Peripheral polyneuropathy and acute psychosis from chronic nitrous oxide poisoning: A case report with literature review.

RATIONALE: Nitrous oxide (NO) is a commonly used drug in medical practice, restoration, and the automobile industry. Recreational abuse is an emerging public health problem owing to its accessibility and drug properties. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 25-year-old male was hospitalized with acute psychosis and lower-extremity sensorimotor proprioceptive ataxia due to nitrous oxide abuse. DIAGNOSIS: Laboratory studies confirmed a vitamin B12 deficiency. Magnetic resonance imaging of the spinal cord showed normal findings. Electrophysiological testing confirmed length-dependent sensorimotor polyneuropathy, with a predominant motor component and axonal degeneration. INTERVENTION AND OUTCOMES: Abstinence from toxic substances was suggested, and vitamin B12 substitution was introduced. The patient was lost to follow up. LESSONS: Nitrous oxide toxicity is multisystemic and is thought to result from vitamin B12 inactivation. Recent case reports postulated direct paranodal lesions resulting from nitrous oxide consumption. Neurological, neuropsychiatric, and hematological toxicities are among those explored in this case report. Correction of the functional vitamin B12 status and nitrous oxide abstinence are essential in the treatment process.

[Specificities of SARS-CoV-2 infection in elderly patients]. / Spécificités de l'infection à SARS-CoV-2 chez les patients âgés.

COVID-19 has strongly impacted the elderly population with a particularly high mortality rate due to several reasons: sometimes difficult and delayed diagnosis, multimorbidity, immunosenescence, frailty, which seems to be a better prognostic marker than age. Treatment includes both therapies specifically directed against SARS CoV-2 (monoclonal antibodies, systemic corticosteroids, tocilizumab, remdesivir) and symptomatic and palliative treatments. Vaccination, especially the booster, is essential to reduce the risk of infection and severe forms. The emergence of variants is a challenge because of their impact on vaccine and treatment efficacy. Specific studies in the elderly are needed to improve their management.

Le Covid-19 a fortement impacté la population âgée avec un taux de mortalité particulièrement élevé dû à plusieurs raisons: diag nostic parfois difficile et retardé, multimorbidité, immunosénescence, fragilité, qui semble d'ailleurs être un meilleur marqueur pronostique que l'âge. Le traitement inclut autant des thérapies spécifiquement dirigées contre le SARS CoV-2 (anticorps monoclonaux, corticothérapie systémique, tocilizumab, remdésivir) que des traitements symptomatiques et palliatifs. La vaccination, notamment le rappel, est primordiale pour diminuer le risque infectieux et les formes graves. L'apparition de variants représente un défi en raison de leur impact sur l'efficacité du vaccin et des traitements. Des études réalisées spécifiquement chez les sujets âgés sont nécessaires pour améliorer leur prise en charge.

Zoledronic Acid Contraindications Prevalence among Hip-Fractured Patients Aged 75 Years or Over Hospitalized in an Orthogeriatric Unit.

OBJECTIVE: Zoledronic acid (ZA) is an antiosteoporotic drug that has been proven to reduce mortality after a hip fracture (HF). ZA is however underused with older HF patients. One possible cause may be the high prevalence of severe renal failure and hypocalcemia which contraindicate ZA administration. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of these 2 contraindications in patients aged 75 years or older admitted into an orthogeriatric (OG) unit after a low-energy HF. The secondary objective was to assess the prevalence of situations in which ZA must be used with caution. METHODS: Our retrospective descriptive monocentric study was performed in an OG unit on a cohort of elderly patients hospitalized for HF from August 2015 to August 2017. Prevalence of hypocalcemia lower than 2 mmol/L and Cockcroft creatinine clearance lower than 35 mL/min was recorded. RESULTS: Among the 194 patients admitted for HF, 136 patients (mean age 86 ± 5.6 years; 101 women) were included. The mean length of hospital stay was 15 ± 9 days. 111 (81.5%) had no contraindications to ZA administration. More than 80% presented situations in which ZA had to be used with caution, including 25(OH)D deficiency (20%). CONCLUSION: The majority of subjects aged 75 years or older admitted to hospital after an HF seem to have no contraindication for ZA administration during their immediate postoperative hospital stay. The hospitalization period after HF repair gives the opportunity to give most of them this treatment to improve their prognosis, taking into account situations in which ZA must be used with caution.

Phrenic nerve stimulation, a rare complication of pacemaker: A case report.

RATIONALE: The phrenic nerve stimulation (PNS) is a rare complication after pacemaker setting. We report a case report that describes this complication and how it can be resolved. PATIENT CONCERNS: An 88-year-old man presented himself to the emergency geriatric unit with intermittent painless abdominal contraction due to phrenic nerve stimulation. He has a history of transcatheter aortic valve implantation with cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemaker due to persistent left bundle branch block. DIAGNOSES: All the usual causes for abdominal spasms were eliminated and the possibility of a link with the pacemaker was considered. The phrenic nerve stimulation is a rare complication of a pacemaker implantation. It can be clinically nonrelevant but challenging to diagnose for those not familiar with cardiac devices technology. INTERVENTIONS: Initial setting was an axis of stimulation between distal left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular. It was changed to LV and D1-M2. OUTCOMES: This noninvasive procedure managed to eradicate the involuntary abdominal spasms. LESSONS: PNS could be challenging to diagnose for those not familiar with cardiac devices technology but easy to manage with noninvasive methods.

Pneumonia prevention in the elderly patients: the other sides.

Pneumonia is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality from infection in elderly patients. The increased frequency of pneumonia among elderly subjects can be explained by the physiological changes linked to the progressive aging of the respiratory tree and the diminished immunological response. A spiral of event leads to frailty, infection and possible death; preventing pneumonia consists of controlling the risk factors. Dysphagia, which is associated with malnutrition and dehydration, is recognized as one of the major pathophysiological mechanism leading to pneumonia and its screening is crucial for the pneumonia risk assessment. The impairment in the oropharyngeal reflexes results in stagnation of foreign material in the lateral cavities of the pharynx which may then get aspirated repeatedly in the lungs and cause pneumonia. Pneumonia prevention starts with lifestyle modifications such as alcohol and tobacco cessation. A careful review of the risk-benefit of the prescribed medication is critical and adaptation may be required in elders with multiple morbidities. Respiratory physiotherapy and mobilization improve the functional status and hence may help reduce the risk of pneumonia. Maintaining teeth and masticatory efficiency is important if malnutrition and its consequences are to be avoided. Daily oral hygiene and regular professional removal of oral biofilm can prevent the onset of periodontitis and can avoid an oral environment favoring the colonization of respiratory pathogens than can then be aspirated into the lungs.