Emergency Medicine Commons^™

An Assessment Of The Diagnostic Value In Syncope Workup: A Retrospective Study, Ashan T. Hatharasinghe, Kayvon Etebar, Ryan Wolsky, Hossein Akhondi, Napatkamon Ayutyanont

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Background

Patients with syncope often undergo costly testing, despite current guidelines and data supporting the contrary.

Objective

To determine the diagnostic value through positivity rate of electrocardiogram (EKG), computed tomography (CT) of the brain, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain, transthoracic echocardiogram, nuclear and pharmacologic cardiac stress test, tilt table test and carotid ultrasound in patients diagnosed with syncope.

Methods

This is a retrospective study of 10,036 adults presenting to the emergency department or hospitalized with a primary diagnosis of syncope at 8 acute care facilities in the southwest United States from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2019. …

The Five Ds Of Outpatient Antibiotic Stewardship For Urinary Tract Infections, Melanie C Goebel, Barbara W Trautner, Larissa Grigoryan

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Urinary tract infections (UTI) are one of the most common indications for antibiotic prescriptions in the outpatient setting. Given rising rates of antibiotic resistance among uropathogens, antibiotic stewardship is critically needed to improve outpatient antibiotic use, including in outpatient clinics (primary care and specialty clinics) and emergency departments. Outpatient clinics are in general a neglected practice area in antibiotic stewardship programs, yet most antibiotic use in the United States is in the outpatient setting. This article provides a comprehensive review of antibiotic stewardship strategies for outpatient UTI in the adult population, with a focus on the "five Ds" of stewardship …

Hyperkalemia Management In The Emergency Department: An Expert Panel Consensus, Zubaid Rafique, Frank Peacock, Terra Armstead, Jason J Bischof, Joanna Hudson, Matthew R Weir, James Neuenschwander

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Hyperkalemia is a common electrolyte abnormality identified in the emergency department (ED) and potentially fatal. However, there is no consensus over the potassium threshold that warrants intervention or its treatment algorithm. Commonly used medications are at best temporizing measures, and the roles of binders are unclear in the emergent setting. As the prevalence of comorbid conditions altering potassium homeostasis rises, hyperkalemia becomes more common, and hence there is a need to standardize management. A panel was assembled to synthesize the available evidence and identify gaps in knowledge in hyperkalemia treatment in the ED. The panel was composed of 7 medical …

Utilization Of Patient-Controlled Analgesia Reduces Length Of Stay Of Sickle Cell Crisis Hospitalizations, Brett M. Prestia, Talha Ramzan, Catherine Waldron, Ameer Malik, Robert M. Pallay, Candace R. Murbach, Mike Flynn, Eric Shaw Phd, Abdullah Kutlar, Daniel Lowe

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Background

Sickle cell crisis hospitalizations are emotionally and financially burdensome to patients and healthcare systems, and processes to decrease the frequency or length of stay of these crises should be examined.

Methods

This is a multicenter retrospective hospital record review of sickle cell crisis hospitalizations as defined by ICD-10 codes (D57.1-4), from January 2016 through December 2019, examining inpatient medication administration records and length of stay among admitted adults aged 18–65 years. Patient controlled analgesia orders using morphine, hydromorphone, fentanyl and/or merperidine at any point of an admission (n=188) were compared to admissions without any patient-controlled analgesia orders (n=2,159). The …

Applying A Mixed-Method Approach To Improve On-The-Job Learning And Job Satisfaction In A Cohort Of Interns At A University Hospital, Amna Subhan Butt, Muhammad Shahzad Shamim, M Asghar Ali, Farah Naz Qamar, Irum Qamar Khan, Swaleha Tariq, Syeda Amrah Hashmi, Quratulain Hafeez, Muhammed Tariq

Section of Gastroenterology

Introduction: Job satisfaction is vital for the optimal functioning of medical practitioners. Herein, we report our experience of restructuring the internship program by identifying the gaps, developing, implementing strategies to overcome gaps and sharing the results of the pre-implementation and post-implementation audit, as an example for establishing a system for improving intern's work-based learning and satisfaction in a university hospital setting.
Methods: Using Kern's six-step instructional model, a prospective mixed-method study was conducted at Aga Khan University Hospital. In phase 1 (2013) gaps were identified by evaluating various aspects of the internship program. Strategies were developed and implemented to overcome …

The Discrepancy Between Admission And Discharge Diagnoses: Underlying Factors And Potential Clinical Outcomes In A Low Socioeconomic Country, Samar Fatima, Sara Shamim, Amna Subhan Butt, Safia Awan, Simra Riffat, Muhammed Tariq

Section of Internal Medicine

Objective: The discrepancy between admission and discharge diagnosis can lead to possible adverse patient outcomes. There are gaps in integrated studies, and less is understood about its characteristics and effects. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the frequency, characteristics, and outcomes of diagnostic discrepancies at admission and discharge.
Design and data sources: This retrospective study reviewed the admitting and discharge diagnoses of adult patients admitted at Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH), Internal Medicine Department between October 2018 and February 2019. The frequency and outcomes of discrepancies in patient diagnoses were noted among Emergency Department (ED) physician versus admitting physician, …

Omental Infarction: A Rare Cause Of Abdominal Pain, Eric Doane, Emily Nguyen

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Omental infarction is a rare cause of acute abdomen pain first described by Eitel in 1899 and has been described in the literature with total numbers ranging from 250-400 worldwide with many coming from individual case reports. Risk factors for developing omental infarction are thought to be obesity, trauma, intense exercise or secondary to torsion from adhesions. Historically, the diagnosis of omental infarction was made incidentally in the operating room for patients with an acute abdomen with a different suspected diagnosis. Most often being appendicitis with associated right lower quadrant abdominal pain and smaller subset from suspected diverticulitis and cholecystitis …

Management Of Refractory Ventricular Fibrillation With Double Sequential Defibrillation, Kaitlyn A. Brown

Capstone Showcase

Patients experiencing cardiac arrest are treated according to ACLS protocols, however current protocols lack recommendations for the treatment of refractory Ventricular Fibrillation which persists after more than 3 cycles of CPR and defibrillation. One potential intervention for these cases that is being researched is the use of simultaneous or sequential activation of two defibrillators. This literature review analyzed the results of several studies to determine if double sequential defibrillation (DSD) is a viable treatment to achieve return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) and improved patient survival. The results of the studies were mixed with some showing positive outcomes, and others showing …

Opioid Use Disorder: The Timeline For Medication Assisted Therapy, Alexander Cristofori

Capstone Showcase

Opioid Use Disorder is patterns of opioid use leading to withdrawal, giving up important life events in order to use opioids, and excessive time spent using opioids, to name a few diagnostic criteria. The clinical progression of the disorder involves periods of acute exacerbation and remission that are cyclic in nature. Treatment is most effective when it includes both pharmacological and psychosocial modalities, referred to as medication assisted therapy (MAT). Three drugs used commonly in MAT-based treatment for OUD from oldest to newest include Methadone, Buprenorphine-naloxone, and Naltrexone. Treatment program models that prioritize total abstinence from the addictive substance attached …

Conference Proceedings: Aurora Scientific Day 2020

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Abstracts published in this supplement were among those presented at the 46th annual Aurora Scientific Day research symposium, held virtually on May 20, 2020. The symposium provides a forum for describing research studies conducted by faculty, fellows, residents, and allied health professionals affiliated with Wisconsin-based Aurora Health Care, a part of the Advocate Aurora Health health system, which publishes the Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews.

Building Focused Cardiac Ultrasound Capacity In A Lower Middle-Income Country: A Single Centre Study To Assess Training Impact, Wangari Siika, Anders Barasa, Benjamin Wachira, David Nekyon, Barbara Karau, Fatimah Juma, Grace Wanjiku, Harun Otieno, Gerald S. Bloomfield, Erik Sloth

Anaesthesiology, East Africa

Background: In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where echocardiography experts are in short supply, training non-cardiologists to perform Focused Cardiac Ultrasound (FoCUS) could minimise diagnostic delays in time-critical emergencies. Despite advocacy for FoCUS training however, opportunities in LMICs are limited, and the impact of existing curricula uncertain. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of FoCUS training based on the Focus Assessed Transthoracic Echocardiography (FATE) curriculum. Our primary objective was to assess knowledge gain. Secondary objectives were to evaluate novice FoCUS image quality, assess inter-rater agreement between expert and novice FoCUS and identify barriers to the establishment …

Low Dose Clenbuterol Toxicity: Case Report And Review Of Literature, Kenneth Lan, Adarsh Saheba, Paul Mathew

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Clenbuterol is a long-acting β-agonist used in oral and inhaled form for asthma treatment outside the U.S. and in veterinary medicine within the U.S. It is also used off-label for anabolic effects worldwide. Toxicity with clenbuterol is increasingly seen in U.S. hospitals, primarily in younger individuals using the drug for competitive athletics or bodybuilding. We present a case of a young patient who presented after an intentional overdose and discuss the relevant literature. Presentations do not correlate with the dosage ingested. Signs and symptoms can range from simple nausea to myocardial ischemia, rhabdomyolysis and cardiogenic shock. Treatment of overdose is …

Novel Use Of Fresh Frozen Plasma In Treating Hereditary Angioedema: A Success Story From Pakistan, Amber Sabeen Ahmed, Sidra Fayyaz

Section of Internal Medicine

Hereditary angioedema (HAE) due to a C1-esterase inhibitor(C1-INH) deficiency is a rare and potentially life-threatening disorder. It is characterized by an episodic and self-limiting increase in vascular permeability. The condition manifests itself as recurrent attacks of swelling in any part of the body. The angioedema can cause the involvement of the respiratory tract, skin, and gastrointestinal tract. Laryngeal involvement can make the condition life-threatening. It does not respond well to conventional angioedema therapy of steroids, adrenaline, and antihistamines. The targeted therapy for HAE consists of plasma-derived or recombinant C1-INH, ecallantide, and icatibant or bradykinin receptor antagonist. In the absence of …

A Fatal Rectus Sheath Hematoma After A Myasthenia Crisis Case Report, Robert G. Michaud, Lesley B. Gordon

Journal of Maine Medical Center

Introduction: Rectus sheath hematomas (RSH) generally occur due to damage to the inferior epigastric artery. They are rare causes of abdominal pain or acute blood loss anemia, but are an important diagnostic consideration because they can be cryptic and are potentially fatal.

Clinical Findings: An 85-year-old female who had been admitted to the hospital for 10 days with a myasthenia crisis was found to be abruptly hypotensive with a tender abdominal mass in the left lower quadrant subtly crossing midline. She was on prophylactic anticoagulation during her hospitalization.

Main diagnosis, therapeutics, interventions, and outcomes: The patient was initially stabilized with …

A Rare Cause Of Pneumoperitoneum, Robert Zusman, George Michael, Anna E. Augustin, My Myers, Dudith Pierre-Victor

West Florida Division GME Research Day 2020

Pneumoperitoneum is most commonly associated with a perforated viscus. When free air is seen on imaging, the most common course of action is an emergent exploratory laparotomy. However, pneumoperitoneum may not always be indicative of a perforated bowel. In the case described below, we will discuss a patient who developed acute peritonitis and pneumoperitoneum after undergoing chest compressions during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and positive pressure mechanical ventilation.

Preparing Healthcare Staff For Cardiac Arrest Codes In The Outpatient Clinical Setting: Code Drill Training Improves Patient Outcomes, Rowan Edwards, Rn

Master's Projects and Capstones

Preparing Healthcare Staff for Cardiac Arrest Codes in the Outpatient Clinical Setting: Code Drill Training Improves Patient Outcomes

The acuity of care provided in outpatient clinical settings across the United States continues to rise. It is estimated that more than 350,000 cardiac arrests occur outside of a hospital each year (AHA, 2019). For the purpose of this clinical nurse leader (CNL)-lead quality improvement project, the relevant focus is directed towards improving the knowledge, physical skills and perceptions of healthcare staff within an urgent care center (UCC) regarding the application of advanced rescue skills. It is important to note that the …

Flecainide Toxicity Resulting In Pacemaker Latency And Intermittent Failure To Capture, John M. Suffredini, Joshua Rutland, Peter Akpunonu, Regan Baum, John Catanzaro, Claude S. Elayi

Emergency Medicine Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND Flecainide is a class Ic antiarrhythmic agent used in the treatment of supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias. It is associated with a potent adverse effect profile; however, the effects of flecainide toxicity in the setting of a pacemaker have not been well described. We describe a unique case of flecainide toxicity secondary to acute kidney injury in the setting of a dual-chamber pacemaker, resulting in ventricular capture latency and intermittent failure to capture.

CASE REPORT The patient was a 91-year-old female with a history of atrial fibrillation maintained in sinus rhythm on flecainide, who presented complaining of purple visual disturbances …

Reducing Substance Use By An Emergency Department Intervention, Matthew D. Marschall Do, Smeet Bhimani Do, Rachel Fieman Md, Derek J. Fikse Do, Paige Roth Lsw, Jennifer Stephens Do, Manuel F. Colón Bs, Kevin Weaver D.O.,Facoep, David M. Richardson Md, Marna R. Greenberg Do, Mph, Facep, Robert D. Cannon Do

Department of Emergency Medicine

No abstract provided.

Improving Safe Handoffs & Transitions From The Ed To Adult Inpatient: A Response To The Ahrq Hospital Patient Safety Culture Survey, Natalie Talbot, Joanne Chapman, Rhonda Diphilippo, Gail Savage, Michele Higgins, Nancijean Goudey, Lori Sweatt, Erin Graydon Baker, Joseph East, Stephen Tyzik, Suneela Nayak, Mark Parker, Ruth Hanselman, Amy Sparks

Operations Transformation

SAFE TRANSITIONS AND PATIENT HANDOFFS IN A LARGE ACUTE CARE HOSPITAL

It is well documented in the literature that ineffective patient handoffs and transitions continues to be an area that can lead to adverse patient safety events so it is an urgent opportunity for a performance improvement plan. At an academic tertiary care medical center, the lowest scoring domain from the FY2017 AHRQ Patient Safety Culture Survey was patient handoffs and transitions.

A team was established consisting of staff from the Emergency Department and a medical/surgical unit to develop a plan for implementing improvement interventions. Their goal was to attain …

Evaluation Of Quality Of Warfarin Therapy By Assessing Patient's Time In Therapeutic Range At A Tertiary Care Hospital In Pakistan, Haris Hakeem, Ammar Zaman Khan, Kashif Aziz, Ayesha Abbasi, Anam Haider, Bushra Moiz, Mohammad Wasay

Section of Neurology

Objective: To assess the time in therapeutic range in patients on warfarin anti-coagulation therapy.

Methods: The retrospective chart review was conducted at Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, and comprised data of patients having undergone anti-coagulation with warfarin from January 2013 to April 2015. To determine the mean time in therapeutic range, Rosendaal method was used. Association of time in therapeutic range with the composite outcome, bleeding and thromboembolic events was also assessed. Percentage of patients with time in therapeutic range <60% was calculated.

Results: There were 92 patients whose median time in therapeutic range was 34.9% (interquartile range: 20.0- 55.7). Overall, 71(77.2%) …

The Association Of Qsofa, Sofa, And Sirs With Mortality In Emergency Department Pneumonia, Ian D. Mecham, Nathan C. Dean, Emily L. Wilson, Al R. Jephson, Michael J. Lanpsa

The University of Louisville Journal of Respiratory Infections

Objective: To determine the association between 30-day mortality with Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS), Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA), and quick SOFA (qSOFA) in emergency department patients with pneumonia. Secondary outcomes included the association of sepsis scores with hospital admission and direct ICU admission.

Methods: This is a secondary analysis of a pneumonia population conducted in the emergency department of 3 tertiary care medical centers and 4 community hospitals. Adult immunocompetent patients diagnosed with pneumonia were included from 3 twelve-month periods spanning December 2009 to October 2015. We generated area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) values for …

Bevacizumab: A Rare Cause Of Nonischemic Cardiomyopathy., Oreoluwa Oladiran, Salik Nazir

Reading Hospital Internal Medicine Residency

Left ventricular dysfunction is a rare side effect of bevacizumab occurring in 2-4% of cases. We report the case of a 68-year-old woman who presented to the emergency department (ED) with sudden onset of shortness of breath, orthopnea, and paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea. She was tachypneic and in respiratory distress. Physical examination revealed jugular venous distention, diffuse expiratory wheeze, and bipedal edema. She had been started on bevacizumab for the treatment of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia 1 month prior to presentation. Laboratory tests revealed BNP of 1697 pg/ml with slightly elevated troponin 0.05 ng/ml. Chest X-ray showed interstitial edema with cardiomegaly, and …

Primary Hyperparathyroidism In Pregnancy: Successful Parathyroidectomy During First Trimester., Niranjan Tachamo, Bidhya Timilsina, Rashmi Dhital, Theresa Lynn, Vasudev Magaji, Ilan Gabriely

Reading Hospital Internal Medicine Residency

Primary hyperparathyroidism in pregnancy can result in significant maternal and fetal complications. When indicated, prompt parathyroidectomy in the early second trimester is considered the treatment of choice. Pregnant patients with primary hyperparathyroidism who have an indication for parathyroidectomy during the first trimester represent a therapeutic challenge. We present the case of a 32-year-old primigravida who presented with symptomatic hypercalcemia from her primary hyperparathyroidism. She remained symptomatic despite aggressive conservative management and underwent parathyroidectomy in her first trimester with excellent outcomes.

Understanding Patient Uncertainty As A Driver Of Emergency Department Utilization: A Concept Mapping Approach, Angela Gerolamo, Phd, Rn, Shannon Doyle, Mph, Rhea E. Powell, Md, Mph, Amanda M.B. Doty, Ms, Marianna Lanoue, Phd, Kristin L. Rising, Md, Mshp

Department of Emergency Medicine Posters

Background and Purpose

• Most previous research regarding factors associated with increased risk of emergency department (ED) use has been done via retrospective review of medical records rather than obtaining patients’ perspectives.
• Recent research identified patient uncertainty related to symptoms as a primary motivator for seeking ED care, and ongoing uncertainty at the time of ED discharge as an unmet need (Rising et al. 2015; Rising, Hudgins, Reigle, Hollander, & Carr 2016).
• While providers have limited ability to influence many factors identified by retrospective medical record review (e.g. financial concerns), patient uncertainty can be addressed by providers directly. To do so …

Triple Valve Infective Endocarditis - A Late Diagnosis, Edme R. Mustafa, Sineta C. Firulescu, Cristina D. Parvanescu, Beatrice A. Chisalau, Georgica C. Tartea, Ion C. Efrem, Andreea L. Barbulescu, Stefan C. Dinescu, Paulina L. Ciurea, Lucretiu Radu, Ananu F. Vreju

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

Behcet's disease is a systemic vasculitis of unknown aetiology with cardiac involvement as well as damage to other organs. Whether the sterile valvular inflammation which occurs in this autoimmune disease predisposes to bacterial adhesion and infective endocarditis is not yet established.

We present the case of a patient with Behcet disease in which transthoracic echocardiography showed mobile masses on the aortic, tricuspid, and mitral valves, leading to multivalvular infective endocarditis diagnosis, possibly in the context of valvular inflammation.

The case presented in this article confirms observation of other studies, namely that ultrasonography plays an important role in the diagnosis and …

Sex Differences In Prevalence Of Emergency Department Patient Substance Use, Robert D. Cannon Do, Gillian A. Beauchamp Md, Paige Roth Lsw, Jennifer Stephens Do, David B. Burmeister Do, Facep, Cpe, David M. Richardson Md, Alanna Balbi Bs, Tennessee Park Ba, Stephen W. Dusza Drph, Marna R. Greenberg Do, Mph, Facep

Department of Emergency Medicine

Purpose

Substance use and misuse is prevalent in emergency department (ED) populations. While the prevalence of substance use and misuse is reported, sex-specific trends in ED populations have not been documented. We set out to determine the sex-specific prevalence of ED patient substance use during this current epidemic.

Methods

A retrospective electronic data abstraction tool, developed for quality-improvement purposes, was used to assess ED visits in 3 hospitals in northeastern Pennsylvania. All patients with ED diagnosis codes for substance use F10.000 through F 19.999 (excluding F17 codes for nicotine) were abstracted for network ED visits at all 3 hospitals. Data …

Diagnostic Effectiveness Of High-Sensitivity Troponins, Sean R. Bodin, Jacqueline Ramirez

Physician Assistant Capstones, 2016 to 2019

Background: Acute myocardial infarctions (AMI) are a leading cause of death in the United States. The key to increasing survivability is early recognition to expedite the proper treatment modalities. In conjunction with the clinical presentation and electrocardiograms, the use of cardiac biomarkers is exponentially important in not only recognizing a cardiac event but also determining the extent of injury. Advancement in laboratory technology has led to the development of high-sensitive troponin (hs-troponin) assays which can detect smaller cardiac troponin serum levels compared to conventional troponin assays. This implies that the use of hs-troponin assays is more effective in the …

Development Of A Health Care Systems Curriculum., Zachary Pruitt, Rahul Mhaskar, Bryan G. Kane Md, Robert D. Barraco Md, Mph, Deborah J Dewaay, Alexander M. Rosenau Do, Kristin A. Bresnan Md, Marna R. Greenberg Do, Mph, Facep

Department of Emergency Medicine

Background: There is currently no gold standard for delivery of systems-based practice in medical education, and it is challenging to incorporate into medical education. Health systems competence requires physicians to understand patient care within the broader health care system and is vital to improving the quality of care clinicians provide. We describe a health systems curriculum that utilizes problem-based learning across 4 years of systems-based practice medical education at a single institution.

Methods: This case study describes the application of a problem-based learning approach to system-based practice medical education. A series of behavioral statements, called entrustable professional activities, was created …

Abnormal Uterine Bleeding Guidelines And Clinical Practice Are Based On Poor Quality Evidence, Mirek Mychajlowycz

Clinical Research in Practice: The Journal of Team Hippocrates

A critical appraisal and clinical application of Munro MG, Mainor N, Basu R, Brisinger M, Barreda L. Oral medroxyprogesterone acetate and combination oral contraceptives for acute uterine bleeding: A randomized controlled trial. Obstet Gynecol. 2006 Oct;108(4):924-929. doi:10.1097/01.AOG.0000238343.62063.22

Hypertensive Crisis, Burden, Management, And Outcome At A Tertiary Care Center In Karachi, Aysha Almas, Ayaz Ghouse, Ahmed Raza Iftikhar, Munawar Khursheed

Department of Medicine

Objectives:. Hypertension, if uncontrolled, can lead to hypertensive crisis. We aim to determine the prevalence of hypertensive crisis, its management, and outcome in patients presenting to a tertiary care center in Karachi.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted at the Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan. Adult inpatients (>18 yrs) presenting to the ER who were known hypertensive and had uncontrolled hypertension were included.
Results. Out of 1336 patients, 28.6% (387) had uncontrolled hypertension. The prevalence of hypertensive crisis among uncontrolled hypertensive was 56.3% (218). Per oral calcium channel blocker; 35.4% (137) and intravenous nitrate; 22.7% (88) …