Compartment Syndrome
Compartment syndrome is a diagnosis that needs to be made quickly in order to prevent long term muscle, nerve, and vascular compromise.
Two pieces of information are needed to determine if the patient has compartment syndrome.
Diastolic Pressure - Compartment pressure < 30 makes the diagnosis of compartment syndrome
So if a diastolic blood pressure is 80 and the compartment pressure is 40 the difference is 40 mmHg and the patient likely does not need a fasciotomy. The diagnosis can only be 100% onfirmed by a trip to the OR so these values should still be discussed with your local orthopaedist. When calling them just make sure you know both the DBP and the compartment pressure so that it can be interpreted correctly.
Physostigmine is a cholinergic agent (acetylcholine esterase inhibitor) that can be used to reverse anticholinergic toxicity. Its use has been declining since the publication of several case reports of physostigmine induced cardiac arrest in tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) overdose.
The first case report (and often cited) was by Pental P. et al. (Ann Emerg Med 1980), who presented 2 cases (32 and 25 year old) of asystole after administration of physostigmine (2 mg) in severe TCA overdose. These two cases both had widened QRS interval (120, 240 msec) due to TCA poisoning. Bradycardia preceded the asystole.
The second case report (Shannon M Pediatr Emerg Care 1998) reported a 15 year-old girl with QRS widening (120 msec) received 2 mg of physostigmine and developed severe bradycardia and then asystole.
Another case series (Knudson K et al. BMJ 1984) of 41 patients with overdose of maprotiline showed that physostigmine administration was associated with higher incidence of seizures. No asystole was noted.
Today physostigmine is contraindicated in TCA poisoning. But if we think about it, physostigmine administration probably wasn’t a good idea in the first place. Correcting anticholinergic toxicity of TCA has limited benefit; mortality from TCA overdose is usually associated with cardiac toxicity (Na-channel blockade) and should be treated with NaHCO3 administration
Physostigmine still has a role in treating isolated anticholinergic toxicity (e.g. diphenhydramine, benztropine, dimenhydrinate, scopolamine, jimson weed overdose). Prior to physostigmine administration:
Bottom line: If you suspect isolated anticholinergic toxicity, think about physostigmine. Like any medication, risk and benefit of administration should be considered prior to administration.
Tuberculosis (TB) remains a deadly scourge killing approximately 1.5 million each year (see Pearl from 7/2/2105). Recognition by astute clinicians in the emergency department is key, as there is no readily available rapid test.
Current testing options:
1) Tuberculin skin test (also known as the Mantoux tuberculin skin test). A small amount of fluid (tuberculin purified protein derivative) is placed intradermally, usually in the left forearm. A positive test means the person was infected with TB. (Alternatively, if they grew up outside the US, they could have been vaccinated with Bacillus Calmette–Guérin or BCG.) A positive test is determined by the size of the reaction, but this can vary depending on the patient’s immune status.
2) Two interferon-gamma release assays or IGRA blood tests are approved for TB. While not readily available in all institutions, this is the preferred method for someone vaccinated with BCG.
Diagnosis of TB disease is based upon:
Treatment:
TB treatment depends on the susceptibility of the organism and the immune status of the patient. For a susceptible organism in a non-HIV patient, the first-line anti-TB agents regimens include
Typical treatment has an initial phase of 2 months, followed by a choice of several options for the continuation phase of either 4 or 7 months. Further information can be found at the CDC website on tuberculosis
Bottom Line
As stated previously, in the emergency department, maintain a strong clinical awareness for tuberculosis for someone with night sweats, cough, chest pain, and intermittent fever lasting for 3 weeks or longer. In particular, consider this diagnosis for someone from a low- or middle-income country or if he or she is HIV positive.
Blood Pressure Management in Severe Preeclampsia
7 year-old male "jammed" 5th finger while playing basketball with pain and swelling over finger. What's the diagnosis?
A sports hernia is a painful musculotendinous injury to the medial inguinal floor.
It is the result of repetitive eccentric overload to the abdominal wall stabilizers of the pelvis.
It is common in sports that require sudden changes of direction or intense twisting movements.
Despite the term "hernia" in the title, it is not a true hernia as there is no "herniation" of abdominal contents
http://www.ssorkc.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/publagia.gif
Figure description: The upward and oblique pull of the abdominal muscles on the pubis fights against the downward and lateral pull of the adductors on the inferior pubis. This imbalance of forces can lead to injury.
PE: Evaluation of other GU/GYN/other intra-abdominal pathology comes first.
Clinician may note tenderness of the pubic ramus and medial inguinal floor.
Pain is more severe with resisted hip adduction and with resisted sit-up.
Combining these maneuvers (resisted situp while adducting hips) recreates the pathophysiology described above and is a good exam maneuver.
The New England Journal of Medicine and Lancet both published studies evaluating idarucizumab for reversal of dabigatran. It is a monoclonal antibody fragment that binds dabigatran with high affinity. Dr. Ryan Radecki summarizes the two articles on his EM Lit of Note blog.
Here are a few take home points from these early studies:
Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Shunts
15 year-old female field hockey player presents with left shoulder pain. Besides fatigue over several weeks, she has no past medical history and there is nothing remarkable on physical exam. What's the diagnosis?
Transitioning Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) patients off an insulin infusion can be challenging. If a long-acting insulin, such as glargine or levemir, is not administered at the correct time to provide extended coverage, patients can revert back into DKA.
Pilot Study
A prospective, randomized, controlled pilot study in 40 patients evaluated administration of glargine within 2 hours of insulin infusion initiation compared to waiting until the anion gap (AG) had closed.
What they did
What they found
Mean time to closure of AG, mean hospital LOS, incidents of hypoglycemia, rates of ICU admission, and ICU LOS were all similar between the groups.
Application to Clinical Practice
Although just a pilot study (using a convenience sample), early glargine administration seemed to be absorbed adequately (based on time to AG closure) and was not associated with increased risk of hypoglycemia. If confirmed in a larger study, this technique could help optimize care of DKA patients in the ED by eliminating the often-mismanaged transition step later on.
As noted in a previous pearl (see 1/7/2015), tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is the second greatest infectious killer after HIV/AIDS globally. While the incidence and death rate from TB is decreasing, it is still a widespread problem.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis primarily attacks the lungs. However, it can attack any part of the body such as the kidney, spine, and brain. TB is primarily spread person to person through the air, for example when a person with TB coughs, sneezes, speaks, or sings.
Once a person is infected with TB, the likelihood of developing disease is greater if the person:
Classic symptoms for pulmonary TB include:
Other TB symptoms can also include:
Bottom line
In the emergency department, maintain a strong clinical awareness for tuberculosis for someone with night sweats, cough, chest pain, and intermittent fever lasting for 3 weeks or longer. In particular, consider this diagnosis for someone from a low- or middle-income country or if he or she is HIV positive.
Next time: Testing and treatment for TB.
Also see prior pearls on TB: Multidrug Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR TB) (1/21/2015), Tuberculosis (1/7/2015); XDR Tuberculosis (8/14/2013); PPD positive? Good news... (2/6/2013)
With a new academic year starting, it is important to review some details on central lines
Complications of central lines (TLC-Triple lumen catheter)
Avoiding infections: hand hygiene, chlorhexidine skin antisepsis, maximal barrier precautions, remove unnecessary lines, full gown and glove w/ mask and sterile technique.
Catheter position: 16-18cm for Right sided and 18-20 cm for Left sided. But can vary based on height, neck length, and catheter insertion site. Approximate length based on these factors.
Flow rates: Remember that putting in a central line does not necessarily improve your flow rates in resuscitation
16 G IV: 220 ml/min
Cordis/introducer sheath: 126 ml/min
18 G IV: 105 ml/min
16G distal port TLC: 69 ml/min
Ports (Can vary with type of catheter)
1. Distal exit port (16G)
2. Middle port (18G)
3. Proximal port (18G)
Arterial puncture: hold pressure for 5 mins and evaluate for hematoma formation (harder for subclavian approach)
Arterial cannulation: Has decreased due to ultrasound use but if you do cannulate an arterial site, don’t panic. Don’t remove the line. You can check a blood gas or arterial pulse waveform to confirm placement. Call vascular surgery for open removal and repair or endovascular repair. You could potentially remove a femoral arterial line and hold pressure but seek vascular advice regarding possible closure devices to use after removal.
25 year-old male falls from 10 feet and lands on his right shoulder, what's the diagnosis?
Giant Cell Myocarditis
Giant cell myocarditis (GCM) is an infrequent, but often fatal form of acute myocarditis that has been shown to respond to cyclosporine-based immunosuppressive therapy
Even after heart transplantation GCM recurrence in the donor heart has been cited as high as 20% to 25%
Patients are surviving longer without transplantation because of efficacious medical therapy
A multi-institutional prospective data set revealed several novel findings in GCM:
· Long-term immunosuppression appears capable of lengthening transplantation-free survival ~19 years beyond initial diagnosis
· Cessation and/or reduction of immunosuppression are associated with GCM recurrence
· Patients who developed cyclosporine associate renal failure were able to be switched to a sirolimus-based regimen
Colles fracture
Almost 90% of distal radius fractures
Mechanism: Fall on the outstretched, hyperextended, radially deviated wrist with the forearm in pronation
Often seen in older patients and in those with osteoporosis
Distal radius fracture with dorsal angulation/displacement and/or radial shortening. "Dinner fork deformity"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colles'_fracture#/media/File:Colles_fracture.JPG
Smith fracture (aka reverse Colles fracture)
Mechanism: Fall on the outstretched, flexed, radially deviated wrist with the forearm in pronation
Usually younger patients with high energy mechanism
Distal radius fracture with volar angulation or volar displacement. "Garden spade" deformity
Often unstable requiring ORIF
http://www.radiologyassistant.nl/data/bin/w440/a50979780ec887_Smith'-tek.jpg
Radial styloid fracture aka Chauffeur fracture
Fall causing compression of scaphoid against the styloid with wrist in dorsiflexion and ulnar deviation
Often associated with intercarpal ligamentous injuries (i.e., scapholunate dissociation, perilunate dislocation)
Often requires ORIF
http://images.radiopaedia.org/images/611818/cc52cce7bcfd8c905bcc7b5d2b6a65.jpg
30 year-old patient presents with palpitations. A parasternal long-axis clip is shown below along with the rhythm strip. What's the diagnosis and what drug was given during this clip?
Steroid Use in the treatment of Acute Sciatica
Have you used oral steroids in the treatment of your patient with acute sciatica thought to be secondary to a herniated disk.
Well a recent randomizaed, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial from 2008 to 2013 in a large integrated health care system in Northern California enrolled 269 patients to look at whether steroids improved pain or function. The intervention arm (twice as large as placebo arm) received a tapering 15-day course of oral prednisone (5 days each of 60 mg, 40 mg, and 20 mg; total cumulative dose = 600 mg; n = 181).
In the end there were no differences in surgery rates at 52-week follow-up, and the steroid arm had a modest improvement in function but no improvement in pain. There were also more adverse events at 3-week follow-up in the prednisone group than in the placebo group.
Conclusion: Giving steroids for acute sciatica does not appear to improve the patients pain, only has a modest improvement in function, and was associated with more adverse events. Put another way there was minimal benefit and more harm.
You can check out the full article at http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?doi=10.1001/jama.2015.4468
Sodium valproate (VPA) had been studied and found to be effective in the adult population for migraines, but not in the pediatric population. This article was a small (12 patient) retrospective study of pediatric migraine patients looking at pain scores before and after VPA administration. Prior to VPA, patients received NSAIDs, dopamine antagonists, IV fluids and narcotics. Mean pain reduction prior to VPA was 17%. After VPA, pain scores were reduced by an additional 36%.
