Effects of Clinical Frailty Scale Score on Adverse Outcomes and Length of Emergency Department Stay Before Intensive Care Unit Admission.

BACKGROUND: Older adults living with frailty who require treatment in hospitals are increasingly seen in emergency departments (EDs). OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the effects of frailty severity according to the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) on adverse outcomes and length of stay in the ED before intensive care unit (ICU) admission. METHODS: We conducted this prospective observational study with patients 65 years or older and admitted to the ICU from March 1, 2021 to December 31, 2022. We divided the patients into four groups according to their CFS scores. We determined the effects of frailty severity on length of ED stay and clinical outcomes using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Of the 920 patients included in the study, 25.4% were nonfrail, 26.2% had mild frailty, 25.9% had moderate frailty, and 22.5% had severe frailty. In the regression analysis, compared with those who were nonfrail, the length of ED stay was significantly longer for those with moderate frailty (odds ratio [OR] 2.13; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.63-2.90) or severe frailty (OR 3.32; 95% CI 1.92-3.87), but the result was not significant for those with mild frailty (OR 1.65; 95% CI 1.21-2.45). ICU mortality was significantly higher among patients with mild, moderate, or severe frailty than among those who were nonfrail. CONCLUSIONS: We found CFS score to be a predictor of length of ED stay and adverse outcomes. Accordingly, CFS evaluation can provide an idea of the length of ED stay and the likelihood of adverse outcomes.

Usefulness of the four-variable formula on serial electrocardiograms in detecting subtle anterior myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVE: To perform serial electrocardiogram (ECG) analyses in patients with subtle ECG changes in the anterior leads and evaluate the performance of the four-variable formula in detecting left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery occlusion. METHODS: This prospective study included patients admitted to the emergency department with acute chest pain between April 2021 and January 2023, whose initial ECG was not diagnostic but indicated suspicion of myocardial infarction (MI) and who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention in their follow-up. The control group consisted of patients who were diagnosed with benign variant ST-segment elevation (BV-STE) due to ST-segment elevation (STE) of at least 1 mm in the anterior lead, who had normal cardiac troponin levels, and who presented with non-cardiac chest pain. Following admission, six ECGs were taken at 10-min intervals. The scores of all patients were calculated with the four-variable formula on serial ECGs and compared between the groups. RESULTS: A total of 232 patients, including 116 with anterior MI and 116 with BV-STE, were included in the study. When the cut-off value for the four-variable formula was taken as ≥18.2, the sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy of the first ECG were determined to be 82.7%, 85.3%, and 83.6%, respectively. We found that the four-variable formula had the highest sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy in detecting LAD occlusion for the ECG taken at the 20th minute (83.6%, 89.6%, and 86.2%, respectively). CONCLUSION: The four-variable formula was found to be a valid method for the differentiation of STEMI and BV-STE in patients with subtle ECG changes. While managing this patient group, using serial ECGs rather than a single ECG to evaluate the clinical status of patients can help clinicians make more accurate decisions.

The Use of PECARN and CATCH Rules in Children With Minor Head Trauma Presenting to Emergency Department 24 Hours After Injury.

OBJECTIVE: Major studies (PECARN [Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network], CATCH [Canadian Assessment of Childhood Head Injury]) that regulate the use of computed tomography (CT) algorithms in children with minor head trauma (MHT) have been conducted among children presenting in 24 hours after injury. In this study, we aimed to compare use and results of PECARN and CATCH rules in children presenting in and after 24 hours following injury. METHODS: Records of children who were admitted to emergency department and underwent CT imaging because of MHT during a 5-year period were retrospectively reviewed. Efficacy of PECARN and CATCH rules was investigated for predicting traumatic CT findings in patients presenting in and after 24 hours. Logistic regression was performed to evaluate whether presenting after 24 hours affected the ability of guidelines in predicting traumatic CT findings. RESULTS: This study included 2490 patients who met the criteria. Of these patients, 6.7% (168/2490) presented after 24 hours following injury. Traumatic CT findings were found in 6.7% (168/2490) of patients. This rate was 6.9% (161/2322) in those presenting in 24 hours and 4.2% (7/168) in those presenting after 24 hours, and there was no significant difference in the incidence of traumatic CT findings between the 2 groups (P = 0.17). Among children presenting in 24 hours, the sensitivity of PECARN was 96.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 91.7%-98.5%), whereas the sensitivity of CATCH was 91.9% (95% CI, 86.3%-95.4%) in detecting traumatic intracranial injury. The sensitivity of both PECARN and CATCH was 85.7% (95% CI, 42.0%-99.2%) among children presenting after 24 hours. Presence of CT scan indication according to PECARN statistically predicted intracranial damage, and this was not affected by the admission time. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with MHT presenting after 24 hours following injury constitute a clinically important population. Regardless of the admission time, current guidelines predict traumatic CT abnormalities.

Impact of chronic medical conditions on mortality in geriatric trauma, 10-year analysis of a single centre in Turkey.

BACKGROUND: The healthy and active lifestyle adopted by the elderly as a result of improvements in the standards of living may lead to an increase in the risk of injury. Comorbidities increase the risk of posttraumatic complications and mortality. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of chronic medical conditions (CMCs) on the risk of mortality in geriatric trauma patients. METHODS: All geriatric trauma patients admitted to emergency department over a 10-year period were retrospectively analysed. Patients were stratified by baseline characteristics, injury severity score (ISS), presence of CMCs, and in-hospital mortality. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine variables significantly associated with in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: 9455 patients included in the study. The median age was 74 (10) years and 57% of them were female. The presence of ≥1 CMC and ≥2 CMCs increased the risk of mortality 5.64 and 2.38 times respectively in mild traumas and 2.67 and 2.59 times respectively in moderate traumas. Age, ISS and penetrating traumas had a significant impact on the risk of mortality in all ISS groups. In severe traumas, only renal disease had an impact on the risk of mortality (OR = 2.58, 95%CI = 1.03-6.43, p = 0.042). All other CMCs, ≥1 CMC, and ≥2 CMCs had no impact on the risk of mortality. CONCLUSION: The presence of CMCs in elderly patients with mild and moderate injuries increases the risk of mortality. Such patients should be diagnosed and treated more quickly and aggressively during the prehospital process and in the hospital.

Clinical predictors of delayed neurological sequelae in charcoal-burning carbon monoxide poisoning.

BACKGROUND: The main objective of the treatment of acute carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is to prevent delayed neurological sequelae (DNS). However, today there is still no objective screening tool to identify patients at high risk of developing DNS. The aim of this study was to identify clinical factors that could predict DNS after acute charcoal-burning CO poisoning. METHODS: This prospective observational study was conducted from September 1, 2019 to August 31, 2020 in a single academic medical center. Patients older than 18 years of age suffering from charcoal-burning CO poisoning were included in the study. After acute recovery, patients were followed up for six weeks to investigate for DNS development. The clinical predictors of DNS were determined using a multivariate logistic regression model. RESULTS: Of the 217 patients-113 males (52.1%), median age 37.0 (27.5-51.5) years-included, 49 (22.6%) developed DNS. The multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed the independent predictors of DNS as a lower initial Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score (adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 0.73, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.62-0.87), a longer duration of CO exposure (AOR: 2.18, 95% CI: 1.65-2.88), and the presence of acute brain lesions with high signal intensity on diffusion-weighted imaging (AOR: 5.22, 95% CI: 1.50-18.08). The created multivariate regression model predicted DNS development with high accuracy (area under the curve: 0.93, 95% CI: 0.89-0.97). CONCLUSION: A low initial GCS score, longer exposure to CO and abnormal findings on diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging can assist in the early identification of patients at high risk of DNS development.

An effective treatment option for pain caused by urolithiasis: A randomised-controlled trial of local active warming with heat-patch.

BACKGROUND: There is growing interest in physical medicine treatment options for renal colic. In this study, we aimed to determine whether or not heat-patch treatment with no drug was effective in relieving renal colic. METHODS: For this purpose, patients who were diagnosed with renal colic in the emergency department were randomised to have either heat-patch or sham treatment. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores of renal colic, body temperature (Btemp), and sub-patch skin temperature (Stemp) values were measured at 0, 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes. In addition, the salvage treatment needs of the groups were compared. RESULTS: The average age of the study group was 30.5 ± 8.3 years and that of the sham group was 31.0 ± 8.2 years (P = .75). According to the baseline VAS score of the patients, 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes VAS scores significantly decreased in the heat-patch group (P < .001). The Btemp values did not differ significantly between the heat-patch and sham groups. In addition, no statistically significant difference was found between the two groups in terms of Stemp values at 0 and 15 minutes (P = .39 and P = .10, respectively). However, there was a significant difference in the heat-patch group in terms of Stemp values at 30, 45, and 60 minutes compared with the sham group (P < .001). The salvage treatment rates for the heat-patch and sham groups were 11.5% and 31.4%, respectively (P = .01). CONCLUSION: As non-pharmaceutical treatment, the heat-patch has been shown to be a possible candidate for pain relief in patients with urolithiasis. Further research should concentrate on multicentre and large scale randomised studies.

Effectiveness of Clinical Risk Factors in the Detection of Central Pathology in Patients With Isolated Vertigo.

BACKGROUND: There is no clinical guidance for the indications of neuroimaging in patients with isolated vertigo. The differential diagnosis of isolated vertigo can be challenging for emergency physicians. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify the risk factors that increase the likelihood of detecting a central pathology in patients who present with isolated vertigo and in whom peripheral vertigo is considered. METHODS: Patients imaged using neuroimaging, including diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) with head computed tomography (CT), for isolated vertigo over a 3-year period were identified retrospectively. The patients were divided into two groups-a positive neuroimaging group and a negative neuroimaging group-according to the abnormal lesions in the head CT and DW-MRI results. We reviewed the medical records to identify presenting symptoms and signs, vascular risk factors, history of vertigo, medical comorbidities, and diagnostic imaging results (i.e., head CT and DW-MRI). RESULTS: Two hundred and seventy-nine patients were included: 231 in the negative neuroimaging group (82.8%) and 48 in the positive neuroimaging group (17.2%). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed. It was found in the regression analysis that being 65 years or older (odds ratio [OR] 2.53; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.29-4.96; p = 0.006), having two or more vascular risk factors (OR 2.45; 95% CI 1.10-5.46; p = 0.028), and not responding to the treatment (OR 2.57; 95% CI 1.08-6.14; p = 0.033) increased the likelihood of detecting a pathology in neuroimaging. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that patients unresponsive to ED treatment, 65 years or older, and with two or more vascular risk factors, should alert physicians for central causes and increase the yield of neuroimaging.

Argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions as a promising biomarker for the detection of brain hypoxia levels caused by different doses of carbon monoxide poisoning.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the study is to investigate whether there is any relationship between mean argyrophilic nucleolar organizing regions (AgNOR) number and total AgNOR area/total nuclear area (TAA/TNA) ratio and the levels of brain hypoxia after exposure to different acute doses of carbon monoxide (CO) gas. METHODS: Each experimental group was exposed to CO gas (concentrations of 1,000, 3,000 and 5,000 ppm). Then, the rats were anesthetized, and blood samples were taken from the right jugular vein for carboxyhemoglobin levels detection. The rats were sacrificed on seventh day. AgNOR staining was applied to brain tissues. TAA/TNA and mean AgNOR number were detected for each nucleus. RESULTS: Significant differences were detected among all groups for TAA/TNA ratio, mean AgNOR number and carboxyhemoglobin level. According to a double comparison of groups, the differences between control and 1,000 ppm, control and 3,000 ppm, control and 5,000 ppm, and between 1,000 and 5,000 ppm were significant for TAA/TNA ratio. When mean AgNOR number was considered, significant differences were detected between control and 1,000 ppm, control and 3,000 ppm, control and 5,000 ppm, and between 1,000 and 3,000 ppm. CONCLUSION: AgNOR proteins may be used for early detection of the duration, intensity, and damage of brain injury caused by CO poisoning. Thus, effective treatment strategies can be developed for the prevention of hypoxic conditions.

OBJETIVOS: El objetivo del estudio es investigar si existe alguna relación entre el número medio de regiones organizadoras nucleolares argirófilas (AgNOR) y la proporción de área total de AgNOR/área nuclear total (TAA/TNA) y los niveles de ­hipoxia cerebral en la exposición a diferentes dosis agudas de gas monóxido de carbono (CO). MÉTODOS: Cada grupo experimental fue expuesto a gas CO (concentraciones de 1,000, 3,000 y 5,000 ppm). Luego las ratas fueron anestesiadas, se tomaron muestras de sangre de la vena yugular derecha para la detección de los niveles de carboxihemoglobina. Las ratas se sacrificaron el séptimo día. Se aplicó tinción con AgNOR en los tejidos cerebrales. Se detectaron el TAA/TNA y el número medio de AgNOR para cada núcleo. RESULTADOS: Se detectaron diferencias significativas entre todos los grupos para la relación TAA/TNA, el número medio de AgNOR y el nivel de carboxihemoglobina. Según la doble comparación de grupos, las diferencias entre control y 1,000 ppm, control y 3,000 ppm, control y 5,000 ppm y 1,000 y 5,000 ppm fueron significativas para la relación TAA/TNA. Cuando se consideró el número de AgNOR medio, se detectaron diferencias significativas entre control y 1,000ppm, control y 3,000ppm, control y 5,000 ppm y 1,000 y 3,000 ppm. CONCLUSIÓN: Las proteínas AgNOR pueden usarse para la detección temprana de la duración, intensidad y daño de la lesión cerebral causada por la intoxicación por CO. Por lo tanto, se pueden desarrollar estrategias de tratamiento efectivas para la prevención de condiciones hipóxicas.

Influenza and COVID-19 coinfection: Report of six cases and review of the literature.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused infection in a season when influenza is still prevalent. Both viruses have similar transmission characteristics and common clinical manifestations. Influenza has been described to cause respiratory infection with some other respiratory pathogens. However, the information of COVID-19 and influenza coinfection is limited. In this study, we reported our coinfected cases and reviewed the literature. We included all COVID-19 diagnosed patients. All patients with a presumed diagnosis of COVID-19 were routinely screened for influenza. Their thorax radiology was reviewed for COVID-19-influenza differentiation. During the study period, 1103 patients have been diagnosed with COVID-19. Among them, six patients (0.54%) were diagnosed coinfected with influenza. There have been 28 more coinfected patients reported. Laboratory-based screening studies reported more patients. Thorax radiology findings were compatible with COVID-19 in five and with influenza in one of our patients. Our cases were mild to moderate in severity. The reported cases in the literature included patients died (n = 2) and those living ventilator dependent or under mechanical ventilation. COVID-19 and influenza coinfection is rare. Screening studies report more cases, suggesting that unless screening patients with COVID-19, the coinfection remains undiagnosed and underestimated. Increasing experience in thoracic radiology may contribute to diagnose the responsible virus(es) from the clinical illness. Influenza vaccine for larger population groups can be recommended to simplify clinicians' work.

Lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase levels are associated with the severity of pulmonary embolism.

Pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) is an acute emergency with high mortality and morbidity rates. This study aimed to investigate the importance of Lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase (L-PGDS) in predicting mortality and prognosis in PTE. The study prospectively included 90 patients who were admitted to the emergency department and in whom PTE was confirmed by computed tomographic pulmonary angiography as well as 40 healthy volunteers with no disease. L-PGDS levels in the venous blood were measured and compared. Pulmonary embolism severity index (PESI) prognosis scores of all patients and 1-month mortality rate were calculated. There was a statistically significant difference between the L-PGDS levels of the patient and control groups (P = 0.024), and 1-month mortality of patients diagnosed with PTE was 20% (n = 18). Furthermore, the patients were divided into two groups: patients deceased within 1 month following the diagnosis and survivors. L-PGDS levels of the deceased patients were significantly higher than those of the survivors (P < 0.001). Age, systolic blood pressure, pulse, shock index, lactate, and PESI scores were significantly different between the survivors and deceased patients. The cut-off value for L-PGDS obtained using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis for 1-month mortality was 815.26 ng/mL (sensitivity: 83.33%; specificity: 79.17%; area under the curve: 0.851; 95% confidence interval 0.760-0.917; P < 0.001). Based on this cut-off value, logistic regression analysis revealed that increased L-PGDS, together with PESI, was an independent indicator of 1-month mortality. L-PGDS is associated with short-term mortality in patients with PTE; therefore, it can be used to predict mortality risk in patients with PTE.

Scientific Publication Productivity of Emergency Physicians: A Bibliometric Analysis of the Last Decade.

BACKGROUND: A significant increase has been observed in scientific research in emergency medicine in the past 10 years. However, the contribution of emergency physicians (EPs) to the emergency medicine literature is not known. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze the contribution of EPs to the emergency medicine literature and their scientific publication productivity during a recent 10-year period. METHODS: Manuscripts published by EPs in emergency medicine journals in the Science Citation Index Expanded database during a recent 10-year period (2008-2017) were included in the study. The number of articles published by EPs, the distribution of the manuscripts by country and year, the impact factors, the citations per article, and the Hirsch (H) index were determined. RESULTS: A total of 15,281 original articles were published in a total of 24 journals by all EPs worldwide between 2008 and 2017. EPs from the United States published the highest number of articles (54.4% of all articles), followed by Canada (7.2%), Australia (6.2%), Turkey (4.3%), and the UK (4.1%). The countries with the highest H index were the United States (80), Canada (43), and the UK (40), respectively. South Korea had the highest increase in scientific production during the 10-year period (average annual growth rate of 17.89%). CONCLUSIONS: The number of articles increased from 2008 to 2017 in the whole world and in the United States. EPs from the United States were the most productive, both qualitatively and quantitatively.

Prognostic importance of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio in critically ill patients: short- and long-term outcomes.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The number of critically ill patients admitted to the emergency department increases daily. To decrease mortality, interventions and treatments should be conducted in a timely manner. It has been found that the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is related to mortality in some disease groups, such as acute coronary syndrome and pulmonary emboli. The effect of the NLR on mortality is unknown in critically ill patients who are admitted to the emergency department. Our aim in this study is to evaluate the effect of the NLR on mortality in critically ill patients. METHODS: This study was planned as a prospective, observational cohort study. Patients who were admitted to the emergency department because they were critically ill and required the intensive care unit were included in the study. Demographic characteristics, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II), Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment, Glasgow Coma Score, and NLR values were recorded upon emergency department admission. The patients were followed up for sepsis, ventilator-associated pneumonia, multiorgan failure, in-hospital mortality, and 6-month mortality. RESULTS: The median (interquartile range) age of the 373 patients was 74 (190) years, and 54.4% were men. Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio values were divided into quartiles, as follows: less than 3.48, 3.48 to 6.73, 6.74-13.6, and more than 13.6. There was no difference among these 4 groups regarding demographic characteristics, APACHE II score, Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment score, Glasgow Coma Score, and length of hospital stay (P>.05). In the multivariable Cox regression model, in-hospital mortality and 6-month mortality NLR were hazard ratio (HR), 1.63 (1.110-2.415; P=.01) and HR, 1.58 (1.136-2.213; P=.007), respectively, and APACHE II scores were detected as independent indicators. CONCLUSION: The NLR is a simple, cheap, rapidly available, and independent indicator of short- and long-term mortalities. We suggest that the NLR can provide direction to emergency department physicians for interventions, particularly within a few hours after admission, in the critically ill patient group.

Role of the systemic immune-inflammation index in predicting spontaneous stone passage in patients with renal colic.

OBJECTIVES: Renal colic (RC) is one of the most frequent reasons for presentation to the emergency department (ED) and creates a high economic and medical burden. Management strategies for RC range from waiting for spontaneous passage to surgical intervention. However, factors determining spontaneous stone passage (SSP) are still poorly understood. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to investigate the role of the systemic immune-inflammatory index (SII) in predicting SSP. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the data of 924 patients aged over 18 years, who were diagnosed with RC in our clinic between 1 January 2019, and 30 May 2022, and had ureteral stones of ≤ 10 mm. The patients were divided into two groups according to whether they had SSP. The clinical and laboratory characteristics of the patients in the ED were evaluated. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and SII (neutrophil count x platelet count/lymphocyte count) values of the patients were calculated. Stone size and location were also recorded. RESULTS: In the univariate analysis of SSP, a ureteral stone size of ≤ 5 mm (p < 0.001), distal ureteral location (p < 0.001), SII (p < 0.001), NLR (p < 0.001), and PLR (p = 0.036) were significantly correlated with SSP. ROC analysis showed that an SII level < 721.8 (Sensitivity %82.6, Specificity %74.7, p < 0.001) was an independent predictor of SSP. CONCLUSION: Our findings showed that a low SII level was associated with SSP and could be used as a predictive marker of SSP as a more valuable parameter than NLR. SII and NLR, together with other indicators, are inflammatory markers that can be used in the clinical decision-making process for ureteral stone treatment.

Determination of the Cricothyroid Membrane Height by Age and Sex and Optimal Tracheal Tube Size.

OBJECTIVES: The primary aim of this study was to determine the average cricothyroid membrane (CTM) height in healthy volunteers, and the secondary aim was to determine the hypothetical success rate for emergency cricothyrotomy with a tracheal tube with an 8.0 mm outer diameter. METHODS: This study included healthy volunteers aged 18 years and older. The participants' clinical characteristics were recorded, and their CTM height was measured using ultrasound, with their necks placed sequentially in the neutral and extension positions. The relationship between the CTM height and sex, age, height, weight, body mass index, and sternomental distance was evaluated using linear regression analysis. An equation that could estimate the height of the CTM was obtained with the parameters found significant in this analysis. RESULTS: Of the 340 participants, 208 (61.2%) were male. The mean (SD) height of the CTM in the extension position was 9.60 (1.54) mm, and it was significantly shorter in the women than in the men (8.72 [1.19] mm vs. 10.16 [1.48] mm, p < 0.001). Among the participants of short stature, the CTM was significantly shorter, regardless of sex. The hypothetical success rate for emergency cricothyrotomy was 93.3% for the males and 73.5% for the females. The equation for estimating the height of the CTM in the extension position was determined as -4.36 + 5.27 × height (m) + 0.32 × sternomental distance (cm). CONCLUSIONS: Since the CTM height may differ according to age, sex, and height, cricothyrotomy sets should be available in various outer diameters. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA Laryngoscope, 134:1825-1830, 2024.

Performance of the systemic immune-inflammation index in predicting survival to discharge in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Objective: To investigate whether the systemic immune-inflammatory index (SII) could be used as a prognostic marker of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Methods: We evaluated patients aged 18 years and older, who presented to the emergency department (ED) due to OHCA between January 2019 and December 2021 and achieved the return of spontaneous circulation after successful resuscitation. Routine laboratory tests were obtained from the first blood samples measured following the patients' admission to ED. The neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) were calculated by dividing the neutrophil and platelet counts by the lymphocyte count. SII was calculated as platelets × neutrophils / lymphocytes. Results: Among the 237 patients with OHCA included in the study, the in-hospital mortality rate was 82.7%. The SII, NLR, and PLR values were statistically significantly lower in the surviving group than in the deceased group. The multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that SII [odds ratio (OR): 0.68, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.56-0.84, p = 0.004] was an independent predictor of survival to discharge. In the receiver operating characteristic analysis, the power of SII to predict survival to discharge [area under the curve (AUC): 0.798] was higher than either NLR (AUC: 0.739) or PLR (AUC: 0.632) alone. SII values below 700.8% predicted survival to discharge with 80.6% sensitivity and 70.7% specificity. Conclusion: Our findings showed that SII was more valuable than NLR and PLR in predicting survival to discharge and could be used as a predictive marker for this purpose.

Diagnostic Value of Lateral Ankle Radiography in Achilles Tendon Rupture.

INTRODUCTION: Achilles tendon rupture (ATR) is a common sports injury, but approximately 20% of acute ATR cases are misdiagnosed as ankle sprains at first presentation. This study aimed to investigate the diagnostic value of lateral ankle radiography in the diagnosis of acute ATR. METHODS: This was a retrospective case-control study in which the lateral ankle radiographs of patients who presented to the emergency department between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2019 were examined. The study included a total of 154 patients with acute ATR, who underwent lateral ankle radiography at the presentation and were surgically or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirmed to have ATR in our hospital. The lateral ankle radiographs of the patients were examined by 2 clinicians blinded to clinical data for the following 3 findings: Kager's fat pad sign, tibio-first metatarsal angle, and tibiocalcaneal angle. The same procedure was repeated for 308 controls who underwent lateral ankle radiography and were diagnosed with ankle sprain. RESULTS: Kager's fat pad sign was detected in 133 (86.4%) of the 154 patients with ATR and 26 (8.4%) of the 308 patients in the control group. The Kager's fat pad sign, tibio-first metatarsal angle, and tibiocalcaneal angle sensitivity values for the diagnosis of ATR were 86.4%, 61.7%, and 65.6%, respectively, and their specificity values were 91.6%, 78.9%, and 56.2%, respectively. Interobserver reliability was determined to be good for all 3 radiographic findings. CONCLUSION: Clinicians should be particularly aware of Kager's fat pad sign when examining lateral ankle radiographs for ankle injury. LEVELS OF EVIDENCE: Level IV: Case control study.

Traumatic Tympanic Membrane Perforation in Children in the Emergency Department: Comparison of Spontaneous Closure and Paper Patch.

Objective There are different clinical approaches for traumatic tympanic membrane perforation in the pediatric age group. The purpose of this study was to compare spontaneous recovery and the paper patch procedure and to analyze the factors that play a role in recovery. Materials and methods Pediatric patients who were admitted to the Emergency Department between January 2014 and June 2019 due to traumatic tympanic membrane perforation were investigated. Among these patients, medical records of cases followed by the otorhinolaryngology clinic for spontaneous closure or paper patch procedure were retrospectively examined. Medical records of a total number of 71 patients aged 2-16 years (33 females, 38 males) were analyzed. Results The overall closure rate was 89.75% (64/71). Although there was no difference between the groups of small- and medium-size perforations in terms of closure rates, the closure rate in large perforations was 90.9% in the paper patch group and 63.6% in the spontaneous closure group, and the difference between these two groups was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Additionally, the closure rate in the paper patch group (91.6%) was found to be significantly higher than that in the spontaneous closure group (58.3%) in the presence of a perforation contacting the malleus (p > 0.05). Conclusion Both procedures can be employed in pediatric cases of traumatic tympanic membrane perforation with high success rates. However, in case of a large perforation or a perforation contacting the malleus that is detected in the Emergency Department, it is necessary to refer the patients to the otorhinolaryngology clinic immediately for paper patch procedure instead of following up the patients for spontaneous closure.

Serum netrin-1 levels at presentation and delayed neurological sequelae in unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning.

Objectives: The early identification of patients with a high risk of developing delayed neurological sequelae (DNS) can improve the quality of care in carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning cases. The aim of this study is to investigate whether the serum netrin-1 levels measured at presentation to the emergency department (ED) predicted the development of DNS after acute CO intoxication.Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted between 1 August 2018 and 31 July 2019 in a single tertiary hospital. The patients with acute CO intoxication and serum netrin-1 levels measured at the time of ED presentation were included in the study. All patients were followed up for six weeks regarding the development of DNS. The patients were divided into two groups, including those who developed DNS (DNS group) and those who did not (non-DNS group).Results: A total of 183 patients were included in the study, and 54 (29.5%) developed DNS. The median serum netrin-1 level at ED presentation was significantly lower in the DNS group (391.5 pg/mL [263.0-550.5]) than in the non-DNS group (626.0 pg/mL [505.9-755.6]) (p < .001). Multivariate analysis revealed that a low serum netrin-1 level (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 8.02, 95% CI: 2.45-26.20), low Glasgow coma scale (GCS) score at ED presentation (AOR: 0.81, 95% CI: 0.68-0.97), long CO exposure time (AOR: 1.96, 95% CI: 1.49-2.56), and the presence of acute brain lesions (AOR: 8.24, 95% CI: 2.37-28.58) on diffusion-weighted imaging were independent predictors of DNS. Serum netrin-1 levels less than 432 pg/mL predicted the development of DNS with a sensitivity of 68.5% (95% CI: 54.4%-80.5%) and a specificity of 86.0% (95% CI: 78.8%-91.5%).Conclusions: Low serum netrin-1 levels were significantly associated with the development of DNS. Therefore, serum netrin-1 at ED presentation can help identify patients at risk of developing DNS following discharge.

Effect of Serum Netrin-1 Levels on Diagnosis and Prognosis in Patients Admitted to the Emergency Service for Acute Coronary Syndrome.

Background Netrin-1 is a recently discovered diagnostic biomarker that indicates atherosclerosis, angiogenesis, and ischemia-reperfusion damage. There are no human studies about Netrin-1 in acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The purpose of the present study was to investigate Netrin-1 levels in the early diagnosis and successful reperfusion of ACS. Method The study was conducted with 188 patients diagnosed with ACS and 50 healthy subjects at the emergency unit in a prospective design. Blood samples were collected from the patient group at initial admission and after angiography. The control group consisted of healthy adult subjects without any disease. Netrin-1 levels were studied in both groups. Results The Netrin-1 levels of the patient group at the time of admission were found to be higher than of the control group (p<0.001). In the patient group, netrin-1 levels measured at initial admission (1.53±0.19) and after angiography (1.49±0.19) were determined to be statistically significant (p:0.049). In the patient group, where the Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) 3 flow was established after angiography, netrin-1 levels were detected to be low (p:0.039). Netrin-1 levels obtained at the time of admission were determined to be significantly different in the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) moderate and high-risk groups in comparison to the low-risk group (p:0.017). Conclusion Netrin-1 was shown to increase in the early diagnosis of ACS and to decrease in patients for whom reperfusion was established after angiography. Therefore, Netrin-1 can be an important biomarker as an indicator of diagnosis and successful reperfusion in ACS.