct position and occlusion). RESULTS: Successful catheter placement was achieved in 9 of the 15 patients (median 9 min 30 s). Median interval from dispatch to start of the procedure was 59 min. A small, albeit significant increase in non-invasively measured cerebral oxygenation was found, but none in blood pressure or end-tidal CO(2). However, two patients with pulseless electrical activity of more than 20 min achieved return of spontaneous circulation immediately after REBOA. CONCLUSION: In this pilot trial, REBOA during CPR was successful in 60% of attempts. Long resuscitation times before start of the procedure might explain difficult insertion and missing effects. Nevertheless, insertion of REBOA in patients suffering from non-traumatic cardiac arrest is feasible and might increase coronary and cerebral perfusion pressures and perfusion.
    Tags: *Balloon Occlusion, *Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, *Endovascular Procedures, *Heart Arrest/therapy, ALS life support care, Aorta, CPR cardiopulmonary resuscitation, Humans, Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, Pilot Projects, Resuscitation.
  • Lindner, G., Burdmann, E. A., Clase, C. M., Hemmelgarn, B. R., Herzog, C. A., Malyszko, J., Nagahama, M., et al. “Acute Hyperkalemia In The Emergency Department: A Summary From A Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes Conference”. Eur J Emerg Med 27, no. 5: 329-337. doi:10.1097/MEJ.0000000000000691.
    Abstract: Hyperkalemia is a common electrolyte disorder observed in the emergency department. It is often associated with underlying predisposing conditions, such as moderate or severe kidney disease, heart failure, diabetes mellitus, or significant tissue trauma. Additionally, medications, such as inhibitors of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, potassium-sparing diuretics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, succinylcholine, and digitalis, are associated with hyperkalemia. To this end, Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) convened a conference in 2018 to identify evidence and address controversies on potassium management in kidney disease. This review summarizes the deliberations and clinical guidance for the evaluation and management of acute hyperkalemia in this setting. The toxic effects of hyperkalemia on the cardiac conduction system are potentially lethal. The ECG is a mainstay in managing hyperkalemia. Membrane stabilization by calcium salts and potassium-shifting agents, such as insulin and salbutamol, is the cornerstone in the acute management of hyperkalemia. However, only dialysis, potassium-binding agents, and loop diuretics remove potassium from the body. Frequent reevaluation of potassium concentrations is recommended to assess treatment success and to monitor for recurrence of hyperkalemia.
    Tags: *Hyperkalemia/diagnosis/drug therapy, *Kidney Diseases, Emergency Service, Hospital, Humans, Potassium, Renin-Angiotensin System.
  • Grossmann, F. F., Dreher-Hummel, T., Allen, D., Ulrich, A., and Bingisser, R. “Comment On: Minotti B, Blattler-Remund T, Sieber R, Tabakovic S. Nurse Practitioners In Emergency Medicine: The Swiss Experience”. Eur J Emerg Med 27, no. 5: 389. doi:10.1097/MEJ.0000000000000688.
    Tags: *Emergency Medicine, *Nurse Practitioners, Humans, Switzerland.
  • Dell-Kuster, S., Gomes, N. V., Gawria, L., Aghlmandi, S., Aduse-Poku, M., Bissett, I., Blanc, C., et al. “Prospective Validation Of Classification Of Intraoperative Adverse Events (Classintra): International, Multicentre Cohort Study”. Bmj 370: m2917. doi:10.1136/bmj.m2917.
    Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To prospectively assess the construct and criterion validity of ClassIntra version 1.0, a newly developed classification for assessing intraoperative adverse events. DESIGN: International, multicentre cohort study. SETTING: 18 secondary and tertiary centres from 12 countries in Europe, Oceania, and North America. PARTICIPANTS: The cohort study included a representative sample of 2520 patients in hospital having any type of surgery, followed up until discharge. A follow-up to assess mortality at 30 days was performed in 2372 patients (94%). A survey was sent to a representative sample of 163 surgeons and anaesthetists from participating centres. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Intraoperative complications were assessed according to ClassIntra. Postoperative complications were assessed daily until discharge from hospital with the Clavien-Dindo classification. The primary endpoint was construct validity by investigating the risk adjusted association between the most severe intraoperative and postoperative complications, measured in a multivariable hierarchical proportional odds model. For criterion validity, inter-rater reliability was evaluated in a survey of 10 fictitious case scenarios describing intraoperative complications. RESULTS: Of 2520 patients enrolled, 610 (24%) experienced at least one intraoperative adverse event and 838 (33%) at least one postoperative complication. Multivariable analysis showed a gradual increase in risk for a more severe postoperative complication with increasing grade of ClassIntra: ClassIntra grade I versus grade 0, odds ratio 0.99 (95% confidence interval 0.69 to 1.42); grade II versus grade 0, 1.39 (0.97 to 2.00); grade III versus grade 0, 2.62 (1.31 to 5.26); and grade IV versus grade 0, 3.81 (1.19 to 12.2). ClassIntra showed high criterion validity with an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.76 (95% confidence interval 0.59 to 0.91) in the survey (response rate 83%). CONCLUSIONS: ClassIntra is the first prospectively validated classification for assessing intraoperative adverse events in a standardised way, linking them to postoperative complications with the well established Clavien-Dindo classification. ClassIntra can be incorporated into routine practice in perioperative surgical safety checklists, or used as a monitoring and outcome reporting tool for different surgical disciplines. Future studies should investigate whether the tool is useful to stratify patients to the appropriate postoperative care, to enhance the quality of surgical interventions, and to improve long term outcomes of surgical patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03009929.
    Tags: Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Case-Control Studies, Child, Child, Preschool, Female, Humans, Intraoperative Complications/*classification/epidemiology, Male, Middle Aged, Postoperative Complications/*classification/epidemiology, Prospective Studies, Reproducibility of Results, Surgical Procedures, Operative/*adverse effects/statistics & numerical data, Surveys and Questionnaires, Young Adult.
  • Burckhardt, M. A., Gotta, V., Beglinger, S., Renggli, L., Bachmann, S., Hess, M., Rentsch, K., et al. “Copeptin Kinetics And Its Relationship To Osmolality During Rehydration For Diabetic Ketoacidosis In Children”. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 105, no. 11. doi:10.1210/clinem/dgaa568.
    Abstract: CONTEXT: Copeptin is a surrogate marker for arginine vasopressin (AVP) release in response to hyperosmolal stimuli such as diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). OBJECTIVE: The objective of this work is to characterize kinetics of copeptin and osmolality, and their dynamic relationship during rehydration and insulin therapy in children with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and DKA. DESIGN AND SETTING: A prospective, observational, multicenter study was conducted. PATIENTS AND INTERVENTION: Children with T1D admitted for DKA underwent serial serum copeptin and osmolality measurements from start of rehydration at 14 time points during 72 hours. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Measurements included temporal course of copeptin and osmolality (kinetics), relationship between both (dynamics), and association between-subject variability (BSV) (coefficient of variation, CV%). RESULTS: Twenty-eight children (20 newly diagnosed T1D) aged 1 to 16 years were included. Copeptin decreased from 95 pmol/L (95% CI, 55-136 pmol/L) (CV%, 158%) to 9.7 pmol/L (95% CI, 8.1-11.4 pmol/L) (CV%, 31%) with a 50% recovery time (t1/2) of 7.1 hours (range, 5.1-11.5 hours) (114%). Serum osmolality decreased from 321 mOsm/kg (range, 315-327 mOsm/kg) (4%) to 294 mOsm/kg (range, 292-296 mOsm/kg) (1%) with a t1/2 of 4.3 hours (range, 3.0-5.6 hours) (64%). Copeptin levels doubled with each osmolality increase by 15 mOsm/kg (range, 10-21 mOsm/kg) (59%), from 9.8 pmol/L (range, 7.3-12.3 pmol/L) (48%) to 280 mOsm/kg. Copeptin kinetics differed between newly diagnosed and known T1D patients (P = .001), and less between mild vs moderate-severe DKA (P = .04). CONCLUSIONS: First, this study characterized for the first time copeptin kinetics and dynamics in the high hyperosmolar range in children with DKA. Second, it revealed significant differences in copeptin kinetics between newly diagnosed and known T1D patients that may be explained by changes at the osmoreceptor and renal AVP receptor level due to longstanding osmotic diuresis and DKA.
    Tags: *Fluid Therapy, Adolescent, Arginine Vasopressin/blood, Biomarkers/blood, Child, Child, Preschool, copeptin, diabetic ketoacidosis, Diabetic Ketoacidosis/blood/*therapy, Female, Glycopeptides/*blood, Humans, Infant, Male, Osmolar Concentration, Prospective Studies, rehydration therapy, serum osmolality, type 1 diabetes.
  • Taneri, P. E., Gomez-Ochoa, S. A., Llanaj, E., Raguindin, P. F., Rojas, L. Z., Roa-Diaz, Z. M., Salvador, D., Jr., et al. “Anemia And Iron Metabolism In Covid-19: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis”. Eur J Epidemiol 35, no. 8: 763-773. doi:10.1007/s10654-020-00678-5.
    Abstract: Iron metabolism and anemia may play an important role in multiple organ dysfunction syndrome in Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate biomarkers of anemia and iron metabolism (hemoglobin, ferritin, transferrin, soluble transferrin receptor, hepcidin, haptoglobin, unsaturated iron-binding capacity, erythropoietin, free erythrocyte protoporphyrine, and erythrocyte indices) in patients diagnosed with COVID-19, and explored their prognostic value. Six bibliographic databases were searched up to August 3rd 2020. We included 189 unique studies, with data from 57,563 COVID-19 patients. Pooled mean hemoglobin and ferritin levels in COVID-19 patients across all ages were 129.7 g/L (95% Confidence Interval (CI), 128.51; 130.88) and 777.33 ng/mL (95% CI, 701.33; 852.77), respectively. Hemoglobin levels were lower with older age, higher percentage of subjects with diabetes, hypertension and overall comorbidities, and admitted to intensive care. Ferritin level increased with older age, increasing proportion of hypertensive study participants, and increasing proportion of mortality. Compared to moderate cases, severe COVID-19 cases had lower hemoglobin [weighted mean difference (WMD), - 4.08 g/L (95% CI - 5.12; - 3.05)] and red blood cell count [WMD, - 0.16 x 10(12) /L (95% CI - 0.31; - 0.014)], and higher ferritin [WMD, - 473.25 ng/mL (95% CI 382.52; 563.98)] and red cell distribution width [WMD, 1.82% (95% CI 0.10; 3.55)]. A significant difference in mean ferritin levels of 606.37 ng/mL (95% CI 461.86; 750.88) was found between survivors and non-survivors, but not in hemoglobin levels. Future studies should explore the impact of iron metabolism and anemia in the pathophysiology, prognosis, and treatment of COVID-19.
    Tags: *Coronavirus Infections/diagnosis/epidemiology, *Pandemics, *Pneumonia, Viral/epidemiology, Anemia, Anemia/*diagnosis, Betacoronavirus, Biomarkers/analysis/blood, Clinical Laboratory Techniques, Coronavirus/*metabolism, Covid-19, COVID-19 Testing, declare no conflicts of interest., Erythropoietin, Ferritin, Ferritins/blood, Hemoglobin, Hemoglobins/analysis/metabolism, Hepcidins/blood/metabolism, Humans, Iron, Iron/blood/*metabolism, Prognosis, Receptors, Transferrin/blood, SARS-CoV-2, Transferrin/analysis/metabolism.
  • Maudet, L., Pasquier, M., Pantet, O., Albrecht, R., and Carron, P. N. “Prehospital Management Of Burns Requiring Specialized Burn Centre Evaluation: A Single Physician-Based Emergency Medical Service Experience”. Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med 28, no. 1: 84. doi:10.1186/s13049-020-00771-4.
    Abstract: BACKGROUND: Emergency medical services regularly encounter severe burns. As standards of care are relatively well-established regarding their hospital management, prehospital care is comparatively poorly defined. The aim of this study was to describe burned patients taken care of by our physician-staffed emergency medical service (PEMS). METHODS: All patients directly transported by our PEMS to our burn centre between January 2008 and December 2017 were retrospectively enrolled. We specifically addressed three "burn-related" variables: prehospital and hospital burn size estimations, type and volume of infusion and pain assessment and management. We divided patients into two groups for comparison: TBSA < 20% and >/= 20%. We a priori defined clinically acceptable limits of agreement in the small and large burn group to be +/-5% and +/- 10%, respectively. RESULTS: We included 86 patients whose median age was 26 years (IQR 12-51). The median prehospital TBSA was 10% (IQR 6-25). The difference between the prehospital and hospital TBSA estimations was outside the limits of agreement at 6.2%. The limits of agreement found in the small and large burn groups were - 5.3, 4.4 and - 10.1, 11, respectively. Crystalloid infusion was reported at a median volume of 0.8 ml/kg/TBSA (IQR 0.3-1.4) during the prehospital phase, which extrapolated over the first 8 h would equal to a median volume of 10.5 ml/kg/TBSA. The median verbal numeric rating scale on scene was 6 (IQR 3-8) and 3 (IQR 2-5) at the hospital (p < 0.001). Systemic analgesia was provided to 61 (71%) patients, predominantly with fentanyl (n = 59; 69%), followed by ketamine (n = 7; 8.1%). The median doses of fentanyl and ketamine were 1.7 mcg/kg (IQR 1-2.6) and 2.1 mg/kg (IQR 0.3-3.2), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: We found good agreement in burn size estimations. The quantity of crystalloid infused was higher than the recommended amount, suggesting a potential risk for fluid overload. Most patients benefited from a correct systemic analgesia. These results emphasized the need for dedicated guidelines and decision support aids for the prehospital management of burned patients.
    Tags: *Burn Units, *Emergency Medical Services, Adolescent, Adult, Burn injury, Burn size, Burns/*diagnosis/*physiopathology, Child, Emergency medical services, Female, Fluid therapy, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Pain management, Pain Management/*methods, Pain Measurement, Prehospital, Retrospective Studies, Young Adult.
  • Kutz, A., Ebrahimi, F., Aghlmandi, S., Wagner, U., Bromley, M., Illigens, B., Siepmann, T., Schuetz, P., Mueller, B., and Christ-Crain, M. “Risk Of Adverse Clinical Outcomes In Hyponatremic Adult Patients Hospitalized For Acute Medical Conditions: A Population-Based Cohort Study”. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 105, no. 11: 3428-36. doi:10.1210/clinem/dgaa547.
    Abstract: CONTEXT: Hyponatremia has been associated with excess long-term morbidity and mortality. However, effects during hospitalization are poorly studied. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this work is to examine the association of hyponatremia with the risk of in-hospital mortality, 30-day readmission, and other short-term adverse events among medical inpatients. DESIGN AND SETTING: A population-based cohort study was conducted using a Swiss claims database of medical inpatients from January 2012 to December 2017. PATIENTS: Hyponatremic patients were 1:1 propensity-score matched with normonatremic medical inpatients. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The primary outcome was a composite of all-cause in-hospital mortality and 30-day hospital readmission. Secondary outcomes were intensive care unit (ICU) admission, intubation rate, length-of-hospital stay (LOS), and patient disposition after discharge. RESULTS: After matching, 94 352 patients were included in the cohort. Among 47 176 patients with hyponatremia, 8383 (17.8%) reached the primary outcome compared with 7994 (17.0%) in the matched control group (odds ratio [OR] 1.06 [95% CI, 1.02-1.10], P = .001). Hyponatremic patients were more likely to be admitted to the ICU (OR 1.43 [95% CI, 1.37-1.50], P < .001), faced a 56% increase in prolonged LOS (95% CI, 1.52-1.60, P < .001), and were admitted more often to a postacute care facility (OR 1.38 [95% CI 1.34-1.42, P < .001). Of note, patients with the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuresis (SIAD) had lower in-hospital mortality (OR 0.67 [95% CI, 0.56-0.80], P < .001) as compared with matched normonatremic controls. CONCLUSION: In this study, hyponatremia was associated with increased risk of short-term adverse events, primarily driven by higher readmission rates, which was consistent among all outcomes except for decreased in-hospital mortality in SIAD patients.
    Tags: *Hospitalization, *Length of Stay, *Patient Readmission, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Female, Hospital Mortality, Humans, hyponatremia, Hyponatremia/*mortality, Male, medical inpatients, Middle Aged, mortality, outcome, Prognosis, Siad.
  • Handschin, N., Oppliger, M., Brehm, A., Psychogios, M., Bonati, L., Nickel, C. H., and Bingisser, R. “Nontraumatic Headache In Adult Emergency Patients: Prevalence, Etiologies, And Radiological Findings”. J Clin Med 9, no. 8: 1-14. doi:10.3390/jcm9082621.
    Abstract: The aim of this study was to measure prevalence, to describe underlying etiologies, and to assess radiological findings, focusing on significant intracranial abnormality (sICA). This was a prospective study of unselected adult patients admitted to the emergency department (ED) in a tertiary care hospital where all presenters were systematically interviewed about their symptoms. We attributed nontraumatic headache with neuroimaging to four groups: Normal or no new finding, extracranial abnormality, insignificant intracranial abnormality, or significant intracranial abnormality. sICA was defined as "needing acute therapy", "needing follow-up neuroimaging", or "clinically important neurological disorder". Among 11,269 screened ED presentations, the prevalence of nontraumatic headache was 10.1% (1132 patients). Neuroimaging (cCT and/or cMRI) was performed in 303 patients. Seventy (23.1% of scanned; 6.2% of all headache patients) patients had sICA. Etiologies were cerebrovascular disease (56%), intracranial bleeding (17%), tumors (14%), infection (9%), and others (6%). Short-term outcome was excellent, with 99.3% in-hospital survival in patients with and 99.4% in patients without neuroimaging, and 97.1% in sICA; 1-year survival in outpatients with neuroimaging was 99.2%, 99.0% in outpatients without, and 88.6% in patients with sICA. Factors associated with sICA were age, emergency severity index (ESI) of 1 or 2, Glasgow coma score (GCS) under 14, focal neurological signs, and a history of malignancy. Prevalence of headache and incidence of sICA were high, but survival after work-up for nontraumatic headache was excellent in the 94% patients without sICA. Due to the incidence of sICA, extensive indication for neuroimaging in headache patients is further warranted, particularly in patients with risk factors.
    Tags: emergency medicine, headache, intracranial abnormality, mortality, neuroimaging, risk factor.
  • Breakey, N., Osterwalder, J., Mathis, G., Lehmann, B., and Sauter, T. C. “Point Of Care Ultrasound For Rapid Assessment And Treatment Of Palliative Care Patients In Acute Medical Settings”. Eur J Intern Med 81: 7-14. doi:10.1016/j.ejim.2020.08.007.
    Abstract: The combination of an ageing population with improving survival in malignant and non-malignant disease processes results in a growing cohort of patients with advanced or end-stage chronic diseases who require acute medical care. Emergency care has historically been stereotyped as the identification and treatment of acute life-threatening problems. Although palliative care may be considered to be new to the formal curriculum of emergency medicine, in many domains the ultrasound skillset of a physician in acute medical care can be efficaciously deployed the benefit of patients with both malignant and non-malignant disease processes that require palliative care in the full breadth of acute healthcare settings. In diagnostic domains (abdominal pain, urinary tract obstruction, dyspnoea, venous thromboembolism and musculoskeletal pain) and for specific intervention guidance (thoracentesis, paracentesis, venous access, regional anaesthesia and musculoskeletal interventions) we suggest that POCUS has the potential to streamline improve patient satisfaction, streamline diagnostic strategies, optimise patient length of stay, expedite timely symptomatic relief and reduce complications in this important patient population. POCUS is a mandatory competence in the European curriculum of internal medicine, and specific training programs which cover applications in the domains of palliative care in acute care settings are available. Supervision, quality assurance and appropriate documentation are required. We expect that as the availability of mobile units suitable for point of care applications increases, these applications should become standard of care in the acute management of patients who require palliative care.
    Tags: *Palliative Care, *Point-of-Care Systems, Acute medicine, Clinical Competence, Humans, Internal medicine, Internal Medicine/education, Palliative care, Pocus, Ultrasonography, Ultrasound.
  • Hautz, W. E., Sauter, T. C., Exadakytlos, A. K., Krummrey, G., Schauber, S., and Muller, M. “Barriers To Seeking Emergency Care During The Covid-19 Pandemic May Lead To Higher Morbidity And Mortality - A Retrospective Study From A Swiss University Hospital”. Swiss Med Wkly 150, no. 33-34: w20331. doi:10.4414/smw.2020.20331.
    Abstract: AIMS OF THE STUDY: While COVID-19 significantly overburdens emergency rooms (ERs) and hospitals in affected areas, ERs elsewhere report a marked decrease in patient numbers. This study aimed to investigate the assumption that patients with urgent problems currently avoid the ER. METHODS: Electronic health records from the ER of a large Swiss university hospital were extracted for three periods: first, the awareness phase (ap) from the publication of the national government&rsquo;s initiative &ldquo;How to protect ourselves&rdquo; on 1 March 2020 to the lockdown of the country on 16 March; second, the mitigation phase (mp) from 16&ndash;30 March; finally, patients presenting in March 2019 were used as a control group. We compared parameters including a critical illness as the discharge diagnosis (e.g., myocardial infarction, stroke, sepsis and ER death) using logistic and linear regression, as well as 15-day bootstrapped means and 95% confidence intervals for the control group. RESULTS: In the three periods, a total of 7143 patients were treated. We found a 24.9% (42.5%) significant decline in the number of patients presenting during the ap (mp). Patients presenting during the mp were more likely to be critically ill. There was an increase of 233% and 367% (ap and mp, respectively) of ER deaths (none related to COVID-19) compared with the control period. Apart from polytrauma (increase of 5% in the mp), all other critical illnesses as discharge diagnosis showed a lower incidence in descriptive analysis. Significantly more patients died in the ER in both the ap and mp. CONCLUSIONS: Barriers to seeking emergency care during COVID-19 pandemic may lead to higher morbidity and mortality. Healthcare authorities and hospitals must ensure low barriers to treatment and business as usual for all patients.
    Tags: Adult, Aged, Betacoronavirus, Coronavirus Infections/*epidemiology, Covid-19, Critical Illness/*epidemiology, Emergency Medical Services/*statistics & numerical data, Emergency Service, Hospital/statistics & numerical data, Female, Health Services Accessibility/*trends, Hospitals, University/statistics & numerical data, Humans, Incidence, Male, Middle Aged, Pandemics, Patient Acceptance of Health Care/*statistics & numerical data, Pneumonia, Viral/*epidemiology, Regression Analysis, Retrospective Studies, SARS-CoV-2, Switzerland/epidemiology.
  • Ebrahimi, F., Kutz, A., Wagner, U., Illigens, B., Siepmann, T., Schuetz, P., Christ-Crain, M., Mueller, B., and Christ, E. R. “Excess Mortality Among Hospitalized Patients With Hypopituitarism-A Population-Based, Matched-Cohort Study”. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 105, no. 11: 1-9. doi:10.1210/clinem/dgaa517.
    Abstract: CONTEXT: Patients with hypopituitarism face excess mortality in the long-term outpatient setting. However, associations of pituitary dysfunction with outcomes in acutely hospitalized patients are lacking. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this work is to assess clinical outcomes of hospitalized patients with hypopituitarism with or without diabetes insipidus (DI). DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS: In this population-based, matched-cohort study from 2012 to 2017, hospitalized adult patients with a history of hypopituitarism were 1:1 propensity score-matched with a general medical inpatient cohort. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes included all-cause readmission rates within 30 days and 1 year, intensive care unit (ICU) admission rates, and length of hospital stay. RESULTS: After matching, 6764 cases were included in the study. In total, 3382 patients had hypopituitarism and of those 807 (24%) suffered from DI. All-cause in-hospital mortality occurred in 198 (5.9%) of patients with hypopituitarism and in 164 (4.9%) of matched controls (odds ratio [OR] 1.32, [95% CI, 1.06-1.65], P = .013). Increased mortality was primarily observed in patients with DI (OR 3.69 [95% CI, 2.44-5.58], P < .001). Patients with hypopituitarism had higher ICU admissions (OR 1.50 [95% CI, 1.30-1.74], P < .001), and faced a 2.4-day prolonged length of hospitalization (95% CI, 1.94-2.95, P < .001) compared to matched controls. Risk of 30-day (OR 1.31 [95% CI, 1.13-1.51], P < .001) and 1-year readmission (OR 1.29 [95% CI, 1.17-1.42], P < .001) was higher among patients with hypopituitarism as compared with medical controls. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with hypopituitarism are highly vulnerable once hospitalized for acute medical conditions with increased risk of mortality and adverse clinical outcomes. This was most pronounced among those with DI.
    Tags: *Hospitalization, *Length of Stay, Aged, burden of disease, diabetes insipidus, Diabetes Insipidus/*mortality, Female, Hospital Mortality, Humans, hypopituitarism, Hypopituitarism/*mortality, Inpatients, Intensive Care Units, Male, Middle Aged, mortality, patient-centered outcomes, Survival Rate.
  • Goldman, R. D., McGregor, S., Marneni, S. R., Katsuta, T., Griffiths, M. A., Hall, J. E., Seiler, M., et al. “Willingness To Vaccinate Children Against Influenza After The Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic”. J Pediatr 228: 87-93 e2. doi:10.1016/j.jpeds.2020.08.005.
    Abstract: OBJECTIVES: To determine factors associated with parents who plan to vaccinate their children against influenza next year, especially those who did not vaccinate against influenza last year using a global survey. STUDY DESIGN: A survey of caregivers accompanying their children aged 1-19 years old in 17 pediatric emergency departments in 6 countries at the peak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Anonymous online survey included caregiver and child demographic information, vaccination history and future intentions, and concern about the child and caregiver having COVID-19 at the time of emergency department visit. RESULTS: Of 2422 surveys, 1314 (54.2%) caregivers stated they plan to vaccinate their child against influenza next year, an increase of 15.8% from the previous year. Of 1459 caregivers who did not vaccinate their children last year, 418 (28.6%) plan to do so next year. Factors predicting willingness to change and vaccinate included child's up-to-date vaccination status (aOR 2.03, 95% CI 1.29-3.32, P = .003); caregivers' influenza vaccine history (aOR 3.26, 95% CI 2.41-4.40, P < .010), and level of concern their child had COVID-19 (aOR 1.09, 95% CI 1.01-1.17, P = .022). CONCLUSIONS: Changes in risk perception due to COVID-19, and previous vaccination, may serve to influence decision-making among caregivers regarding influenza vaccination in the coming season. To promote influenza vaccination among children, public health programs can leverage this information.
    Tags: *Vaccination, Adolescent, Caregivers, Child, Child, Preschool, COVID-19/*epidemiology, Decision Making, Emergency Service, Hospital, Female, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Humans, Immunization Programs, Infant, Infant, Newborn, Influenza Vaccines/*therapeutic use, Influenza, Human/*prevention & control, International Cooperation, Male, parental attitudes, Parents, Public Health, Risk, Surveys and Questionnaires, vaccine hesitancy, Young Adult.
  • Ravioli, S., Pluess, E., Funk, G. C., Walter, P., Schwarz, C., Exadaktylos, A. K., Woitok, B. K., and Lindner, G. “Dyskalemias In Patients With Acute Kidney Injury Presenting To The Emergency Department Are Common And Independent Predictors Of Adverse Outcome”. Int J Clin Pract 75, no. 1: e13653. doi:10.1111/ijcp.13653.
    Abstract: BACKGROUND: No data concerning the prevalence and risk factors of dyskalemia in acute kidney injury (AKI) exist. We investigated (a) prevalence rates, (b) risk factors and (c) outcome of hypo- and hyperkalemia in emergency patients. METHODS: In this cross-sectional analysis, all patients admitted to the emergency department of a large public hospital in Switzerland between January 1st 2017 and December 31st 2018 with measurements of creatinine and potassium were included. Baseline characteristics, medication and laboratory data were extracted. Chart reviews were performed to identify patients with a diagnosis of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and to extract their baseline creatinine. For all other patients, the ADQI backformula was used in order to calculate baseline creatinine. AKI was graduated using creatinine criteria of the acute kidney injury network. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify risk factors for appearance of hyperkalemia and outcome. RESULTS: AKI was found in 8% of patients. Hyperkalemia was present in 13% and hypokalemia in 11% of patients with AKI. AKI stage, potassium-sparing diuretics, ACE inhibitors and underlying CKD were the strongest risk factors for hyperkalemia. Hyperkalemia as well as profound hypokalemia were independently associated with prolonged length of stay and in-hospital mortality. The study is limited by its dependency on chart review data in order to identify patients with chronic kidney disease and by limitations of the ADQI backformula to calculate baseline creatinine. CONCLUSIONS: Dyskalemias are common in emergency patients with AKI and are independent risk factors for adverse outcomes. Potassium-sparing diuretics, ACE-inhibitors, AKIN stage and CKD are predictors of hyperkalemia in AKI.
    Tags: *Acute Kidney Injury/epidemiology/etiology, *Hyperkalemia/complications/epidemiology, Creatinine, Cross-Sectional Studies, Emergency Service, Hospital, Humans, Retrospective Studies, Risk Factors, Switzerland.
  • Rousseau, G., Keijzers, G., van Meer, O., Craig, S., Karamercan, M., Klim, S., Body, R., et al. “Epidemiology, Treatment And Outcome Of Patients With Lower Respiratory Tract Infection Presenting To Emergency Departments With Dyspnoea (Aanzdem And Eurodem Studies)”. Emerg Med Australas 33, no. 1: 58-66. doi:10.1111/1742-6723.13567.
    Abstract: OBJECTIVE: Lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) is a frequent cause of dyspnoea in EDs, and is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. We described and compared the management of this disease in Europe and Oceania/South-East Asia (SEA) cohorts. METHODS: We conducted a prospective cohort study with three time points in Europe and Oceania/SEA. We included in this manuscript patients presenting to EDs with dyspnoea and a diagnosis of LRTI in ED. We collected comorbidities, chronic medication, clinical signs at arrival, laboratory parameters, ED management and patient outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 1389 patients were included, 773 in Europe and 616 in SEA. The European cohort had more comorbidities including chronic heart failure, obesity, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and smoking. Levels of inflammatory markers were higher in Europe. There were more patients with inflammatory markers in Europe and more hypercapnia in Oceania/SEA. The use of antibiotics was higher in SEA (72.2% vs 61.8%, P < 0.001) whereas intravenous diuretics, non-invasive and invasive ventilation were higher in Europe. Intensive care unit admission rate was 9.9% in Europe cohort and 3.4% in Oceania/SEA cohort. ED mortality was 1% and overall in-hospital mortality was 8.7% with no differences between regions. CONCLUSIONS: More patients with LRTI in Europe presented with cardio-respiratory comorbidities, they received more adjunct therapies and had a higher intensive care unit admission rate than patients from Oceania/SEA, although mortality was similar between the two cohorts.
    Tags: *Dyspnea/epidemiology/etiology, *Respiratory Tract Infections/drug therapy/epidemiology, dyspnoea, emergency, Emergency Service, Hospital, epidemiology, Humans, lung disease, Prospective Studies, Treatment Outcome.
  • Glockner, E., Wening, F., Christ, M., Dechene, A., and Singler, K. “Lung Ultrasound Eight-Point Method In Diagnosing Acute Heart Failure In Emergency Patients With Acute Dyspnea: Diagnostic Accuracy And 72 H Monitoring”. Medicina (Kaunas) 56, no. 8: 1-13. doi:10.3390/medicina56080379.
    Abstract: Background and Objectives: Acute dyspnea is a common chief complaint in the emergency department (ED), with acute heart failure (AHF) as a frequent underlying disease. Early diagnosis and rapid therapy are highly recommended by international guidelines. This study evaluates the accuracy of point-of-care B-line lung ultrasound in diagnosing AHF and monitoring the therapeutic success of heart failure patients. Materials and Methods: This is a prospective mono-center study in adult patients presenting with undifferentiated acute dyspnea to a German ED. An eight-zone pulmonary ultrasound was performed by experienced sonographers in the ED and 24 and 72 h after. Along with the lung ultrasound evaluation patients were asked to assess the severity of shortness of breath on a numeric rating scale. The treating ED physicians were asked to assess the probability of AHF as the underlying cause. Final diagnosis was adjudicated by two independent experts. Follow-up was done after 30 and 180 days. Results: In total, 102 patients were enrolled. Of them, 89 patients received lung ultrasound evaluation in the ED. The sensitivity of lung ultrasound evaluation in ED in diagnosing AHF was 54.2%, specificity 97.6%. As much as 96.3% of patients with a positive LUS test result for AHF in ED actually suffered from AHF. Excluding diuretically pretreated patients, sensitivity of LUS increased to 75% in ED. Differences in the sum of B-lines between admission time point, 24 and 72 h were not statistically significant. There were no statistically significant differences in the subjectively assessed severity of dyspnea between AHF patients and those with other causes of dyspnea. Of the 89 patients, 48 patients received the final adjudicated diagnosis of AHF. ED physicians assessed the probability of AHF in patients with a final diagnosis of AHF as 70%. Roughly a quarter (23.9%) of the overall cohort patients were rehospitalized within 30 days after admission, 38.6% within 180 days of follow-up. Conclusion: In conclusion, point-of-care lung ultrasound is a helpful tool for the early rule-in of acute heart failure in ED but only partially suitable for exclusion. Of note, the present study shows no significant changes in the number of B-lines after 24 and 72 h.
    Tags: Acute Disease, Adult, Aged, B-line ultrasound, B-lines, data, dyspnea, Dyspnea/*etiology/physiopathology, emergency care, emergency department, Emergency Service, Hospital/organization & administration/statistics & numerical, Female, Heart Failure/*diagnosis/diagnostic imaging/physiopathology, Humans, lung ultrasound, Lung/*diagnostic imaging/physiopathology, Male, Middle Aged, Monitoring, Physiologic/instrumentation/methods, Prospective Studies, Reproducibility of Results, thoracic ultrasound, Ultrasonography/methods.
  • Vasiloglou, M. F., Christodoulidis, S., Reber, E., Stathopoulou, T., Lu, Y., Stanga, Z., and Mougiakakou, S. “What Healthcare Professionals Think Of "Nutrition &Amp; Diet" Apps: An International Survey”. Nutrients 12, no. 8: 1-17. doi:10.3390/nu12082214.
    Abstract: Accurate dietary assessment is crucial for both the prevention and treatment of nutrition-related diseases. Since mobile-based dietary assessment solutions are promising, we sought to examine the acceptability of "Nutrition and Diet" (ND) apps by Healthcare Professionals (HCP), explore their preferences on apps' features and identify predictors of acceptance. A 23 question survey was developed by an interdisciplinary team and pilot-tested. The survey was completed by 1001 HCP from 73 countries and 6 continents. The HCP (dietitians: 833, doctors: 75, nurses: 62, other: 31/females: 847, males: 150, neither: 4) had a mean age (SD) of 34.4 (10.2) years and mean job experience in years (SD): 7.7 (8.2). There were 45.5% who have recommended ND apps to their clients/patients. Of those who have not yet recommended an app, 22.5% do not know of their existence. Important criteria for selecting an app were ease of use (87.1%), apps being free of charge (72.6%) and validated (69%). Significant barriers were the use of inaccurate food composition database (52%), lack of local food composition database support (48.2%) and tech-savviness (43.3%). Although the adoption of smartphones is growing and mobile health research is advancing, there is room for improvement in the recommendation of ND apps by HCP.
    Tags: *Mobile Applications, *Nutrition Assessment, *Telemedicine, Adult, Attitude of Health Personnel, dietary assessment, Female, Health Personnel/*psychology, healthcare professionals, Humans, Male, mHealth, mobile applications, Nutritionists/*psychology, Smartphone, survey, Surveys and Questionnaires.
  • Ravioli, S., Niebuhr, N., Ruchti, C., Pluess, E., Stoeckli, T., and Lindner, G. “The Syndrome Of Inappropriate Antidiuresis In Covid-19 Pneumonia: Report Of Two Cases”. Clin Kidney J 13, no. 3: 461-462. doi:10.1093/ckj/sfaa080.
    Abstract: The emergence of the novel coronavirus or severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 leads to a high number of cases of severe pneumonia. So far, little is known about the course of the disease and its symptoms, complications and treatment. We report the first two cases of the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuresis complicating COVID-19 pneumonia.
    Tags: Covid-19, hyponatraemia, pneumonia, Siadh.
  • Mansella, G., Keil, C., Nickel, C. H., Eken, C., Wirth, C., Tzankov, A., Peterson, C. J., Aujesky, D., and Bingisser, R. “Delayed Diagnosis In Pulmonary Embolism: Frequency, Patient Characteristics, And Outcome”. Respiration 99, no. 7: 589-597. doi:10.1159/000508396.
    Abstract: BACKGROUND: The incidence and the outcomes of pulmonary embolism (PE) missed during emergency department (ED) workup are largely unknown. OBJECTIVES: To describe the frequency, demographics, and outcomes of patients with delayed diagnosis of PE. METHODS: We retrospectively compared patients diagnosed with PE during ED workup (early diagnosis) with patients diagnosed with PE thereafter (delayed diagnosis). Electronic health records (EHR) of 123,560 consecutive patients who attended a tertiary hospital ED were screened. Data were matched with radiology and pathology results from the EHR. RESULTS: Of 1,119 patients presenting to the ED with early workup for PE, PE was diagnosed in 182 patients (80.5%) as early diagnosis. Delayed diagnosis was established in 44 cases (19.5%) using radiology and/or autopsy data. Median age of patients with early diagnosis was significantly lower as compared to delayed diagnosis (67 vs. 77.5 years). Main symptoms were dyspnea (109 patients [59.9%] in early, 20 patients [45.5%] in delayed diagnosis), chest pain (90 patients [49.5%] in early, 8 patients [18.2%] in delayed diagnosis), and nonspecific complaints (16 patients [8.8%] in early, 13 patients [29.5%] in delayed diagnosis). In-hospital mortality was 1.6% in early diagnosis and 43.2% in delayed diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Delayed diagnosis of PE carries a worse prognosis than early diagnosis. This discrepancy may arise from either delayed therapy, confounding variables (e.g., older age), or both. Possible reasons for delayed diagnoses are nonspecific presentations and symptoms overlapping with preexisting conditions.
    Tags: Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Characteristics, Delayed diagnosis, Delayed Diagnosis/*statistics & numerical data, Early Diagnosis, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Mortality, Pulmonary embolism, Pulmonary Embolism/*diagnosis/mortality, Retrospective Studies, Switzerland/epidemiology.
  • Potasso, L., Sailer, C. O., Blum, C. A., and Christ-Crain, M. “Hyponatremia At Discharge: A Solid Risk Or Accidental Findings In Community Acquired Pneumonia - Authors' Reply”. Eur J Intern Med 78: 137-138. doi:10.1016/j.ejim.2020.07.004.
    Tags: *Community-Acquired Infections, *Hyponatremia, *Pneumonia, Cap, Hospitalization, Humans, Patient Discharge, Recurrence, Salt-water balance.
  • Ravioli, S., Stoeckli, T., and Lindner, G. “Covid-19 Screening In Outpatients With Risk Factors And Healthcare Workers”. Wien Klin Wochenschr 132, no. 21-22: 693-694. doi:10.1007/s00508-020-01714-w.
    Tags: *Health Personnel, *Outpatients, Betacoronavirus, Clinical Laboratory Techniques, Coronavirus Infections/*diagnosis, Covid-19, COVID-19 Testing, Humans, Pandemics, Pneumonia, Viral/*diagnosis, Risk Factors, SARS-CoV-2.
  • Luedi, M. M., Schober, P., Stauffer, V. K., Diekmann, M., and Doll, D. “Global Gender Differences In Pilonidal Sinus Disease: A Random-Effects Meta-Analysis”. World J Surg 44, no. 11: 3702-3709. doi:10.1007/s00268-020-05702-z.
    Abstract: BACKGROUND: Pilonidal sinus disease (PSD) is traditionally associated with young male patients. While PSD is rare in Asia and Africa, lifestyles are changing considerably throughout the so-called developed world. We question that PSD is an overwhelmingly male disease and that the proportion of women suffering from PSD is worldwide evenly distributed in a homogenous matter. METHODS: We analysed the world literature published between 1833 and 2018, expanding on the database created by Stauffer et al. Following correction for gender bias with elimination of men-only and women-only studies, data were processed using random-effects meta-analysis in the technique of DerSimonian and Laird. RESULTS: The share of female pilonidal sinus disease patients analysed from all studies available in the world literature is 21%. There are marked regional differences including South America (39%), North America as well as Australia/New Zealand (29%) and Asia (7%), which are highly significant. These results stand fast even if analysis without gender bias corrections was applied. CONCLUSION: The share of female patients suffering from PSD is considerable. It is time to think of PSD as a disease of both men and women. Previously unknown, there are significant regional differences worldwide; the reason(s) for the regional differences is still unclear.
    Tags: *Pilonidal Sinus/epidemiology, *Sex Factors, Female, Global Health, Humans, Male.
  • Perez-Saez, J., Lauer, S. A., Kaiser, L., Regard, S., Delaporte, E., Guessous, I., Stringhini, S., Azman, A. S., and Serocov, P. O. P. Study Group. “Serology-Informed Estimates Of Sars-Cov-2 Infection Fatality Risk In Geneva, Switzerland”. Lancet Infect Dis 21, no. 4: e69-e70. doi:10.1016/S1473-3099(20)30584-3.
    Tags: Adolescent, Adult, Age Factors, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Child, Child, Preschool, COVID-19/blood/*mortality/virology, Humans, Middle Aged, Pandemics, SARS-CoV-2/isolation & purification, Switzerland/epidemiology, Young Adult.
  • Nickel, C. H., Kellett, J., Cooksley, T., Lyngholm, L. E., Chang, S., Imfeld, S., Bingisser, R., and Brabrand, M. “The Diagnoses And Outcomes Of Emergency Patients With An Elevated D-Dimer Over The Next 90 Days”. Am J Med 134, no. 2: 260-266 e2. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2020.06.009.
    Abstract: BACKGROUND: It is not known what diagnoses are associated with an elevated D-dimer in unselected patients attending emergency departments (ED), nor have their associated outcomes been determined. METHODS: This was a prospective observational study of 1612 unselected patients attending a Danish ED, with 100% follow-up for 90 days after presentation. RESULTS: The 765 (47%) ED patients with an elevated D-dimer level (ie, >/= 0.5 mg/L) were more likely to be admitted to hospital (P <.0001), re-present to health services (P = .02), and die within 90 days (8.1% of patients, P <.0001). Only 10 patients with a normal D-dimer level (1.2%) died within 90 days. Five had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and infection, and 5 had cancer (4 of whom also had infection). Venous thromboembolism, infection, neoplasia, anemia, heart failure, and unspecified soft tissue disorders were significantly associated with an elevated D-dimer level. Of the 72 patients with venous thromboembolism, 20 also had infection, 8 had cancer, and 4 had anemia. None of the patients with heart failure, stroke, or acute myocardial infarction with a normal D-dimer level died within 90 days. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, nearly half of all patients attending the ED had an elevated D-dimer level, and these patients were more likely to be admitted to hospital and to re-present to health services or die within 90 days. In this unselected ED patient population, elevated D-dimer levels were found to not only be significantly associated with venous thromboembolism, but to also be associated with infection, cancer, heart failure, and anemia.
    Tags: *Emergency Service, Hospital, *Mortality, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Cancer, D-dimer, Diagnoses, Female, Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products/*metabolism, Humans, Infection, Male, Middle Aged, Mortality, Predictive Value of Tests, Prognosis, Prospective Studies, Unselected emergencies.
  • Dicker, D., Bettini, S., Farpour-Lambert, N., Fruhbeck, G., Golan, R., Goossens, G., Halford, J., et al. “Obesity And Covid-19: The Two Sides Of The Coin”. Obes Facts 13, no. 4: 430-438. doi:10.1159/000510005.
    Abstract: The World Health Organization declared COVID-19, the infectious disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, a pandemic on March 12, 2020. COVID-19 is causing massive health problems and economic suffering around the world. The European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO) promptly recognised the impact that the outbreak could have on people with obesity. On one side, emerging data suggest that obesity represents a risk factor for a more serious and complicated course of COVID-19 in adults. On the other side, the health emergency caused by the outbreak diverts attention from the prevention and care of non-communicable chronic diseases to communicable diseases. This might be particularly true for obesity, a chronic and relapsing disease frequently neglected and linked to significant bias and stigmatization. The Obesity Management Task Force (OMTF) of EASO contributes in this paper to highlighting the key aspects of these two sides of the coin and suggests some specific actions.
    Tags: *Betacoronavirus, Adult, Aged, Barrier to treatment, Coronavirus Infections/*epidemiology/transmission, Covid-19, Disease Susceptibility, Humans, Middle Aged, Obesity, Obesity/complications/*epidemiology, of the Executive Committee of EASO and receive no funding for that role., Pandemic, Pandemics/*statistics & numerical data, Patient Admission/statistics & numerical data, Pneumonia, Viral/*epidemiology/transmission, Risk Factors, SARS-CoV-2, Severity of Illness Index, statement, which was authored under the auspices of EASO. All authors are members, Vaccination, Viral Load, World Health Organization.
  • Koch, D., Kutz, A., Haubitz, S., Baechli, C., Gregoriano, C., Conca, A., Volken, T., Schuetz, P., and Mueller, B. “Association Of Functional Status And Hospital-Acquired Functional Decline With 30-Day Outcomes In Medical Inpatients: A Prospective Cohort Study”. Appl Nurs Res 54: 151274. doi:10.1016/j.apnr.2020.151274.
    Abstract: BACKGROUND: There is growing evidence that patients with functional decline are at increased risk of readmission, mortality and institutionalization. Instruments to measure the status of self-care could provide important information for efficient care planning. The widely used Self Care Index serves as an indicator for the severity of nursing dependency. To date, no evidence is available on the association of the instrument with rehospitalization, mortality and institutionalization. OBJECTIVES: To examine the association of functional status measures (Self Care Index on admission, at discharge and functional decline) with 30-day mortality, readmission and institutionalization in hospitalized non-surgical patients. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: We included 4540 emergency medical patients at a single hospital in Switzerland. METHODS: Primary outcome was 30-day mortality rate; secondary outcomes were 30-day readmission and institutionalization. We analyzed the association of the functional status with the binary endpoints using logistic regression models and C-statistics for discrimination. RESULTS: All of the examined measures were significant predictors of overall 30-day mortality; Self Care Index on admission: adj. OR: 0.90 (95% CI: 0.87-0.92); Self Care Index at discharge: adj. OR: 0.86 (95% CI: 0.83-0.88); functional decline: adj. OR: 1.22 (95% CI: 1.14-1.31) and all Self Care Index single items. A combined model (functional status on admission and functional decline during hospitalization) showed a good accuracy with regard to the AUC: adj. AUC: 0.80 (95% CI: 0.74-0.86). CONCLUSIONS: Several functional measures were associated with 30-day mortality. Self Care Index total score, five single items and a combined model showed the best performance.
    Tags: *Functional Status, *Hospitalization, *Inpatients, competing financial interests related to this work., Functional decline, Hospitals, Humans, Institutionalization, Mortality, Patient discharge, Prospective Studies, Readmission, Risk Factors, Self-care, Switzerland.
  • Nickler, M., Haubitz, S., Mendez, A., Gissler, M., Stierli, P., and Kieback, A. “Phlegmasia Cerulea Dolens - An Uncommon But Alarming Manifestation Of Deep Vein Thrombosis”. Vasa 49, no. 5: 422-426. doi:10.1024/0301-1526/a000894.
    Abstract: In phlegmasia cerulea dolens (PCD), immediate diagnosis and prompt treatment is crucial for limb salvage. Aggressive treatment options including venous intervention, thrombolysis and/or surgical thrombectomy should be considered. Due to the lack of data, the most appropriate intervention depends upon etiology of PCD, clinical presentation and patient's bleeding risk.
    Tags: *Venous Thrombosis, activated protein C resistance, Humans, limb ischemia, May-Thurner syndrome, Phlegmasia cerulea dolens, Thrombectomy, thrombolysis, Vascular Surgical Procedures.
  • Loutroukis, T., Loutrouki, E., Klukowska-Rotzler, J., Koba, S., Schlittler, F., Schaller, B., Exadaktylos, A. K., et al. “Violence As The Most Frequent Cause Of Oral And Maxillofacial Injuries Among The Patients From Low- And Middle-Income Countries-A Retrospective Study At A Level I Trauma University Emergency Department In Switzerland”. Int J Environ Res Public Health 17, no. 13: 1-12. doi:10.3390/ijerph17134906.
    Abstract: Preventive strategies can be developed by gathering more information about oral and maxillofacial injuries and oral pathologies in immigrants from low- to middle-income countries (LMIC). Additional information on the quality of care can also improve the allocation of clinical resources for the management of these patients. We studied immigrants from LMIC who presented in the emergency department (ED) at Berne University Hospital with dental problems or oral or maxillofacial injuries. The patient data included age, gender, nationality, the etiology and type of trauma and infection in the oral-maxillofacial area, and overall costs. The greatest incidence of maxillofacial injuries was observed in the age group of 16-35 years (n = 128, 63.6%, p = 0.009), with males outnumbering females in all age groups. Trauma cases were most frequent in the late evening and were mostly associated with violence (n = 82, 55.4%, p = 0.001). The most common fracture was fracture of the nose (n = 31). The mean costs were approximately the same for men (mean = 2466.02 Swiss francs) and women (mean = 2117.95 Swiss francs) with maxillofacial injuries but were greater than for isolated dental problems. In conclusion, the etiology of dental and maxillofacial injuries in immigrants in Switzerland requires better support in the prevention of violence and continued promotion of oral health education.
    Tags: Adolescent, Adult, dental trauma, Developing Countries, Emergency Service, Hospital, facial trauma, Female, Humans, immigrants, low-income, Male, Maxillofacial Injuries/*epidemiology, maxillofacial trauma, middle income, oral health, Retrospective Studies, Switzerland/epidemiology, Violence/*statistics & numerical data, Young Adult.
  • Hautz, W. E., Sauter, T. C., Hautz, S. C., Kammer, J. E., Schauber, S. K., Birrenbach, T., Exadaktylos, A. K., Stock, S., and Muller, M. “What Determines Diagnostic Resource Consumption In Emergency Medicine: Patients, Physicians Or Context?”. Emerg Med J 37, no. 9: 546-551. doi:10.1136/emermed-2019-209022.
    Abstract: OBJECTIVES: A major cause for concern about increasing ED visits is that ED care is expensive. Recent research suggests that ED resource consumption is affected by patients' health status, varies between physicians and is context dependent. The aim of this study is to determine the relative proportion of characteristics of the patient, the physician and the context that contribute to ED resource consumption. METHODS: Data on patients, physicians and the context were obtained in a prospective observational cohort study of patients hospitalised to an internal medicine ward through the ED of the University Hospital Bern, Switzerland, between August and December 2015. Diagnostic resource consumption in the ED was modelled through a multilevel mixed effects linear regression. RESULTS: In total, 473 eligible patients seen by one of 38 physicians were included in the study. Diagnostic resource consumption heavily depends on physicians' ratings of case difficulty (p<0.001, z-standardised regression coefficient: 147.5, 95% CI 87.3 to 207.7) and-less surprising-on patients' acuity (p<0.001, 126.0, 95% CI 65.5 to 186.6). Neither the physician per se, nor their experience, the patients' chronic health status or the context seems to have a measurable impact (all p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Diagnostic resource consumption in the ED is heavily affected by physicians' situational confidence. Whether we should aim at altering physician confidence ultimately depends on its calibration with accuracy.
    Tags: clinical management, Daiichi-Sankyo and the Gottfried and Julia Bangerter-Rhyner Foundation., diagnosis, Diagnostic Imaging/*economics, Diagnostic Tests, Routine/*economics, emergency care systems, Emergency Service, Hospital/*economics, Humans, Internal Medicine, Practice Patterns, Physicians'/*economics, Prospective Studies, research grants or lecture fees from Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim and, Resource Allocation/*economics, Severity of Illness Index, Surveys and Questionnaires, Switzerland, Zurich and research funding from Mundipharma Medical Basel. TCS has received.
  • Bapst, T., Romano, F., Muller, M., and Rohr, M. “Special Dermatological Presentation Of Paediatric Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome Related To Covid-19: Erythema Multiforme”. Bmj Case Rep 13, no. 6. doi:10.1136/bcr-2020-236986.
    Tags: *Coronavirus Infections/immunology/physiopathology/therapy/virology, *Erythema Multiforme/diagnosis/etiology/therapy, *Pandemics, *Pneumonia, Viral/diagnostic, Adolescent, Anti-Bacterial Agents/administration & dosage, Azithromycin/*administration & dosage, Betacoronavirus/*isolation & purification, Ceftriaxone/*administration & dosage, Covid-19, dermatology, Diagnosis, Differential, Humans, imaging/etiology/immunology/physiopathology/therapy/virology, infectious diseases, Inflammation/blood/diagnosis/etiology, Male, paediatrics, SARS-CoV-2, Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methods, Treatment Outcome.
  • Hautz, S. C., Oberholzer, D. L., Freytag, J., Exadaktylos, A., Kammer, J. E., Sauter, T. C., and Hautz, W. E. “An Observational Study Of Self-Monitoring In Ad Hoc Health Care Teams”. Bmc Med Educ 20, no. 1: 201. doi:10.1186/s12909-020-02115-3.
    Abstract: BACKGROUND: Working in ad hoc teams in a health care environment is frequent but a challenging and complex undertaking. One way for teams to refine their teamwork could be through post-resuscitation reflection and debriefing. However, this would require that teams have insight into the quality of their teamwork. This study investigates (1) the accuracy of the self-monitoring of ad hoc resuscitation teams and their leaders relative to external observations of their teamwork and (2) the relationship of team self-monitoring and external observations to objective performance measures. METHODS: We conducted a quantitative observational study of real-world ad hoc interprofessional teams responding to a simulated cardiac arrest in an emergency room. Teams consisting of residents, consultants, and nurses were confronted with an unexpected, simulated, standardized cardiac arrest situation. Their teamwork was videotaped to allow for subsequent external evaluation on the team emergency assessment measure (TEAM) checklist. In addition, objective performance measures such as time to defibrillation were collected. All participants completed a demographic questionnaire prior to the simulation and a questionnaire tapping their perceptions of teamwork directly after it. RESULTS: 22 teams consisting of 115 health care professionals showed highly variable performance. All performance measures intercorrelated significantly, with the exception of team leaders' evaluations of teamwork, which were not related to any other measures. Neither team size nor cumulative experience were correlated with any measures, but teams led by younger leaders performed better than those led by older ones. CONCLUSION: Team members seem to have better insight into their team's teamwork than team leaders. As a practical consequence, the decision to debrief and the debriefing itself after a resuscitation should be informed by team members, not just leaders.
    Tags: *Clinical Competence, *Group Processes, *Leadership, *Simulation Training, Ad hoc teams, Adult, Bangerter-Rhyner-Foundation. WEH has received speaker fees from the AO Foundation, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation/*standards, Debriefing, editor at BMC Medical Education. All other authors have nothing to disclose., Emergency medicine, Female, Heart Arrest/therapy, Humans, Ingelheim, and Daiichi-Sankyo and the Gottfried and Julia, Interprofessional education, Male, Patient Care Team/*standards, Postgraduate education, Resuscitation, Self-Assessment, Self-monitoring, Surveys and Questionnaires, Videotape Recording, Zurich and research funding from Mundipharma Medical Basel. WEH is an associate.
  • Baechli, C., Koch, D., Bernet, S., Gut, L., Wagner, U., Mueller, B., Schuetz, P., and Kutz, A. “Association Of Comorbidities With Clinical Outcomes In Patients After Acute Myocardial Infarction”. Int J Cardiol Heart Vasc 29: 100558. doi:10.1016/j.ijcha.2020.100558.
    Abstract: BACKGROUND: Multimorbidity becomes more prevalent in patients admitted for acute myocardial infarction (AMI). We investigated the association of an increasing number of comorbidities with the excess risk of in-hospital mortality and other clinically outcomes in hospitalized AMI patients. METHODS: In this population-based cohort study, we analyzed 104'906 admissions for AMI between 2012 and 2018 in Switzerland. We stratified patients based on four different age categories and investigated the association of the number of five common comorbidities (diabetes, chronic kidney-, chronic obstructive pulmonary-, cerebrovascular-, and peripheral artery disease) and risk of in-hospital mortality and other outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 5'029 admitted AMI patients (4.8%) died during the hospital stay. We found a stepwise increase in mortality risk with each additional comorbidity. Compared to AMI patients with no comorbidity, comorbid patients had a 26% increased risk for mortality (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1.26, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.20 to 1.33) with a pronounced association in younger patients. The overall risk for ICU admission, prolonged length of hospital stay (LOS), and 30-day readmission was higher in comorbid patients as compared to those without a comorbidity of interest (ICU: OR 1.19, 95% CI 1.16 to 1.22; LOS: OR 1.84, 95% CI 1.79 to 1.89; Readmission: OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.19 to 1.28), respectively. Again, the association of the numbers of prevalent comorbidities with adverse outcomes was strongest in the youngest patient population. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with AMI, the burden of comorbidities has a strong association with in-hospital mortality and other adverse outcomes - especially in younger patients.
    Tags: Age, In-hospital setting, Mortality, Multimorbidity, Myocardial infarction, Outcome, personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in, this paper..
  • Karamercan, M. A., Dundar, Z. D., Ergin, M., O, V. A. N. Meer, Body, R., Harjola, V. P., Verschuren, F., et al. “Seasonal Variations Of Patients Presenting Dyspnea To Emergency Departments In Europe: Results From The Eurodem Study”. Turk J Med Sci 50, no. 8: 1879-1886. doi:10.3906/sag-2002-221.
    Abstract: BACKGROUND/AIM: To describe seasonal variations in epidemiology, management, and short-term outcomes of patients in Europe presenting to an emergency department (ED) with a main complaint of dyspnea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Anobservational prospective cohort study was performed in 66 European EDs which included consecutive patients presenting to EDs with dyspnea as the main complaint during 3 72-h study periods. Data were collected on demographics, comorbidities, chronic treatment, prehospital treatment, mode of arrival of patient to ED, clinical signs at admission, treatment in the ED, ED diagnosis, discharge from ED, and in-hospital outcome. RESULTS: The study included 2524 patients with a median age of 69 (53-80) years old. Of the patients presented, 991 (39.3%) were in autumn, 849 (33.6%) were in spring, and 48 (27.1%) were in winter. The winter population was significantly older (P < 0.001) and had a lower rate of ambulance arrival to ED (P < 0.001). In the winter period, there was a higher rate for lower respiratory tract infection (35.1%), and patients were more hypertensive, more hypoxic, and more hyper/hypothermic compared to other seasons. The ED mortality was about 1% and, in hospital, mortality for admitted patients was 7.4%. CONCLUSION: The analytic method and the outcome of this study may help to guide the allocation of ED resources more efficiently and to recommend seasonal ED management protocols based on the seasonal trend of dyspneic patients.
    Tags: *Emergency Service, Hospital, *Seasons, Age Factors, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Ambulances/statistics & numerical data, Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use, Bronchodilator Agents/therapeutic use, Cohort Studies, Comorbidity, Diuretics/therapeutic use, Dyspnea, Dyspnea/*epidemiology/physiopathology/*therapy, emergency department, Europe/epidemiology, Female, Hospitalization/statistics & numerical data, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, older patient, Oxygen Inhalation Therapy/methods, Prospective Studies, seasonal variations.
  • Guglielmetti, S., Jaccard, C. M., Muhlethaler, K., Bigler, A., Springe, D., Ebnother, L., and Delgado, M. “Delayed Diagnosis Of A Diffuse Invasive Gastrointestinal Aspergillosis In An Immunocompetent Patient”. Case Rep Crit Care 2020: 3601423. doi:10.1155/2020/3601423.
    Abstract: Invasive aspergillosis represents a clinical picture frequently associated with host's immunosuppression which usually involves a high morbidity and mortality. In general, the most frequent fungal entry is the lungs with secondary hematogenous dissemination, but there are other hypotheses like a gastrointestinal portal of entry. There are some rare publications of cases with invasive aspergillosis in immunocompetent patients. We present the case of an immunocompetent patient without any risk factors except for age, ICU stay, and surgical intervention, who developed a septic shock by invasive gastrointestinal aspergillosis as primary infection. Due to the unusualness of the case, despite all the measures taken, the results were obtained postmortem. We want to emphasize the need not to underestimate the possibility for an invasive aspergillosis in an immunocompetent patient. Not only pulmonary but also gastrointestinal aspergillosis should be taken into account in the differential diagnosis to avoid a delay of treatment.
  • Doulberis, M., Papaefthymiou, A., Polyzos, S. A., Bargiotas, P., Liatsos, C., Srivastava, D. S., Zavos, C., Katsinelos, P., and Kountouras, J. “Association Between Active Helicobacter Pylori Infection And Glaucoma: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis”. Microorganisms 8, no. 6: 1-16. doi:10.3390/microorganisms8060894.
    Abstract: Background: Glaucoma is the second most common cause of blindness worldwide affecting almost 70 million individuals. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a widespread pathogen with systematic pathogenicity. This meta-analysis aimed to estimate the contradictory data regarding a potential association between active H. pylori infection and glaucoma. Materials and Methods: A research in MEDLINE/PubMed and Google Scholar was conducted and original studies investigating the relationship between H. pylori infection and glaucoma were included. Analysis was performed with random effects model. The main outcome was the odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) of H. pylori infection as a risk factor for glaucoma. A parallel analysis studied the role of active infection as indicated by histology and the titer of anti-H. pylori antibodies. For the anti-H. pylori antibody titers, weighted mean differences (WMD) were estimated between patients and controls. Results: Fifteen studies were included, with 2664 participants (872 patients with glaucoma and 1792 controls), divided into primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), normal tension glaucoma (NTG) and pseudo-exfoliation glaucoma (PEG). The association between H. pylori infection and overall glaucoma was significant (OR = 2.08, CI 95% 1.48-2.93) with moderate heterogeneity (I(2) = 61.54%). After stratification by glaucoma subtype, heterogeneity was eliminated in the NTG subgroup. Studies with healthy controls, and controls with anemia yielded very low or no heterogeneity, respectively. Gastric biopsy to document active H. pylori infection yielded the highest OR (5.4, CI: 3.17-9.2, p < 0.001) and null heterogeneity. For anti-H. pylori antibody titers, there was a significant difference in WMD between patients and controls (WMD 15.98 IU/mL; 95% CI: 4.09-27.87; p = 0.008); values were greater in glaucoma patients, with high heterogeneity (I(2): 93.8%). Meta-regression analysis showed that mean age had a significant impact on glaucoma (p = 0.037). Conclusions: Active H. pylori infection may be associated with glaucoma with null heterogeneity, as, beyond histology, quantified by anti-H. pylori titers and increases with age.
    Tags: glaucoma, Helicobacter pylori infection, of the authors declare no conflict of interest., primary open-angle glaucoma, pseudo-exfoliation glaucoma.
  • Costanza, A., Mazzola, V., Radomska, M., Amerio, A., Aguglia, A., Prada, P., Bondolfi, G., Sarasin, F., and Ambrosetti, J. “Who Consult An Adult Psychiatric Emergency Department? Pertinence Of Admissions And Opportunities For Telepsychiatry”. Medicina (Kaunas) 56, no. 6: 1-12. doi:10.3390/medicina56060295.
    Abstract: BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Psychiatric disorders constitute frequent causes of emergency department (ED) admissions and these rates are increasing. However, referring to ED a whole range of conditions that could or should be dealt with elsewhere is imposing itself as a problematic situation. We aimed: (1) to provide a descriptive picture of the socio-demographic and diagnostic characteristics of the visits among adults at the psychiatric ED; (2) to estimate the clinical pertinence of these visits. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of diagnostic/socio-demographic characteristics and clinical trajectories of patients admitted for a psychiatric condition at the adult psychiatric ED of the University Hospital of Geneva (HUG), Switzerland, during a 6-week timespan. RESULTS: In our sample (n = 763 total admissions for psychiatric conditions; n = 702 for inclusion of patients having received a medical evaluation), depression/anxiety, suicidal behavior (SB), psychotic episode, and substance use disorder (SUD), in descending order, were the most common diagnoses for referral. Patients belonged to younger age groups (</=65 years), had a familial status other than married/in couple, and did not present an unfavorable socio-demographic profile. Concerning the pertinence for a psychiatric ED, primary diagnosis of depression/anxiety is the only variable significantly associated with different grade of degree. By the examination of the patients' trajectory from admission to discharge, the clinical pertinence for a psychiatric ED admission existed for cases assigned to the Echelle Suisse du Tri (EST((R))) scale degree 1 (corresponding to most urgent and severe conditions), particularly for diagnoses of depression/anxiety associated with SB, SB as primary or comorbid diagnosis, and psychotic and manic/hypomanic episode. However, diagnoses of depression/anxiety without urgent and severe features (degrees 2, 3, 4) constituted the most frequent mode of presentation. CONCLUSIONS: Ambulatory and community-integrated settings could be more appropriate for the majority of patients admitted to adult psychiatric EDs. Moreover, the implementation of telepsychiatry strategies represents a very promising opportunity to offer these patients care continuity, reduce costs and filter the demand for psychiatric ED.
    Tags: Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Chi-Square Distribution, data/*trends, depression, Emergency Service, Hospital/organization & administration/statistics & numerical, Female, Hospitals, Psychiatric/organization & administration/statistics & numerical data, Humans, Male, Mental Disorders/psychology/*therapy, Middle Aged, psychiatric emergency, psychotic episode, public mental health, Retrospective Studies, substance use disorder, suicidal behavior, Switzerland, Telemedicine/instrumentation/*methods/statistics & numerical data, telepsychiatry.
  • Pasquier, M., Hugli, O., Feiner, A. S., and Darocha, T. “Comment On: Cardiac Arrest Secondary To Accidental Hypothermia: Who Should We Resuscitate?”. Air Med J 39, no. 3: 156. doi:10.1016/j.amj.2019.12.004.
    Tags: *Heart Arrest, *Hypothermia, Humans, Resuscitation Orders, Rewarming.
  • Ronz, K., Hirschi, T., Becker, S., Krummrey, G., Exadaktylos, A. K., Sauter, T. C., Hautz, W. E., and Muller, M. “Predictors Of High Resource Consumption In Alcohol Intoxicated Patients In The Emergency Department”. Int J Environ Res Public Health 17, no. 11: 1-14. doi:10.3390/ijerph17114122.
    Abstract: Background: previous studies have reported that the incidence of alcohol-related visits to emergency departments (ED) has increased, but little is known about how the necessary resources per visit have changed, or about the predictors and reasons for resource consumption. Methods: a retrospective analysis was performed of all consultations with a primary or secondary diagnosis of acute alcohol intoxication admitted to the ED of Bern University Hospital, Switzerland, between 1 June 2012, and 31 May 2017. Clinical characteristics and resource consumption were extracted and analysed over time. Results: in all, 196,045 ED consultations included 2586 acute alcohol intoxications, corresponding to 1.3% of the total. The incidences of acute alcohol intoxications have tended to increase over the last five years, and a growing number of visits have consumed high resources (consultations above the 75th percentile for total resource consumption). High resource consumption was associated with greater age and the male gender (p < 0.001). The main predictors of resource consumption were fractures (Odds ratio (OR): 3.9, 95% CI 2.8-5.3, p < 0.001), dislocations (OR 3.7, 95%: 1.5-9.1, p < 0.001), and traumatic brain injury (3.5, 2.5-5.1, p < 0.001). Consultations consuming high resources mostly required radiology resources (45%); consultations consuming low or normal resources mostly required physicians' work (45%) or nurses' work (27%). Conclusions: the number of alcohol intoxications consuming high resources has increased over the last five years. Acute alcohol intoxication associated with trauma is resource intensive, especially with regard to radiology resources. This underlines the need for further efforts to prevent alcohol-related traffic accidents, for examples.
    Tags: *Alcoholic Intoxication/epidemiology, *Emergency Service, Hospital, *Health Resources, Adult, alcohol intoxication, alcoholism, authors declare no conflict of interest., Blood Alcohol Content, design of the study, emergency admissions, emergency departments utilisation, Female, funding from Mundipharme Medical Basel. T.C.S. has received research grants or, Gottfried and Julia Bangerter-Rhyner Foundation. All other authors have nothing, Humans, in, in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data, lecture fees from Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Daiichi-Sankyo and the, Male, Middle Aged, Retrospective Studies, Switzerland/epidemiology, the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results. The, to disclose and declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the, Young Adult.
  • Gonvers, E., Spichiger, T., Albrecht, E., and Dami, F. “Use Of Peripheral Vascular Access In The Prehospital Setting: Is There Room For Improvement?”. Bmc Emerg Med 20, no. 1: 46. doi:10.1186/s12873-020-00340-z.
    Abstract: BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that prehospital insertion of peripheral vascular access is highly variable. The aim of this study is to establish the proportion of peripheral vascular access placement and its use with regard to both the severity of cases and the main problem suspected by the paramedics involved. Over-triage was considered to have taken place where peripheral vascular access was placed but unused and these cases were specifically analysed in order to evaluate the possibility of improving current practice. METHODS: This is a one-year (2017) retrospective study conducted throughout one State of Switzerland. Data were extracted from the state's public health service database, collected electronically by paramedics on RescueNet(R) from Siemens. The following data were collected and analyzed: sex, age, main diagnosis suspected by paramedics and the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics score (NACA) to classify the severity of cases. RESULTS: A total of 33,055 missions were included, 29,309 (88.7%) with a low severity. A peripheral vascular access was placed in 8603 (26.0%) cases. Among those, 3948 (45.9%) were unused and 2626 (66.5%) of these patients had a low severity score. Opiates represent 48.3% of all medications given. The most frequent diagnosis among unused peripheral vascular access were: respiratory distress (12.7%), neurological deficit without coma or trauma (9.6%), cardiac condition with thoracic pain and without trauma or loss of consciousness (9.6%) and decreased general condition of the patient (8.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Peripheral vascular access was set in 26% of patients, nearly half of which were unused. To reduce over-triage, special attention should be dedicated to cases defined by EMS on site as low severity, as they do not require placement of a peripheral vascular access as a precautionary measure. Alternative routes, such as the intra-nasal route, should be promoted, particularly for analgesia, whose efficiency is well documented. Emergency medical services medical directors may also consider modifying protocols of acute clinical situations when data show that mandatory peripheral vascular access, in stroke cases for example, is almost never used.
    Tags: *Quality Improvement, *Unnecessary Procedures, Catheterization, Peripheral/*standards, Emergency Medical Services/*standards, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Out-of-hospital, Paramedic, Peripheral vascular access, Prehospital, Retrospective Studies, Switzerland, Triage.
  • Meylan, S., Akrour, R., Regina, J., Bart, P. A., Dami, F., and Calandra, T. “An Early Warning Score To Predict Icu Admission In Covid-19 Positive Patients”. J Infect 81, no. 5: 816-846. doi:10.1016/j.jinf.2020.05.047.
    Tags: *Early Warning Score, *Intensive Care Units, *Patient Admission, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Betacoronavirus/*genetics, Coronavirus Infections/diagnosis/*physiopathology/virology, Covid-19, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Pandemics, Pneumonia, Viral/diagnosis/*physiopathology/virology, Polymerase Chain Reaction, Prognosis, Risk Factors, SARS-CoV-2, Sensitivity and Specificity, Time Factors.
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