Journal of the American College of Emergency Physicians open
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J Am Coll Emerg Physicians Open · Jul 2020
Case ReportsDizziness can be an early sole clinical manifestation for COVID-19 infection: A case report.
SARS-CoV-2 is a novel strain of coronavirus that was first identified in Wuhan, China; it has since spread rapidly throughout the world. Most of the patients with COVID-19 present with respiratory symptoms, including cough, nasal symptoms, fever, and shortness of breath. However, several groups have reported that SARS-CoV-2 can infect the central nervous system via the olfactory bulb followed by spread throughout the brain and peripheral nervous system. ⋯ The neurological symptoms associated with COVID-19 are frequently non-specific and may emerge several days before the respiratory symptoms; as such, identification of patients presenting with these subtle and seemingly unremarkable COVID-19 symptoms will be quite difficult. Added to this, numerous countries still limit testing for SARS-COV-2 to patients presenting with fever or respiratory symptoms. Frontline physicians should be aware of early, non-specific symptoms associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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J Am Coll Emerg Physicians Open · Jul 2020
The role of lung ultrasonography in COVID-19 disease management.
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has created unprecedented disruption for global healthcare systems. Offices and emergency departments (EDs) were the first responders to the pandemic, followed by medical wards and intensive care unit (ICUs). Worldwide efforts sprouted to coordinate proper response by increasing surge capacity and optimizing diagnosis and containment. ⋯ We propose 11 lung ultrasound roles for different medical settings during the pandemic, starting from the out-of-hospital setting, where lung ultrasound has ergonomic and infection control advantages. Then we describe how medical wards and ICUs can safely integrate lung ultrasound into COVID-19 care pathways. Finally, we present outpatient use of lung ultrasound to aid follow-up of positive case contacts and of those discharged from the hospital.
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J Am Coll Emerg Physicians Open · Jul 2020
Deep-learning artificial intelligence analysis of clinical variables predicts mortality in COVID-19 patients.
The large number of clinical variables associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection makes it challenging for frontline physicians to effectively triage COVID-19 patients during the pandemic. This study aimed to develop an efficient deep-learning artificial intelligence algorithm to identify top clinical variable predictors and derive a risk stratification score system to help clinicians triage COVID-19 patients. ⋯ Deep-learning prediction model and the resultant risk stratification score may prove useful in clinical decision-making under time-sensitive and resource-constrained environment.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Historically, the prone position was used almost exclusively in the ICU for patients suffering from refractory hypoxemia due to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Amidst the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, however, this technique has been increasingly utilized in settings outside of the ICU, particularly in the emergency department. With emerging evidence that patients diagnosed with COVID-19 who are not intubated and mechanically ventilated may benefit from the prone position, this strategy should not be isolated to only those with critical illness. ⋯ Given present concerns about resource limitations because of the pandemic, prone positioning has especially demonstrable value as a technique to delay or even prevent intubation. Patients who are able to self-prone should be directed into the ''swimmer's position'' and then placed in reverse Trendelenburg position if further oxygenation is needed. If a mechanically ventilated patient is to be placed in the prone position, specific precautions should be taken to ensure the patient's safety and to prevent any unwanted sequelae of prone positioning.