Abdominal Pain Management and Point-of-care Ultrasound in the Emergency Department: A Randomised, Prospective, Controlled Study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) performed during the initial evaluation phase of patients with acute abdominal pain. STUDY DESIGN: Randomised controlled, parallel-group trial. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Sakarya University Training and Research Hospital, Sakarya, Turkey, from October 2019 to March 2020. METHODOLOGY: Patients who presented to the Emergency Department (ED) with acute abdominal pain were included in the study. Exclusion criteria were permanent mental disability, age <18 years, abdominal trauma within the last 24 hours, pregnancy, morbid obesity, repeated admissions, referral from an external centre to the ED, and missing patient information. Patients were divided randomly into two groups: The control group where standard diagnostic strategies were applied and the POCUS group where POCUS was performed together with standard diagnostic strategies. The length of stay (LOS), differential diagnoses, cost and hospitalisation or discharge from ED were compared. RESULTS: The application of POCUS reduced the average number of preliminary differential diagnoses from four to two (p <0.001). Regarding patient outcomes, POCUS reduced LOS in ED in both the discharged and hospitalised patients (p = 0.003, and p = 0.049, respectively). In all patients, POCUS reduced LOS in ED but led to no significant changes in cost (p <0.001, p = and 0.403, respectively). CONCLUSION: POCUS in patients with acute abdominal pain is very useful in reducing the number of differential diagnoses and LOS in ED. KEY WORDS: Abdominal pain, Cost, Emergency department, Length of stay, Point-of-care ultrasound.

Evaluation of re-hospitalized COVID-19 patients in a hospital.

PURPOSE: This study intends to investigate the reasons for re-hospitalization, complaints, and prognoses of COVID-19 patients after being discharged. METHODS: COVID-19 patients who were re-hospitalized at the Sakarya University Training and Research Hospital were examined. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), tomography and laboratory results, demographic characteristics, and prognostic results were recorded retrospectively. RESULTS: A total of 60 patients, including 26 males (43.3%) and 34 females (56.7%), with repeated admissions to the hospital for COVID-19 symptoms, were included in the study with a mean age of 56.9 (± 22.5) (median value = 61, age range = 3-88). The number of days of the second hospitalization was statistically significantly higher (p < 0.05). Patient age and number of days of hospitalization were strongly positively correlated (p < 0.01). A total of 11 patients (18%) had negative results in their first RT-PCR and subsequently tested positive in their second hospitalization. In addition, 10 (17.5%) of the patients who underwent thoracic tomography had unilateral involvement, 34 (59.6%) had bilateral involvement, and 13 (22.8%) had no significant results. Note that 4 (6.6%) of the patients re-hospitalized died in the hospital, while 56 (93.4%) were discharged once more. All of the four patients that died were female with a mean age of 81.5 years. CONCLUSION: Particularly patients with advanced age and comorbidities should be examined more carefully when discharged; if their complaints are repeated, they should be advised to quickly contact the emergency service.

Evaluation of re-hospitalized COVID-19 patients in a hospital

SUMMARY PURPOSE: This study intends to investigate the reasons for re-hospitalization, complaints, and prognoses of COVID-19 patients after being discharged. METHODS: COVID-19 patients who were re-hospitalized at the Sakarya University Training and Research Hospital were examined. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), tomography and laboratory results, demographic characteristics, and prognostic results were recorded retrospectively. RESULTS: A total of 60 patients, including 26 males (43.3%) and 34 females (56.7%), with repeated admissions to the hospital for COVID-19 symptoms, were included in the study with a mean age of 56.9 (± 22.5) (median value = 61, age range = 3-88). The number of days of the second hospitalization was statistically significantly higher (p < 0.05). Patient age and number of days of hospitalization were strongly positively correlated (p < 0.01). A total of 11 patients (18%) had negative results in their first RT-PCR and subsequently tested positive in their second hospitalization. In addition, 10 (17.5%) of the patients who underwent thoracic tomography had unilateral involvement, 34 (59.6%) had bilateral involvement, and 13 (22.8%) had no significant results. Note that 4 (6.6%) of the patients re-hospitalized died in the hospital, while 56 (93.4%) were discharged once more. All of the four patients that died were female with a mean age of 81.5 years. CONCLUSION: Particularly patients with advanced age and comorbidities should be examined more carefully when discharged; if their complaints are repeated, they should be advised to quickly contact the emergency service.

RESUMO OBJETIVO: Este estudo pretende investigar as causas para re-hospitalizações, as reclamações e os prognósticos de pacientes com COVID-19 após a alta hospitalar. MÉTODOS: Pacientes com COVID-19 internados que foram re-hospitalizados no Sakarya University Training and Research Hospital foram examinados. Os resultados da reação em cadeia de polimerase precedida de transcrição reversa (RT-PCR), tomografia e dos exames laboratoriais, as características demográficas e os resultados prognósticos foram registrados retrospectivamente. RESULTADOS: Um total de 60 pacientes, 26 do sexo masculino (43,3%) e 34 do sexo feminino (56,7%), com internações repetidas devido a sintomas de COVID-19 foram incluídos no estudo, com uma idade média de 56,9 (± 22,5) (mediana = 61, faixa etária = 3-88). O número de dias da segunda internação foi estatisticamente significativamente maior (p < 0,05). A idade do paciente e o número de dias de internação apresentaram uma forte correlação positiva (p < 0,01). Um total de 11 pacientes (18%) apresentaram resultados negativos no primeiro RT-PCR e posteriormente tiveram resultados positivos na segunda internação. Além disso, 10 (17,5%) dos pacientes submetidos a tomografia de tórax apresentaram envolvimento unilateral, 34 (59,6%) bilateral, e 13 (22,8%) não apresentaram resultados significativos. Nota-se que 4 (6,6%) dos pacientes re-hospitalizados morreram no hospital, enquanto 56 (93,4%) receberam alta mais uma vez. Todos os quatro pacientes que morreram eram do sexo feminino, com idade média de 81,5 anos. CONCLUSÃO: Principalmente pacientes com idade avançada e comorbidades devem ser examinados com mais cuidado no momento da alta hospitalar; caso suas queixas se repitam, eles devem ser aconselhados a contatar o serviço de emergência o quanto antes.

Can COVID-19 Mortality be Predicted in the Emergency Room?

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association ​of white blood cell (WBC) counts, neutrophil, platelets, lymphocyte counts, C-reactive protein (CRP), neutrophil / lymphocyte ratio (NLR), derived NLR ratio (d-NLR), and platelet / lymphocyte ratio (PLR) at the time of first admission for mortality caused by COVID-19. STUDY DESIGN:  Descritive, analytical study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Department of Emergency Medicine, Sakarya University Training and Research Hospital, Turkey from  March 2020 to  May 2020. METHODOLOGY: One hundred and sixty-nine patients with the diagnosis of Covid-19 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into two groups as survivors and non-survivors. Inclusion criteria were age ≥18 years, RT-PCR test positivity, hospitalisation. Patients with missing data were excluded. Data regarding age, gender, WBC counts, neutrophil, platelets, and lymphocyte, CRP, NLR, d-NLR, PLR and comorbid conditions were analysed for mortality. All tests were done with a two-sided significance of 5%. For each endpoint, the absolute and relative effects and their corresponding 95% confidence interval  were calculated. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant association between neutrophil, lymphocyte, CRP, NLR, d-NLR and PLR values (p=0.005, p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001, and p<0.001, respectively) with mortality status of the patients. The cutoff values calculated by this analysis were 67.50 years for age, 5.12 K / µl for neutrophil, 1.12 K / µl for lymphocyte, 67.78 mg / dl for CRP, 3.9 for NLR, 2.55 for d-NLR, and 148.85 for PLR. CONCLUSION: Altered neutrophil and lymphocyte counts, NLR, d-NLR, PLR, and CRP values can be used as early predictors of mortality in Covid-19 patients. Key Words: Covid-19, Mortality, Emergency, NLR, d-NLR, PLR.