Emergency Medicine Commons^™

Ogilvie's Syndrome, Muhammad Waqas Khan, Sanniya Khan Ghauri, Sara Shamim

Department of Emergency Medicine

Ogilvie's syndrome, also known as 'paralytic ileus of the colon', is characterised by pseudo-obstruction of the large intestine in the absence of any mechanical obstructing component; and presents as a massively distended abdomen. If left untreated, it may lead to bowel perforation or ischemia. Ogilvie's syndrome usually presents as a postsurgical complication, mainly due to the lack and/or restriction of movement coupled with a possible electrolyte imbalance. Here, we present a case of a pre-surgical 63-year lady, having a right hip fracture, who came with complaints of severe abdominal pain and distension for 4 days. Abdominal X-rays showed massively dilated …

Prevalence Of Homelessness Or At-Risk For Homelessness In The Ed Setting, Marna R. Greenberg Do, Mph, Facep, Brett Feldman Pa-C, Osman Z. Abbasi Do, Joshua Enyart Do, Yasir Abunamous Ba, Timothy Batchelor, Emily L. Bennett Bs, Cristina G. Calogero Bs, Kareem S. Elsayed, Rachel F. Ledyard Bs, Mikdat Ulas Bs, Alexis M. Begliomini Ba, Zachary J. Ezrow Bs, Timothy J. Friel Md

Department of Emergency Medicine

No abstract provided.

Lack Of Gender Differences In Prevalence Of Homelessness In The Emergency Department (Poster), Marna R. Greenberg Do, Mph, Facep, Brett Feldman Pa-C, Alexandra M. Craen, Zachary M. Dillon Md, Kenneth Dzike Md, Julie A. Fritzges Do, Jessica L. Glaubman Do, Nathaniel M. Yoder Do, Emily A. Kiernan Do, Shaye M. Glovas, Danielle E. Mustin Bs, Korrinne N. Yurick Bs, Timothy J. Friel Md

Department of Emergency Medicine

No abstract provided.

Trends Of Acute Poisoning: 22 Years Experience From A Tertiary Care Hospital In Karachi, Pakistan., Nadeem Ullah Khan, Uzma Rahim Khan, Asher Feroze, Sajjad Ali Khan, Najia Ali, Kiran Ejaz, Afshan Rahim Khan, Shahnila Nooruddin, Jabeen Fayyaz

Department of Emergency Medicine

Objective: To determine the trends of acute poisoning in terms of frequency, nature of poisoning agent, clinical presentation and its outcome. Methods: The retrospective study was conducted at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, and comprised data of patients who presented with poisoning between January 1989 and December 2010.The patients were randomly selected , and demographic, chemical information, clinical feature, treatment and outcome were analysed using SPSS 16. Results: Of the total hospital admissions during the period, 3,189(0.3%) were cases of poisoning. Of them, medical records of 705(22%) cases were reviewed; 462(65.5%) adult and 243(34.5%) paediatric cases below 16 years …

The Impact Of A Brief Educational Intervention On Provider Practice: Instituting An, Gary Bonfante Do, Alexandra Malenka Rn, Bsn, Robert Zoshak Mba, Bsha

Department of Emergency Medicine

No abstract provided.

Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus Presenting With Diabetic Ketoacidosis (Dka) In A Neonate, Fareed Ahmed, Sayyeda Ghazala Kazi, Waqas Khan

Department of Emergency Medicine

Neonatal diabetes mellitus (NDM) is a rare manifestation with an incidence of one affected individual among 400000 live births. NDM can be divided into Transient (TNDM) and Permanent (PNDM) types. A significant overlap occurs between both groups, to an extent that TNDM cannot be distinguished from PNDM based solely on clinical features. Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (TIDM). DKA at diagnosis is more common in young children near the age of five years. Neonatal DKA is a rare occurrence causing it to be missed in the differential …

Pattern Of Relapse In Paediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia In A Tertiary Care Unit, Emaduddin Siddiqui, Sayyeda Ghazala Kazi, Muhammad Irfan Habib, Khalid Mehmood Ahmed Khan, Nukhba Zia

Department of Emergency Medicine

OBJECTIVE:

To determine the frequency, site and time to relapse from diagnosis, and to see the relationship of relapse with important prognostic factors.

METHODS:

The prospective descriptive observational study was conducted at the National Institute of Child Health, Karachi, June 2005 to May 2007, and comprised newly-diagnosed cases of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Bone marrow aspiration was done on reappearance of blast cells in peripheral smear and cerebrospinal fluid. Detailed report was done each time when intra-thecal chemotherapy was given or there were signs and symptoms suggestive of central nervous system relapse. SPSS 12 was used for data analysis.

RESULTS:

Of …

Frequency And Outcome Of Meningitis In Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Of Pakistan, Amna Jawaid, Surriya Bano, Anwarul Haque, Khubaib Arif

Department of Emergency Medicine

Meningitis is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide in intensive care settings. The aim of this study was to assess the frequency and outcome in children with meningitis through a retrospective chart review done in pediatric intensive care unit of a tertiary care hospital from January 2000 to December 2014. During these 14 years, 64 patients were admitted with meningitis in pediatric intensive care unit. Out of 64, 36 were diagnosed with pyogenic meningitis, 18 patients with viral meningitis, and 10 with tuberculous meningitis. Most complications were observed in the initial 48 hours. Most common presentation was altered …

Control Of Poisoning Through Product Labeling Of Hazardous Chemicals, Nadeem Ullah Khan, Arshad Iqbal, Sadaf Sheikh

Department of Emergency Medicine

No abstract provided.

Impact Of Delay In Admission On The Outcome Of Critically Ill Patients Presenting To The Emergency Department Of A Tertiary Care Hospital From Low Income Country, Badar Afzal Khan, Nishi Shakeel, Emad Uddin Siddiqui, Ghazala Kazi, Irum Qamar Khan, Munawer Khursheed, Asher Feroze, Kiran Ejaz, Sumaiya Tauseeq Khan, Hatem Adel

Department of Emergency Medicine

Objective: To assess the impact of admission delay on the outcome of critical patients.Methods: The retrospective chart review was done at Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, and comprised adult patients visiting the Emergency Department during 2010. Outcome measures assessed were total hospital length of stay, total cost of the visit and in-hospital mortality. Patients admitted within 6 hours of presentation at Emergency Department were defined as non-delayed. Data was analysed using SPSS 19.Results: Of the 49,532 patients reporting at the Emergency Department during the study period, 17,968 (36.3%) were admitted. Of them 2356(13%) were admitted to special or intensive care …

Research Professionals’ Experience And Perspectives On Women’S Participation In Clinical Research, Anita Kurt Phd, Rn, Lauren Semler Ms, Matthew Meyers Bs, Bernadette Gl-Porter Bs, Samantha Myles Bs, Stephen W. Dusza Drph, Jeanne L. Jacoby Md, John C. Smulian Md, Mph

Department of Emergency Medicine

No abstract provided.

Emergency Medicine Resident On Shift Clinical Teaching Efficacy As Measured By Student Evaluation And Self-Reflection Using A Previously Validated Metric, Alan R. Cherney Md, Dawn M. Yenser, Amy B. Smith Phd, Kevin Weaver D.O.,Facoep, Charles C. Worrilow Md, Bryan G. Kane Md

Department of Emergency Medicine

No abstract provided.

Imparting Research Ethics In Emergency Medicine-A Perspective From The Developing World, Shahan Waheed, Muhammad Akbar Baig, Asad Mian

Department of Emergency Medicine

No abstract provided.

Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis With Tentorial Haemorrhagic Infarctions In Combined Proteins Deficiency And Hyperhomocysteinemia Treated With Anticoagulation- Limited Evidence With Good Results: A Case Report, Muhammad Waqas, Muhammad Akbar Baig, Shahan Waheed Aga Khan University, Munawar Khursheed

Department of Emergency Medicine

We are presenting a case of a 40-year-old lady who presented with sudden loss of consciousness. Computed Tomography scan of her brain revealed the presence of blood in her sub-arachnoid space on her right hemisphere, cerebral oedema, and cerebral venous sinus thrombosis later magnetic Resonance Imaging revealed extensive cerebral venous sinuses thrombosis formation associated with supra and infra-tentorial haemorrhages. Elevated levels of plasma homocysteine and deficient levels of protein S. Patient was anticoagulated with warfarin and INR was monitored. She recovered successfully with no complication of anticoagulation observed. The use of anticoagulation had a favourable outcome in our …

Small Bowel Ascaris Infestation: A Diagnostic Challenge, Muhammad Waqas Khan, Sanniya Khan Ghauri

Department of Emergency Medicine

Ascariasis is a common infestation in developing countries where there is poor hygiene. A majority of the cases are asymptomatic, with a few cases presenting with mild abdominal pain and nutritional deficiencies in the long term. Here we present a case of a young boy who presented as a diagnostic dilemma, with signs of acute intestinal obstruction without any supporting radiological evidence. A barium study revealed the presence of low-burden Ascaris infestation that was managed medically.

Community Emergency Medicine: Benefits And Challenges Of Screening For Elder Abuse In The Emergency Department Of A Developing Country, Muhammad Akbar Baig, Asad Mian, Erfaan Hussain, Shahan Waheed

Department of Emergency Medicine

No abstract provided.

Intentional And Unintentional Poisoning In Pakistan: A Pilot Study Using The Emergency Departments Surveillance Project., Nadeem Ullah Khan, Ricardo Pérez-Núñez, Nudrat Shamim, Uzma Rahim Khan, Naureen Naseer, Asher Feroze, Junaid Abdul Razzak, Adnan A. Hyder

Department of Emergency Medicine

Background: Acute poisoning is one of the most common reasons for emergency department visits around the world. In Pakistan, the epidemiological data on poisoning is limited due to an under developed poison information surveillance system. We aim to describe the characteristics associated with intentional and unintentional poisoning in Pakistan presenting to emergency departments.
Methods: The data was extracted from the Pakistan National Emergency Department Surveillance (Pak-NEDS) which was an active surveillance conducted between November 2010 and March 2011. All patients, regardless of age, who presented with poisoning to any of Pakistan's seven major tertiary care centers' emergency departments, were included. …

The Pakistan National Emergency Department Surveillance Study (Pak-Neds): Introducing A Pilot Surveillance, Mohammed Umer Mir, Abdulgafoor M. Bachani, Haseeb Khawaja, Shiraz Qayoom Afridi, Sabir Ali, Muhammad Mujeeb Khan, Seemin Jamali, Fareed Ahmed Sumalani, Adnan A. Hyder, Junaid Abdul Razzak

Department of Emergency Medicine

Background: Evidence-based decision making is essential for appropriate prioritization and service provision by healthcare systems. Despite higher demands, data needs for this practice are not met in many cases in low- and middle-income countries because of underdeveloped sources, among other reasons. Emergency departments (EDs) provide an important channel for such information because of their strategic position within healthcare systems. This paper describes the design and pilot test of a national ED based surveillance system suitable for the Pakistani context.
Methods: The Pakistan National Emergency Department Surveillance Study (Pak-NEDS) was pilot tested in the emergency departments of seven major tertiary healthcare …

Pattern Of Fall Injuries In Pakistan: The Pakistan National Emergency Department Surveillance (Pak-Neds) Study., Jabeen Fayyaz, Shirin Wadhwaniya, Hira Shahzad, Asher Feroze, Nukhba Zia, Mohammed Umer Mir, Uzma Rahim Khan, Sumera Iram, Sabir Ali, Junaid Abdul Razzak, Adnan A. Hyder

Department of Emergency Medicine

Background: We aimed to analyse the frequency and patterns of fall-related injuries presenting to the emergency departments (EDs) across Pakistan.
Methods: Pakistan National Emergency Departments surveillance system collected data from November 2010 to March 2011 on a 24/7 basis using a standardized tool in seven major EDs (five public and two private hospitals) in six major cities of Pakistan. For all patients presenting with fall-related injuries, we analysed data by intent with focus on unintentional falls. Simple frequencies were run for basic patient demographics, mechanism of falls, outcomes of fall injuries, mode of arrival to ED, investigations, and procedures with …

Characteristics Of Chest Pain And Its Acute Management In A Low-Middle Income Country: Analysis Of Emergency Department Surveillance Data From Pakistan, Nino Paichadze, Badar Afzal Khan, Nukhba Zia, Rakshinda Mujeeb, Muhammad Mujeeb Khan, Junaid Ali Razzak

Department of Emergency Medicine

Background:

Chest pain is one of the most frequent causes of emergency department (ED) visits in high-income countries. Little is known about chest pain patients presenting to EDs of low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The objective of this study was to describe the characteristics of chest pain patients presenting to emergency departments (EDs) of Pakistan and to determine the utilization of ED resources in the management of chest pain patients and their outcomes.

Methods:

This study used pilot active surveillance data from seven major EDs in Pakistan. Data were collected on all patients presenting to the EDs of the participating …

How Vital Are The Vital Signs? A Multi-Center Observational Study From Emergency Departments Of Pakistan, Amber Mehmood, Siran He, Waleed Zafar, Mirza Noor Ali Baig, Fareed Ahmed Sumalani, Junaid Razzak

Department of Emergency Medicine

Background: Vital signs play a critical role in prioritizing patients in emergency departments (EDs), and are the foundation of most triage methods and disposition decisions. This study was conducted to determine the frequency of vital signs documentation anytime during emergency department treatment and to explore if abnormal vital signs were associated with the likelihood of admission for a set of common presenting complaints.
Methods: Data were collected over a four-month period from the EDs of seven urban tertiary care hospitals in Pakistan. The variables included age, sex, hospital type (government run vs. private), presenting complaint, ED vital signs, and final …

The Pediatric Disease Spectrum In Emergency Departments Across Pakistan: Data From A Pilot Surveillance System, Huba Atiq, Emaduddin Siddiqui, Surraya Bano, Asher Feroze, Sayyeda Ghazala Kazi, Jabeen Fayyaz, Shivam Gupta, Junaid A. Razzak, Adnan A Hyder, Asad Mian

Department of Emergency Medicine

Background: There is an increasing number of urgently ill and injured children being seen in emergency departments (ED) of developing countries. The pediatric disease burden in EDs across Pakistan is generally unknown. Our main objective was to determine the spectrum of disease and injury among children seen in EDs in Pakistan through a nationwide ED-based surveillance system.
Methods: Through the Pakistan National Emergency Department Surveillance (Pak-NEDS), data were collected from November 2010 to March 2011 in seven major tertiary care centers representing all provinces of Pakistan. These included five public and two private hospitals, with a collective annual census of …

Uncovering The Burden Of Intentional Injuries Among Children And Adolescents In The Emergency Department, Uzma R. Khan, Butool Hisam, Nukhba Zia, Mohammed Umer Mir, Olakunle Alonge, Seemin Jamali, Adnan Hyder, Junaid Abdul Razzak

Department of Emergency Medicine

Introduction: In low- and middle-income countries, injuries are a leading cause of mortality in children. Much work has been done in the context of unintentional injuries but there is limited knowledge about intentional injuries among children. The objective of this paper was to understand the characteristics of children with intentional injuries presenting to emergency departments in Pakistan.
Methods: The data was from the Pakistan National Emergency Departments Surveillance (Pak-NEDS), conducted from November 2010 to March 2011 in seven major emergency departments of Pakistan. Data on 30,937 children under 18 years of age was collected. This paper reports frequency of intentional …

Dead On Arrival In A Low-Income Country: Results From A Multicenter Study In Pakistan, Munawar Khursheed, Junaid Ahmad Bhatti, Fatima Parukh, Asher Feroze, Syed Saad Naeem, Haseeb Khawaja, Junaid Razzak

Department of Emergency Medicine

BACKGROUND:

This study assessed the characteristics of dead on arrival (DOA) patients in Pakistan.

METHODS:

Data about the DOA patients were extracted from Pakistan National Emergency Department Surveillance study (Pak-NEDS). This study recruited all ED patients presenting to seven tertiary care hospitals during a four-month period between November 2010 and March 2011. This study included patients who were declared dead-on-arrival by the ED physician.

RESULTS:

A total of 1,557 DOA patients (7 per 1,000 visits) were included in the Pak-NEDS. Men accounted for two-thirds (64%) of DOA patients. Those aged 20-49 years accounted for about 46% of DOA patients. Nine …

Emergency Care Of Traumatic Brain Injuries In Pakistan: A Multicenter Study, Junaid Ahmad Bhatti, Kent Stevens, Muhammad Umer Mir, Adnan Ali Hyder, Junaid Razzak

Department of Emergency Medicine

Background:

This study assessed factors associated with emergency care outcomes and out-of-pocket treatment costs in traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients in Pakistan.

Methods:

Data on TBI patients were extracted from a four-month surveillance study conducted in the emergency departments (ED) of seven large teaching hospitals. Emergency care access to physicians and imaging facilities were compared with respect to ED outcomes (discharged, admitted or dead). Out-of-pocket treatment costs (in United States dollars [USD]) were compared among different patient strata.

Results:

ED outcomes were available for 1,787 TBI patients. Of them, most were males (79%), aged <25 years (46%) and arrived by ambulances (32%). Nurses or paramedical staff saw almost all patients (95%). Physicians with practice privileges (medical officers, residents or consultants) saw about half (55%) of them. Computerized tomography (CT) scans were performed in two of five patients (40%). Of all, 26% (n = 460) were admitted and 3% died (n = 52). Emergency care factors significantly associated with being admitted or died were arriving by ambulance (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.37, 95% confidence interval (CI) [95%CI] = 1.78-3.16); seen by medical officer/residents (aOR = 2.11; 95%CI = 1.49-2.99); and had CT scan (aOR = 2.93; 95%CI = 2.25-3.83). Out-of-pocket treatment costs at the ED were reported in 803 patients. Average costs were USD 8, (standard deviation [SD] = 23). Costs were twice as high in those arriving in ambulances (USD 20, SD = 49) or who underwent CT scans (USD 16, SD = 37).

Conclusion:

TBI patients' access to ambulance …

Ambulance Use In Pakistan: An Analysis Of Surveillance Data From Emergency Departments In Pakistan., Nukhba Zia, Hira Shahzad, Syed Muhammad Baqir, Shahab Shaukat, Haris Ahmad, Courtland Robinson, Adnan Ali Hyder, Junaid Razzak

Department of Emergency Medicine

Background:

The utilization of ambulances in low- and middle-income countries is limited. The aim of this study was to ascertain frequency of ambulance use and characteristics of patients brought into emergency departments (EDs) through ambulance and non-ambulance modes of transportation.

Methods:

The Pakistan National Emergency Departments Surveillance (Pak-NEDS) was a pilot active surveillance conducted in seven major tertiary-care EDs in six main cities of Pakistan between November 2010 and March 2011. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression was performed to investigate the factors associated with ambulance use.

Results:

Out of 274,436 patients enrolled in Pak-NEDS, the mode of arrival to the …

Pattern Of Presenting Complaints Recorded As Near-Drowning Events In Emergency Departments: A National Surveillance Study From Pakistan., Siran He, Jeffrey C. Lunnen, Nukhba Zia, Uzma Rahim Khan, Khusro Shamim, Adnan Ali Hyder

Department of Emergency Medicine

Background:

Drowning is a heavy burden on the health systems of many countries, including Pakistan. To date, no effective large-scale surveillance has been in place to estimate rates of drowning and near-drowning in Pakistan. The Pakistan National Emergency Department Surveillance (Pak-NEDS) study aimed to fill this gap.

Method:

Patients who presented with a complaint of “near-drowning” were analyzed to explore patterns of true near-drowning (unintentional) and intentional injuries that led to the “near-drowning” complaint. Bivariate analysis was done to establish patterns among patients treated in emergency departments, including socio-demographic information, injury-related information, accompanying injuries, and emergency department resource utilization.

Result: …

Burn Injury Characteristics: Findings From Pakistan National Emergency Department Surveillance Study, Emaduddin Siddiqui, Nukhba Zia, Asher Feroze, Safia Awan, Arifa Liaquat Ali, Junaid Razzak, Adnan Hyder, Asad Latif

Department of Emergency Medicine

Background: Burn injury is an important yet under-researched area in Pakistan. The objective of this study was to determine the characteristics and associated outcomes of burn injury patients presenting to major emergency departments in Pakistan.
Methods: Pakistan National Emergency Department Surveillance (Pak-NEDS) was a pilot active surveillance conducted between November 2010 and March 2011. Information related to patient demographics, mode of arrival, cause of burn injury, and outcomes was analyzed for this paper. Data were entered using Epi Info and analyzed using SPSS v.20. Ethical approval was obtained from all participating sites.
Results: There were 403 burn injury patients in …

Bomb Blast Injuries: An Exploration Of Patient Characteristics And Outcome Using Pakistan National Emergency Departments Surveillance (Pak-Neds) Data., Irum Qamar Khan, Nadeem Ullah Khan, Rubaba Naeem, Salima Kerai, Kate Allen, Nukhba Zia, Sana Shahbaz, Shiraz Qayoom Afridi, Emaduddin Siddiqui, Uzma Rahim Khan, Adnan A. Hyder, Junaid Abdul Razzak

Department of Emergency Medicine

BACKGROUND:

Bomb blast injuries result in premature deaths and burdening of healthcare systems. The objective of this study was to explore the characteristics and outcome of patients presenting to the emergency departments in Pakistan with bomb blast injuries.

METHODS:

Active surveillance was conducted in seven major emergency departments of Pakistan from November 2010-March 2011. All the sites are tertiary care urban centers. All the patients who presented to the hospital's emergency department (ED) following a bomb blast injury as per self-report or the ambulance personnel were included in the study. Frequency of demographics, injury pattern, and outcomes were calculated.

RESULTS: …

Overcrowding In The Emergency Departments: Challenges And Opportunities For Improvement, Muhammad Akbar Baig, Asad Mian, Fatima Najeeb, Hira Shahzad

Department of Emergency Medicine

With the advent of Emergency Medicine, one can observe an increase in the number of Emergency Departments (ED) across the country. However, most EDs struggle due to an overwhelming number of patients. Overcrowding can lead to delays in patient care. For a city like Karachi which is an active disaster zone, preemptive preparedness is required in the face of terror threats and such overcrowding needs to be decreased to a bare minimum. The most frequent causes of prolonged length of stay (LOS) in the ED include non-availability of in-hospital beds, delays in response to subspecialty consultations and escalating medical expenses. …