Lactate for Predicting the Prognosis of Multi-Drug Poisoned Patients.

Background: We aimed to compare serum lactate levels of multi-drug poisoned patients to determine whether knowing the level may help emergency clinicians in predicting the patients' prognoses. Methods: The patients were divided into two groups according to the number of kinds of drugs taken (Group 1: patients took 2 kinds of drugs; Group 2: patients took 3 or more kinds of drugs). The groups' initial venous lactate levels, lactate levels before discharge, lengths of stay in the emergency department, hospitalisation units, clinics, and outcomes were recorded on the study form. These findings of the patient groups were then compared. Results: When we evaluated the first lactate levels and lengths of stay in the emergency department, we found that 72% of the patients with initial lactate levels ≥13.5 mg/dL stayed more than 12 hours in the emergency department. Twenty-five (30.86%) patients in the second group stayed ≥12 hours in the emergency department, and their mean initial serum lactate level was significantly related (p=0.02, AUC=071). The mean initial serum lactate levels of both groups were positively related with their lengths of stay in the emergency department. The mean initial lactate levels of patients who stayed ≥12 hours and those who stayed <12 hours in the second group were statistically significant, and the mean lactate level of the patients who stayed ≥12 hours in the second group was lower. Conclusions: Serum lactate levels may be helpful in determining a patient's length of stay in the emergency department in the case of multi-drug poisoning.

Perfusion index versus visual analogue scale: as an objective tool of renal colic pain in emergency department.

Background: Perfusion index (PI) has use to monitor sympathetic response changes to pain. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the utility of using perfusion index as an objective marker of pain relief and of the need for rescue analgesia in ED patients with documented renal colic. Methods: We conducted a prospective observational study between January 2020 and December 2020. The demographic characteristics of the patients, their complaints, nephrolithiasis histories, vital signs, PI, and VAS scores (on admission and after treatment) were recorded. Results: A total of 144 patients were included. All patients were administered 20 mg of Tenoxicam on admission. There was a statistically significant difference between the PI (<0.001) and VAS scores (<0.001) on admission and after the administration of Tenoxicam. 43.1% (n = 62) of the patients needed rescue analgesia. Accordingly to ROC curve, the ability of both PI2 (AUC: 0.615, 95%CI 0.519-0.711, p = 0.018) and ΔPI (AUC: 0.601, 95%CI 0.508-0.694, p = 0.039) indices were determined as statistically significant. The cutoff value of the PI2 level for the prediction of the needed rescue analgesia was 4.65 and the cutoff value for ΔPI (PI2-PI1) was 2. All patients had a pain VAS score of <3 and a mean PI of 5.7 ± 2.9 at discharge from the emergency department. Conclusion: In patients presenting to the emergency department with renal colic, the PI value on admission and after analgesic therapy can be helpful in assessing the severity of pain and predict the need for rescue analgesia.