The American journal of emergency medicine
-
Capivasertib is a new targeted therapy for the treatment of select cases of hormone receptor positive, HER2 negative advanced breast cancer. Hyperglycemia is a known adverse effect of capivasertib with a 16 % incidence rate, however life-threatening hyperglycemia occurs rarely (incidence 0.3 %). We describe a case of severe hyperglycemic hyperosmolar syndrome with serum blood glucose of 1558 mg/dL in an 86 year old female patient presenting to the emergency department 16 days after starting oral capivasertib. ⋯ Her initial presentation was complicated by altered mental status, hypothermia, hypotension, and bradycardia, and she required over a week of intensive care. This case highlights the need for awareness of acute, severe hyperglycemia as a potential adverse effect of capivasertib and similar oncologic agents. Clinicians should ensure at least twice weekly blood glucose monitoring for any degree of capivasertib-induced hyperglycemia, and have high suspicion for this contributing factor in cases of severe hyperglycemia.
-
While use of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) has become widespread in emergency medicine, its adoption and usage among emergency clinicians is variable. In this study, we explored the barriers and facilitators to POCUS use among emergency medicine clinicians in a tertiary care emergency department in the United States by clinical role and perceived usability of POCUS. ⋯ Participants reported that POCUS facilitates patient disposition and clinical supervision enhances its use. Early POCUS education in professional school and continued POCUS training in clinical practice could facilitate POCUS use clinically. Structured POCUS courses and continued medical education programs may provide protected time to learn and practice POCUS. Moreover, accessible and standardized machines in the clinical environment could improve POCUS usage.