J Emerg Med
-
Due to the high rate of geriatric patient visits, scoring systems are needed to predict increasing mortality rates. ⋯ The NEWS2 and LDT-EWS were found to be valuable for predicting in-hospital mortality in geriatric patients. The power of the NEWS2 to predict in-hospital mortality increased when used with the LDT-EWS.
-
Case Reports
Invasive Fungus Balls Diagnosed by Point-of-Care Ultrasound in the Emergency Department.
Genitourinary tract fungus balls are a rare complication of urinary tract infections (UTI). They arise from dense aggregations of hyphae that combine with surrounding urothelial cells and debris. Symptoms can progress to urosepsis and systemic dissemination. Unfortunately, fungus balls may remain unrecognized. Even with computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging, fungus balls can be mistaken for malignancies, urinary calculi, or blood clots. ⋯ A 54-year-old man with past medical history of type 2 diabetes mellitus presented to the Emergency Department (ED) reporting urinary retention for one week. He had undergone Foley catheter insertion three separate times for this symptom over the past five weeks. The emergency physicians expected that point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) would show a distended, anechoic bladder. Instead, there were multiple discrete, gravitationally-dependent, circular echogenic masses without posterior acoustic shadowing, floating freely within a mosaic-like background of mixed echogenicity urine. These findings, together with the CT scan subsequently ordered, raised concern for fungus balls. Instead of being discharged with antibiotics for UTI, the patient was admitted for antifungal coverage, with contingency plans for bladder irrigation and antifungal instillation as needed. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: This is the first known case report in which emergency physicians used POCUS to diagnose invasive fungus balls in the ED. POCUS findings led to further CT imaging and specialist consultation that otherwise would not have occurred. Rather than discharge with antibiotics, goal-directed management and appropriate disposition mitigated the risk of systemic decompensation in an immunocompromised patient.
-
Page kidney is a rare condition in which an external compression of the kidney as a result of a hematoma or mass causes renal ischemia and hypertension. In a patient with flank pain, elevated blood pressure, and recent trauma, this condition should be considered. Since this condition was first described in 1939, more than 100 case reports have surfaced. ⋯ We describe the case of a 26-year-old man who presented to the Emergency Department with flank pain, vomiting, and elevated blood pressure. A computed tomography scan of the abdomen and pelvis confirmed the presence of a perinephric hematoma, and the interventional radiology team was consulted to resolve the Page kidney. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Symptoms seen in Page kidney may be similar to other more common diagnoses encountered in the emergency department. It is important to maintain a high suspicion and order imaging studies as needed, especially in the setting of trauma, or a recent procedure in the vicinity of the renal parenchyma.
-
Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a potential complication from traumatic brain injury, with a 30-day mortality rate of 35-52%. Rapid diagnosis allows for earlier treatment, which impacts patient outcomes. A trauma activation (TA) is called when injury severity meets institutional criteria. The patient is immediately roomed, and a multispecialty team is present. A trauma evaluation (TE) occurs when injuries are identified after standard triage processes. ⋯ Diagnosis and treatment times were significantly faster in TA patients than in TE patients. Given the similarities in injury severity between groups, the increased time to treatment may be detrimental for patients. Trauma activations are a resource-heavy process, but TE delays care. These data suggest that an intermediary process may be beneficial.