Ketamine to Prevent Endotracheal Intubation in Adults with Refractory Non-convulsive Status Epilepticus: A Case Series.

BACKGROUND: Non-convulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) is defined as status epilepticus (SE) with no obvious motor phenomenon and is diagnosed based on electroencephalogram (EEG). Refractory SE (RSE) is the persistence of seizures despite treatment with an adequately dosed first-line and second-line agents. Although guidelines for convulsive RSE include third-line agents such as intravenous anesthetic drugs (midazolam, propofol, or barbiturates), the therapeutic approach to NCSE is not well outlined. Treatment with traditional anesthetics invariably includes endotracheal intubation, which is associated with significant adverse events. Comparatively, ketamine, a non-competitive N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist is not associated with significant cardiorespiratory depression and may help in avoiding intubation. OBJECTIVE: In this case series, we describe our experience with the early use of intravenous ketamine as the first anesthetic agent in patients with refractory NCSE to avoid endotracheal intubation. METHODS: We present a case series of nine patients managed in the Neurointensive Care Unit at a university-affiliated tertiary care hospital. The study was approved by the hospital and university institutional review boards and the requirement for informed consent was waived for retrospective analysis of existing data, per institutional policy. All cases of SE were identified from a prospective database, and a subsequent retrospective chart review identified all patients with a diagnosis of refractory NCSE in whom ketamine was used as the first anesthetic agent. The primary endpoint was the avoidance of endotracheal intubation while on ketamine infusion. The secondary endpoint was defined as cessation of both clinical and electrographic seizures recorded on continuous EEG within 24 h of ketamine administration. RESULTS: A total of nine patients experiencing refractory NCSE were included in this case series, with a median age of 61 (range 26-72) years and seven patients were male. The primary endpoint, avoiding intubation, was achieved in five out of nine (55%) cases. Six patients experienced resolution of refractory NCSE with ketamine administration as the sole anesthetic agent. Four patients required endotracheal intubation and three patients had a failure of seizure cessation with ketamine. Hypersalivation and pneumonia were the most common ketamine associated adverse events. In non-intubated patients, no deaths occurred. One patient was discharged home, four to subacute rehabilitation, one to a long term acute care hospital, and one patient to hospice. CONCLUSION: The use of ketamine as the primary anesthetic agent may be a reasonable option to avoid endotracheal intubation in a subset of patients with refractory NCSE. This study is limited by its small sample size, retrospective design, and reliance on information obtained from chart review.

Hookworm infestation as a cause of melena and severe anaemia in farmer.

Hookworm infections remain a major cause of morbidity in the developing world. Prevalence is highest in agricultural areas, where use of waste water for irrigation and poor hygiene increases infection rates among farmers. Infections present with gastrointestinal symptoms and chronic anaemia, and there are usually no signs of overt blood loss. The following report describes a case of melena in a middle-aged farmer, where the diagnosis of hookworm infestation was delayed due to the unusual presentation. The patient underwent multiple blood transfusions before referral to the Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH), Karachi and was managed conservatively with mebendazole at our hospital after exclusion of other possible causes of gastrointestinal bleeding. This case highlights the importance of considering hookworm infestations as a cause of melena in the older age group, where other critical differentials such as peptic ulcer disease and occult malignancy may result in delay in initiation of treatment and a significant financial burden on the patient.

An audit of clinical laboratory data of 25 [OH]D at Aga Khan University as reflecting vitamin D deficiency in Pakistan.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the burden of Vitamin D deficiency in people from different geographical areas of Pakistan. METHODS: The retrospective study was conducted at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, and comprised specimens of subjects tested for 25-hydroxy D at the clinical laboratory between September 2010 and September 2011. Serum samples received from the phlebotomy centres all over Pakistan and the main laboratory in Karachi were included. SPSS 19 was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Of the 60937 specimens in the study, 18721(30.7%) related to men. The overall mean age was 40.5±19.7 years, and median 25-hydroxy D level was 13.5ng/ml (interquartile range: 25.1-7.4 ng/ml).Overall, mean log 25-hydroxy D was 1.14±0.39ng/ml (median: 13.5ng/ml; interquartile range: 25.1-7.4 ng/ml). Out of the total, 40279(66.1%) subjects were vitamin D-deficient. CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin D deficiency was common among the subjects.