Value of Exhaled Nitric Oxide (FeNO) And Eosinophilia During the Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Requiring Hospital Admission.

The aim of this study was to analyze whether FeNO levels in acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD) with hospital admission have better diagnostic value than eosinophilia in blood, and to evaluate its usefulness in predicting a better clinical response. An observational prospective study of patients with AECOPD was carried out. FeNO determinations were made on arrival at the emergency room (ER), at discharge and during stability 3-6 months after discharge. Co-morbidities, bronchodilators, inhaled (IGC) and systemic (SGC) glucocorticoids, eosinophils, systemic inflammation markers (procalcitonin, C-reactive protein), eosinophil cationic protein, and total IgE were collected. Fifty consecutive patients (92% men, mean age 75 ± 6 years) were included in this study. Phenotypes were 26% Asthma-COPD Overlap Syndrome (ACOS), 42% chronic bronchitis (CB) and 32% emphysema. ACOS patients showed significantly higher levels of FeNO (73 ppb) and eosinophils (508 cells/mm3) than the rest (CB: 23 ppb, 184 cells/mm3, emphysema: 27 ppb, 159 cells/mm3; p < 0.05). A significant correlation between FeNO levels measured in ER and eosinophils was observed (r = 0.7; p < 0.001), but not at discharge or in stable phase. No significant association was found with parameters of systemic inflammation and mean stay. In conclusion, the determination of FeNO in AECOPD does not offer advantages over the evaluation of eosinophilia. These parameters rise at arrival in ER, descend at discharge, and remain unchanged in the stable phase. Both present similar diagnostic utility and are able to better identify the ACOS phenotype, which helps select a population that could benefit from a glucocorticoids therapy.

[Multicenter, triple-blind randomized placebo controlled trial of adjuvant nitrous oxide 50% in oxygen 50%: efficacy for reducing pain and increasing satisfaction in patients treated for renal colic in the emergency department]. / Ensayo clínico aleatorizado triple ciego y multicéntrico para evaluar la eficacia en la disminución del dolor y el grado de satisfacción de una mezcla de óxido nitroso y oxígeno (N2O/O2) 50/50 como tratamiento añadido al convencional en los pacientes atendidos por cólico nefrítico en el servicio de urgencias.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the efficacy of a nitrous oxide and oxygen mixture (N2O/O2 50/50) for reducing pain and increasing satisfaction in patients with an initial clinical diagnosis of renal colic in the emergency department. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Multicenter, triple-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial. We randomized 147 patients with a clinical diagnosis of renal colic to an experimental group to receive the N2O/O2 50/50 mixture (n = 70) or a control group to receive 50% oxygen in air (n = 77). Both groups also received conventional analgesia with dexketoprofen plus metamizol and opiates administered sequentially until pain was brought under control; rescue doses of opioids were also available. The endpoints were the reduction in pain intensity expressed on a visual analog scale (VAS) 5 minutes after the start of treatment and the patient's level of satisfaction with treatment on discharge. RESULTS: The mean (SD) reduction in pain 5 minutes after starting analgesic treatment was 1.84 (2.05) VAS points in the intervention group and 1.67 (1.91) in the placebo group. The difference was not significant (P = .603). Neither were between-group differences significant at other pain evaluation times (10, 15, 30, and 60 minutes). Treatment was considered satisfactory (􀀀 9 on a VAS) by 53 of the 70 intervention-group patients (75.7%) and 56 of the 77 (72.7%) placebo-group patients (P = .412). Adverse effects appeared in 33 of the 70 patients (48.5%) who received the N2O/O2 mixture and in 19 patients (24.7%) who received the placebo (P = .003). CONCLUSION: The addition of N2O/O2 50/50 to standard analgesic therapy does not enhance the efficacy of pain control or the satisfaction of patients treated for renal colic in the emergency department.

OBJETIVO: Evaluar la eficacia en la disminución del dolor y el grado de satisfacción de una mezcla de óxido nitroso y oxígeno al 50% (N2O/O2 50/50) añadido al tratamiento convencional en los pacientes atendidos con sospecha de cólico nefrítico en los servicios de urgencias (SU). METODO: Ensayo clínico aleatorizado triple ciego controlado con placebo multicéntrico. Se incluyeron 147 pacientes con el diagnóstico clínico de cólico nefrítico a grupo experimental con N2O/O2 50/50 (N = 70) o grupo control con una mezcla de aire medicinal con una proporción de oxígeno del 50% (N = 77). Ambos grupos recibieron el tratamiento convencional con dexketoprofeno, al que se añadió metamizol y opioides administrados de forma secuencial en caso de no control del dolor, así como medicación de rescate con opioides. La variable de resultado principal fue la reducción en la intensidad de dolor, según la escala visual analgésica (EVA), a los 5 minutos de inicio del tratamiento y el grado de satisfacción del paciente con el tratamiento administrado previo al alta. RESULTADOS: El descenso del dolor medido por la EVA a los 5 minutos de iniciado el tratamiento fue de media 1,84 (DE 2,05) en el grupo tratado con N2O/O2 50/50 y de 1,67 (DE 1,91) en el grupo que recibió el placebo (p = 0,603). Tampoco se encontraron diferencias a los 10, 15, 30 y 60 minutos. La satisfacción con el tratamiento al alta se consideró adecuada (ô€€€ 9) en 53 de 70 pacientes (75,7%) en el grupo de N2O/O2 y en 56 de 77 (72,7%) en el grupo placebo (p = 0,412). Treinta y tres pacientes (48,5%) en el grupo N2O/O2 y 19 pacientes (24,7%) en el grupo placebo presentaron uno o más efectos secundarios (p = 0,003). CONCLUSIONES: La adición de N2O/O2 50/50 al tratamiento estándar no ha demostrado una mayor eficacia en el control del dolor ni en la satisfacción del paciente con un diagnóstico clínico de cólico nefrítico en el SU.

[Prevention of cardiovascular complications associated with diabetes mellitus: hospital emergency department involvement]. / Prevención de las complicaciones cardiovasculares asociadas a la diabetes mellitus en los servicios de urgencias.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the risk profile of patients with diabetes who seek care from hospital emergency departments and emergency department involvement in preventing cardiovascular complications in these patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cross-sectional analysis of case series from 2 Spanish hospital emergency departments. We included all patients with a history or final diagnosis of diabetes mellitus who were treated in the emergency department between November 1, 2010, and June 30, 2011. Each patient's cardiovascular risk profile was analyzed. The main outcome was the appropriate of prescribed treatment to prevent cardiovascular complications according to the 2012 guidelines of the American Diabetes Association on the patient's discharge from emergency care. RESULTS: A total of 298 patients were included; 275 (92%) had type II diabetes. Ninety percent of the series (269 patients) had at least 1 cardiovascular risk factor and 147 (49%) had prior target organ damage; target organ damage was newly diagnosed in 41 (14%). Fifty-eight percent (172 patients) were discharged home from the emergency department. Although 215 patients (72%) were not adhering to at least 1 previously prescribed preventive treatment and 30 (10%) were not adhering to any prescribed treatment, drug prescriptions were modified only in 1.1% to 3.3% of patients and no follow-up was recommended in 42 cases (24%). CONCLUSION: Although diabetic patients treated in emergency departments are at high risk for cardiovascular complications, their visit is not used to optimize preventive treatment for these complications or ensure appropriate follow-up.

OBJETIVO: Analizar el perfil de riesgo y la prescripción de tratamiento para la prevención de complicaciones cardiovasculares en los pacientes diabéticos que acuden a los servicios de urgencias hospitalarios (SUH). METODO: Estudio de series de casos con análisis transversal llevado a cabo en dos SUH españoles. Se incluyeron de forma consecutiva todos los pacientes con antecedentes o diagnóstico final de diabetes mellitus entre 1 de noviembre de 2010 y 30 de junio de 2011. Se analizó su perfil de riesgo cardiovascular y se consideró como variable de resultado principal la prescripción de tratamiento para la prevención de las complicaciones cardiovasculares al alta del SUH de acuerdo a las recomendaciones de la American Diabetes Association de 2012. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron 298 pacientes diabéticos, 275 (92%) tipo 2. De ellos 269 (90%) presentaban algún otro factor de riesgo cardiovascular, 147 (49%) lesión previa de órgano diana y 41 (14%) lesión nueva de órgano diana. Ciento setenta y dos pacientes (58%) fueron dados de alta desde el SUH. Aunque 215 pacientes (72%) no cumplían previamente alguna y 30 (10%) ninguna de las recomendaciones de prevención, sólo se modificó el tratamiento farmacológico en un rango de un 1,1% a 3,3% de los pacientes y no se recomendó seguimiento posterior en 42 casos (24%). CONCLUSIONES: Aunque los pacientes diabéticos atendidos en los SUH presentan un elevado riesgo cardiovascular, no se aprovecha esta oportunidad para optimizar el tratamiento de la prevención de las complicaciones cardiovasculares ni garantizar un seguimiento adecuado.