A Case Report of Fournier's Gangrene.

Early identification and intervention of Fournier's gangrene in the Emergency Department (ED) requires a high index of suspicion and is critical in improved patient outcomes. We present a case of a 64-year-old male with two months of progressively worsening buttock and rectal pain found to have extensive black eschar and ecchymosis on exam. In addition, this patient displayed marked leukocytosis, lactic acidosis, and elevated inflammatory markers. A preoperative computed tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen and pelvis revealed multiple perirectal abscesses and subcutaneous fluid and gas in the perineum and scrotum concerning for Fournier's Gangrene. He was started on broad spectrum antibiotics while in the ED and taken to the operating room for urgent surgical debridement with clinical improvement and was discharged home on day nine. This case report reviews the clinical presentation and interventional modalities, and aims to provide new images to better help visualize a diagnosis of Fournier's Gangrene. Topics: Fournier's gangrene, necrotizing soft tissue infection, necrotizing fasciitis.

An Anomalous Cause of Deep Venous Thrombosis: A Case Report.

INTRODUCTION: Lower extremity deep venous thrombosis (DVT) is a common diagnosis in the emergency department (ED). Deep venous thromboses can be the result of anatomical variation in the vasculature that predisposes the patient to thrombosis. May-Thurner syndrome (MTS) is one such anatomic variant defined by extrinsic compression of the left common iliac vein between the right common iliac artery and lumbar vertebrae. CASE REPORT: We report such a case of a 39-year-old woman with no risk factors for thromboembolic disease who presented to the ED with extensive unilateral leg swelling and was ultimately diagnosed with MTS. CONCLUSION: This diagnosis is an important consideration particularly in patients who are young, female, have scoliosis or spinal abnormalities, or are at low risk for DVT yet who present with extensive lower extremity swelling and are found to have proximal thrombus burden. Often further imaging, anticoagulation, angioplasty, or thrombectomy are indicated to prevent morbidity and post-thrombotic syndrome in these patients.

Benchmark Performance of Emergency Medicine Residents in Pediatric Resuscitation: Are We Optimizing Pediatric Education for Emergency Medicine Trainees?

BACKGROUND: The majority of children in the United States seek emergency care at community-based general emergency departments (GEDs); however, the quality of GED pediatric emergency care varies widely. This may be explained by a number of factors, including residency training environments and postgraduate knowledge decay. Emergency medicine (EM) residents train in academic pediatric EDs, but didactic and clinical experience vary widely between programs, and little is known about the pediatric skills of these EM residents. This study aimed to assess the performance of senior EM residents in treating simulated pediatric patients at the end of their training. METHODS: This was a prospective, cross-sectional, simulation-based cohort study assessing the simulated performance of senior EM resident physicians from two Massachusetts programs leading medical teams caring for three critically ill patients. Sessions were video recorded and scored separately by three reviewers using a previously published simulation assessment tool. Self-efficacy surveys were completed prior to each session. The primary outcome was a median total performance score (TPS), calculated by the mean of individualized domain scores (IDS) for each case. Each IDS was calculated as a percentage of items performed on a checklist-based instrument. RESULTS: A total of 18 EM resident physicians participated (PGY-3 = 8, PGY-4 = 10). Median TPS for the cohort was 61% (IQR = 56%-70%). Median IDSs by case were as follows: sepsis 67% (IQR = 50%-67%), seizure 67% (IQR = 50%-83%), and cardiac arrest 67% (IQR = 43%-70%). The overall cohort self-efficacy for pediatric EM (PEM) was 64% (IQR = 60%-70%). CONCLUSIONS: This study has begun the process of benchmarking clinical performance of graduating EM resident physicians. Overall, the EM resident cohort in this study performed similar to prior GED teams. Self-efficacy related to PEM correlated well with performance, with the exception of knowledge relative to intravenous fluid and vasopressor administration in pediatric septic shock. A significant area of discrepancy and missed checklist items were those related to cardiopulmonary resuscitation and basic life support maneuvers.

Using Photovoice and Asset Mapping to Inform a Community-Based Diabetes Intervention, Boston, Massachusetts, 2015.

INTRODUCTION: Diabetes self-management takes place within a complex social and environmental context.  This study's objective was to examine the perceived and actual presence of community assets that may aid in diabetes control. METHODS: We conducted one 6-hour photovoice session with 11 adults with poorly controlled diabetes in Boston, Massachusetts.  Participants were recruited from census tracts with high numbers of people with poorly controlled diabetes (diabetes "hot spots").  We coded the discussions and identified relevant themes.  We further explored themes related to the built environment through community asset mapping.  Through walking surveys, we evaluated 5 diabetes hot spots related to physical activity resources, walking environment, and availability of food choices in restaurants and food stores. RESULTS: Community themes from the photovoice session were access to healthy food, restaurants, and prepared foods; food assistance programs; exercise facilities; and church.  Asset mapping identified 114 community assets including 22 food stores, 22 restaurants, and 5 exercise facilities.  Each diabetes hot spot contained at least 1 food store with 5 to 9 varieties of fruits and vegetables.  Only 1 of the exercise facilities had signage regarding hours or services.  Memberships ranged from free to $9.95 per month.  Overall, these findings were inconsistent with participants' reports in the photovoice group. CONCLUSION: We identified a mismatch between perceptions of community assets and built environment and the objective reality of that environment. Incorporating photovoice and community asset mapping into a community-based diabetes intervention may bring awareness to underused neighborhood resources that can help people control their diabetes.