Photochemical oxidants and ambulance dispatches for asthmatic symptoms in Tokyo.

While photochemical oxidants (Ox = O3+ NO2) are known to increase asthma flare-ups, there is a paucity of studies of the Japanese population, especially for Tokyo residents. We used data on asthma cases (n = 7,455) from ambulance dispatches in Tokyo, 2015-2016. Variables included date and time of incidence, age, sex, occurrence location at the ward (ku) level, and the symptom/cause of dispatch as recorded by paramedics. Ox data were obtained from the nearest air quality monitoring station to the occurrence location, then linked them with the outcomes based on occurrence date. We directly incorporated a distributed lag model into a bi-directional case-crossover study design controlling for ambient temperature and day of week. A 10-ppb increase in Ox for lag days 0-3 was associated with a 5.51% (95% CI: 0.13 to 11.18) increase in ambulance dispatches related to asthma. The association was strongest on lag day 1 (4.67%, 95% CI: 0.51 to 9.00). Exposure to high levels of Ox was associated with increased ambulance dispatches related to asthma exacerbations in Tokyo, Japan.

Clinical characteristics and outcomes of critically ill COVID-19 patients in Tokyo: a single-center observational study from the first wave.

BACKGROUND: Many studies have been published about critically ill coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) during the early phases of the pandemic but the characteristic or survival of critically ill Japanese patients have not yet been investigated. We sought to investigate the characteristics, inflammatory laboratory finding trends, and outcomes among critically ill Japanese patients who were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) with the first wave of COVID-19. METHODS: A retrospective observational study was performed in a single institution in the center of Tokyo. Laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 patients admitted to the ICU from March 19 to April 30, 2020 were included. Trends for significant inflammatory laboratory findings were analyzed. In-hospital death, days of mechanical ventilation or oxygen supplementation, days of ICU or hospital stay were followed until May 26, 2020. RESULTS: Twenty-four patients were included. Median age was 57.5 years, and 79% were male. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio was elevated to a median of 10.1 on admission and peaked on Day 10 of illness. Seventeen patients were intubated on Day 11 of illness and received mechanical ventilation. One patient underwent extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. The majority (88%) received systemic steroids, including 16 patients who received high dose methylprednisolone (500-1000 mg). Favipiravir was used in 38% of patients. Two patients, including 1 who refused intensive care, died. Eighteen patients were discharged. Median length of ICU and hospital stay for all patients was 6 and 22 days, respectively. Median length of ventilator dependency was 7 days. Four patients underwent a tracheostomy and received prolonged ventilation for more than 21 days. One patient receiving mechanical ventilation died. All survivors discontinued ventilator use. CONCLUSIONS: Mortality was remarkably low in our single institutional study. Three survivors received mechanical ventilation for more than 3 weeks. Trends of clinically significant laboratory markers reflected the clinical course of COVID-19.

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome in patients with COVID-19.

We report the first two cases of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) who were receiving intensive care including favipiravir, and were clinically diagnosed with neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) to focus attention on NMS in COVID-19 management. Case 1: A 46-year-old-man with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) caused by COVID-19 infection was being administered favipiravir. Fentanyl, propofol, and rocuronium were also given. On day 3, midazolam administration was initiated for deep sedation. On day 5, his high body temperature increased to 41.2 °C, creatine kinase level elevated, and he developed tachycardia, tachypnea, altered consciousness, and diaphoresis. NMS was suspected, and supportive therapy was initiated. High-grade fever persisted for 4 days and subsided on day 9. Case 2: A 44-year-old-man with ARDS caused by COVID-19 infection was being treated with favipiravir. On day 5, risperidone was started for delirium. On day 7, his body temperature suddenly increased to 40.8 °C, his CK level elevated, and he developed tachycardia, tachypnea, altered consciousness, and diaphoresis. NMS diagnosis was confirmed, and both, favipiravir and risperidone were discontinued on day 8. On the same day, his CK levels decreased, and his body temperature normalized on day 9. Patients with COVID-19 infection frequently require deep sedation and develop delirium; therefore, more attention should be paid to the development of NMS in patients who are being administered such causative agents. The mechanism underlying the occurrence of NMS in COVID-19 patients treated with favipiravir remains unknown. Therefore, careful consideration of NMS development is necessary in the management of COVID-19 patients.

Bidirectional ventricular tachycardia induced by caffeine poisoning.

Bidirectional ventricular tachycardia (BVT) is a tachyarrhythmia characterized by 180-degree beat-to-beat alteration in the QRS axis. BVT is traditionally known as an electrocardiography (ECG) finding pathognomonic of digitalis poisoning and a hallmark of catecholamine-induced ventricular tachycardia. Apart from digitalis poisoning, aconitine poisoning is the only reported cause of poisoning-related BVT, and no report of caffeine-poisoning-related BVT is as yet available. A-27-year-old woman was transported to hospital with cardiac arrest from ventricular fibrillation after taking a massive dose of a caffeine-containing supplement (corresponding to 6 g of caffeine) 6 h before presentation. Return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) was achieved by defibrillation. She developed BVT after ROSC. Hemodialysis was performed to remove the causative drug from the blood, with subsequent resolution of BVT and hemodynamic stabilization. At presentation, she had a blood caffeine concentration of 232 µg/mL. A suggested mechanism of development of BVT is that increased intracellular calcium concentration causes delayed afterdepolarization, which induces alternate occurrence of triggered activities within different His-Purkinje fibers, and thereby produces characteristic ECG findings. Caffeine acts on the ryanodine receptor to promote calcium release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum, and thus can induce BVT via the same mechanism. Caffeine poisoning can be treated by dialysis. In cases of BVT induced by caffeine poisoning, hemodynamic stabilization can be achieved by emergency dialysis.

A Case Report of Acute Vitamin A Intoxication due to Ocean Perch Liver Ingestion.

BACKGROUND: Chronic vitamin A intoxication is well known; however, there are few reports of acute vitamin A intoxication due to the ingestion of food rich in vitamin A, particularly in adults. CASE REPORT: We report a case of a 27-year-old man presenting with chief complaints of flushing, headache, nausea, and joint pain. He had consumed 800 g of grilled ocean perch liver the day before and had experienced numbness shortly after. Although physical examination revealed only facial flushing, we suspected acute vitamin A intoxication due to his diet history. On day 2 after ingestion, his serum retinol levels were elevated at 1577 ng/mL, which confirmed vitamin A intoxication. He returned for follow-up on day 4 after ingestion, by which time his presenting symptoms had improved, but he had developed desquamation of his facial skin. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Emergency physicians should consider acute vitamin A intoxication in the differential diagnosis of patients with headache, flushing, desquamation, nausea, and vomiting of unknown etiology. Complete diet histories and checking vitamin A levels are essential for diagnosis. This report highlights the diagnostic difficulties associated with vitamin A intoxication and the importance of an accurate diet history.

Anisakiasis presenting to the ED: clinical manifestations, time course, hematologic tests, computed tomographic findings, and treatment.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of anisakiasis is rare in the United States and Europe compared with that in Japan, with few reports of its presentation in the emergency department (ED). This study describes the clinical, hematologic, computed tomographic (CT) characteristics, and treatment in gastric and small intestinal anisakiasis patients in the ED. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the data of 83 consecutive anisakiasis presentations in our ED between 2003 and 2012. Gastric anisakiasis was endoscopically diagnosed with the Anisakis polypide. Small intestinal anisakiasis was diagnosed based on both hematologic (Anisakis antibody) and CT findings. RESULTS: Of the 83 cases, 39 had gastric anisakiasis and 44 had small intestinal anisakiasis based on our diagnostic criteria. Although all patients had abdominal pain, the gastric anisakiasis group developed symptoms significantly earlier (peaking within 6 hours) than the small intestinal anisakiasis group (peaking within 48 hours), and fewer patients with gastric anisakiasis needed admission therapy (5% vs 57%, P<.01). All patients in the gastric and 40 (91%) in the small intestinal anisakiasis group had a history of raw seafood ingestion. Computed tomographic findings revealed edematous wall thickening in all patients, and ascites and phlegmon of the mesenteric fat were more frequently observed in the small intestinal anisakiasis group. CONCLUSIONS: In the ED, early and accurate diagnosis of anisakiasis is important to treat and explain to the patient, and diagnosis can be facilitated by a history of raw seafood ingestion, evaluation of the time-to-symptom development, and classic CT findings.

Can we predict arterial lactate from venous lactate in the ED?

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to generate equation to predict arterial lactate (a-Lac) using venous lactate (v-Lac) and other lab data. METHODS: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted on emergency patients in the emergency department for 6 months at a general hospital in Tokyo, Japan. We collected arterial and venous gas analysis data. Patients were eligible for entry into the study if an arterial blood gas analysis was required for appropriate diagnostic care by the treating physician. Univariate linear regression analysis was conducted to generate an equation to calculate a-Lac incorporating only v-Lac. A multivariate forward stepwise logistic regression model (p-value of 0.05 for entry, 0.1 for removal) was used to generate an equation including v-Lac and other potentially relevant variables. Bland-Altman plot was drawn and the two equations were compared for model fitting using R-squares. RESULTS: Seventy-two arterial samples from 72 participants (61% male; mean age, 58.2 years) were included in the study. An initial regression equation was derived from univariate linear regression analysis:"(a-Lac) = -0.259 + (v-Lac) × 0.996". Subsequent multivariate forward stepwise logistic regression analysis, incorporating v-Lac and Po2, generated the following equation:"(a-Lac) = -0.469+(venous Po2) × 0.005 + (v-Lac) × 0.997". Calculated R-squares by single and multiple regression were 0.94 and 0.96, respectively. CONCLUSION: v-Lac estimates showed a high correlation with arterial values and our data provide two clinically useful equations to calculate a-Lac from v-Lac data. Considering clinical flexibility, "Lac = -0.259 + v-Lac × 0.996" might be more useful while avoiding a time-consuming and invasive procedure.

Persistent Air Embolism after Blunt Chest Trauma with Recovery to Pre-Existing Consciousness Level: A Case Report and Literature Review.

We report the case of a 71-year-old woman in whom cerebral air embolism resulted from blunt chest trauma. The woman had been lying on her left side for a while after the injury, and air traveled to the right side of the brain. As a result, a cerebral infarction occurred in the right cerebral hemisphere that caused loss of consciousness for more than 40 days. The patient recovered consciousness eventually; thus, it is important to monitor the improvement in a patient's state of consciousness, with repeated multi-modality imaging evaluations over a long period.

Trends in endotracheal intubation for patients with COVID-19 by emergency physicians.

Emergency physicians perform endotracheal intubations for patients with COVID-19. However, the trends in the intubation for COVID-19 patients in terms of success rate, complications, personal protective equipment (PPE) information, barrier enclosure use, and its transition have not been established. We conducted a retrospective study of COVID-19 cases that required tracheal intubation at four hospitals in the Tokyo metropolitan area between January 2020 and August 2021. The overall intubation success rate, operator experience, and infection control methods were investigated. We then compared the early and late phases of the pandemic for a period of 8 months each. A total of 211 cases met the inclusion criteria, and 133 were eligible for analysis. The intubation success rate increased from 85% to 94% from early to late phase, although the percentage of intubations performed by emergency medicine residents increased significantly in the late phase (p = 0.03). The percentage of light PPE use significantly increased from 65% to 91% from early to late phase (p < 0.01), whereas the percentage of barrier enclosure use significantly decreased from 26% to 0% (p < 0.01). Furthermore, the infection prevention methods during intubation became more simplified from early to late phase.

Central airway obstruction treated with initial support by venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

A 24-year-old man with Down syndrome and congenital tracheal stenosis, who had undergone cartilage patch tracheoplasty twice in infancy, was transferred from a local hospital to manage an airway emergency. On arrival, the patient was in severe respiratory distress. Increased airway pressure following endotracheal intubation complicated the administration of mechanical ventilation. CT of the chest showed widespread consolidation and tracheal stenosis 3 cm above the carina distal to the tip of the endotracheal tube. The diagnosis was tracheal stenosis with type A influenza infection. The patient was transferred to another hospital for initiating venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO). Intubation with a 6.0 mm spiral tube was successful after intraluminal balloon dilatation of the tracheal stenosis. The patient was admitted to the intensive care unit and was weaned off VV-ECMO on day 3 due to improvement in respiratory status. A tracheotomy was performed on day 28 and the tracheal tube was removed on day 41.

Empyema with fistula successfully treated with a comprehensive approach including bronchial blocker and embolization receiving veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

BACKGROUND: Complicated empyema accompanied by bronchopleural fistula (BPF) has high mortality. The treatment strategy for severe respiratory failure due to empyema with BPF has yet to be established. CASE PRESENTATION: A 70-year-old man was brought to our hospital and diagnosed with right empyema, BPF (at bronchi B4-10), and secondary left pneumonia. We initiated drainage followed by veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation due to the severe hypoxia. First, the patient underwent endoscopic treatment with obstructive materials (known as endobronchial Watanabe spigot [EWS]) at B8-10, and was weaned off veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation on day 7. A secondary EWS was carried out at B4-6. A combination of medical treatments (drainage, antibiotics, nutritional therapy, and rehabilitation) improved his general condition. The patient was able to leave the hospital on foot. CONCLUSION: A comprehensive approach could explain the success of the medical treatment. The principal components are the repeated application of EWS as damage control.

One-Year Outcomes of Postintensive Care Syndrome in Critically Ill Coronavirus Disease 2019 Patients: A Single Institutional Study.

IMPORTANCE: Postintensive care syndrome has a strong impact on coronavirus disease 2019 survivors. OBJECTIVES: Assess the 1-year prevalence of postintensive care syndrome after coronavirus disease 2019. DESIGN SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: This was a single-center prospective cohort using questionnaires and telephone calls from 4 months to 1 year after ICU discharge. Patients who were treated for coronavirus disease 2019-related acute respiratory distress between March 19, 2020, and April 30, 2020, participated. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Postintensive care syndrome was evaluated according to physical, mental, and cognitive domains. We surveyed the 8-item standardized Short Form questionnaire for assessing physical postintensive care syndrome; the Impact of Event Scale-Revised and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale for assessing mental postintensive care syndrome; and Short-Memory Questionnaire for assessing cognitive postintensive care syndrome. The primary outcome was postintensive care syndrome occurrence of any domain at 1 year. Furthermore, the co-occurrence of the three postintensive care syndrome domains was assessed. RESULTS: Eighteen patients consented to the study and completed the survey. The median age was 57.5 years, and 78% of the patients were male. Median Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation-II score was 18. During ICU stay, 78% received invasive mechanical ventilation, and 83% received systemic steroid administration. Early mobilization was implemented in 61%. Delirium occurred in 44%. The median days of ICU and hospital stay were 6 and 23.5, respectively. Overall postintensive care syndrome occurrence was 67%. Physical, mental, and cognitive postintensive care syndrome occurred in 56%, 50%, and 33% of patients, respectively. The co-occurrence of all three domains of postintensive care syndrome was 28%. Age and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation-II scores were higher, and systemic steroids were more commonly used in the postintensive care syndrome groups compared with the nonpostintensive care syndrome groups. Chronic symptoms were more common in the postintensive care syndrome groups than the nonpostintensive care syndrome groups. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Patients who suffered critical illness from coronavirus disease 2019 had a high frequency of postintensive care syndrome after 1 year. Long-term follow-up and care should be continuously offered.

Ambulance transport of the oldest old in Tokyo: a population-based study.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have investigated ambulance utilization in people aged 85 years or older, ie, the oldest old. METHODS: We conducted a 1-year population-based observational study of patients transported by ambulance to emergency departments in Tokyo, Japan, which has a population of about 12 million. Demographic data, symptoms/events associated with ambulance transport, and the proportion of hospital admissions were recorded. Transport rates by age and sex were calculated using data for the background population and ambulance transports, and the 10 most frequent symptoms/events requiring transport were compared between the oldest old and those aged 65 to 84 years. RESULTS: Of the 642,764 patients who were transported to hospitals by ambulances, 59 570 (9%) were aged ≥ 85 years; 64% were women. The annual ambulance transport rate for this population was 250 per 1000/year and was significantly greater than the rate (90 per 1000/year) for those aged 65 to 84 years. The highest rate was for men aged 85 to 99 years (292 per 1000/year). Among the oldest old, the most frequent reason for ambulance transport was fall (38.5 per 1000/year), and the symptom most likely to result in hospital admission was dyspnea. CONCLUSIONS: The ambulance transport rate for the oldest old was high, particularly among men aged ≥ 95 years. To reduce the need for ambulance transport among the oldest old, preventive care is needed to reduce falls and acute exacerbations of cardiac and respiratory disorders.

Reliability of anion gap calculated from data obtained using a blood gas analyzer: is the probability of error predictable?

BACKGROUND: Anion gap (AG) is a useful index for assessing the clinical condition of critically ill patients especially in intoxication. Recently, AG can be obtained easily using a blood gas analyzer (BGA); however, its reliability requires validation. METHODS: We enrolled patients who simultaneously underwent blood gas analysis and blood test in the central hospital laboratory and patients who visited the emergency department of our hospital from January 1, 2004, to December 31, 2007. The deviation of AG calculated using the BGA and that calculated by the central hospital laboratory were extracted. From the data obtained using the BGA, the independent risk factor causing a significant error in AG was statistically analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 2922 patients were enrolled, of which 339 were defined as the significant error group. Male sex, abnormal Hco(3)(-), abnormal lactate, abnormal K, abnormal Cl, and abnormal Na were the independent risk factors producing the significant error. The results indicate that regardless of whether the original electrolyte data of the patients are abnormal, when the electrolyte measurement results obtained using the BGA are abnormal, the calculated AG might show a significant error. In addition, the fact that lactate was determined as a risk factor indicates that AG might be more useful in patients who have intoxication than in those under an unstable state in terms of vital signs. CONCLUSION: When risk factors are present, the medical condition of a patient should be reevaluated by comparing results without heavily relying on the AG obtained by a BGA.