Diagnostic accuracy of telestroke consultation: a Louisiana based tele-network experience.

Background and purpose: Telestroke has grown significantly since its implementation. Despite growing utilization, there is a paucity of data regarding the diagnostic accuracy of telestroke to distinguish between stroke and its mimics. We aimed to evaluate diagnostic accuracy of telestroke consultations and explore the characteristics of misdiagnosed patients with a focus on stroke mimics. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of all the consultations in our Ochsner Health's TeleStroke program seen between April 2015 and April 2016. Consultations were classified into one of three diagnostic categories: stroke/transient ischemic attack, mimic, and uncertain. Initial telestroke diagnosis was compared with the final diagnosis post review of all emergency department and hospital data. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), positive likelihood ratio (LR+) and negative likelihood ratio (LR-) for diagnosis of stroke/TIA versus mimic were calculated. Area under receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUC) analysis to predict true stroke was performed. Bivariate analysis based on the diagnostic categories examined association with sex, age, NIHSS, stroke risk factors, tPA given, bleeding after tPA, symptom onset to last known normal, symptom onset to consult, timing in the day, and consult duration. Logistic regression was performed as indicated by bivariate analysis. Results: Eight hundred and seventy-four telestroke evaluations were included in our analysis. Accurate diagnosis through teleneurological consultation was seen in 85% of which 532 were strokes (true positives) and 170 were mimics (true negatives). Sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV were 97.8, 82.5, 93.7 and 93.4%, respectively. LR+ and LR- were 5.6 and 0.03. AUC (95% CI) was 0.9016 (0.8749-0.9283). Stroke mimics were more common with younger age and female gender and in those with less vascular risk factors. LR revealed OR (95% CI) of misdiagnosis for female gender of 1.9 (1.3-2.9). Lower age and lower NIHSS score were other predictors of misdiagnosis. Conclusion: We report high diagnostic accuracy of the Ochsner Telestroke Program in discriminating stroke/TIA and stroke mimics, with slight tendency towards over diagnosis of stroke. Female gender, younger age and lower NIHSS score were associated with misdiagnosis.

Direct Oral Anticoagulants Versus Warfarin for Treatment of Thrombosis or Atrial Fibrillation in Patients With Cirrhosis: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Evidence for direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in patients with cirrhosis is limited. Few patients with Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) class B and C cirrhosis have been studied. OBJECTIVE: To compare major bleeding rates in patients with cirrhosis receiving a DOAC versus warfarin. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted in adults with cirrhosis receiving a DOAC versus warfarin for venous thromboembolism, portal-vein thrombosis, or atrial fibrillation. The primary outcome was the rate of major bleeding. Secondary outcomes included time to major bleeding, clinically relevant nonmajor bleeding, all bleeding, gastrointestinal bleeding, intracranial bleeding, and new thromboembolic events. The study was approved by the Ochsner Health System Institutional Review Board. RESULTS: A total of 44 patients receiving a DOAC and 41 patients receiving warfarin were included. Major bleeding occurred in 4 patients receiving a DOAC and 6 patients receiving warfarin (9.1% vs 14.6%; P = 0.881). Rates of major bleeding were similar in 24 DOAC and 17 warfarin patients with CTP Class B (4.2% vs 17.6%; P = 0.37) and 8 DOAC and 9 warfarin patients with CTP Class C (37.5% vs 11.1%; P = 0.41) cirrhosis. Secondary bleeding and efficacy outcomes were similar between cohorts. The study was limited by a small sample size. CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE: Treatment with DOACs in patients with cirrhosis was associated with a similar rate of major bleeding compared with warfarin. Inclusion of CTP class C patients in future studies remains valuable to evaluate safety and efficacy of DOACs in this population.

Prospective Evaluation of a Noninvasive Hemoglobin Measurement System in Total Joint Arthroplasty.

We sought to prospectively determine the efficacy of a noninvasive hemoglobin measurement system compared to a traditional blood draw in patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty. One hundred consecutive patients had their hemoglobin level measured by blood draw and the noninvasive device, simultaneously. Results were analyzed for the entire group and further stratified based on race and perfusion index measured by the device. The financial implications and patient satisfaction were compared. Hemoglobin measurements in the entire group and the two sub-groups were similar between the noninvasive device and the traditional blood draw. The noninvasive system was preferred by 100% of patients. Additionally, cost savings per patient using the noninvasive system was $16.50. This correlated to an 86% savings per case over the standard blood draw. The noninvasive hemoglobin monitoring system offers comparable measurements to a standard blood draw, while improving patient satisfaction and lowering costs. (Journal of Surgical Orthopaedic Advances 29(2):94-98, 2020).

Intramuscular Corticosteroids for Acute Upper Respiratory Infections Affects Healthcare Utilization.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the use of intramuscular corticosteroid (IMCS) injections for treatment of acute upper respiratory infections (URI) and the influence on healthcare utilization. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study used patient encounter data from a large multicenter regional health care system between 2013 and 2017. Adult patients diagnosed with acute URI (acute pharyngitis, acute sinusitis, acute otitis media, and URI not otherwise specified) during ambulatory encounters were included. Follow-up encounters for a diagnosis of acute URI within 60 days were identified and patient characteristics, encounter details, and procedure codes were retrieved. Frequency data was used to calculate IMCS injection administration prevalence, utilization trends, and associations with covariates. Follow-up data for return encounters within 60 days for the same diagnosis was examined. RESULTS: Of the 153 848 initial encounters, 34 600 (22.5%) patients received IMCS injection for acute URI. Injection rates varied from 0.85% to 49.1% depending on specialty and practitioner type. Internal medicine, family medicine, urgent care, and otorhinolaryngology clinics most commonly administered IMCS. 3788 patients returned for a second encounter of which 751 (19.8%) received an injection. IMCS injection during the first encounter was associated with increased odds of repeat visit within 60 days (OR: 1.74; 95% CI: 1.61-1.88). CONCLUSION: IMCS use in the treatment of acute URI is highly prevalent despite lack of evidence for impact and safety. Prevalence is variable across multiple medical and surgical specialties including otorhinolaryngology. Administration of IMCS injection may contribute to the likelihood of a subsequent healthcare visit for the same indication.

Insulin-Dependent Diabetic Patients are at Increased Risk of Postoperative Hyperglycemia When Undergoing Total Joint Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic patients are at an increased risk of prosthetic joint infection (PJI) after total joint arthroplasty (TJA). The relationship between insulin-dependence and PJI has not been investigated. We aimed at evaluating whether insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) patients were more susceptible to postoperative hyperglycemia and PJI than their non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) counterparts. METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted of diabetic patients undergoing TJA (hip or knee) from January 2011 to December 2016. Preoperative hemoglobin A1c (A1c) and postoperative glucose measurements were observed. Patients were stratified as IDDM or NIDDM. The A1c values that predicted hyperglycemia >200 mg/dL for each group were calculated. Primary end point was postoperative hyperglycemia >200 mg/dL and secondary end point was PJI. RESULTS: There were 773 patients meeting inclusion criteria. The IDDM cohort had a higher preoperative A1c (6.97% vs 6.28%, P < .0001) and postoperative glucose (235.2 vs 163.5, P < .0001). IDDM patients were more likely to have postoperative hyperglycemia (63.84% vs 20.83%, P < .0001; odds ratio, 5.2; 95% confidence interval, 3.66-7.4). Overall, an A1c of >7.45% predicted postoperative hyperglycemia >200 mg/mL (odds ratio, 6.94; 95% confidence interval, 4.32-11.45). When separating our 2 cohorts, an A1c of >6.59% in IDDM, and >6.60% in NIDDM, was associated with an increased risk of postoperative hyperglycemia (P < .0001). PJI was similar between the 2 cohorts (2.52% vs 2.38%, P = .9034). CONCLUSION: IDDM patients undergoing TJA are 5.2 times more likely to have postoperative hyperglycemia >200 mg/dL than their NIDDM counterparts, although increased risk of PJI was not found in this study. Despite the higher A1c and postoperative hyperglycemia in IDDM patients, there was found to be no clinical difference between A1c cutoff values for postoperative hyperglycemia between IDDM and NIDDM patients.

Wearing Off Effect of OnabotulinumtoxinA Near the End of Treatment Cycle for Chronic Migraine: A 4-Year Clinical Experience.

INTRODUCTION: The injection interval for onabotulinumtoxinA (BoNTA) in the management of chronic migraine (CM) is 12 weeks (78-84 days). The aim of this study was to review patient-reported wearing off effect (WOE) of the therapeutic benefit of BoNTA near the end of the treatment cycle. We intended to describe the demographics of patients at baseline and compare groups of patients with multiple episodes of WOE. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of patients with CM who received uninterrupted BoNTA therapy from January 2014 to March 2018. The data from patient-reported WOE (worsening headache variables and neck pain) that occurred during the 4 weeks (28 days) prior to the scheduled re-injection of BoNTA for treatment cycles with injection interval ≤13 weeks and without obvious confounding factors were reviewed. RESULTS: We identified 98 eligible patients and analyzed 471 treatment cycles. Forty-three unique patients reported at least 1 occurrence of WOE. About 24/43 patients reported 1 WOE event and 19/43 patients reported ≥2 WOE events. Between the 2 groups, anxiety disorder and opioid use for headache were statistically significantly different. In the former group, the median interquartile range (IQR) dose of BoNTA was 165 (155, 175) units and the median IQR duration of the antinociceptive effect of BoNTA was 66.5 (63, 71.5) days. In the latter group, the median IQR dose of BoNTA was 167 (155, 173.3) units and the median IQR duration of the antinociceptive effect of BoNTA was 65.3 (62.5, 68.8) days. Up to 32% of these patients reported an increase in the use of abortive therapies to manage the symptoms of WOE. DISCUSSION: The primary goal of BoNTA in the treatment of CM is to mitigate the development of central sensitization. Since the 12-week injection paradigm may not provide sustained antinociceptive effect in all patients, it may account for the failure of response to BoNTA. Repeated occurrences of the WOE can potentially lead to medication overuse and impact quality of life.

Differences in the Intended Meaning of Congestion Between Patients and Clinicians.

Importance: Disagreement in the presumed meaning of common medical terms may impair communication between patients and caregivers. Objective: To clarify the intended meaning of the term congestion among otolaryngology clinic patients and to identify discrepancies in definitions between patients and otolaryngologists. Design, Setting, and Participants: In this cross-sectional survey study from an otolaryngology clinic at an academic center, a semantics-based questionnaire was provided to consecutive new patients during intake for a clinical encounter from December 2016 through February 2017, and to 31 otolaryngologists and 28 nonotolaryngologist physicians in February 2018. Respondent definitions for congestion were selected from a list of 16 proposed terms covering 4 general categories. Main Outcome and Measures: Symptom categories for term used to describe congestion by patients and clinicians. Results: Among 226 patient respondents (133 female [58.8%]; mean [SD] age, 54 [15.6] years), the most commonly selected definitions for congestion were from the obstructive (199; 88.1%) and mucus-related (196; 86.7%) symptom categories. More than 1 general category was selected by 208 patients (92.0%), whereas 11 patients (4.9%) described congestion only in terms of mucus-related symptoms. Definitions were limited to upper respiratory tract symptoms by 83 (36.7%) patients and lower respiratory tract symptoms by 2 (0.9%) patients. Among 31 otolaryngologists, congestion was most frequently defined in terms of obstructive symptoms (difference, 11.9%; 95% CI, 7.4%-16.5%). In contrast, patients more often described congestion in terms of pressure-related (difference, 38.8%; 95% CI, 7.5%-70.1%) or mucus-related (difference, 51.2%; 95% CI, 22.6%-79.9%) symptoms. A total of 22 otolaryngologists (71.0%) defined congestion using 1 to 4 symptoms, compared with only 69 patients (30.5%). Conclusions and Relevance: The definition of congestion appears to be highly variable and ambiguous for many patients. Moreover, the findings suggest that patients and otolaryngologists generally do not describe congestion using the same terms.