Obtain serial lactate levels in ED patients with infection * Elevated serum lactate is associated with an increased risk of death in critically ill patients with infection * An initial lactate level > 4.0 mmol/l is significant and, in some series, is associated with a mortality of approximately 40% * Obtain serial venous lactate measurements every 3-4 hours * If serial levels remain > 4 mmol/l, or rise, be more aggressive with resuscitation Reference: Trzeciak S, et al. Serum lactate as a predictor of mortality in patients with infection. Inten Care Med 2007;33:970-7.

Start antibiotics ASAP in patients with septic shock * For patients with septic shock, start antibiotics within the first hour * For each additional hour that antibiotics are delayed, survival decreases by 7%-8%! * Once you address the ABC's, obtain appropriate cultures, and hang the antimicrobials * Make sure you are providing effective antimicrobials (take a look at the patient's history to see if they have resistant bugs) Reference: Kumar A, et al. Duration of hypotension before initiation of effective antimicrobial therapy is the critical determinant of survival in septic shock. Crit Care Med 2006;34:1589-96.

In the absence of contraindications, keep the head of the bed elevated 30 degrees for intubated patients * Mechanical ventilation places patients at risk for ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) * ICU mortality for VAP ranges from 30% to 70% * Elevating the head of the bed has been shown to decrease the frequency of VAP Reference: Dodek P, Keenan S, Cook D, et al. Evidence-based clinical practice guideline for the prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia. Ann Intern Med 2004;141:305-13.

Life- or Limb-saving Escharotomy * At some point in your career you may have to perform an emergent escharotomy to safe a life or limb * Deep thickness circumferential chest burns act like a straight jacket and impair respiration * Circumferential limb burns act like a tourniquet and impairs both venous output and arterial input resulting in ischemia * Limb escharotomy should be performed as soon as pulses diminish - do not wait for them to disappear * The picture illustrates the incision lines for escharotomy (note the bold lines highlight the importance of going across any involved joint)

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Subclavian central venous access * Many consider the subclavian to be the preferred route for central venous access * Approximately 5-6% of subclavian's are associated with misdirection of the catheter tip into the internal jugular * Directing the J-tip of the guidewire caudally significantly reduces the incidence of malpositioning Reference: Tripathi M, et al. Direction of the J-Tip of the guidewire, in seldinger technique, is a significant risk factor in misplacement of subclavian vein catheters: a randomized, controlled study. Anesth Analg 2005;100:21-4.

Critical care of patients with HIV/AIDS - Lactic Acidosis * Lactic acidosis can be a life-threatening complication of HAART - mortality as high as 77% * It can occur with any of the nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (most common are didanosine and stavudine) * Common presenting symptoms include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, myalgias, and elevation of transaminases * In patients with these symptoms check a lactate -> a value > 5 mmol/L is considered life-threatening * Treatment is supportive care with removal of the offending medication * In anecdotal reports, L-carnitine, thiamine, and riboflavin may reverse toxicity Reference: Morris A, Masur H, Huang L. Current issues in the critical care of the human immunodeficiency virus-infected patient. Crit Care Med 2006;34:42-9.

Question

Q: What is wrong with this baby? And what Dx should you entertain?

Previously healthy 7d old presents after difficulty feeding, one episode of vomiting and now with intermittent apneic episodes.

 

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• 1410041359_Clavicle_Fracture.jpg (1,743 Kb)

The Prehospital Acute Neurological Treatment and Optimization of Medical Care in Stroke Study (PHANTOM-S) was a randomized prehospital  clinical trial. On certain days, a dedicated Stroke Emergency Mobile (STEMO) responded to possible ischemic stroke incidents. Outcomes measured included time to thrombolysis and adverse events such as intracerebral hemorrhage. As opposed to usual prehospital care, a STEMO ambulance was equipped with a CT scanner, point of care laboratory, and a neurologist. According to the study, STEMO use resulted in reduced time to treatment (tPA) without adverse events. 

Though this trial did not specifically measure clinical endpoints, it addresses issues central to the delivery of specialized prehospital care:

1) Are there certain conditions which might warrant a tailored, super-specialized EMS response?
2) Are EMS systems capable of delivering definitive care to the patient as opposed to delivering the patient to definitive care? 

Stateside study has already started.  The Houston Fire Department, in partnership with UTHeath, has already loosed a "Mobile Stroke Unit" on the streets. Like the STEMO, the specialized ambulance will be University hospital based, carry a neurologist, and have the capability to administer tPA. 

STEMO pictures courtesy of the "NeuroEMS Blog"
http://www.neuroems.com/2014/05/14/tpa-in-the-truck-results-of-the-phantom-s-trial/

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Question

23 year-old female presents complaining of progressive right lower quadrant pain after doing "vigorous" pushups. CT abdomen/pelvis below. What’s the diagnosis? (Hint: it’s not appendicitis)

 

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Sports Hernia/Athletic pubalgia

 

Hx: Gradually increasing lower abdominal/proximal adductor pain. Usually activity related, resolves with rest. Frequent return despite rest when sports activity resumes.

Most common in athletes who perform cutting/maneuvers in addition to frequent acceleration/deceleration. Think ice hockey and soccer.

Bilateral symptoms not uncommon.

PE:  Resisted sit up with palpation of the inferolateral edge of the distal rectus may recreate symptoms. Similarly, resisted hip adduction may elicit symptoms. 

If for no other reason than to make the diagnosis harder to make, valsalva induced pain may also occur.

Fluoroscopic guided injections can be helpful to isolate the site of pain generation.

First line therapy is rest, non-narcotic analgesia and physical therapy.

With surgery, >80% return to pre injury level of play.

 

http://atlantasportsmedicine.com/orthopedic-surgeon/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/groin-injuries.jpg

 

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Case Presentation:

53 yo male presents with fever, myalgia, maculopapular rash, and severe polyarthralgia. He just returned from a cruise to the Caribbean islands.

Clinical Question:

What is the diagnosis?

Answer:

Chikungunya Virus

• Travelers who go to the Caribbean are at risk of getting chikungunya. Cases have been reported in Saint Martin, Martinique, and Guadeloupe. In addition, travelers to Africa, Asia, and islands in the Indian Ocean and Western Pacific are also at risk.
• Mosquito vector, incubation 3-7 days
• Joints involved are typically hands and feet, usually symmetric, severe arthralgia often debilitating
• Dx: serology - ELISA, IgM
• Treatment: IVF, NSAIDS, supportive

Bottom Line:

• Include Chikungunya in your differential of non-specific fever, rash, headache and arthralgia in travelers the Caribbean and endemic areas.

University of Maryland Section of Global Emergency Health

Author: Veronica Pei, MD

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Adrenal insufficiency (AI) can be a life-threating condition and is classified as primary (failure of the adrenal gland) or secondary (failure of hypothalamic- pituitary axis).

Common causes of primary adrenal insufficiency include autoimmune destruction, infectious causes (TB and CMV), or interactions with drugs (e.g., anti-fungals, Etomidate, etc.). Secondary causes are usually due to abrupt withdrawal of steroids after chronic use, although sepsis and diseases of the hypothalamus or pituitary (e.g., CVA) may occur.

Signs and symptoms include fatigue, weakness, skin pigmentation, dizziness, abdominal pain, and orthostatic hypotension; it should be suspected with any of the following: hyponatremia, hyperkalemia, hypoglycemia, hypercalcemia, low free-cortisol level, and hemodynamic instability despite resuscitation.

Treatment:
• Correct underlying the disorder
• Resuscitation and hemodynamic support
• Correct hypoglycemia and electrolyte abnormalities
• Treat with hydrocortisone, cortisone, prednisone, or dexamethasone +/- fludrocortisone (Note: dexamethasone is attractive choice in the ED because it will not interfere with ACTH stimulation test)

 

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General Information:

-As of April 5^th, 14 confirmed cases of a new influenza A virus (H7N9) have occurred in China.  Six of those have died. 

-Presumed transmission via infected poultry in bird markets, and thus far no person-to-person transmission has occurred.

-Likely susceptible to oseltamavir or inhaled zanamivir

 

Area of the world affected:

-China

Relevance to the US physician:

- Suspect in patients with a respiratory illness and appropriate travel history.

- Refer to CDC within 24 hours if test positive for flu A but cannot be subtyped

- If H7N9 is suspected, patients should be under droplet and airborne precautions

 

Bottom Line:

No human-to-human transmission from H7N9 thus far, but the possibility exists.  Any unsubtypeable influenza A patient should be placed on droplet and airborne precautions and oseltamavir or zanamivir started immediately.

 

University of Maryland Section of Global Emergency Health
Author: Andi Tenner, MD, MPH

 

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Methods: A large retrospective case series evaluated 121 children under 6 years old with hypoglycemia from a sulfonylurea ingestion.

Results:

• In addition to dextrose, patients who received octreotide had a median of zero hypoglycemic episodes after octreotide (compared to 2 before treatment, p < 0.0001).
• Median blood glucose concentrations after receiving octreotide were also higher (62 mg/dL vs 44, p < 0.001).
• Most required only 1 dose of octreotide with no reported adverse effects.

Authors' Conclusion: Octreotide administration decreases the number of hypoglycemic events and increases blood glucose concentrations in children with sulfonylurea ingestion.

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• Tinea capitis (ringworm of the scalp) is caused by dermatophytic fungi
• Trichophyton tonsurans is the most common species in the US, and does NOT flouresce under Wood's lamp
• Griseofulvin (20-25mg/kg/ day orally) is the standard first-line therapy in children older than 2 years, and has a good safety profile
• Both tablet and suspension formulations are available, and it should be taken with food that are high in fat to increase drug concentrations
• NO laboratory assessment of hepatic enzymes is required during the 8-week therapy course in children who have no history or clinical examination findings concerning for liver disease.
• Topical antifungal agents are ineffective because they do not penetrate sufficiently into the hair shaft.

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Question

50 year-old male with cough and dyspnea. What's the diagnosis?

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Question

An alcoholic patient presents with a cough, fever, and very foul smelling breath (worse than usual)

What's the diagnosis? And what are the risk factors?

 

 

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Hydrofluoric acid is a weak acid used primarily in industrial applications for glass etching and metal cleaning/plating. It is contained in home rust removers. Although technically a weak acid, it is very dangerous and burns can be subtle in appearance while having severe consequences.

Wilkes G. Hydrofluoric Acid Burns. Jan 28, 2010. 
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/773304-overview

• 2 mechanisms that cause tissue damage*
  • corrosive burn from the free hydrogen ions
  • chemical burn from tissue penetration of the fluoride ions
• Clinical features*
  • Cutaneous burns - absent findings to white-blue appearance
  • Pulmonary edema
  • Hypocalcemia, hyperkalemia, hypomagnesemia
• Treatment*
  • Decontaminate by irrigation with copious amounts of water.
  • With any evidence of hypocalcemia, immediately administer 10% calcium gluconate IV.
  • Cutaneous burns:
    • Apply 2.5% calcium gluconate gel to the affected area. If the proprietary gel is not available, constitute by dissolving 10% calcium gluconate solution in 3 times the volume of a water-soluble lubricant (eg, KY gel). For burns to the fingers, retain gel in a latex glove.
    • If pain persists for more than 30 minutes after application of calcium gluconate gel, further treatment is required. Subcutaneous infiltration of calcium gluconate is recommended at a dose of 0.5 mL of a 5% solution per square centimeter of surface burn extending 0.5 cm beyond the margin of involved tissue (10% calcium gluconate solution can be irritating to the tissue).
      • Do not use the chloride salt because it is an irritant and may cause tissue damage.

*Extracted from emedicine article.

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Oxygenation goals

• In recent pearls we have talked about 'lung protective' ventilation strategies to reduce volutrauma, barotrauma, and oxygen toxicity.
• Using 'lung protective' strategies, such as low tidal volumes, results in higher levels of CO₂ and a lower pH.  These are tolerated in favor of lower and safer alveolar pressures.
• In addition to higher pCO₂ values and lower pH, oxygenation goals are slightly lower than conventional teaching.
• In these patients, you want to maintain S_pO₂ > 88% and P_aO₂ > 55 mm Hg.

D-Dimer levels are known to be elevated in pregnancy. But how high is too high and can this test be used in the workup of VTE in pregnant patients?

Recent literature indicates that D-dimer levels in each of the three trimesters are approximately 39% higher: 700, 1000, and 1400 ng/dL for each trimester (normal cutoff 500 ng/dL). So, figure out what trimester your patient is in and use the corresponding D-Dimer level for that trimester.

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