The American journal of emergency medicine
-
Lactate is an easily measurable laboratory parameter that is considered a potentially useful prognostic marker for determining risk in emergency department patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of serum lactate in the patients who were admitted to the emergency department at the time of admission. ⋯ In conclusion, we believe in the light of the findings of our study that the serum lactate level is effective and reliable in the prediction of mortality in patients who present to emergency department for any reason. However, prospective studies with broader patient groups are required in this subject.
-
Case Reports
Probable parenteral and oral contrast-induced Steven Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis: A case report.
We report a case of contrast-inducted Steven Johnson Syndrome (SJS)/Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN). The patient had received parenteral iopamidol and oral iohexol five days prior. The patient's chief complaint at the Emergency Department (ED) presentation was shortness of breath and blisters throughout body. ⋯ Complete metabolic panel was normal with serum creatinine 0.77 mg/dL. The patient was initially treated with diphenhydramine, methylprednisolone, ondansetron, sodium chloride, lorazepam and oxycodone-acetaminophen. Hemotology/Oncology and Trauma/Burn consult identified possible SJS/TEN and the patient was transferred to another facility for dermatologic/burn follow up.
-
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a rapidly escalating pandemic that has spread to many parts of the world. As such, there is urgent need to identify predictors of clinical severity in COVID-19 patients. This may be useful for early identification of patients who may require life-saving interventions. In this meta-analysis, we evaluated whether malignancies are associated with a significantly enhanced odds of COVID-19 severity and mortality. ⋯ Malignancies were significantly associated with a 2-fold increase in the odds of developing severe COVID-19 disease, as well as mortality. Larger studies are needed to corroborate these findings. These patients should be closely monitored for any signs of unfavorable disease progression.