Time to Burn? Characteristics of Hydroxocobalamin Administration in an Academic Medical Center.

Background/Objective: Hydroxocobalamin is indicated for cyanide poisoning and its package insert states it should be given "without delay". We sought to evaluate time to administration and clinical characteristics when hydroxocobalamin was administered in a quaternary care academic medical center. Methods: All hydroxocobalamin administrations from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2018 were analyzed. Data points recorded were: carboxyhemoglobin, cyanide and methemoglobin levels, hospital time and course, time and dose of hydroxocobalamin administration, lactate and bicarbonate levels, initial and nadir pH, initial heart rate, and initial and lowest systolic blood pressure. Results: Fifty-six cases were identified. One case was excluded as hydroxocobalamin was administered for nitroprusside toxicity. Among 55 cases analyzed, 93% (n = 51) were adults. Median hospital length of stay was 4.3 days (IQR 2.5 to 12). Burn, inhalation injury, and smoke inhalation were 80% of admitting diagnoses. Median time to hydroxocobalamin administration was 208 minutes (IQR 62.5 to 330). Eleven of 55 cases died. Hydroxocobalamin was given within 60 minutes of arrival in 12 cases, of which 3 died. All adults received 5 g of hydroxocobalamin. Time to hydroxocobalamin administration was longer in death cases [median: 221 minutes (IQR 119 to 594)] vs survivors [median: 184.5 minutes (IQR 62.8 to 315)]. Seventeen cases had cyanide levels drawn, with 9 being measurable, but none were toxic. Conclusions: Significant delay in hydroxocobalamin administration was seen in this study. Cases that resulted in death had significantly longer times to hydroxocobalamin administration. Further studies are warranted to identify reasons for delays in hydroxocobalamin administration.

CODE BLUE-19: Proposal to Mitigate COVID-19 Transmission in the Emergency Department for Out-of-hospital Cardiac Arrest.

Resuscitation of cardiac arrest in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients places the healthcare staff at higher risk of exposure to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Unfortunately, COVID-19 status is unknown in most patients presenting to the emergency department (ED), and therefore special attention must be given to protect the healthcare staff along with the other patients. This is particularly true for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients who are transported to the ED. Based on the current data available on transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2, we have proposed a protocolized approach to out-of-hospital cardiac arrests to limit risk of transmission.

Implications of culture collection after the first antimicrobial dose in septic emergency department patients.

BACKGROUND: Previous research has illustrated the importance of collection of microbiologic cultures prior to first antimicrobial dose (FAD) in septic patients to avoid sterilization of pathogens and thus allowing confirmation of infection, identification of pathogen(s), and de-escalation of antimicrobial therapy. There is currently a lack of literature characterizing the implications and clinical courses of patients who have cultures collected after FAD. METHODS: In this single-center, retrospective chart review of 163 sepsis cases in the emergency department, the primary outcome was positive-cultures from appropriate sources. Secondary outcomes included time to FAD (TFAD); ICU and hospital lengths of stay (LOS); rate of antibiotic restart; secondary infection rate; readmission; and mortality. Cases were divided based on culture timing relative to FAD: culture-first (CF) or antimicrobial-first (AF) cohorts. RESULTS: Cultures were more frequently positive in the CF cohort vs. AF cohort overall (80.4% vs. 46.7%, p < 0.005). TFAD was greater in the CF cohort (202 min vs. 153 min, p = 0.036) and these cases trended toward shorter ICU and hospital LOS (6.8 days vs. 8.4 days, p = 0.122; 11.5 days vs. 13.5 days, p = 0.218). Antibiotic restart was less frequent in the CF cohort (10.7% vs. 17.8%, p < 0.005). C. difficile infection and mortality trended toward lower incidence in the CF cohort, and readmission rates were similar. CONCLUSIONS: Sepsis patients who have cultures obtained after FAD (represented in the AF cohort) had less positive-cultures, shorter TFAD, a trend toward longer ICU and hospital LOS, and perhaps higher risk of C. difficile infection, and mortality.

Factors affecting healing of ankle fractures.

Ankle fractures have been widely described in orthopedic and podiatric studies. These injuries have been associated with significant patient morbidity, infection, malunion, nonunion, and arthritis. Avoiding complications and optimizing outcomes demands an awareness of the factors affecting the healing of ankle fractures. The prognosis of surgical treatment of these injuries has varied according to patient factors or injury severity, or a combination. Cigarette smoking, obesity, and diabetes are some of the factors linked to the prognosis of ankle fractures. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 58 patients treated for an ankle fracture at a single center. The objective of the present study was to comprehensively evaluate the factors affecting the clinical outcome of surgically treated ankle fractures.

A diagnosis of marginal zone lymphoma following surgical correction of hallux abductovalgus: a case report.

UNLABELLED: Marginal zone lymphoma is a neoplasm affecting the lymphatic system, including the bone marrow, thymus, spleen, and lymph nodes. This type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma affects B cells and is estimated to comprise between 5% and 17% of all non-Hodgkin's diseases. The incidence of finding any neoplasm within the foot and ankle has been estimated to be only 2.0% to 3.5% of all patients. However, despite the low incidence of cancer found within the foot and ankle, the clinician must be mindful that the possibility does exist and should thus consider surgically excised soft tissue and bone for pathological evaluation. A case report of marginal zone lymphoma, incidentally diagnosed through hallux valgus surgery, is presented. LEVEL OF CLINICAL EVIDENCE: 4.

A comparison of vitamin D levels in nondiabetic and diabetic patient populations.

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to compare the vitamin D levels in a cohort of nondiabetic patients to populations of diabetic patients with and without Charcot neuroarthropathy. METHODS: A total of 41 participants (22 male, 19 female) with a mean +/- SD age of 59 +/- 9.43 years had serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels tested. Fifteen participants composed the nondiabetic group; 13, the group with diabetes but without Charcot neuroarthropathy; and 13, the group with both diabetes and Charcot neuroarthropathy. RESULTS: The results of the study showed that the vitamin D levels in both diabetic populations were significantly lower (P < .05) than the nondiabetic population. There was no statistical difference between the group with diabetes but without Charcot foot disease and the group with both diabetes and Charcot neuroarthropathy. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results of this study, given the importance of vitamin D in bone metabolism and the osseous consequences associated with diabetes, as well as other systems affected by low levels of vitamin D in the diabetic patient, it appears that vitamin D levels should be monitored in diabetic patients.

Imaging strategies for diagnosing calcaneal and cuboid stress fractures.

Stress fractures of the calcaneus and cuboid bones are not among the most common pathologies seen by the foot and ankle specialist on a day-to-day basis. Therefore, the clinician must be suspicious of these particular entities when conservative therapy has failed to alleviate the pain of a more common condition. The purpose of this article is to discuss the signs, symptoms, MRI findings, nuclear imaging characteristics, and radiographic features associated with calcaneal and cuboid stress fractures. Case studies of both conditions are also discussed within this article.

Osteoid osteoma: an uncommon cause of foot pain.

An osteoid osteoma located in the forefoot can be difficult to diagnose, and the diagnosis is frequently delayed. We present a clinical case of a patient with pain, erythema, and swelling of the left forefoot with no history of trauma. Although rarely seen in the metatarsal, osteoid osteoma should be included in the differential diagnosis of foot pain. Findings from radiographs, magnetic resonance images, and a detailed clinical history led to the diagnosis of osteoid osteoma of the left second metatarsal. The lesion was surgically excised using curettage. This process significantly weakened the lateral cortex of the metatarsal shaft. To correct this surgically induced stress riser, an external fixator was applied to provide stability, allow for callus distraction, and allow the patient to walk as early as possible. We review osteoid osteoma, including the classic clinical presentation and treatment associated with this benign bone tumor.