Association between Postoperative Adjuvant Vasodilator Therapy and In-Hospital Mortality for Non-Occlusive Mesenteric Ischemia: A Nationwide Observational Study.

BACKGROUND: Although several clinical guidelines recommend vasodilator therapy for non-occlusive mesenteric ischemia (NOMI) and immediate surgery when bowel necrosis is suspected, these recommendations are based on limited evidence. METHODS: In this retrospective nationwide observational study, we used information from the Japanese Diagnosis Procedure Combination inpatient database from July 2010 to March 2018 to identify patients with NOMI who underwent abdominal surgeries on the day of admission. We compared patients who received postoperative vasodilator therapy (vasodilator group) with those who did not (control group). Vasodilator therapy was defined as venous and/or arterial administration of papaverine and/or prostaglandin E1 within 2 days of admission. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes included the prevalence of additional abdominal surgery performed ≥3 days after admission and short bowel syndrome. RESULTS: We identified 928 eligible patients (149 in the vasodilator group and 779 in the control group). One-to-four propensity score matching yielded 149 and 596 patients for the vasodilator and control groups, respectively. There was no significant difference in in-hospital mortality between the groups (control vs. vasodilator, 27.5% vs. 30.9%; risk difference, 3.4%; 95% confidence interval, -4.9 to 11.6; p=0.42) and no significant difference in the prevalences of abdominal surgery, bowel resection ≥3 days after admission, and short bowel syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative vasodilator use was not significantly associated with a reduction in in-hospital mortality or additional abdominal surgery performed ≥3 days after admission in surgically treated NOMI patients.

Survival benefits of interventional radiology and surgical teams collaboration during primary trauma surveys: a single-centre retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: A team approach is essential for effective trauma management. Close collaboration between interventional radiologists and surgeons during the initial management of trauma patients is important for prompt and accurate trauma care. This study aimed to determine whether trauma patients benefit from close collaboration between interventional radiology (IR) and surgical teams during the primary trauma survey. METHODS: A retrospective observational study was conducted between 2014 and 2021 at a single institution. Patients were assigned to an embolization group (EG), a surgery group (SG), or a combination group (CG) according to their treatment. The primary and secondary outcomes were survival at hospital discharge compared with the probability of survival (Ps) and the time course of treatment. RESULTS: The analysis included 197 patients, consisting of 135 men and 62 women, with a median age of 56 [IQR, 38-72] years and an injury severity score of 20 [10-29]. The EG, SG, and CG included 114, 48, and 35 patients, respectively. Differences in organ injury patterns were observed between the three groups. In-hospital survival rates in all three groups were higher than the Ps. In particular, the survival rate in the CG was 15.5% higher than the Ps (95% CI: 7.5-23.6%; p < 0.001). In the CG, the median time for starting the initial procedure was 53 [37-79] min and the procedure times for IR and surgery were 48 [29-72] min and 63 [35-94] min, respectively. Those times were significantly shorter among three groups. CONCLUSION: Close collaboration between IR and surgical teams, including the primary survey, improves the survival of severe trauma patients who require both IR procedures and surgeries by improving appropriate treatment selection and reducing the time process.

Development and validation of a novel overhead method for anteroposterior radiographs of fractured rat femurs.

We aimed to establish a new method of obtaining femur anteroposterior radiographs from live rats. We used five adult male Sprague-Dawley rats and created a femoral fracture model with an 8 mm segmental fragment. After the surgery, we obtained two femoral anteroposterior radiographs, a novel overhead method, and a traditional craniocaudal view. We obtained the overhead method three times, craniocaudal view once, and anteroposterior radiograph of the isolated femoral bone after euthanasia. We compared the overhead method and craniocaudal view with an isolated femoral anteroposterior view. We used a two-sample t-test and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) to estimate the intra-observer reliability. The overhead method had significantly smaller differences than the craniocaudal view for nail length (1.53 ± 1.26 vs. 11.4 ± 3.45, p < 0.001, ICC 0.96) and neck shaft angle (5.82 ± 3.8 vs. 37.8 ± 5.7, p < 0.001, ICC 0.96). No significant differences existed for intertrochanteric length/femoral head diameter (0.23 ± 0.13 vs. 0.23 ± 0.13, p = 0.96, ICC 0.98) or lateral condyle/medial condyle width (0.15 ± 0.16 vs. 0.13 ± 0.08, p = 0.82, ICC 0.99). A fragment displacement was within 0.11 mm (2.4%). The overhead method was closer to the isolated femoral anteroposterior view and had higher reliability.

The current status of reversal therapy in Japan for elderly patients with head injury treated with antithrombotic agents: A prospective multicenter observational study.

Background: Acute exacerbation of head injury in elderly patients due to use of antithrombotic agents has become a concern in countries with aging populations. Reversal agents are recommended for treatment, but its usage is unclear. Therefore, we conducted a prospective observational study in this patient population to monitor usage of reversal therapy. Methods: The subjects were 721 elderly patients aged ≥65 years old who were hospitalized in 15 centers from December 2019 to May 2021. Patients were divided into groups who did not receive antithrombotic agents (Group A), who received antithrombotic agents, but did not receive reversal therapy (Group B), and were treated with antithrombotic agents and reversal therapy (Group C). Age, gender, mechanism of injury, neurologic and imaging findings on admission, clinical course after admission and surgery, outcomes and complications were compared among these groups. Time from injury to reversal therapy was examined based on outcomes to investigate trends in the timing of administration of the reversal agent. Results: Acute exacerbation during the clinical course occurred in 9.8 %, 15.8 % and 31.0 % of cases in Groups A, B and C, respectively, and differed significantly among the groups. On head CT, the incidences of hematoma were 35.7 %, 36.5 % and 60.4 %, respectively, with this incidence being significantly higher in Group C; and the respective rates of craniotomy were 18.8 %, 14.0 % and 50.9 %, again with this rate being significantly higher in Group C. The good outcome and mortality rates were 57.1 %, 52.5 % and 35.8 %, and 14.5 %, 18.0 % and 24.5 %, respectively, and both were poorest in Group C. Times from injury to treatment with a reversal agent were significantly shorter in patients without compared to those with acute exacerbation (405.9 vs. 880.8 min) and in patients with favorable outcomes compared to those with unfavorable outcomes (261.9 vs. 543.4 min). Conclusion: Similarly to previous studies, the incidence of acute exacerbation was increased by use of antithrombotic agents. These results suggest that patients in Japan who require hematoma evacuation due to symptom exacerbation tend to be treated with reversal agents. Although it is difficult to assess the efficacy of reversal therapy from this study, earlier treatment with reversal agents before the occurrence of acute exacerbation may be useful to improve outcomes.

Delayed stomach necrosis in a patient with injured celiac artery branches after penetrating abdominal trauma.

Injuries of the celiac artery and its branches are rare, but potentially lethal. Ligation of these arteries is performed to control significant hemorrhage. However, few reports have described the adverse effects of ligating these arteries. A 69-year-old woman with a self-inflicted stab wound was brought to our hospital. Her blood pressure could not be measured, therefore aortic cross-clamping was performed, and epinephrine was administered for resuscitation, an emergency laparotomy was performed, and the roots of splenic artery and common hepatic artery were ligated. The left gastric artery which was anomalous and arose directly from the aorta, was also injured and had to be ligated. Norepinephrine was required after the surgery. Enhanced computed tomography performed on hospital day 4 revealed a disrupted celiac artery. The patient developed gastric necrosis on hospital day 23 and, hence, underwent total gastrectomy was performed. The possibility of delayed stomach necrosis should be considered during the postoperative management of patients who undergo ligation of all of the celiac artery branches and experience global hypoperfusion after the surgery.

Development and validation of prediction scores for the outcome associated with persistent inflammation, immunosuppression, and catabolism syndrome among patients with trauma.

Background: Persistent inflammation, immunosuppression, and catabolism syndrome (PICS) has impacted on long-term prognosis of patients with trauma. We aimed to identify patients with trauma at risk of PICS-related complications early in the intensive care unit (ICU) course. Methods: A single-center retrospective cohort study was conducted. All consecutive patients with trauma who had stayed in the ICU for >7 days were included in the study. We developed the prediction score for the incidence of PICS-related outcomes in the derivation cohort for the initial period and then evaluated in the validation cohort for the subsequent period. Other outcomes were also assessed using the score. Results: In total, 170 and 133 patients were included in the derivation and validation cohorts, respectively. The prediction score comprised the variables indicating PICS presence, including a maximum value of C-reactive protein >15 mg/dL, minimum value of albumin <2.5 g/dL, and an episode of nosocomial infection for the first 7 days after admission. A score of 1 was assigned to each variable. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the score to predict PICS incidence was 0.74 (95% CI 0.66 to 0.81) and 0.72 (95% CI 0.64 to 0.81) in the derivation and validation cohorts, respectively. The higher score was also significantly associated with a higher Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score at day 14, a longer duration of mechanical ventilation, a longer length of stay in ICU, and experienced multiple episodes of infection. Similar results were obtained in the validation cohort. Conclusions: Our scoring system could predict the outcomes associated with PICS among patients with trauma. Because the score comprised the parameters measured for the first 7 days during the ICU course, it could contribute to identifying patients at a high risk of unfavorable outcome earlier. Level of evidence: Multivariate prediction models; level IV.

Ventilator management and risk of air leak syndrome in patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia: a single-center, retrospective, observational study.

BACKGROUND: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pneumonia is reportedly associated with air leak syndrome (ALS), including mediastinal emphysema and pneumothorax, and has a high mortality rate. In this study, we compared values obtained every minute from ventilators to clarify the relationship between ventilator management and risk of developing ALS. METHODS: This single-center, retrospective, observational study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Tokyo, Japan, over a 21-month period. Information on patient background, ventilator data, and outcomes was collected from adult patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia on ventilator management. Patients who developed ALS within 30 days of ventilator management initiation (ALS group) were compared with those who did not (non-ALS group). RESULTS: Of the 105 patients, 14 (13%) developed ALS. The median positive-end expiratory pressure (PEEP) difference was 0.20 cmH2O (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.20-0.20) and it was higher in the ALS group than in the non-ALS group (9.6 [7.8-20.2] vs. 9.3 [7.3-10.2], respectively). For peak pressure, the median difference was -0.30 cmH2O (95% CI, -0.30 - -0.20) (20.4 [17.0-24.4] in the ALS group vs. 20.9 [16.7-24.6] in the non-ALS group). The mean pressure difference of 0.0 cmH2O (95% CI, 0.0-0.0) (12.7 [10.9-14.6] vs. 13.0 [10.3-15.0], respectively) was also higher in the non-ALS group than in the ALS group. The difference in single ventilation volume per ideal body weight was 0.71 mL/kg (95% CI, 0.70-0.72) (8.17 [6.79-9.54] vs. 7.43 [6.03-8.81], respectively), and the difference in dynamic lung compliance was 8.27 mL/cmH2O (95% CI, 12.76-21.95) (43.8 [28.2-68.8] vs. 35.7 [26.5-41.5], respectively); both were higher in the ALS group than in the non-ALS group. CONCLUSIONS: There was no association between higher ventilator pressures and the development of ALS. The ALS group had higher dynamic lung compliance and tidal volumes than the non-ALS group, which may indicate a pulmonary contribution to ALS. Ventilator management that limits tidal volume may prevent ALS development.

Cerebral edema associated with diabetic ketoacidosis: Two case reports.

Background: Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is associated with a high mortality rate, especially if cerebral edema develops during the disease course. It is rarer and more severe in adults than in children. We present cases of two patients with cerebral edema-related DKA. Case presentation: The first patient was a 38-year-old man with diabetes mellitus who presented with DKA-related disturbed consciousness. Although glycemic correction was performed slowly, he showed pupil dilation 11 h later. He underwent emergency ventricular drainage, but died of cerebral herniation. The second patient was a 25-year-old woman who presented with impaired consciousness secondary to DKA. Head computed tomography showed subarachnoid hemorrhage and cerebral edema. No related intraoperative findings were observed; it was concluded that the first computed tomography scan revealed pseudo-subarachnoid hemorrhage. Conclusion: Diabetic ketoacidosis-related cerebral edema develops despite treatment according to guidelines and is difficult to predict. Therefore, adult patients should be treated cautiously during DKA management.

Heat stroke management during the COVID-19 pandemic: Recommendations from the experts in Japan (2nd edition).

Both coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and heat stroke have symptoms of fever or hyperthermia and the difficulty in distinguishing them could lead to a strain on emergency medical care. To mitigate the potential confusion that could arise from actions for preventing both COVID-19 spread and heat stroke, particularly in the context of record-breaking summer season temperatures, this work offers new knowledge and evidence that address concerns regarding indoor ventilation and indoor temperatures, mask wearing and heat stroke risk, and the isolation of older adults. Specifically, the current work is the second edition to the previously published guidance for handling heat stroke during the COVID-19 pandemic, prepared by the "Working group on heat stroke medical care during the COVID-19 epidemic," composed of members from four organizations in different medical and related fields. The group was established by the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine Heatstroke and Hypothermia Surveillance Committee. This second edition includes new knowledge, and conventional evidence gleaned from a primary selection of 60 articles from MEDLINE, one article from Cochrane, 13 articles from Ichushi, and a secondary/final selection of 56 articles. This work summarizes the contents that have been clarified in the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases and heat stroke to provide guidance for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of heat stroke during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Current status of active cooling, deep body temperature measurement, and face mask wearing in heat stroke and heat exhaustion patients in Japan: a nationwide observational study based on the Heatstroke STUDY 2020 and 2021.

Aim: The study aimed to determine the current status of face mask use, deep body temperature measurement, and active cooling in patients suffering from heat stroke and heat exhaustion in Japan. Methods: This was a prospective, observational, multicenter study using data from the Heatstroke STUDY 2020-2021, a nationwide periodical registry of heat stroke and heat exhaustion patients. Based on the Bouchama heatstroke criteria, we classified the patients into two groups: severe and mild-to-moderate. We compared the outcomes between the two groups and reclassified them into two subgroups according to the severity of the illness, deep body temperature measurements, and face mask use. Cramer's V was used to determine the effect sizes for a comparison between groups. Results: Almost all patients in this study were categorized as having degree III based on the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine heatstroke criteria (JAAM-HS). However, the severe group was significantly worse than the mild-to-moderate group in outcomes like in-hospital death and modified Rankin Scale scores, when discharged. Heat strokes had significantly higher rates of active cooling and lower mortality rates than heat stroke-like illnesses. Patients using face masks often use them during labor, sports, and other exertions, had less severe conditions, and were less likely to be young male individuals. Conclusions: It is suggested that severe cases require a more detailed classification of degree III in the JAAM-HS criteria, and not measuring deep body temperature could have been a factor in the nonperformance of active cooling and worse outcomes.

Two Cases of Bronchial Artery Racemose Hemangioma Successfully Treated with Bronchial Artery Embolization.

Rupture of a racemose hemangioma causing dilatation and tortuosity of the bronchial artery can result in massive bleeding and respiratory failure. Bronchial artery embolization (BAE) can treat this life-threatening condition, as we show in two cases. The first case was of an 89-year-old female complaining of sudden-onset chest and back pain. Bronchial artery angiography demonstrated a racemose hemangioma with a 2 cm aneurysm. The second case was of a 50-year-old male with hemoptysis and dyspnea, eventually requiring intubation. Bronchial arteriography showed a racemose hemangioma and a bronchial artery-pulmonary arterial fistula. BAE was successfully performed in both cases, with no recurrent hemorrhage. Therapeutic interventions in bronchial artery racemose hemangiomas include lobectomy or segmentectomy, bronchial arterial ligation, and BAE. BAE should be considered as first-line therapy for bleeding racemose hemangiomas of the bronchial artery because of its low risk of adverse effects on respiratory status, minimal invasiveness, and faster patient recovery.

Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma in a Patient with Down Syndrome.

Intracranial tumors are rare in persons with Down syndrome. Although germ cell tumors and gliomas have been reported in Down syndrome, primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) has not. We report a case of PCNSL in a 48-year-old man with Down syndrome and no history of malignant tumors. He visited our hospital for evaluation of left hemiparesis and gait disturbance. A thorough examination revealed brain tumors, and analysis of a biopsy specimen of the tumor confirmed a diagnosis of PCNSL. The final pathological diagnosis was diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the central nervous system. Chemotherapy with rituximab, methotrexate, procarbazine, and vincristine was administered, and whole-brain irradiation was planned in conjunction with chemotherapy. It is unclear whether chromosomal abnormalities related to Down syndrome were involved in the development of PCNSL. Further molecular biological analysis may clarify the mechanism of combined Down syndrome and PCNSL.

Trends in the number of patients from traffic accidents and the state of emergency.

Aim: During the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, the number of traffic accidents and injured patients was reported to be lower than that before the pandemic. However, little is known regarding the relationship between periods of the state of emergency and the number of patients who met with traffic accidents. Methods: The numbers of trauma patients and deaths due to traffic accidents in Tokyo and Osaka were collected monthly from the statistics published by the police department. A state of emergency was declared four times in both cities. The number of trauma patients and deaths was compared between the emergency and other periods. Results: The number of monthly patients per 100,000 due to traffic accidents during the state of emergency was significantly lower than that during other periods in Tokyo (16.56 versus 18.20; P = 0.008) and Osaka (24.12 versus 28.79; P = 0.002). However, the monthly number of deaths during the state of emergency was not significantly different compared with those during the other periods in Tokyo (0.08 versus 0.08; P = 0.65) and Osaka (0.10 versus 0.14; P = 0.082). A decrease in the number of trauma patients was observed before the emergency period; however, the reduction rate dropped as the period passed. Conclusion: There were significantly fewer trauma patients due to traffic accidents during the state of emergency than during the other periods, with no significant difference in the number of deaths.

Neurointensive Care of Traumatic Brain Injury Patients Based on Coagulation and Fibrinolytic Parameter Monitoring.

Coagulopathy, a common complication of traumatic brain injury (TBI), is characterized by a hypercoagulable state developing immediately after injury, with hyperfibrinolysis and bleeding tendency peaking 3 h after injury, followed by fibrinolysis shutdown. Reflecting this timeframe, the coagulation factor fibrinogen is first consumed and then degraded after TBI, its concentration rapidly decreasing by 3 h post-TBI. The fibrinolytic marker D-dimer reaches its maximum concentration at the same time. Hyperfibrinolysis in the acute phase of TBI is associated with poor prognosis via hematoma expansion. In the acute phase, the coagulation and fibrinolysis parameters must be monitored to determine the treatment strategy. The combination of D-dimer plasma level at admission and the level of consciousness upon arrival at the hospital can be used to predict the patients who will "talk and deteriorate." Fibrinogen and D-dimer levels should determine case selection and the amount of fresh frozen plasma required for transfusion. Surgery around 3 h after injury, when fibrinolysis and bleeding diathesis peak, should be avoided if possible. In recent years, attempts have been made to estimate the time of injury from the time course of coagulation and fibrinolysis parameter levels, which has been particularly useful in some cases of pediatric abusive head trauma patients.

External Carotid Artery-Related Adverse Events at Extra-Intra Cranial High Flow Bypass Surgery Using a Radial Artery Graft.

OBJECTIVE: Placing an extracranial-intracranial (EC-IC) high-flow bypass using a radial artery (RA) graft plus internal carotid artery (ICA) trapping or ligation is an option for treating patients expected to be at high risk for complications by direct surgical treatment of the ICA. We focused on the anastomosis between the external carotid artery (ECA) and the RA graft in the cervical region and present adverse events and salvage procedures. METHODS: EC-IC high-flow bypass procedures using an RA graft were performed to treat 87 consecutive patients. The ECA diameter at the midpoint of the planned ECA-RA anastomosis and the non-branched length of the ECA were measured on preoperative angiograms. To study adverse events related to ECA-RA anastomoses, we reviewed the patients' surgical records and intraoperative videos. RESULTS: In 11 patients (12.6%) we encountered adverse events during anastomosis between the ECA and RA. The rate of ECA dissection was significantly higher in male patients (4 of 17; 23.5%) than female patients (3 of 70; 4.3%) (P = 0.012). Logistic regression analysis revealed that male sex, individuals with diabetes mellitus, and patients whose non-branching length of the ECA was short (16.1 ± 6.7 mm) were at high risk of ECA problems. We set the cutoff point at 17.5 mm (the area under the receiver operator characteristic curve was 0.72). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that patients, especially male patients, treated by EC-IC high-flow bypass using an RA graft are at increased risk for adverse events when the ECA length at the site of the planned anastomosis is shorter than 17.5 mm.

Timing and order of surgeries for thoracic trauma with multiple injuries: A case report.

The timing and order of multiple surgeries for patients with multiple thoracic injuries have not been standardized. A 75-year-old man, who was injured because of a closing elevator door, underwent intubation, bilateral chest drain insertion, and massive blood transfusion due to shock and respiratory distress. Computed tomography showed hemopneumothorax with extravasation, tracheobronchial injury, aortic injury, thoracic vertebral anterior dislocation, and multiple rib fractures. He was hospitalized and underwent embolization on the day of admission. Next, veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) was conducted to address severe respiratory failure. The most crucial aspect of the management was treating the tracheobronchial injury because weaning the patient off the VV-ECMO depended on the success of the repair. Thus, the tracheobronchial repair was performed 7-10 days after injury. A right intrathoracic hematoma removal was performed on the third day and a thoracic endovascular aortic repair on the fifth day. The tracheobronchial repair was performed on the ninth day followed by the posterior thoracic fusion on the 18th day. The patient was successfully weaned off the VV-ECMO and mechanical ventilation on the 24th and 46th days, respectively. Early surgery is not always ideal when managing thoracic trauma cases involving multiple sites. Rather, the treatment should be individualized, and the essential surgical procedures should be timed appropriately.

Airway obstruction time and outcomes in patients with foreign body airway obstruction: multicenter observational choking investigation.

Aim: Foreign body airway obstruction (FBAO) is a major public health concern worldwide for infants and older adults. This study determines the association between airway obstruction time and neurological outcomes to plan an effective response for patients with FBAO. Methods: This multicenter retrospective observational study was carried out among patients with life-threatening FBAO in Japan over a period of 4 years. The duration of airway obstruction was calculated from the time of the accident to the time of foreign body removal. The study examined the relationship between airway obstruction time and outcome. The primary outcome was vegetative state or death at hospital discharge. Results: Among 119 patients, 68 were in the category of vegetative state or death. Logistic regression analysis showed that longer airway obstruction time (adjusted odds ratio 1.04; 95% confidence interval 1.01-1.07) was associated with vegetative state or death. When the cut-off value was set at 10, the sensitivity was 0.88, the specificity 0.47, with the area under the curve 0.69. Using the other cut-off value of 4 min, the negative predictive value was 1.00. Conclusion: Longer airway obstruction time was associated with vegetative state or death for patients with FBAO. The incidence of vegetative state or death increased when the airway obstruction time exceeded 10 min. Meanwhile, 4 min or less may be set as a target time for foreign body removal in order to prevent vegetative state or death and plan an effective response.

Influence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the incidence of heat stroke and heat exhaustion in Japan: a nationwide observational study based on the Heatstroke STUDY 2019 (without COVID-19) and 2020 (with COVID-19).

AIM: To assess heat stroke and heat exhaustion occurrence and response during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic in Japan. METHODS: This retrospective, multicenter, registry-based study describes and compares the characteristics of patients between the months of July and September in 2019 and 2020. Factors affecting heat stroke and heat exhaustion were statistically analyzed. Cramér's V was calculated to determine the effect size for group comparisons. We also investigated the prevalence of mask wearing and details of different cooling methods. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed between 2019 and 2020. In both years, in-hospital mortality rates just exceeded 8%. Individuals >65 years old comprised 50% of cases and non-exertional onset (office work and everyday life) comprised 60%-70%, respectively. The recommendations from the Working Group on Heat Stroke Medicine given during the coronavirus disease pandemic in 2019 had a significant impact on the choice of cooling methods. The percentage of cases, for which intravascular temperature management was performed and cooling blankets were used increased, whereas the percentage of cases in which evaporative plus convective cooling was performed decreased. A total of 49 cases of heat stroke in mask wearing were reported. CONCLUSION: Epidemiological assessments of heat stroke and heat exhaustion did not reveal significant changes between 2019 and 2020. The findings suggest that awareness campaigns regarding heat stroke prevention among the elderly in daily life should be continued in the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. In the future, it is also necessary to validate the recommendations of the Working Group on Heatstroke Medicine.

Phenytoin versus other antiepileptic drugs as treatments for status epilepticus in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

AIM: Status epilepticus (SE) is a life-threatening neurological emergency. There is insufficient evidence regarding which antiepileptic therapy is most effective in patients with benzodiazepine-refractory convulsive SE. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate intravenous phenytoin (PHT) and other intravenous antiepileptic medications for SE. METHODS: We searched PubMed, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Igaku Chuo Zasshi for published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in humans up to August 2019. We compared outcomes between intravenous PHT and other intravenous medications. The important primary composite outcomes were the successful clinical cessation of seizures, mortality, and neurological outcomes at discharge. The reliability of the level of evidence for each outcome was compared using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach. RESULTS: A total of 1,103 studies were identified from the databases, and 10 RCTs were included in the analysis. The ratio of successful clinical seizure cessation was significantly lower (risk ratio [RR] 0.89; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.82-0.97) for patients treated with intravenous PHT than with other medications. When we compared mortality and neurological outcomes at discharge, we observed no significant differences between patients treated with PHT and those treated with other medications. The RRs were 1.07 (95% CI, 0.55-2.08) and 0.91 (95% CI, 0.72-1.15) for mortality and neurological outcomes at discharge, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings showed that intravenous PHT was significantly inferior to other medications in terms of the cessation of seizures. No significant differences were observed in mortality or neurological outcomes between PHT and other medications.

The effect of participation of interventional radiology team in a primary trauma survey on patient outcome.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the survival benefits of a workflow in which an interventional radiology (IR) team participates in a primary trauma survey on patients with hemodynamically unstable trauma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective observational study was conducted between 2012 and 2019 at a single institution. Patients who underwent an IR procedure as the initial hemostasis were assigned to the hemodynamically stable group (HSG) or hemodynamically unstable group (HUG). The primary and secondary outcomes were survival at hospital discharge compared with the probability of survival (Ps) and the time course. RESULTS: A total of 160 patients (100 men, 60 women; median age, 57.5 years [interquartile range (IQR): 31.5-72 years]) with an injury severity score of 24 (IQR: 13.75-34) were included. A total of 125 patients were included in the HSG group and 35 patients in the HUG group. The observational survival rate was significantly greater than the Ps rate by 4.9% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.6-8.4%; P = 0.005) in HSG and by 24.6% in HUG (95% CI: 16.9-32.3%; P < 0.001). The observational survival rate was significantly greater than Ps in HUG than in HSG (P < 0.001). The median time to initiate IR procedures and the median procedure time in HUG were 54 min [IQR: 45-66 min] and 48 min [IQR: 30-85 min], respectively; both were significantly shorter than those in the HSG. CONCLUSION: A trauma workflow utilizing an IR team in a primary survey is associated with improved survival of patients with hemodynamically unstable trauma when compared with Ps with a shorter time course.