Critical Care
Mahshid Dehghan; Moloud Balafar; Mahboub Pouraghaei; Mahnaz Ranjkesh; Ali Delkhorrami; Samad Shams Vahdati
Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 13 April 2024
Abstract
Objective: According to the most recent guidelines, the recommended imaging approaches forthe diagnosis of pneumonia are chest X-ray (CXR) and computed tomography (CT) scan. However,there are limitations to these approaches. Lung ultrasound (LUS) has attracted a lot of attentionin intensive care units ...
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Objective: According to the most recent guidelines, the recommended imaging approaches forthe diagnosis of pneumonia are chest X-ray (CXR) and computed tomography (CT) scan. However,there are limitations to these approaches. Lung ultrasound (LUS) has attracted a lot of attentionin intensive care units (ICUs) and emergency departments. Considering the importance of thetimely diagnosis and proper treatment of pneumonia, this study aimed to determine the diagnosticvalue of bedside LUS in comparison to chest CT scans in patients with suspected pneumonia orunspecified CXR findings in the emergency department.Methods: This prospective descriptive-analytic study was conducted in the emergency departmentof Imam Reza hospital. Patients aged 3 years and older with early diagnosis of pneumonia orany unspecified CXR findings with an indication of CT scan were included in the study. LUS wasperformed with a deep curved and linear surface probe. The results obtained from the chestultrasound were compared with the results obtained by CT scan as the diagnostic gold standard.Results: A total of 175 patients were included in this study. According to the results, the sensitivityand specificity of LUS in the diagnosis of subpleural consolidation were 94.1% and 100%,respectively, and the positive predictive value and the negative predictive value were 100% and33.3%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of LUS in diagnosing pleural effusion were69.2% and 100%, respectively, and the positive predictive value and the negative predictive valuewere 100% and 90.7%, respectively. Furthermore, the sensitivity of LUS in diagnosing dynamic airbronchogram was 98%.Conclusion: According to the findings of the present study, in patients suspected of pneumonia,LUS is more sensitive and specific in the diagnosis of pneumonia and is less time-intensive andcostly. Additionally, the ultrasound device is easily portable and accessible. It can be widely used anddoes not have the secondary side effects of ionizing radiation in patients. However, the technician’sskill in performing ultrasound is a matter of importance.
Critical Care
Balaji RajaRam; Sayan Nath; Supreet Kaur; Dinesh Bagaria; Rajeshwari Subramaniam; Vimi Rewari
Volume 9, Issue 1 , January 2023, , Pages 2-3
Abstract
Colonic injuries after blunt trauma abdomen are a rare entity which may sometimes have a delayed presentation. In the intensive care unit (ICU), various interventions like sedation, analgesia and paralysis may confoundclinical examination findings pertaining to abdominal pathology. Computed tomography ...
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Colonic injuries after blunt trauma abdomen are a rare entity which may sometimes have a delayed presentation. In the intensive care unit (ICU), various interventions like sedation, analgesia and paralysis may confoundclinical examination findings pertaining to abdominal pathology. Computed tomography (CT) provides anexcellent diagnostic modality in blunt trauma abdomen but requirement of high ventilatory support and/orvasopressors may preclude safe transfer of patients from ICU to radiology suites. Point of care ultrasound (POCUS)provides an excellent adjunct in diagnosis of hollow viscus perforation and is considered as a reliable alternative toplain radiograph for the diagnosis of pneumoperitoneum
Critical Care
Sadaf Sheikh; Umair Javed
Volume 8, Issue 2 , July 2022, , Pages 159-161
Abstract
Objective: Renal infarction which is a rare phenomenon can be missed on the patient’s work up making its incidence low.Case Presentation: We report a 68-year-old lady with known history of hypertension presented with epigastric pain and vomiting for 4 days. During her stay in the emergency room, ...
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Objective: Renal infarction which is a rare phenomenon can be missed on the patient’s work up making its incidence low.Case Presentation: We report a 68-year-old lady with known history of hypertension presented with epigastric pain and vomiting for 4 days. During her stay in the emergency room, she developed sudden onset of left-sided weakness. Electrocardiogram was normal sinus rhythm. Computed tomography scan of the abdomen showed acute pancreatitis with partial impingement of superior mesenteric vein.Conclusion: Imaging s showed cholelithiasis without evidence of cholecystitis and lower pole right renal infarct likely secondary to obstruction of the right lower renal artery due to calcified plaques at their origin from the aorta. Subsequently, the patient was kept on antiplatelets and planned for discharge uneventfully.
Critical Care
Ataman Köse; Akif Yarkaç; Gülten Bozali; Seyran Bozkurt Babuş; Ersin Altınsoy
Volume 5, Issue 1 , January 2019, , Pages 32-34
Abstract
Anaphylaxis is a serious clinical condition that can affect all ages and many systems (skin, gastrointestinal system, respiratory and cardiovascular systems). There are a few case reports of cardiac and cerebrovascular complications due to the anaphylaxis and/or the treatment with epinephrine. A 69-year-old ...
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Anaphylaxis is a serious clinical condition that can affect all ages and many systems (skin, gastrointestinal system, respiratory and cardiovascular systems). There are a few case reports of cardiac and cerebrovascular complications due to the anaphylaxis and/or the treatment with epinephrine. A 69-year-old female patient with known coronary artery disease (CAD), coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), and diabetes mellitus (DM) was admitted to the emergency department. She was brought to the emergency service with the complaints of shortness of breath, swelling of the tongue and lip, widespread itching and nausea after the use of amoxicillin-clavulonic acid due to soft tissue infection. The patient was considered as having anaphylaxis. 0.5 mg intramuscular (IM) epinephrine was administered. Following the emergency electrocardiography (ECG), the rate was 140/min and the rhythm was evaluated as atrial fibrillation. We present a case of cardiovascular complications and acute ischemia stroke following intramuscular epinephrine administration with anaphylactic diagnosis in this study. As a result, anaphylaxis management is extremely important in elderly patients with preexisting cardiovascular conditions.
Critical Care
Haleh Mousavi; Samad Shams Vahdati; Roshan Fahimi
Volume 3, Issue 2 , July 2017, , Pages 66-67
Abstract
Invagination is a kind of intestine disease in children and it is occurred between 2 upto 14 years old. This is a report of 17 months infant with intussusception due to trauma. The patient had admitted to emergency department because of motor vehicle accident and because of abdominal pain, abdominal ...
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Invagination is a kind of intestine disease in children and it is occurred between 2 upto 14 years old. This is a report of 17 months infant with intussusception due to trauma. The patient had admitted to emergency department because of motor vehicle accident and because of abdominal pain, abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan was done.
Critical Care
Akbar Fadaei Haghi; Rouya Shokri; Samad Shams Vahdati; Farid Eftekhar Milani; Shahrad Tajoddini
Volume 3, Issue 1 , January 2017, , Pages 30-31
Abstract
We report a 54-year-old woman with the history of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) who was admitted to our hospital because of volume overload. Due to long-term use of peripheral veins and arteriovenous fistula (AVF) failure, central venous catheterization was the only choice for hemodialysis. She developed ...
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We report a 54-year-old woman with the history of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) who was admitted to our hospital because of volume overload. Due to long-term use of peripheral veins and arteriovenous fistula (AVF) failure, central venous catheterization was the only choice for hemodialysis. She developed right upper extremiti’s pain and paresis during hemodialysis. A posteroanterior chest x-ray showed the catheter tip was accidently pushed from right internal jugular vein into right subclavian vein during hemodialysis by the dialysis center nurse. Therefore, we believe that the physician should be aware of any changes in the catheter size after insertion. And a chest x-ray should ensure the catheter’s correct position in any patient who develops complications.
Critical Care
Mahesh Chand Meena; Kuldeep Panchal; Mukta Rani
Volume 3, Issue 1 , January 2017, , Pages 34-37
Abstract
Oculocardiac reflex (OCR) sometimes occurs as a result of pressure on the eye or traction of the intraorbital surrounding structures during ophthalmic surgery. This can result in bradycardiac arrhythmia and cardiac arrest. A 45-year-old female was undergoing an elective squint correction surgery of one ...
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Oculocardiac reflex (OCR) sometimes occurs as a result of pressure on the eye or traction of the intraorbital surrounding structures during ophthalmic surgery. This can result in bradycardiac arrhythmia and cardiac arrest. A 45-year-old female was undergoing an elective squint correction surgery of one eye under local anaesthesia in a private hospital in December 2013. The patient was preoperatively examined, investigated and admitted to the hospital one day prior to operation. There was no previous history of any chronic illnesses. The patient collapsed during surgery and declared dead. Doctors attempting strabismus surgery under local anaesthesia should be familiar with this phenomenon.
Critical Care
Hassan Amiri; Ali Bidari; Samad Shams Vahdati; Nilofar Ghodrati; Tayeb Ramim; Masoumeh Emamverdy
Volume 2, Issue 2 , July 2016, , Pages 42-45
Abstract
Objective: There are many communities at risk by a series of air pollution episodes. Tehran is one of the most polluted cities in the world. The presence of one or more air pollutants with a certain concentration in a particular period of time can cause several adverse effects on human and animals’ ...
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Objective: There are many communities at risk by a series of air pollution episodes. Tehran is one of the most polluted cities in the world. The presence of one or more air pollutants with a certain concentration in a particular period of time can cause several adverse effects on human and animals’ well-being that can cause much morbidity. There are several pollutants in the air but some of them can cause severe adverse effects on the lungs and air ways.Methods: In this retrospective cross-sectional study 1958 patients with exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who were admitted in the emergency department (ED) of Rasol Akram hospital between March 2004 and March 2006 entered the study. Data such as number of admissions, air pollution particles (CO, SO2, O3, NO2, PM10) according to available documents were analyzed.Results: From 1958 patients who enrolled in this study, 887 (53.5%) were male and 771 (46.5%) were female. According to statistical analysis, we could observe a significant correlation between the concentration of Co, PM10, So2 with ED admission rate of COPD exacerbation (P: 0.031, 0.008, and 0.001 respectively). The effect of PM10, So2 and Co was more significant respectively in logistic regression on ED admission.Conclusion: There was significant correction between concentrations of air pollutants with number of ED admission for COPD exacerbation.
Critical Care
Maryam Ziaee; Amirhossein Mirafzal
Volume 2, Issue 2 , July 2016, , Pages 50-54
Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the association of base deficit (BD) with mortality in traumatized children, and to assess this association in a subgroup of patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Methods: In this cross-sectional study performed prospectively on a convenience sample of patients ...
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Objective: To evaluate the association of base deficit (BD) with mortality in traumatized children, and to assess this association in a subgroup of patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Methods: In this cross-sectional study performed prospectively on a convenience sample of patients under 16 years of age with trauma presenting to an academic level ІІ trauma center, we obtained venous BD values initially and followed the patients for in-hospital mortality. Initial vital signs were measured and injury severity score (ISS), randomized trauma score (RTS), and pediatric trauma score (PTS) were calculated. Results: A total of 102 patients were included, with 48 patients diagnosed with TBI. Nine patients (8.8%) died during admission, of which 6 were diagnosed with TBI. Based on the univariate analysis, BD was associated with mortality in the whole group (P = 0.01), but not in the TBI subgroup (P = 0.08). In multivariable analysis, RTS was the only variable independently associated with mortality (P = 0.001, odds ratio [OR] = 0.197). Linear regression model showed that BD was predictive of ISS, RTS, and PTS. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve showed a cutoff point of -7 mmol/L for BD, below which there is a 12 fold increased risk for mortality. Conclusion: BD is a useful parameter in mortality prediction in pediatric trauma like in adult age group, but this predictive role in TBI patients is not supported by our results.
Cardiology
Mahboob Pouraghaei; Behzad Mohammadi; Ali Taghizadeh; Paria Habibollahi; Payman Moharamzadeh
Volume 1, Issue 2 , July 2015, , Pages 44-47
Abstract
Objective: Congestive heart failure (CHF) has become one of the most important health care problems in western countries. This article focuses on the outpatient diagnosis and management of heart failure. We want to compare the outcome of patients who were treated with high dose diuretics in the emergency ...
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Objective: Congestive heart failure (CHF) has become one of the most important health care problems in western countries. This article focuses on the outpatient diagnosis and management of heart failure. We want to compare the outcome of patients who were treated with high dose diuretics in the emergency department (ED) without admission with patients who were admitted to hospital for standard treatment.
Methods: This was a randomized prospective clinical trial study. The patients who came to the ED from March 20, 2008 up to August 20, 2008 were divided into two groups randomly. The length of ED stay in the experimental group was documented. Also, readmission and mortality in 6 months and satisfaction in both groups were taken into consideration. All data were analyzed using SPSS 15.0.
Results: In experimental group, the rate of recurrent admission, expiration, discharge, clinic visit, and clinic admission was 8%, 4%, 29%, 18%, and 0% respectively. On the other hand, in control group it was 16%, 40%, 18%, 22%, and 2% respectively. Additionally, there was a significant difference between these groups (P = 0.00).
Conclusion: This study is the first regional prospective trial to comprehensively examine the therapeutic management in patients with CHF. This study, comparing the high dose diuretic efficacy in the decreasing of hospital stay and readmission; and decreasing mortality rate with routine therapy, showed that there was a significant difference between these two strategies in the mortality rate, readmission, and length of hospital stay (P = 0.00).