Incidence and predictors of ventilator-associated pneumonia using a competing risk analysis: a single-center prospective cohort study in Egypt.

BACKGROUND: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a challenging nosocomial problem in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) that face barriers to healthcare delivery and resource availability. This study aimed to examine the incidence and predictors of VAP in Egypt as an example of an LMIC while considering death as a competing event. METHODS: The study included patients aged ≥ 18 years who underwent mechanical ventilation (MV) in an intensive care unit (ICU) at a tertiary care, university hospital in Egypt between May 2020 and January 2023. We excluded patients who died or were transferred from the ICU within 48 h of admission. We determined the VAP incidence based on clinical suspicion, radiological findings, and positive lower respiratory tract microbiological cultures. The multivariate Fine-Gray subdistribution hazard model was used to examine the predictors of VAP while considering death as a competing event. RESULTS: Overall, 315 patients were included in this analysis. Sixty-two patients (19.7%) developed VAP (17.1 per 1000 ventilator days). The Fine-Gray subdistribution hazard model, after adjustment for potential confounders, revealed that emergency surgery (subdistribution hazard ratio [SHR]: 2.11, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.25-3.56), reintubation (SHR: 3.74, 95% CI: 2.23-6.28), blood transfusion (SHR: 2.23, 95% CI: 1.32-3.75), and increased duration of MV (SHR: 1.04, 95% CI: 1.03-1.06) were independent risk factors for VAP development. However, the new use of corticosteroids was not associated with VAP development (SHR: 0.94, 95% CI: 0.56-1.57). Klebsiella pneumoniae was the most common causative microorganism, followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. CONCLUSION: The incidence of VAP in Egypt was high, even in the ICU at a university hospital. Emergency surgery, reintubation, blood transfusion, and increased duration of MV were independently associated with VAP. Robust antimicrobial stewardship and infection control strategies are urgently needed in Egypt.

Prolonged suppressive antibiotic therapy for inferior vena cava filter infection following emphysematous pyelonephritis and cystitis: a case report.

Introduction and importance: Infections of inferior vena cava (IVC) filters are rare. The authors present a case of IVC filter infection following concurrent emphysematous urinary tract infections that was finally treated with prolonged suppressive antibiotic therapy (PSAT). Case presentation: A 68-year-old man with pemphigoid and type 2 diabetes mellitus, who had undergone IVC filter placement, was transferred with decreased consciousness, respiratory failure, and hypotension. Computed tomography revealed gas in the left renal parenchyma and bladder wall, suggesting a diagnosis of concurrent emphysematous pyelonephritis and cystitis. While blood and urine cultures were positive for extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli, and the patient's general condition improved with proper antibiotic therapy, bacteremia persisted until day 10 from symptom onset. After ruling out abscesses and infectious endocarditis, the cause of persistent bacteremia was suspected to be IVC filter infection. As the IVC had been placed 12 years before, the authors did not remove it to avoid complications. PSAT with sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim was continued after 6 weeks of intravenous antibiotic therapy. The patient had an uneventful course over the year following hospital discharge. Clinical discussion: PSAT is considered for device-related infections in patients with cardiac assist devices and artificial joints when the infection flares up or recurs even after antibiotic treatment of an adequate duration. There is no consensus regarding the optimal duration of antimicrobial therapy for IVC filter infections. Conclusion: Infections of implanted devices, such as IVC filters, secondary to severe infections can cause persistent bacteremia. PSAT may be an alternative option to treat IVC filter infection, when the IVC filter is considered difficult to remove.

Coil embolization of a giant pseudoaneurysm associated with a disrupted axillary artery: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Stent-graft placement is generally used to treat pseudoaneurysm (PSA) of the axillary artery (AA) trunk to maintain the patency of peripheral vessels. Coil embolization of a PSA associated with a disrupted AA trunk has rarely been reported. CASE PRESENTATION: A 54-year-old woman presented with swelling of her right shoulder. She had had a right proximal humeral fracture 12 years earlier. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) and subsequent angiograms revealed a giant PSA at the disrupted, distal right AA. There were collateral flows to the brachial artery from the proximal to the right AA. To preserve collateral flows to the brachial artery, selective embolization of the inflow artery that derived from the distal AA was performed with hydrogel-coated coils. The post-embolization arteriogram showed no flow into the PSA, but collateral flows to the brachial artery we preserved. The post-embolization course was uneventful. The patient regained warmth in her right arm and hand on post-embolization day 4. Repeat CECT on post-embolization day 9 confirmed blood-flow to her right radial artery. CONCLUSIONS: While a stent-graft should be used if the AA trunk can be preserved, coil embolization should be considered for PSA if the AA trunk is disrupted but collaterals are preserved.

Association of Contrast Extravasation Grade With Massive Transfusion in Pediatric Blunt Liver and Spleen Injuries: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to assess whether the grade of contrast extravasation (CE) on CT scans was associated with massive transfusion (MT) requirements in pediatric blunt liver and/or spleen injuries (BLSI). METHODS: This multicenter retrospective cohort study included pediatric patients (≤16 years old) who sustained BLSI between 2008 and 2019. MT was defined as transfusion of all blood products ≥40 mL/kg within the first 24 h of admission. Associations between CE and MT requirements were assessed using multivariate logistic regression analysis with cluster-adjusted robust standard errors to calculate the adjusted odds ratio (AOR). RESULTS: A total of 1407 children (median age: 9 years) from 83 institutions were included in the analysis. Overall, 199 patients (14 %) received MT. CT on admission revealed that 54 patients (3.8 %) had CE within the subcapsular hematoma, 100 patients (7.1 %) had intraparenchymal CE, and 86 patients (6.1 %) had CE into the peritoneal cavity among the overall cohort. Multivariate analysis, adjusted for age, sex, age-adjusted shock index, injury severity, and laboratory and imaging factors, showed that intraparenchymal CE and CE into the peritoneal cavity were significantly associated with the need for MT (AOR: 2.50; 95 % CI, 1.50-4.16 and AOR: 4.98; 95 % CI, 2.75-9.02, respectively both p < 0.001). The latter significant association persisted in the subgroup of patients with spleen and liver injuries. CONCLUSION: Active CE into the free peritoneal cavity on admission CT was independently associated with a greater probability of receiving MT in pediatric BLSI. The CE grade may help clinicians plan blood transfusion strategies. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 4; Therapeutic/Care management.

Challenges hindering emergency physicians; involvement in multicenter collaborative studies in Japan: A nationwide survey analysis.

Aim: Multicenter collaborative research accelerates patient recruitment and strengthens evidence. Nevertheless, the factors influencing emergency and critical care physicians' involvement in such research in Japan remain unclear. Methods: A nationwide web-based survey conducted in early 2023 targeted emergency physicians working a minimum of 3 days per week in Japan. The survey descriptively assessed their backgrounds, work and research environments, experiences, and perceived impediments and motivators for multicenter research. Results: Of the 387 respondents, 348 were included in the study, yielding a 5.1% response rate. Women comprised 11% of the participants; 33% worked in university hospitals, 65% served in both emergency departments and intensive care units, and 54% did shift work. Only 12% had designated research time during working hours, with a median of 1 hour per week (interquartile range 0-5 h), including time outside of work. While 73% had participated in multicenter research, 58% noted barriers to participation. The key obstacles were excessive data entry (72%), meeting time constraints (59%), ethical review at each facility (50%), and unique sample collection, such as bronchoalveolar lavage specimens or pathological tissues (51%). The major incentives were networking (70%), data sets reuse (65%), feedback on research results (63%), and recognition from academic societies (63%). Financial rewards were not highly prioritized (38%). Conclusions: While valuing clinical research, emergency physicians face barriers, especially data entry burden and limited research time. Networking and sharing research findings motivate them. These insights can guide strategies to enhance collaborative research in emergency and critical care in Japan.

Therapeutic strategies for pseudoaneurysm following blunt liver and spleen injuries: A multicenter cohort study in the pediatric population.

BACKGROUND: Little guidance exists for the treatment of pseudoaneurysm (PA) following pediatric blunt liver and/or spleen injuries (BLSIs). We aimed to describe the incidence of delayed PA development and the subsequent clinical course of PA in pediatric BLSIs. METHODS: This multicenter retrospective cohort study from Japan included pediatric patients (16 years and younger) who sustained BLSIs from 2008 to 2019. The cohort was divided into four groups based on hemostatic intervention within 48 hours of admission, namely, nonoperative management (NOM), NOM with interventional radiology (IR), operative management (OM), and combined IR/OM. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the incidence of delayed PA among the groups and to characterize the clinical course of any PAs. RESULTS: A total of 1,407 children (median age, 9 years) from 83 institutions were included. The overall number (incidence) of cases of delayed PA formation was 80 (5.7%), and the number with delayed PA rupture was 16 cases (1.1%) in the entire cohort. Patients treated with NOM (1,056), NOM with IR (276), OM (53), and combined IR/OM (22) developed 43 (4.1%), 32 (12%), 2 (3.8%), and 3 (14%) delayed PAs, respectively. Among patients who developed any PAs, 39% of patients underwent prophylactic IR for unruptured PA, while 13% required emergency angioembolization for delayed PA rupture, with one ruptured case requiring total splenectomy. At least 45% of patients experienced spontaneous resolution of PA without any interventions. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the risk of delayed PA still exists even after acute phase IR as an adjunct to NOM for BLSIs in children, indicating the necessity of a period of further observation. While endovascular interventions are usually successful for PA management, including rupture cases, given the high incidence of spontaneous resolution, the ideal management of PA remains to be investigated in future studies. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic/Care Management; Level IV.

Depression in Primary Care, 2010-2018.

BACKGROUND: Depression is common in primary care and significantly reduces quality of life. Our study aimed to examine the prevalence of depression in primary care visits, examine patterns of depression treatment and referral, and determine how often depression screening occurred over an 8-year timespan. METHODS: From the 2010-2018 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, a national probability sample of non-federal, ambulatory encounters, we identified adults being seen in a primary care clinic. We assessed the prevalence of depression screening, diagnosis, and treatment. RESULTS: During these 8 years, 13.1% of primary care encounters involved a patient with a diagnosis of depression. The prevalence of depression did not change over time. Patients were screened for depression 4.1% of the time, with screening increasing over time. Depression was more likely to be diagnosed when screening occurred (odds ratio 9.9; 95% confidence interval, 6.8-14.5%). Most patients were treated with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. CONCLUSION: Depression is common in primary care, though screening was infrequent. Practices should consider instituting universal screening.

Incidence and risk factors of acute cholecystitis after cardiovascular surgery.

OBJECTIVES: Acute cholecystitis is a complication in critically ill patients. However, a few studies have described its incidence, risk factors, and mortality in patients who underwent cardiovascular surgery. We investigated the incidence, perioperative predictors, and clinical features of acute cholecystitis after cardiovascular surgery. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study examined 7013 patients who underwent cardiovascular surgery between October 2000 and March 2019 at a tertiary care hospital. We collected preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative data from our database and electronic medical records. The primary outcome was the incidence of postoperative cholecystitis until hospital discharge. A multivariable logistic regression analysis to estimate perioperative predictors of acute cholecystitis was conducted. We described the clinical characteristics of patients complicated with acute cholecystitis. RESULTS: Among the 7013 patients, 51 (0.7%) developed acute cholecystitis. Logistic regression analysis found that circulatory arrest (odds ratio [OR] 1.97; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04-3.74; P = 0.037) and intraoperative massive transfusion (OR 2.03; 95% CI 1.03-4.01; P = 0.041) were associated with the incidences of cholecystitis. In-hospital mortality was significantly higher in the cholecystitis group than in the non-cholecystitis group (13.7% vs 3.9%, P = 0.004). Aortic disease was more frequent in the cholecystitis group (54.9% vs 38.6%, P = 0.021). The median time of acute cholecystitis onset from surgery was 12.5 days (interquartile range 7.0-27.75). Twenty-six patients (51.0%) developed asymptomatic cholecystitis. CONCLUSIONS: Approximately 1% of patients who underwent cardiovascular surgery developed postoperative cholecystitis; half of them were asymptomatic. Since cholecystitis is associated with high mortality, it is a complication after cardiovascular surgery that needs to be considered.

Blood Gas Analysis Results and Serum Lactate Levels in Patients with Psychogenic Hyperventilation and Urinary Tract Infection with Suspected Sepsis: A Retrospective Comparative Study.

Objective The prognosis differs considerably between patients with psychogenic hyperventilation syndrome (HVS) and those with urinary tract infection (UTI)-associated sepsis; however, the nonspecific symptoms and signs make the diagnosis and management difficult. We herein report the utility of a blood gas analysis for distinguishing HVS from UTI with suspected sepsis. Methods This single-center retrospective cohort study was conducted in a tertiary-care hospital in Japan. Patients ≥18 years old with a quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) score ≥2 and HVS or UTIs were included. The results of an arterial blood gas (ABG) or venous blood gas (VBG) analysis of the two groups were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test. We used a receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis of the arterial pH and arterial PCO2 to assess the ability of these analyses to distinguish HVS from UTI with suspected sepsis. Results A total of 64 patients with HVS (ABG, n=14; VBG, n=50) and 53 with UTI with suspected sepsis (ABG, n=35; VBG, n=18) were included. Patients with HVS had alkalemia and lower PCO2 levels than patients with UTI with suspected sepsis, but the serum lactate levels were similar between the groups. The ROC analysis determined the pH cut-off value to be 7.509 (sensitivity: 0.91; specificity: 0.86) and the PCO2 cut-off value to be 21.6 mmHg (sensitivity: 1.00; specificity: 0.64). Conclusion Elevated serum lactate levels alone cannot be used to differentiate between patients with HVS and those with UTI with suspected sepsis, but the degree of pH and PCO2 abnormality can help with the differential diagnosis.

High variability in results and methodological quality among overlapping systematic reviews on the same topics in surgery: a meta-epidemiological study.

BACKGROUND: Redundant publication of systematic reviews and meta-analyses (SRs/MAs) on the same topic presents an increasing burden for clinicians. The aim of this study was to describe variabilities in effect size and methodological quality of overlapping surgery-related SRs/MAs and to investigate factors associated with their postpublication citations. METHODS: PubMed/MEDLINE was searched to identify SRs/MAs of RCTs on thoracoabdominal surgeries published in 2015. Previous SRs/MAs on the same topics published within the preceding 5 years (2011-2015) were identified and 5-year citation counts (through to 2020) were evaluated. Discrepancies in pooled effect sizes and their methodological quality using A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR) among overlapping SRs/MAs were assessed. The SR/MA-level factors associated with 5-year citation counts were explored, using a mixed-effects regression model with a random intercept for surgical topics. RESULTS: A total of 57 surgery-related SRs/MAs (48 topics) published in 2015 were identified, and 146 SRs/MAs had overlapping publications on 29 topics (60.4 per cent of all topics) in the preceding 5 years. There was considerable variability in methodological quality of SRs/MAs and coverage probability for relevant RCTs, resulting in discrepant effect size estimates for the same topic. High quality (AMSTAR score 8-11) was independently associated with higher 5-year citation counts (coefficient = 32.82; 95 per cent c.i. 15.63 to 50.02; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Overlapping SRs/MAs with high variability in results and methodological quality were common in surgery. A high-quality SR/MA score was an independent predictor of more frequent citations. Researchers and journal editors should concentrate their efforts on limiting publications to higher-quality reviews.

Massive hemothorax from injury of an anonymous vein after intercostal chest drain placement: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Placement of an intercostal chest drain (ICD) is an essential procedure in the management of patients with chest injuries. However, ICD placement can have complications. Here, we report a case of massive hemothorax due to injury of an anonymous vein associated with ICD placement. CASE PRESENTATION: An 84-year-old man with chronic right pleural effusion from pleuroperitoneal communication presented with dyspnea after a fall. An ICD was placed in the right seventh intercostal area on the middle axillary line. He later complained of chest pain and dyspnea again due to right pneumothorax, and massive hemorrhagic pleural effusion was drained from an additionally placed ICD. A contrast-enhanced computed tomography scan showed that bleeding from the parietal pleura traveled along the first ICD and dropped into the intrapleural space. Intraoperatively, there was intramuscular venule bleeding from the right serratus anterior muscle, which was then ligated to stop the bleeding. DISCUSSION: An optimal area to place an ICD is termed the "safety triangle", which is determined by the pectoralis major, latissimus dorsi, and the level of the nipples and the base of the axilla. In this case, the ICD was placed in the seventh intercostal area, which is more than two intercostal distances inferior to the 'safety triangle'. CONCLUSIONS: This case suggested that, even though the vessel was small, a massive, life-threatening hemothorax can occur if an injury is caused by ICD placement. Knowledge of the anatomy necessary for placing an ICD should be reinforced.

A pandemic recap: lessons we have learned.

On January 2020, the WHO Director General declared that the outbreak constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. The world has faced a worldwide spread crisis and is still dealing with it. The present paper represents a white paper concerning the tough lessons we have learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, an international and heterogenous multidisciplinary panel of very differentiated people would like to share global experiences and lessons with all interested and especially those responsible for future healthcare decision making. With the present paper, international and heterogenous multidisciplinary panel of very differentiated people would like to share global experiences and lessons with all interested and especially those responsible for future healthcare decision making.

Incidence and timing of biphasic anaphylactic reactions: a retrospective cohort study.

AIM: We investigated the frequency of overall biphasic reactions, biphasic reactions that met the diagnostic criteria of anaphylaxis, and biphasic reactions that caused a severe abnormality in vital signs in patients who visited the emergency department of a tertiary hospital. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included patients aged 18 years or over who presented with anaphylaxis at the emergency department of a tertiary care hospital between January 2014 and December 2016. The primary outcome was the incidence of biphasic reactions that caused a severe abnormality in vital signs and developed within 7 days. Secondary outcomes were the frequency of overall biphasic reactions and those that met the diagnostic criteria of anaphylaxis. RESULTS: In total, 437 patients aged over 18 years visited the emergency department during the study period. Among them, 202 were enrolled in this study. The proportion of patients who had overall biphasic reactions, those that met the diagnostic criteria of anaphylaxis, and those with a severe abnormality in vital signs was 8.9%, 3.0%, and 1.0%, respectively. Overall, 32.7% of patients were hospitalized, but hospitalization aided in the treatment of severe biphasic reactions at the early stage in only one patient. CONCLUSION: We found that 8.9% of adult patients with anaphylaxis had a biphasic reaction, but biphasic reactions together with severe abnormalities in vital signs were rare.

Vasopressin for persistent hypotension due to amlodipine and olmesartan overdose: A case report.

BACKGROUND: While there are consensus recommendations for managing calcium channel blocker (CCB) toxicity, reports on angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) toxicity and management are limited. Herein, we report a case of catecholamine-refractory hypotension due to CCB and ARB overdose. CASE PRESENTATION: A 54-year-old woman with underlying hypertension was brought to the emergency department after she attempted suicide by ingesting 345 mg of amlodipine, a CCB, and 340 mg of olmesartan, an ARB. She was hypotensive, which was considered vasodilatory because of high cardiac and low systemic vascular resistance indices. Hypotension persisted despite the administration of norepinephrine and epinephrine. Intravenous calcium gluconate, glucagon, and high-dose insulin euglycemia therapy, which were initiated because CCB toxicity was suspected, failed to raise her blood pressure. The presence of normal anion-gap metabolic acidosis and the fact that the patient remained hypotensive suggested that the hypotension might have been due to the effect of ARB. Vasopressin was finally administered, which improved her hemodynamic status. She was weaned off all vasopressors on day 3. DISCUSSION: There is no consensus recommendation for ARB toxicity. Since chronic use of ARBs at conventional doses can block the sympathetic nervous and renin-angiotensin systems, catecholamines may not effectively increase blood pressure in cases of hypotension due to ARB overdose, for which vasopressin could be indicated. CONCLUSIONS: Vasopressin could be an option for treating hypotension secondary to ARB and CCB toxicity when catecholamines and treatment for CCB toxicity fail.

Wheezing of unexpected etiology: A case report of pea aspiration mimicking bronchus obstruction caused by a tumor.

INTRODUCTION: Geriatric patients with foreign body aspiration (FBA) lack a detailed medical history. Meanwhile, FBA can mimic other diseases and present with wheezing. Here, we report on the difficulty of making a diagnosis of FBA in an elderly man with wheezing. CASE PRESENTATION: An 84-year-old man presented with wet cough. He had progressive lung cancer, for which only supportive care was provided. His physical examination revealed wheezing. We presumptively diagnosed acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AE-COPD) and administered inhaled procaterol and parenteral methylprednisolone, which did not mitigate his symptoms. Computed tomography revealed a round nodule, 1 cm in diameter, in his right intermediate bronchus. Central airway obstruction (CAO) caused by the tumor was initially suspected. However, bronchoscopy revealed a pea (Pisum sativum) lodged in his right bronchus, which was removed using forceps. DISCUSSION: The typical clinical presentations of FBA are sudden-onset cough and dyspnea. However, some geriatric patients do not have cough or lack the cognitive capacity to inform of an episode of FBA. FBA can mimic other entities including AE-COPD and CAO, as seen in our case. Clinicians should not terminate the diagnostic process until all available information explaining the patient's signs and symptoms is collected. CONCLUSION: Despite the lack of apparent aspiration, FBA is an important differential diagnosis of new wheezing in the elderly. Physicians need to carefully evaluate "trivial" information or collect additional information when encountering airway symptoms in elderly patients to avoid missing an FBA diagnosis.

Diabetic Ketoacidosis as a Delayed Immune-Related Event after Discontinuation of Nivolumab.

BACKGROUND: Nivolumab, an anti-programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) monoclonal antibody with immune checkpoint inhibitory activity, represents a novel treatment for several cancers. Immune checkpoint inhibitors cause side effects, known as immune-related adverse events (irAEs) or delayed immune-related events (DIRE), after immunotherapy discontinuation. Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and diabetic ketoacidosis have been reported to develop as an irAE during the treatment with nivolumab. Here, we report on a patient who developed T1DM and diabetic ketoacidosis after discontinuation of treatment with nivolumab as a DIRE. CASE REPORT: A 59-year-old man, who received nivolumab for an alpha fetoprotein-producing gastric cancer, presented with acute fatigue 4 months after discontinuation of nivolumab. Throughout therapy with nivolumab, the patient's hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level was ≤ 6%. However, 1 month prior to the patient's emergency department visit, he noticed weight loss, and 3 weeks prior to that, his HbA1c was 7.1%. Urinalysis showed ketone bodies, and arterial blood gas analysis suggested metabolic acidosis with hyperglycemia (690 mg/dL), which established the diagnosis of diabetic ketoacidosis. An endogenous insulin deficiency without verifiable anti-islet autoantibodies was confirmed; the patient had a human leukocyte antigen haplotype that does not increase the risk of acute-onset T1DM. We considered that T1DM in this patient developed possibly due to nivolumab. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: This case highlights the need for clinicians to be vigilant of the fact that a history of anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody therapy may increase the risk of diabetic ketoacidosis, whether treatment is ongoing or discontinued.