Early Enteral Nutrition in Aeromedically Evacuated Critically Ill/Injured Patients With a Resultant Validation Algorithm for the Theater Validating Flight Surgeon.

INTRODUCTION: Early enteral feeding in critically ill/injured patients promotes gut integrity and immunocompetence and reduces infections and intensive care unit/hospital stays. Aeromedical evacuation (AE) often takes place concurrently. As a result, AE and early enteral feeding should be inseparable. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective descriptive study employed AE enteral nutrition (EN) data (2007-2019) collected from patients who were U.S. citizens and mechanically ventilated. The dataset was created from the En Route Critical Care, Transportation Command Regulating and Command and Control Evacuation System, and Theater Medical Data Store databases. Comparisons were performed between patients extracted and patients not extracted, patients treated with EN and patients treated without EN, and within the EN group, between AE Fed and AE Withheld. The impact of the nutrition support in the Joint Trauma System Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) was assessed using the 'before' and 'after' methodology. RESULTS: An uptick in feeding rates was found after the 2010 CPG, 15% → 17%. With the next two CPG iterations, rates rose significantly, 17% → 48%. Concurrently, AE feeding holds rose significantly, 10% → 24%, later dropping to 17%. In addition, little difference was found between those patients not enterally fed preflight and those enterally fed across collected demographic, mission, and clinical parameters. Likewise, no difference was found between those enterally fed during AE and those withheld. Yet, 83% of the study's patients were not fed, and 18% of those that were fed had feeding withheld for AE. CONCLUSIONS: It appeared that the Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) reinforced the value of feeding, but may well have sensitized to the threat of aspiration. It also appeared that early enteral feeding was underprescribed and AE feeding withholds were overprescribed. Consequently, an algorithm was devised for the Theater Validating Flight Surgeon, bearing in mind relevant preflight/inflight/clinical issues, with prescriptions designed to boost feeding, diminish AE withholding, and minimize complications.

Adherence to Turkish psychiatric association guideline for bipolar depression treatment in a specialized mood disorders outpatient unit.

BACKGROUND: Bipolar patients spend up to one third of their lives in depression however, acute treatment guidelines mainly focused on the manic phase of illness. With recent attention to the importance of evidence-based medicine in psychiatry, a number of treatment guidelines have emerged to aid clinicians in clinical decision making. Here, we aim to measure concordance with the Turkish Psychiatric Association Treatment Guideline for Bipolar Disorders (TPATGBD) for the depressive phase of illness. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Bipolar patients attending the Rasit Tahsin Mood Disorders Outpatient Unit of Istanbul Bakirköy Research and Training Hospital for Psychiatry, Neurolgy & Neurosurgery, were assessed using standardized forms based on a nation-wide mood disorders follow-up program. Concordance of implementations with the TPATGBD were evaluated step by step for each level of depression severity. RESULTS: Concordance rates with the first step recommendations of the guideline were 29.4%, 27.4% and 87.5% for mild-moderate, moderate-severe (without psychosis) and severe depression (with psychosis), respectively. Concordance rates with the second step recommendations of the guideline were lower for bipolar depressions without psychosis. Overall, adherence to the guideline did not impact on time to remission (p=0.19). CONCLUSIONS: Despite considerable efforts to develop and disseminate evidence-based guidelines, they are not widely followed by clinicians and important opportunities clearly exist to educate clinicians about the feasibility and utility of clinical guidelines for bipolar disorder. Systematic studies in the future are required to clarify our understanding of clinicians' attitudes to the use of guidelines and to explain the discrepancy between guidelines and clinical practice.

The importance of diagnosing neck pain.

Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis is a common but poorly recognised condition that may have important and occasionally life-threatening clinical outcomes. We report the case of a 71-year-old man with giant osteophytes in his cervical spine which caused dysphagia and silent aspiration, leading to pneumonia, septicaemia, aortic wall infection and septic arthritis. Early recognition of the cause of his neck pain may have averted the subsequent clinical course.

Clinical Impact of Cabin Altitude Restriction Following Aeromedical Evacuation.

Combat medical care relies on aeromedical evacuation (AE). Vital to AE is the validating flight surgeon (VFS) who warrants a patient is "fit to fly." To do this, the VFS considers clinical characteristics and inflight physiological stressors, often prescribing specific interventions such as a cabin altitude restriction (CAR). Unfortunately, limited information is available regarding the clinical consequences of a CAR. Consequently, a dual case-control study (CAR patients versus non-CAR patients and non-CAR patients flown with a CAR versus non-CAR patients) was executed. Data on 1,114 patients were obtained from TRANSCOM Regulating and Command and Control Evacuation System and Landstuhl Regional Medical Center trauma database (January 2007 to February 2008). Demographic and clinical factors essentially showed no difference between groups; however, CAR patients appeared more severely injured than non-CAR patients. Despite being sicker, CAR patients had similar clinical outcomes when compared with non-CAR patients. In contrast, despite an equivocal severity picture, the non-CAR patients flown with a CAR had superior clinical outcomes when compared with non-CAR patients. It appeared that the CAR prescription normalized severely injured to moderately injured and brought moderately injured into a less morbid state. These results suggest that CAR should be seriously considered when evacuating seriously ill/injured patients.

Experiences with Regional Anesthesia for Analgesia During Prolonged Aeromedical Evacuation.

INTRODUCTION: There is much debate regarding the appropriate analgesic management of patients undergoing medical evacuation following combat trauma. Our primary objective was to review the utility of regional anesthetic techniques in patients undergoing aeromedical evacuation following surgical limb amputation as treatment for combat trauma. METHODS: This study was conducted as an observational retrospective cohort whereby acutely injured amputee patients were identified via the U.S. Transportation Command's patient movement database. The Theater Medical Data Store was cross-referenced for additional patient care data including opioid consumption, duration of regional technique, pain scores, and rates of intubation. RESULTS: Eighty-four records were retrieved from the Theater Medical Data Store. All 84 patients were victims of improvised explosive device detonation requiring limb amputation and subsequent transport from Kandahar Airfield or Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, to the United States. The majority of interventions remained in place throughout the evacuation process. A significant decrease in opioid consumption in patients receiving regional anesthesia was identified at each leg of the medical evacuation process. Pain scores were sporadically reported and not statistically different. Higher rates of intubation were identified in the nonregional anesthetic group. DISCUSSION: Our analysis demonstrates the feasibility and effectiveness of applying regional anesthetic techniques for pain management to our combat wounded trauma patients throughout multiple stages of aeromedical evacuation. Benefits include the potential for less sedation and less opioid consumption while potentially foregoing the requirement for intubation during transport.Carness JM, Wilson MA, Lenart MJ, Smith DE, Dukes SF. Experiences with regional anesthesia for analgesia during prolonged aeromedical evacuation. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2017; 88(8):768-772.

Sideline management of acute dislocation of the glenohumeral joint- a unique approach to athlete self-reduction.

UNLABELLED: The acute anterior dislocation of the glenohumeral joint (GHJ) poses a challenge to sports medicine providers at all levels and in all settings. This macrotraumatic injury occurs in athletes who participate in a wide variety of sports, most typically as a result of contact or collision mechanisms. Quick and effective relocation of the GHJ is an important skill for on the sideline or on the field management of this type of dislocation when appropriate and allowable by facility protocol. This clinical suggestion describes one possible technique for athlete self-reduction that may be appropriate in some circumstances. This is in contrast to forcible reduction by the health professional, which is outside of the scope of this clinical commentary. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 5.

Sideline assessment and return-to-play decision-making for an acute elbow ulnar collateral ligament sprain.

UNLABELLED: Throwing athletes are at high risk for elbow injuries. The ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) of the elbow, in particular, must resist large valgus forces during the throwing motion. An acute UCL sprain requires the sports medicine professional on the sidelines to thoroughly assess the injury and reach a return-to-play decision in a timely manner. A sports medicine professional who makes an accurate diagnosis, reaches a correct return-to-play decision, and initiates early treatment gives the athlete the best chance for a rapid, successful return to their sport. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 5.

The role of the sports physical therapist-marathon events.

UNLABELLED: The role of the Sports physical therapist (PT) as a part of the sports medical team at marathon-type events varies widely. The PT can assume the role of an emergency medical responder (EMR) whose primary role is the management of the athlete in emergency type situations. The role of the EMR extends beyond the care of the athlete to the care and safety of the spectators. In this role, the PT must be prepared to handle any type of emergency situation, which may occur from medical conditions to acute orthopedic/sports injuries, to medical conditions which may be found in the participants of the race or the spectators. Additional roles of the PT can be in pre-race education, pre-participation screening/physicals, and other concerns by the participant related to injury prevention. Regardless of the role assumed by the PT, prior planning is essential for the safety, security, and maximal performance of the participant and to make the race enjoyable and safe for everyone. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 5.

Are all physical therapists qualified to provide sideline coverage of athletic events?

The new graduate, or the licensed physical therapist with general orthopedic experience, is not qualified to provide sideline coverage at athletic events. Additional or advanced training in emergency care is essential to provide aid in acute situations. Completion of the First Responder certification prepares an individual to react appropriately to any emergency on the sidelines, in the clinic, or in the community. The highest qualification that a physical therapist can attain to ensure adequate preparation for the practice of Sports Physical therapy is the ABPTS Sports Certified Specialist (SCS) designation. This professional designation indicates that this individual is highly qualified to care for athletes at any level, from on the sidelines, through rehabilitation and return to play, regardless of the injury, age of the athlete, or skill level.

Management of bleeding and open wounds in athletes.

UNLABELLED: Bleeding or open wounds of the integumentary system occur frequently in athletics. Integumentary wounds vary from minor scrapes, blisters, and small punctures to more serious lacerations and arterial wounds that could threaten the life of the athlete. The Sports physical therapist (PT) must realize that integumentary wounds and subsequent bleeding can occur in many sports, and assessment and care of such trauma is an essential skill. The purpose of this "On the Sidelines" clinical commentary is to review types of integumentary wounds that may occur in sport and their acute management. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 5.

Recognition and management of abdominal injuries at athletic events.

UNLABELLED: Most athletic events present potential for abdominal trauma for their participants. The responsibility of the "most medical" professional at the event is to have the knowledge to recognize, treat, and properly manage these injuries. As these injuries are very different in nature from orthopedic injuries, the dangers presented are also very different, and can include outcomes as serious as organ failure and death. Because of these differing risks, many professionals are uneasy about proper treatment, especially on the sidelines. However, with a few key points about mechanism of injury, monitoring changes in vital signs, and careful assessment of presenting symptoms, most abdominal injuries can be properly managed on the sidelines. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 5.

Chest injuries, what the sports physical therapist should know.

Chest injuries in contact and collision sports are relatively rare, particularly those that are life threatening. However, as with every sports related injury, one must initially consider life threatening situations that may occur as a result of collision with another player, a stationary object, or being struck with some type of object (missile). In other words, as is the case in all acute sports injury assessment, the mechanism of injury must be considered when evaluating the injured athlete on the field as well as on the sidelines. The Sports Physical Therapist (PT) must look for several initial life threatening conditions as well as be aware of and monitor for the development of these symptoms during the subsequent evaluation of the athlete. The purpose of this clinical commentary is to review the presentation and management of several emergent conditions associated with injuries to the chest and thorax.

Invited clinical suggestion: "on the sidelines"- emergency care basics for the sports physical therapist.

An integral part of the responsibilities of the sports physical therapist is emergency care that is provided on the sidelines and courtside during athletic events. Often times, the sports physical therapist is the "most medical" individual present at athletic events, especially at high school, middle school, and club level events. The sports physical therapist is looked upon to provide appropriate care in the event of an injury to or sudden illness of an athlete, or in the event of an unexpected medical emergency that arises in members of the coaching staff, officials, and fans.

The use of cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the automated external defibrillator in the practice of sports physical therapy.

During the initial assessment of the injured athlete, the Sports Physical Therapist (PT) must first be concerned with life-threatening emergencies such as absence of breathing and pulse. The sports PT must also be aware of the possibility of "sudden cardiac death" that could occur in others, including coaches, officials, and fans. If the PT assumes the role of "most medical" person at the contest or event, the responsibility for life saving action falls squarely on their shoulders. Therefore, skills and ongoing certification in cardio- pulmonary resuscitation techniques and the use of an automated external defibrillator are a basic necessity. These skills are required as part of the specialty practice of sports PT (BLS Healthcare Provider course or CPR for the Professional Rescuer in addition to completion of the First Responder Course OR credentials as an EMT or ATC), and are mandatory for being qualified to sit for the exam to become a sports certified specialist (SCS) by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS).(3).

The riddell ripkord system for shoulder pad removal in a cervical spine injured athlete: a paradigm shift.

Since the inception of the term Sports Medicine Athletic Trainers, Sports Physical Therapists, Paramedics, and Emergency Room Physicians have faced a number of challenges when it comes to providing care to an equipment laden athlete suspected of having a cervical spine or serious head injury. The same equipment that is designed to protect the player may significantly impede the medical team when it comes to diagnosing and treating cervical spine and head injuries. Incorrectly removing the helmet and shoulder pads from a football player with a cervical spine injury, may lead to unwanted motion of the cervical spine during removal. It is the purpose of this article to review the current concepts relating to equipment removal and to introduce a novel system for quick and easy removal of football shoulder pads called the Riddell™RipKord system.

Model-based detection of heart rate turbulence using mean shape information.

A generalized likelihood ratio test (GLRT) statistic is proposed for detection of heart rate turbulence (HRT), where a set of Karhunen-LoEve basis functions models HRT. The detector structure is based on the extended integral pulse frequency modulation model that accounts for the presence of ectopic beats and HRT. This new test statistic takes a priori information regarding HRT shape into account, whereas our previously presented GLRT detector relied solely on the energy contained in the signal subspace. The spectral relationship between heart rate variability (HRV) and HRT is investigated for the purpose of modeling HRV "noise" present during the turbulence period, the results suggesting that the white noise assumption is feasible to pursue. The performance was studied for both simulated and real data, leading to results which show that the new GLRT detector is superior to the original one as well as to the commonly used parameter turbulence slope (TS) on both types of data. Averaging ten ventricular ectopic beats, the estimated detection probability of the new detector, the previous detector, and TS were found to be 0.83, 0.35, and 0.41, respectively, when the false alarm probability was held fixed at 0.1.

Detection performance and risk stratification using a model-based shape index characterizing heart rate turbulence.

A detection-theoretic approach to quantify heart rate turbulence (HRT) following a ventricular premature beat is proposed and validated using an extended integral pulse frequency modulation (IPFM) model which accounts for HRT. The modulating signal of the extended IPFM model is projected into a three-dimensional subspace spanned by the Karhunen-Loève basis functions, characterizing HRT shape. The presence or absence of HRT is decided by means of a likelihood ratio test, the Neyman-Pearson detector, resulting in a quadratic detection statistic. Using a labeled dataset built from different interbeat interval series, detection performance is assessed and found to outperform the two widely used indices: turbulence onset (TO) and turbulence slope (TS). The ability of the proposed method to predict the risk of cardiac death is evaluated in a population of patients (n = 90) with ischemic cardiomyopathy and mild-to-moderate congestive heart failure. While both TS and the novel HRT index differ significantly in survivors and cardiac death patients, mortality analysis shows that the latter index exhibits much stronger association with risk of cardiac death (hazard ratio = 2.8, CI = 1.32-5.97, p = 0.008). It is also shown that the model-based shape indices, but not TO and TS, remain predictive of cardiac death in our population when computed from 4-h instead of 24-h ambulatory ECGs.

Wake-up call for British psychiatry.

The recent drive within the UK National Health Service to improve psychosocial care for people with mental illness is both understandable and welcome: evidence-based psychological and social interventions are extremely important in managing psychiatric illness. Nevertheless, the accompanying downgrading of medical aspects of care has resulted in services that often are better suited to offering non-specific psychosocial support, rather than thorough, broad-based diagnostic assessment leading to specific treatments to optimise well-being and functioning. In part, these changes have been politically driven, but they could not have occurred without the collusion, or at least the acquiescence, of psychiatrists. This creeping devaluation of medicine disadvantages patients and is very damaging to both the standing and the understanding of psychiatry in the minds of the public, fellow professionals and the medical students who will be responsible for the specialty's future. On the 200th birthday of psychiatry, it is fitting to reconsider the specialty's core values and renew efforts to use psychiatric skills for the maximum benefit of patients.