Characteristics and outcomes of patients treated with airway pressure release ventilation for acute respiratory distress syndrome: A retrospective observational study

BackgroundThe optimal mode of ventilation in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) remains uncertain. Airway pressure release ventilation (APRV) is a recognized treatment for mechanically-ventilated patients with severe hypoxaemia. However, contemporary data on its role as a rescue modality in ARDS is lacking. The goal of this study was to describe the clinical and physiological effects of APRV in patients with established ARDS.MethodsThis retrospective observational study was performed in a 23-bed adult intensive care unit in a tertiary extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) referral centre. Patients with ARDS based on Berlin criteria were included through a prospectively-collected APRV database. Patients receiving APRV for less than six hours were excluded.ResultsFifty patients fulfilled the eligibility criteria. Prior to APRV initiation, median Murray Lung Injury Score was 3.5 (interquartile range (IQR) 2.5–3.9) and PaO₂/FiO₂ was 99 mmHg (IQR 73–137). PaO₂/FiO₂ significantly improved within twenty-four hours post-APRV initiation (ANOVA F(1, 27) = 24.34, P < .005). Two patients (4%) required intercostal catheter insertion for barotrauma. Only one patient (2%) required ECMO after APRV initiation, despite a majority (68%) fulfilling previously established criteria for ECMO at baseline. Hospital mortality rate was 38%.ConclusionsIn patients with ARDS-related refractory hypoxaemia treated with APRV, an early and sustained improvement in oxygenation, low incidence of clinically significant barotrauma and progression to ECMO was observed. The safety and efficacy of APRV requires further consideration.     

Predictors of safe discharge for pediatric drowning patients in the emergency department

Objectives

The purpose of this study is to determine if stable, well-appearing, drowning patients who have normal age-adjusted vital signs and pulse oximetry upon arrival to the emergency department may be safely discharged without a prolonged observation period.

Methylprednisolone pulse therapy rescued life-threatening pulmonary hemorrhage due to idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis

Idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis (IPH) is an extremely rare cause of massive pulmonary hemorrhage in children. During the acute phase, death due to massive alveolar hemorrhage and subsequent severe respiratory failure. We report two cases of IPH children who developed hypoxemic respiratory failure and massive pulmonary hemorrhage. One case of a 10-year-old boy was treated with methylprednisolone pulse therapy (10 mg/kg/d) for the first three days and followed by systemic steroid therapy, he successfully decannulated 10 days later and discharged with a favorable quality of life. Another case of a 4 year-old female child with Down's syndrome diagnosed as IPH for over one year and treated with oral corticosteroids for maintenance therapy. She sudden suffered severe hypoxemia with rapid falls in the hemoglobin level. We applied methylprednisolone pulse therapy (10 mg/kg/d) for three days and other supportive therapies, the girl survived through complicated with oxygen dependence. We suggest that methylprednisolone pulse therapy provides a chance of recovery and survival for patients with IPH at the acute phase, even if accompanied by severe pulmonary hemorrhage.     

A survey of patients with bed bugs in the emergency department

Bed bugs are one of the most important human ectoparasites in the United States, and a growing problem in the emergency department. We evaluated 40 emergency department (ED) patients found with a bed bug. The data show that ED patients with bed bugs are statistically more likely to be male, older, more likely to be admitted to the hospital, have higher triage emergency severity index (ESI) scores, and arrive by ambulance than the general ED patient population (p < 0.05). On average bed bugs were found 108 min after a patient arrived to the ED, after 35% of subjects had already received a blood draw, and after 23% had already received a radiology study; putting other ED patients and staff at risk for acquiring the infestation. We found that 13% and 18% of subjects had wheezing and a papular rash, respectively on physical exam. Of those patients found with a bed bug in the ED, 42% reported having bed bugs at home and 21% reporting having a possible home infestation.     

Metoclopramide induced pheochromocytoma crisis

Metoclopramide (MCP) is a commonly used anti-emetic in the emergency department (ED). Its use is generally well tolerated; although infrequent adverse reactions such as extrapyramidal reactions or tardive dyskinesia are reported. However, many ED providers are not familiar with the potentially life-threatening hypertensive emergency that can be precipitated by MCP administration in patients with pheochromocytoma. A previously healthy 36-year-old woman presented to the ED with headache and nausea. She developed acute hypertensive emergency (acute agitation, worsening headache, chest pain and wide complex tachycardia) when her blood pressure (BP) increased to 223/102 mm Hg (initial BP, 134/86 mm Hg) after receiving intravenous MCP. Her hospital course was complicated by multi-organ injury, including acute respiratory distress syndrome requiring venous-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, non-ST elevation myocardial infarction, cardiogenic shock, acute liver failure, and oliguric kidney injury requiring continuous renal replacement therapy. CT scan showed previously undiagnosed large right adrenal mass (5.9 cm). The diagnosis of pheochromocytoma was confirmed after adrenalectomy. Drug-induced acute pheochromocytoma crisis is a rare event. Early recognition and appropriate blood pressure management with clevidipine, nicardipine, or phentolamine is essential.     

Severe malaria presenting to the ED: A collaborative approach utilizing exchange transfusion and artesunate

We describe the case of a previously healthy 33 year-old male pilot recently arrived to the United States from Africa. The patient presented to our ED febrile and disoriented, with projectile coffee-ground emesis. He was later found to have severe malaria and cerebral parasitemia. Due to the severity of his illness, the patient received the anti-malarial medication Artesunate as well as several exchange transfusions. Within 48 h his parasitic load was reduced from 42% to 0.4%. The following is an account of a collaborative effort that spans the specialties of emergency medicine, infectious disease, and critical care medicine.     

The impact of the improvement in internal medicine consultation process on ED length of stay

Introduction

Although consultations are essential for delivering safe, high-quality care to patients in emergency departments, they contribute to emergency department patient flow problems and overcrowding which is associated with several adverse outcomes, such as increases in patient mortality and poor quality care. This study aimed to investigate how time flow metrics including emergency department length of stay is influenced by changes to the internal medicine consultation policy.

Portable miniaturized extracorporeal membrane oxygenation systems for H1N1-related severe acute respiratory distress syndrome: A case series

Background

Technological advances improved the practice of “modern” extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). In the present report, we describe the experience of a referral ECMO center using portable miniaturized ECMO systems for H1N1-related severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

Methods

An observational study of all patients with H1N1-associated ARDS treated with ECMO in Hospital S. João (Porto, Portugal) between November 2009 and April 2011 was performed. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support was established using either ELS or Cardiohelp systems (Maquet-Cardiopulmonary-AG, Hirrlingen, Germany).

Results

Ten adult patients with severe ARDS secondary to H1N1 infection (Pao₂/fraction of inspired oxygen, 69 mm Hg [56-84]; Murray score, 3.5 [3.5-3.8]) were included, and 60% survived to hospital discharge. Five patients were uneventfully transferred on ECMO from referring hospitals to our center by ambulance. Six patients were treated during the first postpandemic influenza season. All patients were treated with oseltamivir, and 1 received in addition zanamivir. Four patients received corticosteroids. Nosocomial infection was the most common complication (40%). Of the 4 deaths, 2 were caused by hemorrhagic shock; 1, by irreversible multiple organ failure; and 1, by refractory septic shock.

Conclusion

In our experience, ECMO support was a valuable therapeutic option for H1N1-related severe ARDS. The use of portable miniaturized systems allowed urgent rescue of patients from referring hospitals and safe interhospital and intrahospital transport during ECMO support.     

Fulminant adrenergic myocarditis complicated by pulmonary edema,cardiogenic shock and cardiac arrest

Adrenergic myocarditis is an uncommon presentation of pheochromocytoma and extremely rare cause of de novo acute heart failure (AHF). We present a case of a 31-year-old Caucasian woman with a history of hypertension and recurrent occipital headaches who was admitted to the emergency department due to severe de novo AHF presenting as pulmonary edema and cardiogenic shock. During the hospital admission the patient experienced asystolic cardiac arrest and was successfully resuscitated, intubated, and mechanically ventilated. Bedside transthoracic echocardiography revealed severe diffuse left ventricular hypokinesis with ejection fraction (LVEF) of 10%. Coronary angiography disclosed normal epicardial coronary arteries. The diagnosis of fulminant myocarditis was based on clinical, laboratory and imaging findings including cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI) Lake Louise criteria. STIR-cMRI sequences revealed myocardial edema in the lateral, inferior and posterior walls of the left ventricle, whereas T1-weighted early contrast-enhanced sequences showed myocardial hyperemia and capillary leak. An ultrasound and computed tomographic scan of the abdomen disclosed a solid, heterogeneous mass (3.6 × 3.2 × 2.8-cm) in the right suprarenal area. Urinary and plasma catecholamines and metanephrines were markedly elevated. A pheochromocytoma was suspected and laparoscopic resection of the tumor was performed after pharmacological preparation with phenoxybenzamine. The histopathological findings were consistent with pheochromocytoma. Follow-up cMRI showed complete reversal of myocardial edema and hyperemia. At 12-month follow-up, the patient has remained asymptomatic and normotensive with no recurrence of cardiovascular symptoms.     

The Italian ECMO network experience during the 2009 influenza A(H1N1) pandemic: preparation for severe respiratory emergency outbreaks

Purpose

In view of the expected 2009 influenza A(H1N1) pandemic, the Italian Health Authorities set up a national referral network of selected intensive care units (ICU) able to provide advanced respiratory care up to extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We describe the organization and results of the network, known as ECMOnet.

Methods

The network consisted of 14 ICUs with ECMO capability and a national call center. The network was set up to centralize all severe patients to the ECMOnet centers assuring safe transfer. An ad hoc committee defined criteria for both patient transfer and ECMO institutions.

Results

Between August 2009 and March 2010, 153 critically ill patients (53% referred from other hospitals) were admitted to the ECMOnet ICU with suspected H1N1. Sixty patients (48 of the referred patients, 49 with confirmed H1N1 diagnosis) received ECMO according to ECMOnet criteria. All referred patients were successfully transferred to the ECMOnet centers; 28 were transferred while on ECMO. Survival to hospital discharge in patients receiving ECMO was 68%. Survival of patients receiving ECMO within 7?days from the onset of mechanical ventilation was 77%. The length of mechanical ventilation prior to ECMO was an independent predictor of mortality.

Conclusions

A network organization based on preemptive patient centralization allowed a high survival rate and provided effective and safe referral of patients with severe H1N1-suspected ARDS.     

Associations between ventilator settings during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for refractory hypoxemia and outcome in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome: a pooled individual patient data analysis

Purpose

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a rescue therapy for patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The aim of this study was to evaluate associations between ventilatory settings during ECMO for refractory hypoxemia and outcome in ARDS patients.

Methods

In this individual patient data meta-analysis of observational studies in adult ARDS patients receiving ECMO for refractory hypoxemia, a time-dependent frailty model was used to determine which ventilator settings in the first 3 days of ECMO had an independent association with in-hospital mortality.

Results

Nine studies including 545 patients were included. Initiation of ECMO was accompanied by significant decreases in tidal volume size, positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP), plateau pressure, and driving pressure (plateau pressure ? PEEP) levels, and respiratory rate and minute ventilation, and resulted in higher PaO₂/FiO₂, higher arterial pH and lower PaCO₂ levels. Higher age, male gender and lower body mass index were independently associated with mortality. Driving pressure was the only ventilatory parameter during ECMO that showed an independent association with in-hospital mortality [adjusted HR, 1.06 (95 % CI, 1.03–1.10)].

Conclusion

In this series of ARDS patients receiving ECMO for refractory hypoxemia, driving pressure during ECMO was the only ventilator setting that showed an independent association with in-hospital mortality.

     

Consequences of the 48-h rule: A lens into the psychiatric patient flow through an emergency department

Objective

Psychiatric patient boarding in emergency department (ED) is a severe and growing problem. In July 2013, Minnesota implemented a law requiring jailed persons committed to state psychiatric facilities be transferred within 48-h of commitment. This study aims to quantify the effect of this law on a large ED's psychiatric patient flow.

Emergency department septic shock patient mortality with refractory hypotension vs hyperlactatemia: A retrospective cohort study

Background

Our objective was to compare in-hospital mortality among emergency department (ED) patients meeting trial-based criteria for septic shock based upon whether presenting with refractory hypotension (systolic blood pressure < 90 mm Hg after 1 L intravenous fluid bolus) versus hyperlactatemia (initial lactate ≥ 4 mmol/L).

Gestalt for shock and mortality in the emergency department: A prospective study

Objective

The diagnosis of shock in patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) is often challenging. We aimed to compare the accuracy of experienced emergency physician gestalt against Li's pragmatic shock (LiPS) tool for predicting the likelihood of shock in the emergency department, using 30-day mortality as an objective standard.

Metformin-Induced Lactic Acidosis (MILA): Review of current diagnostic paradigm

A new diagnostic paradigm has been proposed to better categorize causes of Metformin-Associated Lactic Acidosis (MALA). The diagnostic criteria defines a link between Metformin and lactic acidosis if lactate is >5 mmol/L, Ph < 7.35 and Metformin assay > 5mg/L. Metformin assays are not readily available in emergency departments including nationwide Veteran’s Affairs Hospitals; thereby making this proposed classification tool difficult to use in today’s clinical practice. We describe a case report of a 45-year-old male, who took twice the amount of Metformin prescribed and presented with Metformin-induced lactic acidosis. According to the new criterion, our case would be classified as “Lactic Acidosis in Metformin-Treated Patients (LAMT).” However, the term LAMT does not distinguish between a septic patient taking Metformin with lactic acidosis, and a patient who ingested toxic amounts of Metformin and has lactic acidosis (in absence of Metformin assay). Our case highlights the importance of medication reconciliation done on arrival to emergency department. Timing and dosing of Metformin in patients who present to the emergency department with lactic acidosis may cinch the diagnosis of Metformin-Induced Lactic Acidosis (MILA) in the absence of a Metformin assay but in the right clinical context.     

Managing cardiac arrest with refractory ventricular fibrillation in the emergency department: Conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation versus extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation

AimRefractory ventricular fibrillation, resistant to conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), is a life threatening rhythm encountered in the emergency department. Although previous reports suggest the use of extracorporeal CPR can improve the clinical outcomes in patients with prolonged cardiac arrest, the effectiveness of this novel strategy for refractory ventricular fibrillation is not known. We aimed to compare the clinical outcomes of patients with refractory ventricular fibrillation managed with conventional CPR or extracorporeal CPR in our institution.MethodThis is a retrospective chart review study from an emergency department in a tertiary referral medical center. We identified 209 patients presenting with cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation between September 2011 and September 2013. Of these, 60 patients were enrolled with ventricular fibrillation refractory to resuscitation for more than 10 min. The clinical outcome of patients with ventricular fibrillation received either conventional CPR, including defibrillation, chest compression, and resuscitative medication (C-CPR, n = 40) or CPR plus extracorporeal CPR (E-CPR, n = 20) were compared.ResultsThe overall survival rate was 35%, and 18.3% of patients were discharged with good neurological function. The mean duration of CPR was longer in the E-CPR group than in the C-CPR group (69.90 ± 49.6 min vs 34.3 ± 17.7 min, p = 0.0001). Patients receiving E-CPR had significantly higher rates of sustained return of spontaneous circulation (95.0% vs 47.5%, p = 0.0009), and good neurological function at discharge (40.0% vs 7.5%, p = 0.0067). The survival rate in the E-CPR group was higher (50% vs 27.5%, p = 0.1512) at discharge and (50% vs 20%, p = 0. 0998) at 1 year after discharge.ConclusionsThe management of refractory ventricular fibrillation in the emergency department remains challenging, as evidenced by an overall survival rate of 35% in this study. Patients with refractory ventricular fibrillation receiving E-CPR had a trend toward higher survival rates and significantly improved neurological outcomes than those receiving C-CPR.     

Efficacy of veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in acute myocardial infarction with cardiogenic shock

AimWe analyzed the results of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) complicated by cardiogenic shock (CS) necessitating extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), and investigated for the associated risk factors for poor clinical outcomes.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 27 patients who required ECMO for AMI associated with CS between April 2006 and July 2010. Mean age was 63.7 ± 11.0 (range: 45–81) years, and there were 16 males (59.3%).ResultsThe mean duration of ECMO support was 30.2 ± 30.1 (range: 1–141) h. Cardiopulmonary resuscitations (CPR) were performed in 21 patients (77.8%) before ECMO initiation. Twenty-two patients (81.5%) were successfully weaned off ECMO, and 16 patients (59.3%) survived to discharge. The 30-day mortality was 37.0% (10/27 patients). Complications developed in 17 patients (63.0%: pneumonia in 10 patients, acute renal failure in 10 patients, massive bleeding in 4 patients, and thromboembolic event in 1 patient). The period between CPR initiation and ECMO commencement was a significant risk factor for ECMO weaning failure. High pre-ECMO serum lactate level was identified as a significant risk factor for poor survival on univariated and multivariated analysis.ConclusionECMO support could improve survival in patients who suffer AMI associated with CS, and early ECMO initiation yields better outcomes (successful ECMO weaning).     

Role of clinical suspicion in pediatric blunt trauma patients with severe mechanisms of injury

Objectives

In adult patients with blunt trauma, severe mechanism of injury leads to routine pan-computed tomography (CT). Due to concerns about the risk of radiation, we sought to determine whether clinical suspicion could identify children requiring radiographic imaging.

Use of radiography and ultrasonography for nasal fracture identification in children under 18 years of age presenting to the ED

Purpose

To compare the diagnostic value of ultrasonography (USG), which is rapid, inexpensive, simple, and does not involve radiation, with that of direct radiography for identifying fractures in the nasal bones of pediatric patients presenting in the emergency department with nasal trauma.