Internal and emergency medicine
-
The most relevant manifestation of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is interstitial pneumonia. Several lung ultrasound (US) protocols for pneumonia diagnosis are used in clinical practice, but none has been proposed for COVID-19 patients' screening in the emergency department. We adopted a simplified 6-scan lung US protocol for COVID-19 pneumonia diagnosis (LUSCOP) and compared its sensitivity with high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) in patients suspected for COVID-19, presenting to one Emergency Department from February 21st to March 15th, 2020, during the outbreak burst in northern Italy. ⋯ LUSCOP Protocol was consistent with HRCT in correctly screening 130 out of the 131 COVID-19 pneumonia cases (99.2%). In one case COVID-19 pneumonia was excluded by both HRCT and lung US. LUSCOP protocol showed optimal sensitivity and can be proposed as a simple screening tool for COVID-19 pneumonia diagnosis in the context of outbreak burst areas where prompt isolation of suspected patients is crucial for patients' and operators' safety.
-
The association of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol lowering with outcomes in embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS) patients is unclear. In these patients we aimed to assess the effect of statin on stroke recurrence, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and death rates. Consecutive ESUS patients in the Athens Stroke Registry were prospectively followed-up to 10 years for stroke recurrence, MACE, and death. ⋯ Patients who were discharged on statin had lower rates of stroke recurrence (3.58 vs. 7.23/100 patient-years, HR: 0.48; 95% CI 0.26-0.90), MACE (4.98 vs. 9.89/100 patient-years, HR: 0.49; 95% CI 0.29-0.85), and death (3.93 vs. 8.21/100 patient-years, HR: 0.50; 95% CI: 0.28-0.89). In the multivariate analysis, statin treatment at discharge was an independent predictor of stroke recurrence (adjusted HR: 0.48; 95% CI 0.26-0.91), MACE (adjusted HR: 0.48; 95% CI 0.28-0.82), and death (adjusted HR: 0.50; 95% CI 0.27-0.93). Patients with ESUS discharged on statins have lower rates of stroke recurrence, MACE, and death compared to those not receiving statin therapy.
-
The Covid-19 pandemic affected large part of Italy since February 2020; we, therefore, aimed to assess the impact of 2020 SARS-CoV-2 outbreak on telemedicine management of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Italy. We analyzed data from three telemedicine dispatch centers, one located in Genoa, serving private clients (pharmacies, general practitioners), one in Brescia, serving pharmacies, and one in Bari, serving regional public STEMI network and emergency medical service in Apulia (4 million inhabitants). Demographic data and principal electrocardiogram diagnosis were collected and analyzed. ⋯ Male/female ratio remained substantially unchanged. A dramatic reduction of telemedicine access for CVD was observed during Covid-19 outbreak in March 2020 in Italy. The reduction was substantially consistent for all electrocardiogram findings, ACS, other acute CVD and normal.
-
While there have been many articles published on managing the medical sequelae of opioid use disorder in specific patient populations or settings, there is a dearth of literature on assessing and managing opioid use disorder in the acute hospital setting. In 1975, Fultz and Senay published proposed guidelines on the management of what they called the "hospitalized narcotic addict" Fultz and Senay (Ann Intern Med 82(6):815-818, 1975). ⋯ In our experience, services in the acute inpatient hospital turn to psychiatric consultation teams for recommendations on how to manage these complicated and, sometimes, difficult patients. This article serves to provide the internal medicine physician a foundation of understanding how to address the main issues in hospitalized patients with opioid use disorder on a general medical or surgical floor.
-
Patients admitted with a cervical fracture are twice as likely to die within 30 days of injury than those with a hip fracture. However, guidelines for the management of cervical fractures are less available than for hip fractures. We hypothesise that outcomes may differ between these types of fractures. ⋯ The association of cervical fracture (hip fracture as reference), hospital length of stay (LOS), co-morbidities, age and sex with outcomes (acute delirium, new pressure ulcer, and discharge to residential/nursing care) was assessed by stepwise multivariate logistic regression. Acute delirium without history of dementia was increased with cervical fractures: odds ratio (OR) = 2.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.3-4.7, age ≥ 80 years: OR = 3.5 (95% CI = 1.9-6.4), history of stroke: OR = 1.8 (95% CI = 1.0-3.1) and ischaemic heart disease: OR = 1.9 (95% CI = 1.1-3.6); pressure ulcers was increased with cervical fractures: OR = 10.9 (95% CI = 5.3-22.7), LOS of 2-3 weeks: OR = 3.0 (95% CI = 1.2-7.5) and LOS of ≥ 3 weeks: OR = 4.9, 95% CI = 2.2-11.0; and discharge to residential/nursing care was increased with cervical fractures: OR = 3.2 (95% CI = 1.4-7.0), LOS of ≥ 3 weeks: OR = 4.4 (95% CI = 2.5-7.6), dementia: OR = 2.7 (95% CI = 1.6-4.7), Parkinson's disease: OR = 3.4 (95% CI = 1.3-8.8), and age ≥ 80 years: OR = 2.7 (95% CI = 1.3-5.6). In conclusion, compared with hip fracture, cervical fracture is more likely to associate with acute delirium and pressure ulcers, and for discharge to residency of high level of care, independent of established risk factors.