Internal and emergency medicine
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
Development and assessment of scoring model for ICU stay and mortality prediction after emergency admissions in ischemic heart disease: a retrospective study of MIMIC-IV databases.
Ischemic heart disease (IHD) is the leading cause of death and emergency department (ED) admission. We aimed to develop more accurate and straightforward scoring models to optimize the triaging of IHD patients in ED. This was a retrospective study based on the MIMIC-IV database. ⋯ In total cohort, there were 2551 (30%) patients transferred into ICU; the mortality rates were 1% at 3 days, 3% at 7 days, and 7% at 30 days. In the testing cohort, the areas under the curve of scoring models for shorter and longer term outcomes prediction were 0.7551 (95% CI 0.7297-0.7805) for ICU stay, 0.7856 (95% CI 0.7166-0.8545) for 3d-death, 0.7371 (95% CI 0.6665-0.8077) for 7d-death, and 0.7407 (95% CI 0.6972-0.7842) for 30d-death. This newly accurate and parsimonious scoring models present good discriminative performance for predicting the possibility of transferring to ICU, 3d-death, 7d-death, and 30d-death in IHD patients visiting ED.
-
Having a beard is an independent predictor of difficult ventilation by face mask. This study evaluates the efficacy of a novel intra-oral Bag-Valve-Guedel Adaptor (BVGA) in anaesthetized bearded patients. Patients with ASA score 1-2, scheduled for elective surgery, were recruited for this prospective, crossover trial. ⋯ The BVGA was found to be superior to the face mask by EtCO2 across all beard lengths (p ≤ 0.001), but by TV only for the longest beard group (p = 0.009). After securing the BVGA, ventilation was possible without hands in 74% of the cases - clearly impossible with the facemask (p ≤ 0.001). The BVGA is more effective and more convenient than the facemask in anaesthetized bearded patients. A follow-up study is underway to test whether replacing the face mask with the BVGA will improve effectiveness and ease of pre-intubation field ventilation by less-experienced, first responders.
-
Spontaneous resolution is common in patients with classic fever of unknown origin (FUO). Identifying predictors of spontaneous resolution could reduce the usage of unnecessary, invasive tests or empirical therapy, and furthermore reduce patient anxiety. Identify predictors associated with spontaneous resolution of FUO. ⋯ Variables that were associated with spontaneous resolution of FUO on multivariable analysis included: no anemia, no hypoalbuminemia and no pathological FDG uptake on PET-CT. In 17.8% (15/84) of studies, PET-CT yielded false-positive results that led to additional unnecessary, invasive investigation. Patients without anemia or hypoalbuminemia, and those without uptake on PET-CT are more likely to have spontaneous resolution of classical FUO.
-
Observational Study
Delayed mechanical ventilation with prolonged high-flow nasal cannula exposure time as a risk factor for mortality in acute respiratory distress syndrome due to SARS-CoV-2.
In a high proportion of patients, infection by COVID-19 progresses to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), requiring invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) and admission to an intensive care unit (ICU). Other devices, such as a high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC), have been alternatives to IMV in settings with limited resources. This study evaluates whether HFNC exposure time prior to IMV is associated with mortality. ⋯ This study also identified a significant increase in mortality after 36 h in HFNC (46.3%, p: 0.003). In patients with ARDS due to COVID-19, HFNC exposure ≥ 48 h prior to IMV is a factor associated with mortality after controlling multiple confounders. Physiological mechanisms for such an association are need to be defined.
-
Review Meta Analysis
Bleeding and thrombotic events in atrial fibrillation patients with cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Atrial fibrillation (AF) and cancer are frequently coexisting in elderly patients. Pooled metanalytic data on the impact of cancer on clinical outcomes in AF patients are lacking. We performed a systematic review and meta-regression analysis of clinical studies retrieved from Medline (PubMed) and Cochrane (CENTRAL) databases according to PRISMA guidelines. Bleeding endpoints included any, major, gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding and intracranial haemorrhage (ICH). ⋯ Patients with AF and cancer were less likely to suffer from IS/SE (HR 0.91, 95% CI 0.89-0.94). Cancer complicates the clinical history of AF patients, mainly increasing the risk of bleeding. Further analyses according to the type and stage of cancer are necessary to better stratify bleeding risk in these patients.