Cimetidine — antacid combination as premedication for elective Caesarean section

The effect of premedication with an oral antacid (magnesium trisilicate), oral cimetidine or a combination of both was studied in 80 patients undergoing elective Caesarean section. Twenty patients served as untreated controls. Seventy per cent of the patients were in the high risk range for acid aspiration Pneumonitis (pH < 2.5 plus gastric coment volume > 25 ml). Antacid therapy was effective in raising pH but the gastric volume remained high in 50 per cent of the patients. Cimetidine was effective in decreasing gastric volume and raising pH but the pH was still <2.5 in two patients. None of the patients given the cimetidine-antacid combination were in the high risk range for acid aspiration Pneumonitis. The combination of an oral dose of Cimetidine 400 mg, three to four hours before the operation followed by 20 ml of magnesium trisilicate one hour preoperatively proved to be the most efficacious regimen for prophylaxsis against Mendelson’s syndrome in elective Caesarean section. Recent reports have suggested that non-particulate antacids (e.g., sodium citrate) may be preferable to particulate antacids such as magnesium trisilicate.     

Myiasis in Kuwait: nosocomial infections caused by lucilia sericata and Megaselia scalaris

Myiasis, the invasion of live human tissue by larvae of Diptera, is reported in the nasopharynx and a leg wound in two patients who were hospitalized for more than 72 hours in Mubarak Al-Kabeer Teaching Hospital in Kuwait City, Kuwait. On the fourth and fifth days after a 10-year-old Kuwaiti boy was admitted to the hospital intensive care unit in a bloodied and comatose state following a traffic accident, 'worms' that came out of his nostrils were fixed, cleared, and identified as second and third instar of Lucilia sericata (Diptera: Calliphoridae). After 14 days, 'worms' were seen in the original dressing of a 35-year-old Iranian man admitted to the Orthopedic Unit of the hospital with multiple lacerations and fractures. The larvae, in various stages of development, were identified as those of Megaselia scalaris (Diptera: Phoridae). Since the presence of larvae in both patients was recorded after a stay of at least 3-4 days in the hospital, by definition, these infestations are considered nosocomial.     

Cheesy material on macroscopic on-site evaluation after endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle biopsy: Don't miss the tuberculosis

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle biopsy (EUS-FNB) is an excellent investigation to diagnose pancreatic lesions and has shown high accuracy for its use in pathologic diagnosis. Recently, macroscopic on-site evaluation (MOSE) performed by an endoscopist was introduced as an alternative to rapid on-site cytologic evaluation to increase the diagnostic yield of EUS-FNB. The MOSE of the biopsy can estimate the adequacy of the sample directly by the macroscopic evaluation of the core tissue obtained from EUS-FNB. Isolated pancreatic tuberculosis is extremely rare and difficult to diagnose because of its non-specific signs and symptoms. Therefore, this challenging diagnosis is based on endoscopy, imaging, and the bacteriological and histological examination of tissue biopsies. This uncommon presentation of tuberculosis can be revealed as pancreatic mass mimicking cancer. EUS-FNB can be very useful in providing a valuable histopathological diagnosis. A calcified lesion with a cheesy core in MOSE must be suggestive of tuberculosis, leading to the request of the GeneXpert, which can detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis deoxyribonucleic acid and resistance to rifampicin. A decent diagnostic strategy is crucial to prevent unnecessary surgical resection and to supply conservative management with antitubercular therapy.     

The FOUR Score Predicts Mortality,Endotracheal Intubation and ICU Length of Stay After Traumatic Brain Injury

Background

The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) is the most widely accepted scale for assessing levels of consciousness, clinical status, as well as prognosis of traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients. The Full Outline of UnResponsiveness (FOUR) score is a new coma scale developed addressing the limitations of the GCS. The aim of this prospective cohort study was to compare the performance of the FOUR score vs. the GCS in predicting TBI outcomes.

Methods

From April to July 2011, 60 consecutive adult patients with TBI admitted to the Alexandria Main University Hospital intensive care units (ICU) were enrolled in the study. GCS and FOUR score were documented on arrival to emergency room. Outcomes were in-hospital mortality, unfavorable outcome [Glasgow outcome scale extended (GOSE) 1–4], endotracheal intubation, and ICU length of stay (LOS).

Results

Fifteen (25 %) patients died and 35 (58 %) had unfavorable outcome. When predicting mortality, the FOUR score showed significantly higher area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) than the GCS score (0.850 vs. 0.796, p = 0.025). The FOUR score and the GCS score were not different in predicting unfavorable outcome (AUC 0.813 vs. 0.779, p = 0.136) and endotracheal intubation (AUC 0.961 vs. 0.982, p = 0.06). Both scores were good predictors of ICU LOS (r ² = 0.40 [FOUR score] vs. 0.41 [GCS score]).

Conclusions

The FOUR score was superior to the GCS in predicting in-hospital mortality in TBI patients. There was no difference between both scores in predicting unfavorable outcome, endotracheal intubation, and ICU LOS.