Upper Airway Obstruction Requiring Emergent Tracheostomy Secondary to Laryngeal Sarcoidosis: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND Laryngeal sarcoidosis is a rare extrapulmonary manifestation of sarcoidosis, accounting for 0.33-2.1% of cases. A life-threatening complication of laryngeal sarcoidosis is upper airway obstruction. In this report we describe our experience in the acute and chronic care of a patient who required an emergent tracheostomy, with the aim to provide further insight into this difficult to manage disease. CASE REPORT A 37-year-old African American female with a 10-year history of stage 1 sarcoidosis presented with severe dyspnea. Laryngeal sarcoidosis was diagnosed three years previously, and she remained stable on low-dose prednisone until six months prior to admission, at which time she self-discontinued her prednisone for the homeopathic treatment Nopalea cactus juice. Her physical examination was concerning for impending respiratory failure as she presented with inspiratory stridor and hoarseness. Laryngoscopy showed a retroflexed epiglottis obstructing the glottis with edematous arytenoids and aryepiglottic folds. Otolaryngology performed an emergent tracheostomy to secure her airway and obtained epiglottic biopsies, which were consistent with sarcoidosis. She was eventually discharged home on prednisone 60 mg daily. Following months of corticosteroids, a laryngoscopy showed the epiglottis continuing to obstruct the glottis. The addition of methotrexate to a tapered dosage of prednisone 10 mg daily was unsuccessful, and she remains on prednisone 20 mg daily for disease control. CONCLUSIONS Laryngeal sarcoidosis, a rare extrapulmonary manifestation of sarcoidosis, uncommonly presents as the life-threatening complication of complete upper airway obstruction. As such, laryngeal sarcoidosis is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, requiring a high index of suspicion for timely diagnosis and treatment.

Panorama de resistencia antimicrobiana de los aislamientos urinarios de pacientes adultos en los servicios de urgencias de Manizales, Caldas, durante el 2018 / Overview of antimicrobial resistance in urinary tract isolates from adult patients in the emergency room service of Manizales, Caldas, in 2018

Introducción: los servicios de urgencias requieren de la toma de medidas eficaces y oportunas en el manejo de los pacientes, esto incluye el uso adecuado de antibióticos. La resistencia antimicrobiana dificulta la instauración de terapias empíricas adecuadas, por lo que su vigilancia toma un papel fundamental en los programas de optimización de uso de antimicrobianos. Objetivo: describir el perfil microbiológico y la resistencia antibiótica de los aislamientos urinarios obtenidos de pacientes adultos de los servicios de urgencias de 7 instituciones de tercer nivel de la ciudad de Manizales, durante el año 2018. Resultados: se recolectaron 1991 aislamientos urinarios, el microorganismo más frecuentemente aislado fue Escherichia coli con un 62%. Se encontraron altas tasas de resistencia a cefazolina, trimetoprim/sulfametoxazol, ciprofloxacina y ampicilina/sulbactam. La resistencia a nitrofurantoína y fosfomicina al igual que a carbapenémicos es baja para Escherichia coli. Los aislamientos urinarios de Pseudomonas aeruginosa muestran niveles de resistencia superiores al promedio nacional. Conclusiones: es importante individualizar el manejo antibiótico empírico, teniendo en cuenta la estratificación por severidad, la presencia de factores de riesgo para bacterias multidrogorresistentes, y la epidemiología local; los análisis de cada institución y los resultados de este trabajo, pueden ser utilizados para establecer conductas terapéuticas más precisas en los casos de infecciones del tracto urinario, mejorando los desenlaces de estos pacientes y los costos derivados de la atención en salud.

Introduction: patient management in emergency rooms require swift and effective clinical decisions; this includes choosing antibiotics correctly. Antimicrobial resistance impairs the adequate choice of empirical therapy, making the surveillance of utmost importance for antimicrobial stewardship programs. Objective: we aimed to describe the microbiological and antimicrobial resistance profile of urinary isolates obtained from adult patients of the emergency services of seven tertiary institutions in the city of Manizales, during the year 2018. Results: from a total of 1991 urinary tract isolates, 62% corresponded to Escherichia coli, the most common bacteria cultured from the emergency room. Susceptibility analysis revealed high resistance levels to cefazolin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and ciprofloxacin. Resistance to nitrofurantoin, fosfomycin, and carbapenems was low for Escherichia coli isolates. Pseudomonas aeruginosa showed antimicrobial resistance levels above national averages. Conclusions: empirical antibiotic therapy must be tailored on a patient by patient basis, taking into account the severity of the disease, risk factors for multi-drug resistance bacteria, the institutional and local epidemiology depicted in this work. By using these results, the adjustment of empirical antimicrobial regimens for urinary tract infections could improve clinical outcomes and reduce health care costs.

Is the emergency readmission rate a valid outcome indicator?

OBJECTIVES: The principal aim was to determine whether the emergency readmission rate varies between medical specialties, and to identify whether differences in emergency readmission rates between hospital trusts can be reduced by standardising for specialty. Possible factors influencing emergency readmission were also investigated, including frequency of previous admission and cause of readmission. DESIGN: Emergency readmission rates were obtained from the Scottish Morbidity Record scheme (SMR1) using record linkage, standardised for age and sex. Rates throughout Scotland were analysed by specialty, and rates for general medicine compared among teaching hospital trusts. Cause of emergency readmission was determined from hospital records in a random sample (177 patients). SETTING: Medical specialties throughout Scotland. SUBJECTS: All patients readmitted as an emergency within 28 days of discharge (October 1990 to September 1994). RESULTS: Emergency readmissions varied markedly between medical specialties, with highest rates in nephrology (24.2%, 95% CI 23.5 to 24.8) and haematology (20.4%, 95% CI 19.9 to 20.9), and the lowest in homeopathy (2.2%, 95% CI 1.6 to 2.7) and metabolic diseases (3.5%, 95% CI 2.4 to 4.5). The largest number of emergency readmissions was in general medicine, accounting for 63% of the total. Restricting emergency readmission rates to general medicine significantly altered previous rates. In the year preceding the emergency readmission, 59% of all patients had been admitted to hospital at least once, and most emergency readmissions (73.3%) resulted from a chronic underlying condition. CONCLUSIONS: Significant variations in emergency readmission rates occurred between medical specialties, suggesting that differences between hospital trusts are influenced by differences in specialties and thus case mix. The majority of emergency readmissions occurred in patients with an underlying chronic condition, and many had a history of multiple previous hospital admissions. The emergency readmission rate is therefore unlikely to be a valid outcome indicator reflecting quality of care until routine data are available for standardisation by case mix.

Safety of early pain relief for acute abdominal pain.

OBJECTIVES: (a) to determine the efficacy of papaveretum in treating pain when administered early to patients presenting with acute abdominal pain and (b) to assess its effect on subsequent diagnosis and management. DESIGN: Prospective, randomised, placebo controlled study. SETTING: Walsgrave Hospital, Coventry. SUBJECTS: 100 consecutive patients with clinically significant abdominal pain who were admitted as emergencies to a surgical firm. INTERVENTIONS: Intramuscular injection of up to 20 mg papaveretum or an equivalent volume of saline. OUTCOME MEASURES: Pain and tenderness scores, assessment of patient comfort, accuracy of diagnosis, and management decisions. RESULTS: Median pain and tenderness scores were lower after papaveretum (pain score 8.3 in control group and 3.1 in treatment group, p < 0.0001; tenderness score 8.1 in control group and 5.1 in treatment group, p < 0.0001). Forty eight patients were deemed to be comfortable after papaveretum compared with nine after saline. Incorrect diagnoses and management decisions applied to two patients after papaveretum compared with nine patients after saline. CONCLUSION: Early administration of opiate analgesia to patients with acute abdominal pain can greatly reduce their pain. This does not interfere with diagnosis, which may even be facilitated despite a reduction in the severity of physical signs. These patients should not be denied effective treatment.

[Acute poisoning by the anticholinesterase carbamate. Role of competitive acetylcholine curare-like agents]. / Intoxication aiguë par carbamate anticholinestérasique. Place des curares acétylcholino-compétitifs.

A case is reported of voluntary acute carbofuran poisoning. The clinical presentation was suggestive and i.v. atropine sulphate was immediately administered. In the absence of a specific antidote, curarization with pancuronium bromide with assisted ventilation and diazepam sedation was used to treat the persistent nicotinic myoclonic state. No rhabdomyolysis was observed.

[Delayed diagnosis of a postanaesthesia temporomandibular joint dislocation]. / Luxation de l'articulation temporomandibulaire diagnostiquée au décours d'une anesthésie générale.

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dislocation during anaesthesia is a rare occurrence. Patients with a history of prior dislocations or TMJ dysfunction, and patients with mandibular retrognathism are at risk of this complication. This is a case report of delayed diagnosis of TMJ dislocation after a general anaesthesia for aortic valvular replacement surgery in a predisposed patient. Considering this unusual presentation, TMJ evaluation should be performed during preoperative anaesthetic assessment. In at-risk patients, one should not worry about TMJ dislocation during intubation but concentrate on glottic exposure. However, afterwards, one should be highly aware of this possible complication in order to detect it early, allowing an immediate simple manual reduction. This manoeuver may be performed with or without sedation by a practitioner, familiar with this way of resetting a dislocated jaw.

Pancuronium bromide in emergency surgery.

Pancuronium bromide, a steroid non-depolarising muscle relaxant has been used to assist intubation before emergency operations in 32 patients and has been found to be satisfactory for quick intubation in a dose of 0-1 mg per kg of body weight. There was no vomiting during induction.

Pancuronium for rapid induction technique for tracheal intubation.

Suxamethonium in a dose of 2 mg.kg-1 was compared to pancuronium in three different dosages (0.1 mg.kg-1, 0.15 mg.kg-1, 0.2 mg. kg-1) for a rapid induction (crash) technique for tracheal intubation. Pancuronium 0.1 mg.kg-1 was inferior to suxamethonium, but the larger doses of pancuronium were equally satisfactory. In those instances where suxamethonium is either contraindicated or undesirable, pancuronium in a dose of 0.15 mg.kg-1 is a suitable alternative for rapid induction for tracheal intubation.

Rapid-sequence intubation of head trauma patients: prevention of fasciculations with pancuronium versus minidose succinylcholine.

INTRODUCTION: Fasciculations during rapid-sequence intubation may lead to increased intracranial pressure and emesis with aspiration. Standard rapid-sequence intubation requires a nondepolarizing blocking agent before succinylcholine administration. HYPOTHESIS: Prevention of fasciculations during rapid-sequence intubation of head trauma patients can be accomplished as safely and effectively with minidose succinylcholine as with a defasciculating dose of pancuronium. DESIGN: A prospective, randomized, double-blind study. SETTING: An inner-city county trauma center with 70,000 patient visits per year. PARTICIPANTS: Sequential adult head trauma patients requiring rapid-sequence intubation who had no contraindications to succinylcholine or pancuronium. INTERVENTIONS: Each head trauma patient requiring rapid-sequence intubation who met the inclusion criteria received standard rapid-sequence intubation maneuvers and lidocaine (1 mg/kg) IV. Patients were randomized to receive either minidose succinylcholine (0.1 mg/kg) or pancuronium (0.03 mg/kg) IV one minute prior to the full paralytic dose of succinylcholine (1.5 mg/kg) IV. Fasciculations were recorded using a graded visual scale. RESULTS: Of 46 patients, eight of 19 (42%) in the pancuronium group and six of 27 (22%) in the succinylcholine group experienced fasciculations. No statistically significant difference in fasciculations was detected between the two groups using chi 2 analysis. Complete relaxation of the cords was present in all but two patients, one in each group. No patient in either group experienced emesis or significant dysrhythmias. CONCLUSION: Pretreatment with minidose succinylcholine causes no greater incidence of fasciculations than pancuronium in rapid-sequence intubation of head trauma patients in an ED setting. Thus succinylcholine may be used as the sole paralytic agent in rapid-sequence intubation of head trauma patients.

Caudal blockade for postoperative analgesia: a useful adjunct to intramuscular opiates following emergency lower leg orthopaedic surgery.

The efficacy of a single caudal epidural injection of bupivacaine 20 ml 0.5% following emergency orthopaedic surgery to the lower leg and ankle was investigated. Forty adult patients were studied, randomised to either the caudal or control group. The mean 24 hour postoperative papaveretum consumption was significantly reduced in the caudal group. Analogue pain scores as assessed in a double-blind manner were also significantly reduced in this group. The duration of analgesia after caudal blockade was approximately eight hours as estimated by the average time to the first dose of papaveretum. Our study demonstrates that caudal blockade represents an effective adjunct to intramuscular opiates following this type of surgery.

Neuromuscular blockade for critical patients in the emergency department.

This retrospective study examines the indications and the effects of 119 doses of succinylcholine or pancuronium given in the emergency department during a 24-month period to patients considered to have immediately life-threatening emergencies. The most common indication for succinylcholine was to accomplish tracheal intubation (20 of 25 patients). Indications for pancuronium included computerized tomography of the head (60 of 94), control of agitation (40 of 94), facilitation of tracheal intubation (20 of 94), control of ventilation (12 of 94), and control of seizure unresponsive to anticonvulsants (4 of 94). Deterioration following succinylcholine occurred in three cases. These included two involving bradycardia and one involving ventricular tachycardia. Major complications following pancuronium included four incidences of ventricular arrhythmias. Intubation failure requiring surgical airway occurred in one patient given succinylcholine, two patients given pancuronium, and one patient who received both succinylcholine and pancuronium. Inadequate documentation of neurological examination prior to blockade was noted in six of 25 succinylcholine and nine of 94 pancuronium cases. Failure to sedate patients who might be aware of paralysis occurred in three of 25 succinylcholine and eight of 94 pancuronium uses. Neuromuscular blocking agents facilitate expeditious management of selected critical patients in the ED. Their prudent use requires anticipation of potential complications, preparation for surgical airway should intubation fail, documentation of physical examination before paralysis, and prior sedation when the patient responds to pain.