The utility and safety of flexible bronchoscopy in critically ill acute leukemia patients: a retrospective cohort study.

PURPOSE: Flexible bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is commonly performed in immunocompromised patients. Nevertheless, it remains unclear whether bronchoscopy with BAL leads to changes in medical management or is associated with procedural complications among critically ill acute leukemia (AL) patients. METHODS: We evaluated 71 AL patients who underwent diagnostic bronchoscopy with BAL in the intensive care unit (ICU) between 1 January 2007 and 31 December 2012. We recorded baseline characteristics, vital signs (before, during, and after the procedure), changes in medical management following the procedure, and procedural complications. Using a multivariable logistic regression model, we explored the relationship between patient characteristics and whether bronchoscopy changed management or caused complications. Patient characteristics included as predictors in the regression model were age, sex, immunosuppression status (those undergoing active chemotherapy), and the Acute Physiology And Chronic Health Evaluation II score. RESULTS: The most common indication for ICU admission was respiratory failure (51 patients, 72%), followed by sepsis (14 patients, 20%). Overall, the results obtained from bronchoscopy with BAL were associated with a change in management in 32 patients (45%), most commonly a change in antimicrobial therapy as a result of an infectious pathogen being identified (17 patients, 24%). Complications were documented in nine patients (13%) and included post-procedural hypoxia (six patients, 8%), the need for intubation (one patient, 9% of non-intubated patients), and tracheal perforation (one patient, 1%). No clinically significant changes in patient vital signs were observed during or immediately following the procedure. Patient characteristics did not predict whether bronchoscopy was associated with changes in medical management or procedural complications in multivariable analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Flexible bronchoscopy with BAL is relatively safe and helps to guide medical management among patients with AL admitted to the ICU.

Cutaneous Strongyloides Infection Postchemotherapy.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: While clinical symptoms of strongyloidiasis are often nonspecific, larva currens (with erythematous, serpiginous, and pruritic papules and plaques) should prompt investigation including stool microscopy, serology, and skin biopsy of the lesion. Appropriate diagnosis and treatment with ivermectin is necessary, especially in the immunocompromised patient who is at increased risk for hyperinfection syndrome and disseminated disease. CONCLUSION: We present a 61-year-old immunocompromised man with presentation of larva currens of cutaneous strongyloides infection without symptoms of hyperinfection or disseminated disease.

Cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa sine nodosa.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa, a form of vasculitis affecting the small to medium sized arteries, most commonly presents as tender subcutaneous nodules over the lower legs and feet. Other features include livedo reticularis, skin ulcers and tender indurated plaques. CONCLUSION: We report a 51-year old woman with a primarily livedo reticularis presentation of cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa without a nodular component.

Clinical impact of diagnostic imaging discrepancy by radiology trainees in an urban teaching hospital emergency department.

BACKGROUND: To characterize clinically significant diagnostic imaging (DI) discrepancies by radiology trainees and the impact on emergency department (ED) patients. METHODS: Consecutive case series methodology over a 6-month period in an urban, tertiary care teaching hospital. Emergency physicians (EPs) were recruited to flag discrepant DI interpretations by radiology trainees that the EP deemed clinically significant. Cases were characterized using chart review and EP interview. RESULTS: Twenty-eight discrepant reports were identified (representing 0.1% of 18,185 images interpreted). The mean time between provisional discrepant diagnosis (PDDx) and revised diagnosis (RDx) by attending radiology staff was 8.6 h (median 4.8 h, range 1.1-48.4), and 67.9% (n = 19) of the patients had left the ED by time of notification. The most frequently reported PDDx was CT abd/pelvis (32.1%, n = 9) and CT head (28.6%, n = 8). The impact of RDx was deemed major in 57.1% (n = 16) for reasons including altered admitting status (32.1%, n = 9), immediate subspecialty referral (n = 16, 57.1%), impact on management (25%, n = 7), and surgical management (21.4%, n = 6). EPs reported likely perceived impact of PDDx as resulting in increased pain (17. 9%, n = 5), morbidity (10.7%, n = 3), and prolonged hospitalization (25%, n = 7), but not altered long-term outcome or mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Relatively few clinically important discrepant reads were reported. Revised diagnosis (RDx) was associated with major clinical impact in 57.1% of reports, but few patients experienced increased morbidity, and none increased mortality. The importance of expedient communication of discrepant reports by staff radiologists is stressed, as is EP verification of patient contact information prior to discharge.