Critical Care Commons^™

Transfer Of Patients With St Elevation Myocardial Infarction For Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention During Ordinary & Pandemic Times Position Statement Of The Saudi Arabian Cardiac Intervention Society, Shukri M. Al Saif, Owayed Al Shammeri, Abdullah Alkhushail, Ramzi Almohammadi, Mohamed Kurdi

Journal of the Saudi Heart Association

Primary percutaneous coronary intervention is the most effective therapy in the management of acute ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction. Evidence recommends keeping the period from symptom onset to reperfusion to a minimum in order to preserve left ventricular function, improve outcome, and reduce mortality. The position statement describes the recommendations of the the Saudi Arabian Cardiac Intervention Society for optimal conditions and timing for the acute management of patients presenting with ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction during ordinary and pandemic times.

Sarcoidosis Presenting As Vocal Cord Palsy: An Unusual Presentation And Literature Review, Mohummad Hassan Raza Raja, Muhammad Abdullah Javed, Ali Bin Sarwar Zubairi

Medical College Documents

We report the case of a 60-year-old woman, presenting with left vocal cord paralysis (VCP). Diagnostic evaluation revealed sarcoidosis to be the underlying pathology. Computed tomography (CT) scans exhibited enlarged subcarinal, pretracheal, and prevascular lymph nodes as the possible mechanism of left VCP through compression of the left recurrent laryngeal nerve. Initial treatment with oral prednisolone and azathioprine led to remission of symptoms; however, tapering of dosage led to relapse of cough without any signs of VCP. The dosage of prednisolone was further boosted, leading to complete remission. A review of literature reveals 20 cases have been reported to date, …

Pulling Heart Strings: Quality Improvement Algorithm For Temporary Epicardial Pacing Wire Removal Post Cardiac Surgery, Jessica Norman

Doctors of Nursing Practice (DNP) Final Projects, 2020-current

The placement of temporary epicardial pacing wires (TEPW) is considered standard practice post cardiac surgery and is dependent on the patient’s cardiac function intra-operatively and their electrophysiologic profile after weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass (Reade, 2007; Elmistekawy et al, 2016). Complications associated with TEPW removal include myocardial damage, infection, perforation, tamponade, disruption of anastomoses, ventricular arrythmias, and death (Bojar, 2009; Carroll et al, 1998;Timothy & Rodeman, 2004). Currently there is no standard practice on the removal of TEPW and there is wide variation in removal practices involving patients who are routinely on medications such as dual antiplatelet therapies and systemic anticoagulation. …

Covid Intensive Care Unit Through The Eyes Of Ophthalmologists, Laura Drayer Turner, Dharshana Ramanathan, Sneha Melmane, Geeta Menon

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

The disproportionate impact of COVID on the mortality and morbidity of people of black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds has been recognised and is under investigation. Here we present a different impact: that on the psyche. As three doctors of BAME heritage, we shared an experience of being redeployed from ophthalmology to the COVID Intensive Care Unit. We share our reflections on the experience and lessons learned.

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation For Covid-19 Treatment In A Community Hospital, Daniel I. Loube, Kashif Z. Hassan, Sang H. Lee

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may result in severe acute respiratory disease syndrome (ARDS) and death. For COVID-19 patients failing mechanical ventilation, extra corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has been used with varying efficacy in academic medical centers and quaternary referral centers. We report the successful use of veno-venous (VV) ECMO to treat refractory ARDS due to COVID-19 in a community hospital setting with a survival to discharge rate of 71% over a 3 month period. In a community hospital with adequate resources, VV ECMO can be an effective rescue therapy for selected COVID-19 patients who fail all other available treatments.

Performance Of Lung Ultrasound In The Diagnosis Of Pediatric Pneumonia In Mozambique And Pakistan, Amy Sarah Ginsburg, Jennifer L. Lenahan, Fyezah Jehan, Rubao Bila, Alessandro Lamorte, Jun Hwang, Lola Madrid, Muhammad Imran Nisar, Benazir Baloch, Naila Nadeem

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Introduction: Improved pneumonia diagnostics are needed in low-resource settings (LRS); lung ultrasound (LUS) is a promising diagnostic technology for pneumonia. The objective was to compare LUS versus chest radiograph (CXR), and among LUS interpreters, to compare expert versus limited training with respect to interrater reliability.
Methods: We conducted a prospective, observational study among children with World Health Organization (WHO) Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) chest-indrawing pneumonia at two district hospitals in Mozambique and Pakistan, and assessed LUS and CXR examinations. The primary endpoint was interrater reliability between LUS and CXR interpreters for pneumonia diagnosis among children with WHO IMCI …

Randomised Controlled Trial To Assess The Effectiveness Of Apnoeic Oxygenation In Adults Using Low-Flow Or High-Flow Nasal Cannula With Head Side Elevation Versus Usual Care To Prevent Desaturation During Endotracheal Intubation In The Emergency Department (Apoxed): Study Protocol, Shahan Waheed, Nazir Najeeb Kapadia, Muhammad Faisal Khan, Salima Mansoor Kerai, Ahmed Raheem, Rubaba Naeem

Department of Emergency Medicine

Introduction: Apnoeic oxygenation is a process of delivering continuous oxygen through nasal cannula during direct laryngoscopy. The oxygen that is delivered through these nasal cannulas is either low flow or high flow. Although the effectiveness of apnoeic oxygenation has been shown through systematic reviews and randomised controlled trials, a comparison of high-flow versus low-flow oxygen delivery has not been tested through a superiority study design. In this study we propose to assess the effectiveness of giving low-flow oxygen with head side elevation versus high-flow oxygen with head side elevation against the usual practice of care in which no oxygen is …

Lung Nodule In A Patient With Multiple Myeloma, William C Harding, Mathieu Marcoux, Roberto F Casal, Lara Bashoura, John Stewart, Hans C Lee, Saadia A Faiz

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Risk Factors For Intensive Care Unit Admission And Mortality In Hospitalized Covid-19 Patients, Ahmed Ayaz, Ainan Arshad, Hajra Malik, Haris Ali, Erfan Hussain, Bushra Jamil

Medical College Documents

Background: This study investigated the clinical features and outcome of hospitalized coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients admitted to our quaternary care hospital.
Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, we included all adult patients with COVID-19 infection admitted to a quaternary care hospital in Pakistan from March 1 to April 15, 2020. The extracted variables included demographics, comorbidities, presenting symptoms, laboratory tests and radiological findings during admission. Outcome measures included in-hospital mortality and length of stay.
Results: Sixty-six COVID-19 patients were hospitalized during the study period. Sixty-one percent were male and 39% female; mean age was 50.6±19.1 years. Fever and cough …

Family Presence During Resuscitation, Brittany Whistle

Scholars Week

Background:

Families want more involvement in their loved one’s care than they did just twenty years ago. Especially, in the matter of resuscitation efforts, this involvement remains controversial.

Evidence and Findings:

Based on research, theories, and multiple educated opinions, family presence during resuscitation (FPDR) needs to be implemented in hospitals. Theories by Kolcaba and Helvie demonstrate a need for comfort and positive energy around patients to enhance the healing process. Evidence has shown multiple benefits of FPDR. The patient receives a holistic approach of care, the family gains closure and feeling of participation of care, and provides a plan for …

Acute Skeletal Muscle Wasting And Dysfunction Predict Physical Disability At Hospital Discharge In Patients With Critical Illness, Kirby P. Mayer, Melissa L. Thompson Bastin, Ashley A. Montgomery-Yates, Amy M. Pastva, Esther E. Dupont-Versteegden, Selina M. Parry, Peter E. Morris

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Patients surviving critical illness develop muscle weakness and impairments in physical function; however, the relationship between early skeletal muscle alterations and physical function at hospital discharge remains unclear. The primary purpose of this study was to determine whether changes in muscle size, strength and power assessed in the intensive care unit (ICU) predict physical function at hospital discharge.

METHODS: Study design is a single-center, prospective, observational study in patients admitted to the medicine or cardiothoracic ICU with diagnosis of sepsis or acute respiratory failure. Rectus femoris (RF) and tibialis anterior (TA) muscle ultrasound images were obtained day one of …

Tough Decisions During The Covid 19 Pandemic: A Frail Latino Patient, Irma Huayanay, Stephanie Luu

School of Medicine Publications

The pandemic of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) had overwhelmed the healthcare system worldwide with multiple ethical dilemmas. Several tools have been used to assess risk factors in these patients. One of them, the Clinical Frailty scale, has shown good correlation between the patient functional status and hospital stay with overall mortality. We present a case were the Clinical Frailty Scale was used to assess patient management and goals of care.

Anesthetic Use In Status Epilepticus: A Concise Review, Furkan M. Yilmaz, Lauren A. Igneri, Yasir A. Yilmaz, Evren Burakgazi-Dalkilic

Cooper Rowan Medical Journal

The purpose of this review is to summarize the recent literature focusing on intravenous (IV) administration of commonly used anesthetics, including midazolam, pentobarbital/ thiopental, propofol, and ketamine in the treatment of status epilepticus (SE). Anesthetics should be reserved as third-line therapy for the treatment of SE when benzodiazepines and other second-line agents fail to terminate the seizure. We have reviewed the literature related to the treatment of status epilepticus, refractory status epilepticus, super-refractory status epilepticus, anesthetics, midazolam, pentobarbital/thiopental, propofol, and ketamine. This paper focuses on the pharmacology, dosages, major side effects, and clinical use of IV anesthetics in the treatment …

Decluttering, Carolina Ciacci, Ornella Piazza

Translational Medicine @ UniSa

our point of view on the COVID-19 pandemic in a confessional style.

Saving Limited Resources During Covid-19 Pandemic, Ornella Piazza

Translational Medicine @ UniSa

An epidemic is not only a disease but a social crisis.

Accuracy Of Rn Visual Quantification Of Emesis Volumes In The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Stephen Stoever

Seton Hall University DNP Final Projects

An important component of nursing assessment of feeding tolerance in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for both low-risk and high-risk babies, is the quantification of emesis volumes. While some nurses attempt to weigh the items saturated in emesis in order to quantify volume loss (QEV), there is no or limited consistency in this practice across nurses in this unit. Rather, volumes are “best-guessed” or estimated (EEV) and reported to the practitioner for decision-making. Often feed advances are paused or limited due to perceived feeding intolerance connected to emesis events in neonates.

For this project, 158 NICU nurses at a …

Transcutaneous Energy Transmission: Can We Do It Now?, Yuriy Pya

The VAD Journal

The percutaneous driveline used in contemporary LVADs presents a continuous risk of infection for the duration of support. Minimizing infection in durable mechanical circulatory support systems requires total implantation of all components and energy transfer by means other than percutaneous drivelines. A novel coplanar energy transfer (CET) system, similar to the original transcutaneous energy transfer (TET) design, is unique by incorporating two large rings with coil-within-the-coil topology to ensure strong resonance power. The CET system consists of an internal integrated controller, a battery coupled with an internal thoracic coil ring, and the LVAD pump. External equipment includes a power transmission …

Physical Activity After Delivery: A Feasibility Study, Antonio Gonzalez Fiol, Md, Geoffrey Ho, Mbbs, Dongchen Li, Md, Richard Amdur, Phd, Chapman Wei, Md, Homa K. Ahmadzia, Md, Marianne David, Md, Christopher Jackson, Md, Jeffrey S. Berger, Md, Mba

Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine Faculty Publications

Background: Early mobility is one of the main goals of the enhanced recovery after cesarean delivery, yet it is rarely objectively measured. Benefits related to this goal include mechanical prevention of deep venous thrombosis and early discharge.

Methods: We conducted a multi-center prospective study in which an activity tracker was utilized to measure the steps taken by patients after delivery. The primary outcome was steps taken after vaginal or cesarean delivery. Secondary outcomes was factors affecting ambulation (e.g pain/satisfaction with pain management and mode of delivery).

Results: Data from 50 postpartum patients were analyzed. Vaginal delivery patients took more cumulative …

Irrigation For Cerumen Removal Causing Meningitis – Case Report, Steven Tenny, Pashayar Lookian, Andre Wakim, Daniel Surdell

Graduate Medical Education Research Journal

Introduction: Cerumen impaction is a common problem seen in primary care clinics. There are a variety of methods to deal with impacted cerumen including water irrigation but meningitis after water irrigation cerumen removal has not been previously reported.

Methods: We describe the case of a 59-year-old female with otitis media who developed meningitis with empyema after water-jet irrigation for impacted cerumen.

Results: Our patient presented 24-hours after water-jet irrigation for impacted cerumen with worsening headaches. Workup included positive CSF cultures and empyema on MRI consistent with meningitis. She also had ear drainage from the treated ear which was positive for …

Complex Reconstruction After Extreme Fournier’S Gangrene; A Case Report, Serban Dumitrache, Leonida A. Goman, Raluca Dutu, Raluca Capatina, Carmen Giuglea, Dan M. Enescu

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

In this article we present a severe case of Fournier's gangrene (FG) that affected a 64-year-old male patient, with no other known comorbidities. FG is a type of necrotizing fasciitis of the perineal and genital regions, that affects mostly males in the 5th-7th decades, with mortality rates that reach 70%. The infection usually advances through the superficial fascial layers of the perineum and abdomen and affects the skin. In our case the infection also affected the spermatic fasciae and advanced in the abdominal and pelvic cavities, abdominal muscles, and surrounding soft tissues. Subsequent debridement left the patient with large soft …