The emergence of parvovirus B19 as a pathogen in acute encephalitis syndrome.

Despite scarcity of data, in recent years, human parvovirus B19 (PVB19) has been emerging as an important pathogen in acute encephalitis syndrome (AES). But, PVB19 virus is mostly looked for only after the exclusion of other common pathogens implicated in AES. Hence, this study was conducted to correlate clinical, radiological, and sequencing data to establish the crucial role of PVB19 in AES. Cerebrospinal fluid and/or serum samples were collected from AES patients as per WHO criteria and tested by ELISA, real-time PCR and bacterial culture sensitivity for various pathogens. PVB19 positive samples were subjected to sequencing. PVB19 attributed to 5% of total AES cases in the present study with fatalities in two of eight cases. Two isolates of PVB19 belonged to Genotype 1 A whereas one belonged to Genotype 3B. On multivariate analysis of predictive symptoms of PVB19 AES cases, blurring of vision (odds ratio [OR] 20.67; p = 0.001) was found to be significant independent predictor of PVB19 AES. Six of eight patients (two encephalitis specific and four nonspecific) had abnormal radiological findings. Hence, being an emerging viral pathogen, PVB19 should be included in the diagnostic algorithm of AES for prompt diagnosis and definitive management to prevent undesired neurological sequelae.

Consensus recommendations for acute trauma care & outcomes in LMICs from the transdisciplinary research, advocacy & implementation network for trauma in India.

Background & objectives Injuries profoundly impact global health, with substantial deaths and disabilities, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This paper presents strategic consensus from the Transdisciplinary Research, Advocacy, and Implementation Network for Trauma in India (TRAIN Trauma India) symposium, advocating for enhanced, system-level trauma care to address this challenge. Methods Five working groups conducted separate literature reviews on pre-hospital trauma care, in-hospital trauma resuscitation and training, trauma systems, trauma registries, and India's Towards Improving Trauma Care Outcomes (TITCO) registry. Using a Delphi approach, the TRAIN Trauma India Symposium generated consensus statements and recommendations for interventions to streamline trauma care and reduce preventable trauma mortality in India and LMICs. Experts prioritized interventions based on cost and difficulty. Results An expert panel agreed on four pre-hospital consensus statements, eight hospital resuscitation consensus statements, six system-level consensus statements, and six trauma registry consensus statements. The expert panel recommended six pre-hospital interventions, four hospital resuscitation interventions, nine system-level interventions, and seven trauma registry interventions applicable to the Indian context. Of these, 14 interventions were ranked as low cost/low difficulty, five high cost/low difficulty, five low cost/high difficulty, and three high cost/high difficulty. Interpretation & conclusions This consensus underscores the urgent need for integrated and efficient trauma systems to reduce preventable mortality, emphasizing the importance of comprehensive care that includes community engagement and robust pre-hospital and acute hospital trauma care pathways. It highlights the critical role of inclusive, system-wide approaches, from enhancing pre-hospital care and in-hospital resuscitation to implementing effective trauma registries to improve outcomes and streamline care across contexts.

Cease the storm - Successful stellate ganglion block in terminating refractory electrical storm.

An electrical storm also known as a ventricular tachycardia storm (VT storm) tends to recur and form a vicious cycle, eventually leading to a refractory electrical storm, refractory to electrical and pharmacological cardioversion. The treatment of refractory VT storm is challenging. Here we discuss the case of a middle-aged gentleman who presented to our emergency department 6 months apart with a refractory VT storm. When all the anti-arrhythmic agents and multiple cardioversion attempts failed in terminating the storm, we attempted ultrasound-guided stellate ganglion block. On both occasions, it successfully terminated the storm. Hence emergency physicians need to be aware of the right technique and timing of stellate ganglion block and ultrasound-guided needle tracking, as it can be a final rescue technique in treating refractory electrical storm in the emergency department.

Feasibility of USG-Guided Objective Initial Assessment of Pupillary Size and Pupillary Reflexes Versus Clinical Examination in Patients With Altered Mental Status: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Pupillary assessment is an important part of the neurological assessment which provides vital information in critically ill patients. However, clinical pupillary assessment is subjective. The ultrasound-guided pupillary examination is objective. There are limited pieces of literature regarding its use in assessing patients with altered mental status. So, we studied the extent of agreement of B-mode ultrasound with clinical examination for assessment of the pupillary size and reflex in patients with altered mental status. OBJECTIVES: The primary objective was to determine the extent of agreement between clinical examination and ultrasound-based examination for assessing pupillary reflex and size in patients with altered mental status in two settings (trauma and non-trauma patients). METHODS: Exactly 200 subjects (158 males, mean [range] age 43.56 [18-92 years]) with no history of partial globe rupture or dementia were included in this cross-sectional study from March 2019 to March 2020. B-mode ultrasound was performed with the subject's eyes closed using a 7-12 MHz linear probe and a standardized light stimulus. ICC score, paired t-test, kappa, Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and Bland-Altman plots were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The clinical-USG agreement for pupillary light reflex examination (Pupillary Diameter [PD] at rest, after direct light stimulation [Dstim ] and consensual light stimulation [Cstim ]) was excellent (ICC, 0.93-0.96). The Kappa coefficient (0.74 ± 0.07) showed an agreement of 87.36% between clinical and USG examination for pupillary reflex (reactive or non-reactive). CONCLUSION: USG-guided pupillary examination proves to be a better adjunct to neurological assessment in patients with altered mental status.

Strengthening facility-based integrated emergency care services for time sensitive emergencies at all levels of healthcare in India: An implementation research study protocol.

BACKGROUND: The healthcare system in India is tiered and has primary, secondary and tertiary levels of facilities depending on the complexity and severity of health challenges at these facilities. Evidence suggests that emergency services in the country is fragmented. This study aims to identify the barriers and facilitators of emergency care delivery for patients with time-sensitive conditions, and develop and implement a contextually relevant model, and measure its impact using implementation research outcomes. METHODS: We will study 85 healthcare facilities across five zones of the country and focus on emergency care delivery for 11 time-sensitive conditions. This implementation research will include seven phases: the preparatory phase, formative assessment, co-design of Model "Zero", co-implementation, model optimization, end-line evaluation and consolidation phase. The "preparatory phase" will involve stakeholder meetings, approval from health authorities and the establishment of a research ecosystem. The "formative assessment" will include quantitative and qualitative evaluations of the existing healthcare facilities and personnel to identify gaps, barriers and facilitators of emergency care services for time-sensitive conditions. On the basis of the results of the formative assessment, context-specific implementation strategies will be developed through meetings with stakeholders, providers and experts. The "co-design of Model 'Zero'" phase will help develop the initial Model "Zero", which will be pilot tested on a small scale (co-implementation). In the "model optimization" phase, iterative feedback loops of meetings and testing various strategies will help develop and implement the final context-specific model. End-line evaluation will assess implementation research outcomes such as acceptability, adoption, fidelity and penetration. The consolidation phase will include planning for the sustenance of the interventions. DISCUSSION: In a country such as India, where resources are scarce, this study will identify the barriers and facilitators to delivering emergency care services for time-sensitive conditions across five varied zones of the country. Stakeholder and provider participation in developing consensus-based implementation strategies, along with iterative cycles of meetings and testing, will help adapt these strategies to local needs. This approach will ensure that the developed models are practical, feasible and tailored to the specific challenges and requirements of each region.

Correlation between Transcranial Ultrasound and CT Head to Detect Clinically Significant Conditions in Post-craniectomy Patients Performed by Emergency Physician: A Pilot Study.

Background: The main objective is to detect clinically significant conditions by transcranial ultrasound (TCS) in post-decompressive craniectomy (DC) patients who come to the emergency department. Materials and methods: This was a cross-sectional observational study. We studied 40 post-DC patients. After primary stabilization, TCS was done. Computer tomography of head was done within 2 hours of performing TCS. The correlation between both modalities were assessed by the measurement of lateral ventricle (LV) (Bland-Altman plot), Midline shift and mass lesion. Additionally, normal cerebral anatomy, 3rd and 4th ventricles and external ventricular drainage (EVD) catheter visualization were also done. Results: About 14/40 patients came with non-neurosurgical complaints and 26/40 patients came with neurosurgical complaints. Patients with non-neurosurgical complaints (4/14) had mass lesions and 1/14 had MLS. Patients with neurosurgical complaints (11/26) had mass lesions and about 5 patients had MLS. A good correlation was found between TCS and CT of head in measuring LV right (CT head = 17.4 ± 13.8 mm and TCS = 17.1 ± 14.8 mm. The mean difference (95% CI) = [0.28 (-1.9 to 1.33), ICC 0.93 (0.88-0.96)], Left [CT head = 17.8 ± 14.4 mm and TCS = 17.1 ± 14.2 mm, the mean difference (95% CI) 0.63 (-1.8 to 0.61), ICC 0.96 (0.93-0.98)], MLS [CT head = 6.16 ± 3.59 (n = 7) and TCS = 7.883 ± 4.17 (n = 6)] and mass lesions (kappa 0.84 [0.72-0.89] [95% CI] p-value < 0.001). The agreement between both modalities for detecting mass lesions is 93.75%. Conclusion: Point of care ultrasound (POCUS) is a bedside, easily operable, non-radiation hazard and dynamic imaging tool that can be used for TCS as a supplement to CT head in post-DC patients in emergency as well as in ICU. However, assessment of the ventricular system (pre/post-EVD insertion), monitoring of regression/progression of mass lesion, etc. can be done with TCS. Repeated scans are possible in less time which can decrease the frequency of CT head. How to cite this article: Chouhan R, Sinha TP, Bhoi S, Kumar A, Agrawal D, Nayer J, et al. Correlation between Transcranial Ultrasound and CT Head to Detect Clinically Significant Conditions in Post-craniectomy Patients Performed by Emergency Physician: A Pilot Study. Indian J Crit Care Med 2024;28(3):299-306.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Ocular Ultrasonography in Identifying Raised Intracranial Pressure among Pediatric Population.

INTRODUCTION: Role of CT scan, MRI, ophthalmoscopy, direct monitoring by a transducer probe in identifying raised intracranial pressure (ICP) in emergency department is limited. There are few studies correlating elevated optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) measured by point of care ultrasound (POCUS) with raised ICP in pediatrics emergencies. We studied the diagnostic accuracy of ONSD, crescent sign, and optic disc elevation in identifying increased ICP in pediatrics. METHODS: Prospective observational study was done between April 2018 and August 2019 after ethics approval. Out of 125 subjects, 40 patients without clinical features of raised ICP were recruited as external controls and 85 with clinical features of raised ICP as study subjects. Their demographic profile, clinical examination, and ocular ultrasound findings were noted. This was followed by CT scan. Out of 85 patients, 43 had raised ICP (cases) and 42 had normal ICP (disease controls). Diagnostic accuracy of ONSD in identifying raised ICP was evaluated using STATA. RESULTS: The mean ONSD in case group was 5.5 ± 0.6 mm, 4.9 ± 0.5 mm in disease control group and external control group was 4.8 ± 0.3 mm. Cut-off of ONSD for raised ICP at ≥4.5 mm had a sensitivity and specificity of 97.67% and 10.98%, while ≥5.0 mm showed a sensitivity and specificity of 86.05% and 71.95%. Crescent sign and optic disc elevation had good correlation with increased ICP. CONCLUSION: ONSD ≥5 mm by POCUS identified raised ICP in pediatric population. Crescent sign and optic disc elevation may function as additional POCUS signs in identifying raised ICP.

Multidetector computed tomography evaluation of normal thymus and variations with age.

Background: Thymus is a T-cell-producing lymphoid organ that appears prominent in the paediatric population and involutes in size with ageing. The gland shows a wide variety of appearances across different age groups. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the computed tomography (CT) appearance of thymus gland in the normal population with a focus on size, CT attenuation and fatty infiltration in different age groups. Patients and Methods: This is a retrospective study done after taking approval from the Institutional Ethics Committee. Patients undergone CT scans of the thorax were identified from our database. All evaluations were done in non-contrast CT scans. Patients having underlying diseases that may have associated thymic abnormality were excluded. The appearance of thymus and the presence of fatty replacement were assessed. The size of thymus (length and thickness of right limb and left limb) and non-contrast CT Hounsfield unit (HU) value of thymic tissue were measured and compared in various age groups. Results: Four hundred and fifty patients were included, 262 (58.2%) were male. Mean age was 33.6 ± 17.1 years, range (3 months-80 years). The size of thymus was observed to decrease with increasing age. The mean age of complete fatty replacement in our study was 45 years. Complete fatty replacement was noted in all cases with an age of more than 60 years. The most common shape was arrowhead, and the most common location was pre-aortic and para-aortic location. Non-contrast CT HU value was maximum in infants and gradually decreased with advancing age. Conclusion: Even normal thymus can show varied appearance on CT which changes with the age of the patient being imaged. A comparison with normative data could help differentiate normal from abnormal glands to avoid unnecessary intervention.

Guillain-Barre syndrome as the initial presentation of systemic lupus erythematosus: Case report with a systematic and literature review.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) can affect multiple systems in which central nervous system (CNS) involvement is common, but peripheral nervous system involvement is also increasingly being recognized. Guillian-Barre syndrome (GBS) as the first manifestation of SLE has been reported, but rare and not well understood. A 39-year female presented with GBS-like illness but on evaluation found to have features of SLE. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) showed characteristic albuminocytological dissociation and nerve conduction study (NCS) was suggestive of demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy. On evaluation, she was found to have polyarthralgia, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, class I Lupus nephritis, mild splenomegaly, and pleural effusion. Serum antinuclear antibody was 4+ positive (coarse speckled) and extractable nuclear antigen profile revealed anti-dsDNA and anti-Sm antibody positivity, with low complement level. She fulfilled the diagnostic criterion of SLE and was managed with both plasmapheresis and pulse steroids followed by cyclophosphamide monthly pulse and oral hydroxychloroquine maintenance and showed significant improvement. The literature review showed only 26 cases reported till now. GBS without any obvious trigger should be extensively evaluated, as the underlying etiology will affect the treatment protocol as well as the prognosis. Our report highlights the significance of early recognition of SLE as a trigger of GBS, which changes conventional GBS treatment.

Sensitivity and specificity of waterbath ultrasound technique in comparison to the conventional methods in diagnosing extremity fractures.

INTRODUCTION: Point of care ultrasound (POCUS) has variable diagnostic accuracy in diagnosing fractures. Waterbath technique is a modification of the conventional ultrasound technique which may improve diagnostic accuracy by enhancing image quality. Authors studied the diagnostic accuracy of waterbath technique compared to the final diagnosis based on clinical examination and radiology in the identification of fractures of hand and foot. METHODS: Patients of >18 yrs. age with suspected distal hand and foot fractures presenting to the emergency department of a level 1 trauma center were recruited after informed consent. Unconscious and hemodynamically unstable patients, injuries >72 h old, open fractures, obvious deformities, and old fractures at the affected site were excluded. Cases were subjected to waterbath technique performed by an academic emergency medicine resident and relevant radiographs were ordered and interpreted by an orthopedic specialist. CT/MRI, if done in case of discrepancy, was interpreted by radiologist. The findings of both waterbath technique and radiology were blinded to each other and compared to the final diagnosis made by a cumulative assessment of clinical examination, radiographs, and CT/MRI of the discrepant cases. RESULTS: Waterbath technique identified fractures of hand and foot with sensitivity of 97% (95% CI 90%-100%), specificity 94% (95%CI 81%-99%), PPV 98% (95%CI 91%-99%), NPV 94% (95%CI 79%-98%), LR+ 17.5(95% CI 4.5-67.2), LR- 0.03(95% CI 0.01-0.12) and diagnostic accuracy 96% (95%CI 91%-99%). CONCLUSION: This pilot study has demonstrated the utility of Waterbath technique in the diagnosis of fractures of hand and foot in adults in the ED setting. Future well designed studies are required to explore the potential of this novel technique in both adult and pediatric population.

Alleviating Refractory Abdominal Pain in Cholangiocarcinoma Using Erector Spinae Plane Block in the Emergency Department.

BACKGROUND: Acute pain management in the emergency department (ED) is a challenging task, more so in pain due to malignancy. Opioids have life-threatening side effects in ED patients, along with the risk of dependency. Erector spinae plane block (ESPB) is a recently described plane block technique with ease of performance and minimal side effects, making it suitable for emergency settings. CASE REPORT: A 62-year-old male patient recently diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma presented to the ED with severe right upper abdominal pain. There was no pain relief with high doses of analgesics. ESPB was administered at T7 vertebrae level. The patient's Defense and Veteran Pain Rating Scale score reduced from 8/10 pre-procedure to 3/10 within 15 min, and 2/10 1 h after the procedure. He reported that he had an uninterrupted pain-free sleep after 4 days. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: ESPB is a novel regional analgesia that may help in management of uncontrolled severe pain not relieved with analgesics in patients with cholangiocarcinoma in the ED.

Factors predicting perioperative outcomes in patients with myasthenia gravis or thymic neoplasms undergoing thymectomy by video-assisted thoracoscopic approach.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to identify the factors which predict the perioperative outcomes after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) thymectomy in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) or thymic neoplasms. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data of consecutive patients who had undergone VATS thymectomy in our institution from August 2016 to April 2018 were collected retrospectively from a prospectively maintained database followed by prospective recruitment of patients who underwent VATS thymectomy from April 2018 to February 2020. RESULTS: A total of 31 patients were included. Females were more common (51.6%), and 29 patients (93.5%) had MG. The most common indication for thymectomy was the presence of both MG and thymoma (51.6%). Most MG patients had moderate disease (55.2%) or severe (24.1%) disease preoperatively. Mean operative time and blood loss were 196.9 ± 63.5 min and 122.5 ± 115.3 ml, respectively. Mean hospital stay was 7.9 ± 6.7 days. The rate of major and minor complications was 16.18% and 35.4%, respectively. Multivariate linear regression analysis established that MG symptoms >12 months, prolonged invasive ventilation (intubation ≥24 h), and complications were associated significantly with a prolonged hospital stay. Adjusting for outliers, pre-operative disease severity (MG Foundation of America class), and intubation ≥24 h were the only factors that had a significant impact on perioperative outcomes. CONCLUSION: Pre-operative disease severity and post-operative invasive ventilation are strong determinants of perioperative outcomes. Pre-operative optimisation and early extubation protocols can further reduce morbidity in patients undergoing thymectomy by the VATS approach.

Indigenously Developed Ultrasound Phantom Model versus a Commercially Available Training Model: Randomized Double-blinded Study to Assess Its Utility to Teach Ultrasound Guided Vascular Access in a Controlled Setting.

Background: The commercially available training phantoms being expensive, homemade models are popular surrogates for training. We intended to study how comparable our indigenously developed ultrasound phantom (IDUP) was with the commercially available model for ultrasound-guided vascular access (USGVA) training. We also assessed the change in confidence among trainees using a 21-h standardized program. Methods: A prospective randomized double-blinded, parallel design study, with sequential allocation, was done after a standardized point of care ultrasound training course. Over three consecutive courses, 48 trainees volunteered to take part in the study. The models (IDUP and commercial phantom) were allocated as model A and model B. In each course, participants were also allotted sequentially to either perform in-plane or out of plane approach first, at the testing stations. Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare pretest with posttest scores. Results: There was a statistically significant difference between IDUP and commercial phantom with respect to the resemblance to human tissue on tactile feedback and ease to perform the procedure. However, both models did not show a statistically significant difference in terms of ease of use, visual resemblance to human tissue, needle visualization, and artifacts on ultrasonography display. A significant change in the confidence levels of participants was seen postcourse. Conclusion: IDUP was a comparable alternative to the commercial model for USGVA training in a resource-limited setting. A 21-h standardized training program improved the trainee's confidence in performing and teaching USGVA.

INSTRuCT: Protocol, Infrastructure, and Governance.

Background and Purpose: Very few large scale multicentric stroke clinical trials have been done in India. The Indian Council of Medical Research funded INSTRuCT (Indian Stroke Clinical Trial Network) as a task force project with the objectives to establish a state-of-the-art stroke clinical trial network and to conduct pharmacological and nonpharmacological stroke clinical trials relevant to the nation and globally. The purpose of the article is to enumerate the structure of multicentric stroke network, with emphasis on its scope, challenges and expectations in India. Methods: Multiple expert group meetings were conducted by Indian Council of Medical Research to understand the scope of network to perform stroke clinical trials in the country. Established stroke centers with annual volume of 200 patients with stroke with prior experience of conducting clinical trials were included. Central coordinating center, standard operating procedures, data and safety monitoring board were formed. Discussion: In first phase, 2 trials were initiated namely, SPRINT (Secondary Prevention by Structured Semi-Interactive Stroke Prevention Package in India) and Ayurveda treatment in the rehabilitation of patients with ischemic stroke in India (RESTORE [Rehabilitation of Ischemic stroke Patients in India: A Randomized controlled trial]). In second phase, 4 trials have been approved. SPRINT trial was the first to be initiated. SPRINT trial randomized first patient on April 28, 2018; recruited 3048 patients with an average of 128.5 per month so far. The first follow-up was completed on May 27, 2019. RESTORE trial randomized first patient on May 22, 2019; recruited 49 patients with an average of 3.7 per month so far. The first follow-up was completed on August 30, 2019. Conclusions: In next 5 years, INSTRuCT will be able to complete high-quality large scale stroke trials which are relevant globally. REGISTRATION: URL: http://www.ctri.nic.in/; Unique Identifier: CTRI/2017/05/008507.

Assessing the serum chymase level as an early predictor of dengue severity.

We conducted a prospective, observational study to assess the serum chymase level, a mast cell derived protease, as a predictor of dengue severity. NS1-positive non-severe dengue patients of age ≥14 years with duration of fever ≤4 days were included in the study. At the time of admission, the serum sample was taken for chymase estimation. Patients were followed up to four days after they became afebrile to find out the final diagnosis. Total of 338 non-severe dengue patients were recruited (mean age: 29.15 years; male: 66%). On follow-up, 26 patients (7.8%) developed severe dengue. Only chymase level (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.787; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.309-2.440) and platelet count at admission (aOR: 0.981; 95% CI: 0.968-0.993) were able to predict the severity after adjustment for all variables. But, for prediction of severe dengue, the area under receiver's operating curve of chymase was 0.835 (95% CI: 0.765-0.905), which was significantly higher than that of the platelet count at admission (0.760, 95% CI: 0.650-0.870) (p < .001). Patients who developed severe dengue in due course of illness had significantly higher serum chymase level at admission as compared with the rest of the patients. Similar findings were noted across all age-groups. At an optimum cut-off value of 1.35 ng/ml, chymase had a positive likelihood ratio (LR) of 3.5 and a negative LR of 0.15, for predicting severe dengue. This study demonstrated the potential ability of serum chymase levels at admission, as a biomarker for prediction of severe dengue in due course of illness.

Evaluation of a First Responders Course in Rural North India.

BACKGROUND: Most mortality in trauma occurs in prehospital settings when the golden hour is spent accessing healthcare facilities rather than resuscitating and stabilizing. Assessments performed in the rural community of Nanakpur, India demonstrated a significant paucity of, and limited access to healthcare facilities. To address deficiencies in prehospital care, the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) constructed the Basic Emergency Care Course (BECC). This study evaluated the BECCs efficacy in Nanakpur. METHODS: The first responder courses took place in 2017 in Nanakpur. Local community health workers, known as Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) were recruited as participants. Participants completed both a pre- and post-course evaluation to assess baseline knowledge and improvement. Participants then took a one-year post-course assessment to evaluate retention. RESULTS: The course included 204 individuals, and over half (109/204) were ASHAs. Pre- and post-course test results were available for 70 participants and demonstrated a significant improvement in knowledge (P < 0.0001). The one-year knowledge retention assessment was completed by 48.6% (n = 53/109) of the original ASHAs. Comparisons between both the pre- and post-course assessment tests with the 12-mo retention assessment revealed a significant decay in knowledge (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the feasibility of utilizing BECC to train ASHAs in Nanakpur as first responders. Participants demonstrated a significant improvement in knowledge immediately after the course. After one year, there was a significant loss in knowledge, highlighting the need for refresher courses. These data suggest potential for the use of BECC for training ASHAs countrywide to strengthen India's prehospital care system.

Lung sonographic findings in COVID-19 patients.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to describe the lung sonographic findings of COVID-19 patients prospectively and investigate its association with disease severity. METHODS: This study was conducted in an emergency department and included consecutively enrolled laboratory confirmed COVID-19 patients. Lung sonography findings were described in all the included patients and analysed with respect to the clinical severity of the patients. RESULTS: 106 patients were included in the study. Common sonographic findings in COVID-19 patients were pleural line irregularity or shredding (70% of patients), followed by B - profile (59%), pleural line thickening (33%), occasional B - lines (26%), sub-pleural consolidations (35%), deep consolidations (6%), spared areas (13%), confluent B - lines or waterfall sign (14%) and pleural effusion (9%). These findings tended to be present more bilaterally and in lower lung zones. Sonographic characteristics like bilateral lung involvement, B - profile, spared areas and confluent B - lines or waterfall sign were significantly associated (p < 0.01) with clinical severity (more frequent with increasing disease severity). CONCLUSION: The lung sonographic findings of COVID-19 were found more bilaterally and in lower lung zones, and specific findings like B - profile, pleural thickening, spared areas and confluent B - lines or waterfall sign were associated with severe COVID-19.

Communication skills training through 'role play' in an acute critical care course.

Background: . Effective patient-doctor communication is a key component of patient-centred care, which is one of the six pillars of quality healthcare delivery. Structured and effective communication skills training for healthcare providers is the need of hour in medical education. We assessed the efficacy of role play and simulation in developing communication skills. Methods: . As a key component of an acute critical care course (ACCC), communication skills are taught using role play models and simulation. Live feedback is critical in learning during this course as per the principles of adult learning (andragogy). Quantitative and qualitative data were collected to assess the efficacy of ACCC. Results: . The 19th ACCC was introduced to interns at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi in December 2018. The teaching methodology and objective-oriented structured training in ACCC were much appreciated for training in human factors with emphasis on communication. A positive response was obtained from the candidates 3 weeks after they completed the course to assess whether interns are able to make use of this training in their day-to-day clinical practice amounting to a reliable evidence level of Kirkpatrick's 'return of investment'. Conclusion: . The use of 'role play' to teach communication skills is effective and superior to lecture-based teaching. Further structured and interactive programmes in communication skills training will improve patient care, relatives' satisfaction and the image of medical profession.

COVID-19 in health care workers - A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: It is essential to know the proportion of health care workers (HCW) who are COVID 19 positive, as well as the severity and mortality among them. METHODS: This systematic review was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic review and meta-analysis. Databases including PubMed, EMBASE and Web of Science were searched from December-31, 2019 to April-23, 2020. The search was limited to the studies that reported the data on the number of COVID-19 positive healthcare workers, among the COVID-19 positive patients. Case reports, duplicate publications, reviews, and family-based studies were excluded. The methodological quality of studies was assessed by the Appraisal tool for Cross-Sectional Studies (AXIS) tool. RESULTS: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we pooled eleven studies to investigate the above factors. The overall proportion of HCW who were SARS-CoV-2 positive among all COVID-19 patients was 10.1% (95%CI: 5.3-14.9). This proportion varied according to the country of study i.e. China (7 studies) - 4.2%, 95%CI:2.4-6.0; United States (3 studies) - 17.8%, 95%CI:7.5-28.0; and Italy (1 study) - 9.0%, 95%CI:8.6-9.4. The incidence of severe or critical disease in HCW (9.9%, 95%CI:0.8-18.9) was significantly lower (p < 0.001) than the incidence of severe or critical disease in all COVID-19 positive patients (29.4%, 95%CI:18.6-40.2). Similarly, the mortality among HCW (0.3%, 95%CI:0.2-0.4) was also significantly lower (p < 0.001) as compared to that of all patients (2.3%, 95%CI:2.2-2.4). CONCLUSION: Health care workers who are COVID-19 positive constituted a significant proportion of all COVID-19 patients; but the severity and mortality were lower among them.

Endotracheal Tube Placement Confirmation by Ultrasonography: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of more than 2500 Patients.

BACKGROUND: The integration of point-of-care ultrasound in endotracheal tube placement confirmation has been focus of many recent studies. OBJECTIVES: We sought to determine the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonography in confirmation of endotracheal intubation compared with standard confirmatory methods. METHODS: We completed an extensive search of PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Central, Web of Science, and bibliographies of the selected articles from inception to October 2019. The search was limited to prospective studies conducted in human adults that compared the accuracy of ultrasonography in confirming the endotracheal tube position with a reference standard. The methodologic quality of studies was assessed using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 tool. A bivariate random-effects model summarized diagnostic accuracy statistics. Subgroup analyses by ultrasonographic signs, study location, the operator's specialty, types of transducer, the technique of ultrasound confirmation, and clinical setting (cardiac arrest vs. non-cardiac arrest) were performed. RESULTS: Thirty studies involving 2534 patients were selected for this meta-analysis. The estimated pooled sensitivity and specificity for ultrasonography were 0.982 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.971-0.988) and 0.957 (95% CI 0.901-0.982), respectively. Subgroup analyses did not reveal significant difference by ultrasonographic sign used, location, the sonographer's specialty, transducer type, or ultrasound technique used. Ultrasound was also found to be a useful adjunct in confirming endotracheal tube position in the subgroup of patients with cardiac arrest, with sensitivity of 0.99 (95% CI 0.98-1.00) and specificity of 0.84 (95% CI 0.67-1.00), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasonography is a valuable and reliable adjunct for endotracheal tube confirmation, including during cardiac arrest resuscitation.