Value of integrated pulmonary index to predict exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary Disease's severity.

PURPOSE: In this study, we aimed to examine the correlation between current prognostic scores and the integrated pulmonary index (IPI) in patients admitted to the emergency department (ED) with exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and the diagnostic value of using the IPI in combination with other scores in determining patients who can be discharged safely. METHODS: This study was conducted as a multicenter and prospective observational study between August 2021 and June 2022. Patients diagnosed with COPD exacerbation (eCOPD) at the ED were included in the study and they were grouped according to the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) classification. The CURB-65 (Confusion, Urea, Respiratory rate, Blood pressure, and age older than 65 years), BAP-65 (Blood urea nitrogen, Altered mental status, Pulse rate, and age older than 65 years), and DECAF (Dyspnea, Eosinopenia, Consolidation, Academia, and atrial Fibrillation) scores and IPI values of the patients were recorded. The correlation between the IPI and the other scores and its diagnostic value in detecting mild eCOPD were examined. The diagnostic value of CURB-IPI, a new score created by the combination of CURB-65 and IPI, in mild eCOPD was examined. RESULTS: The study was carried out with 110 patients (49 female and 61 male), mean age of 67 (min/max: 40/97). The IPI and CURB-65 had better predictive value in detecting mild exacerbations than DECAF and BAP-65 scores [Area under curves (AUC) were 0.893, 0.795, 0.735, 0.541 respectively]. The CURB-IPI score, on the other hand, had the best predictive value for detecting mild exacerbations (AUC 0.909). CONCLUSION: We found that the IPI has good predictive value in the detection of mild COPD exacerbations, and its predictive value increases when used in combination with CURB-65. We think that the CURB-IPI score can be a guide when deciding whether patients with exacerbation of COPD can be discharged.

The effect of patient weight on the success of converting sinus rhythm in patients with PSVT treated with standard dose adenosine.

PURPOSE: The study aimed to investigate whether there is a difference in the amount of adenosine per kilogram (mg/kg) between the patient groups that can and cannot be converted to sinus rhythm (SR) with adenosine therapy in patients with supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). MATERIAL AND METHOD: This single-centered, retrospectively designed study was conducted in the ED of a training and research hospital between December 1, 2019 and December 1, 2022 on patients who were admitted to the ED with SVT diagnosis and treated with a 6-12-18 mg adenosine protocol. The main analyses were carried out in three stages. The first analysis was performed considering the first 6 mg dose of adenosine administered. The second analysis was performed by considering the 12 mg adenosine administered as the second dose because it did not respond to the first dose. Finally, the third analysis was performed by considering the 18 mg adenosine administered as the third dose because it did not respond to preciously dosages. The primary outcome variable was determined to be converting SR and created two groups according to this; the success SR group and the failure SR group. RESULTS: During the study period, 73 patients who were admitted to the ED with PSVT diagnosis and treated with intravenous adenosine were included. After the first 6 mg of adenosine treatment was administered to all 73 patients, SR was achieved in only 38% of patients. The mean adenosine dose (mg/kg) was significantly lower in the failure SR group, 0.07373 ± 0.014, compared with 0.08885 ± 0.017 mg/kg in the success SR group (mean difference with 95% CI: -0.01511 [-0.023 to -0.0071]; p < 0.001). In the second and third stage analyses, considering 12 and 18 mg adenosine doses, when the administrations with successful and failed SR were compared, no difference was found in terms of the applied adenosine doses per kilogram. CONCLUSION: This study suggest that the success of terminating SVT with the first 6 mg dose of adenosine appears to be dependent on patient weight. In patients given larger doses of adenosine, determinants of PSVT termination success may be factors other than patient weight.

Comparison of whole body computed tomography findings with physician predictions in high-energy blunt trauma patients: prospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: The whole-body computed tomography (WBCT) procedure is increasingly common in evaluating patients presenting with high-energy trauma. However, it remains unclear in which population WBCT provides benefit and whether its routine application is truly beneficial. In this study, we aimed to compare physician predictions with WBCT findings in patients with high-energy blunt trauma. METHODS: The study was conducted as a single-center prospective observational study at a tertiary center. Patients presenting with high-energy blunt trauma between 01.03.2021-01.03.2023 were included. Both physician predictions and WBCT findings were recorded and compared in three categories: "no pathology," "no life-threatening pathology," and "life-threatening pathology." The predictive values of physician predictions for each category were calculated. The characteristics of patients evaluated as less severe than predicted by clinicians were examined. RESULTS: The study included a total of 92 patients. The median age was 27 years (IQR 25-75; 20-54). Among the patients, 27 (%) had life-threatening injuries according to CT findings in any region. A total of 34 (37%) patients were predicted by physicians to have "no pathology" in all three regions. Among these patients, none had life-threatening pathology in all three regions. There were 10 (10.9%) patients with CT findings more severe than physician predictions in at least one region. The sensitivity of physician predictions for life-threatening injury to the head/cervical region was 94.1% (95% CI: 71.3-99.9). For life-threatening injury to the chest, the sensitivity was 85.7% (95% CI: 42.1-99.6). For the presence of life-threatening abdominal pathology, the sensitivity was 100% (95% CI: 63.1-100). CONCLUSiON: It appears reasonable to utilize WBCT in patients where physicians expect life-threatening injury in any system. However, in cases where no pathology is expected in any system according to clinical prediction, we believe that performing WBCT solely based on trauma mechanism will not provide sufficient benefit.

Have Chest Imaging Habits Changed in the Emergency Department after the Pandemic?

The rate of patients undergoing tomography in the emergency department has increased in the last two decades. In the last few years, there has been a more significant increase due to the effects of the pandemic. This study aimed to determine the rate of patients who underwent chest imaging in the emergency department, the preferred imaging method, and the demographic characteristics of the patients undergoing imaging during the pre-pandemic and post-pandemic periods. This retrospective cross-sectional study included patients admitted to the emergency department between January 2019 and March 2023. The number of female, male, and total emergency admissions, the rate of patients who underwent chest X-ray (CXR) and chest computed tomography (CCT), and the age and gender distribution of the cases who underwent chest imaging were compared according to the pre-pandemic (January 2019-February 2020), pandemic (March 2020-March 2022), and post-pandemic (April 2022-March 2023) periods. Total emergency admissions were similar in the pre-pandemic and post-pandemic periods (pre-pandemic period: 21,984 ± 2087; post-pandemic period: 22,732 ± 1701). Compared to the pre-pandemic period, the CCT rate increased (pre-pandemic period: 4.9 ± 0.9, post-pandemic period: 7.46 ± 1.2), and the CXR rate decreased (pre-pandemic period: 16.6 ± 1.7%, post-pandemic period: 13.3 ± 1.9%) in the post-pandemic period (p < 0.001). The mean age of patients who underwent chest imaging (CXR; Pre-pandemic period: 56.6 ± 1.1 years; post-pandemic period: 53.3 ± 5.6 years. CCT; Pre-pandemic period: 68.5 ± 1.7 years; post-pandemic period: 61 ± 4.0 years) in the post-pandemic period was lower than in the pre-pandemic period (p < 0.001). Chest imaging preferences in the emergency department have changed during the post-pandemic period. In the post-pandemic period, while younger patients underwent chest imaging in the emergency department, CCT was preferred, and the rate of CXR decreased. It is alarming for public health that patients are exposed to higher doses of radiation at a younger age.