Implementing Prone Positioning for COVID-19 Patients Outside the Intensive Care Unit.

BACKGROUND: Proning intubated intensive care unit patients for the management of acute respiratory distress syndrome is an accepted standard of practice. We examined the nursing climate in 4 units and its impact on implementing a novel self-proning protocol to treat COVID-19 patients outside the intensive care unit. LOCAL PROBLEM: Nursing units previously designated for medical/surgical populations had to adjust quickly to provide evidence-based care for COVID-19 patients attempting self-proning. METHODS: Nurses from 4 nursing units were surveyed about the implementation process on the self-proning protocol. Their perception of unit implementation was assessed via the Implementation Climate Scale. INTERVENTIONS: A new self-proning nursing protocol was implemented outside the intensive care unit. RESULTS: Consistent education on the protocol, belief in the effectiveness of the intervention, and a strong unit-based climate of evidence-based practice contributed to greater implementation of the protocol. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of a new nursing protocol is possible with strong unit-based support, even during a pandemic.

Corydalis and Drug-Induced Liver Injury: A Series of 2 Cases.

Corydalis is an herbal plant found in Asian countries. Research has demonstrated multiple health benefits. It has also been implicated in drug-induced liver injury. Cannabis dispensaries market a sleep aid which has corydalis as an active ingredient. We present 2 cases of corydalis-induced hepatotoxicity. An asymptomatic female patient exhibited a rise and fall of her transaminases coinciding with the consumption and rechallenge of this sleep aid. A man with symptoms consistent with liver dysfunction began taking the same sleep aid. With discontinuance, his liver function returned to normal. These 2 clinical cases provide evidence for corydalis-induced liver injury.

Long-Term Outcomes With Teduglutide From a Single Center.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to quantify the long-term clinical outcomes for individuals receiving teduglutide for short-bowel syndrome (SBS). METHODS: A single-center, retrospective study was performed for individuals commencing use of teduglutide between March 2013 and May 2019. RESULTS: Eighteen patients were included in the final analysis, among which the median duration of teduglutide administration was 3.2 (range, 0.6-6.2) years. Twelve of 16 (75%) patients at 12 months, 10 of 13 (76.9%) at 24 months, 7 of 10 (70%) at 36 months, and 3 of 3 (100%) at 60 months had a response to teduglutide therapy, defined as a >20% reduction in parenteral support (PS) requirement. Among responders at 12, 24, and 36 months, the presence of a colon-in-continuity, an ileocecal valve, a response at 3 months, the length of small bowel, nor the baseline volume affected response to therapy (P > .05 for all comparisons). Five (28%) patients were able to achieve freedom from PS, among which all had a history of Crohn's disease with loss of the ileocecal valve and among which 3 had a colon-in-continuity. Four of the 5 patients discontinued PS by 6 months of teduglutide therapy. CONCLUSIONS: In a real-world experience, teduglutide therapy results in rapid and sustained reductions in PS. Larger postmarketing studies will be required to reliably predict response to treatment and the factors associated with enteral autonomy.

Implementation and Assessment of a Proning Protocol for Nonintubated Patients With COVID-19.

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused over 1,250,000 deaths worldwide. With limited therapeutic options, proning nonintubated patients emerged as a safe and affordable intervention to manage hypoxemia. METHODS: A proning protocol to identify and prone eligible patients was implemented. Patients were encouraged to self-prone for 2-3 hours, 3 times daily. Investigators created educational materials for nurses and patients and developed a COVID-19-specific proning order within the electronic health record (EHR). Investigators completed an 800-person retrospective chart review to study the implementation of this protocol. RESULTS: From March 22, 2020, to June 5, 2020, 586 patients were admitted to the COVID-19 floor. Of these patients, 42.8% were eligible for proning. Common contraindications were lack of hypoxia, altered mental status, and fall risk. The proning protocol led to a significant improvement in provider awareness of patients appropriate for proning, increasing from 12% to 83%, as measured by placement of a proning order into the EHR. There was a significant improvement in all appropriate patients documented as proned, increasing from 18% to 45% of eligible patients. CONCLUSIONS: The creation of an effective hospital-wide proning protocol to address the exigencies of the COVID-19 pandemic is possible and may be accomplished in a short period of time.

A Case of Sub-Diaphragmatic Abscess after Injection of Botulinum Toxin to Treat Achalasia.

Achalasia is a disorder of the esophagus characterized by decreased lower esophageal sphincter (LES) relaxation and absence of esophageal peristalsis. Botulinum toxin (BT) injection targeting the LES has been used in the treatment of achalasia and other esophageal motility disorders, and it is considered to be safe and effective for short-term symptomatic relief. Serious adverse events of this procedure are rare. We report the case of an 83-year-old woman treated with BT injection for achalasia who subsequently developed a subdiaphragmatic abscess.