Curēus
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Sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are a class of oral hypoglycemics that improve glycemic control by increasing the urinary excretion of glucose. They gained widespread popularity because they not only showed improved glycemic control but also had a favorable effect on weight loss, blood pressure, and cardiovascular mortality. One of their rare side effects is euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis (eDKA) although the diagnosis is sometimes difficult to make due to near-normal glucose levels. ⋯ Later on, metabolic acidosis was attributed to eDKA from dapagliflozin, which resolved after the administration of intravenous insulin. Her eDKA developed while she had already stopped dapagliflozin two weeks ago, which makes this an interesting case finding. It is one of those rare cases where dapagliflozin led to a delayed complication of eDKA.
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Case Reports
T1 Erector Spinae Plane Block Catheter As a Novel Treatment Modality for Pancoast Tumor Pain.
Pancoast tumors are non-small cell lung tumors, which can invade the ribs, vertebrae, sympathetic ganglia and brachial plexus. In this study, a patient with right-sided Pancoast tumor presented with intractable chronic pain on the right neck, upper extremity and chest wall. The chronic pain associated with Pancoast tumor, which was difficult to treat with opioids and other medications, was effectively treated with a high-thoracic erector spinae plane block (ESPB). Prolonged analgesia was provided with an ESP catheter to wean the patient from opioids. This case report provides an example where the novel interfacial ESP block can provide pain relief in challenging situations such as lung malignancies involving deeper structures and extensive areas of pain.
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Introduction Our previously reported randomized-controlled-trial of point-of-care ultrasound (PoCUS) for patients with undifferentiated hypotension in the emergency department (ED) showed no survival benefit with PoCUS. Here, we examine the data to see if PoCUS led to changes in the care delivered to patients with cardiogenic and non-cardiogenic shock. Methods A post-hoc analysis was completed on a database of 273 hypotensive ED patients randomized to standard care or PoCUS in six centres in Canada and South Africa. ⋯ Likewise, there were no differences in rates of inotrope administration nor procedures for any of the subcategories of shock between the control group and PoCUS group patients. Conclusion Despite differences in care delivered by subcategory of shock, we did not find any difference in key elements of emergency department care delivered between patients receiving PoCUS and those who did not. This may help explain the previously reported lack of outcome differences between groups.
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Background Formal writing of do not resuscitate (DNR) orders first appeared in the literature in the late 20th century. Recently, providers have also noticed the presence of partial DNR orders while caring for patients. We sought to determine the effect of these orders on the clinical outcomes of the patients. ⋯ The mortality of these patients was significantly higher than other patients possibly due to confusing code orders. Surprisingly, a higher percentage of patients (19%) with a mean age significantly lower (p < 0.001) than discharged patients had inpatient mortality. Conclusion Our study demonstrates the first reported prevalence of partial DNR orders in the general inpatient population and its possible detrimental effects on the patient clinical course. This study offers several opportunities for quality improvement, such as developing prompts for the healthcare team to involve palliative care services more often for such patients.
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Background Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols have been shown to be effective at accelerating return to functioning, reducing length of stay, and reducing cost per encounter at major medical centers and health systems across the United States and Europe. Implementation in the community hospital setting has been considered more challenging due to a wide range of factors. This study demonstrates the successful creation of such a program in a community hospital in central North Carolina. ⋯ Results Overall, a reduction in both average and median length of stay (37% reduction) was observed in the post-ERAS group along with a reduction in 90-day readmission. Statistical analysis confirmed a very strong likelihood (p<.0001) that the ERAS protocol resulted in the observed reduction in the length of stay. Discussion This study demonstrated the feasibility of starting an ERAS program in a community hospital as well as the critical role that anesthesiology leadership can provide. An anesthesiology-led ERAS program offers a solution to some of the challenges faced by community hospitals regarding variable and silo-based care. ERAS pathways aim to implement standardized and coordinated evidence-based care protocols through multidisciplinary teams representing the entirety of the surgical encounter, leading to more consistent and favorable outcomes for patients and hospitals. This model can be applied to many other services in addition to the major urology effort described here.