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Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a condition often seen in patients diagnosed with cancer and is recognized as a predictor of poor outcomes in these patients. The probability of VTE recurring is generally higher in people with cancer than in those without; hence, addressing this issue is essential when making healthcare decisions. Therefore, our systematic review was primarily designed to compare low-weight- molecular heparin (LMWH) to warfarin in reducing recurrent VTE among cancer patients. However, other outcomes were also evaluated, such as mortality and bleeding events observed more in cancer patients. The selection of relevant articles was carried out using a database search and a manual search, which involved reviewing reference lists of articles eligible for inclusion in the current review. The methodological quality of each included study was then assessed using Cochrane's risk of bias tool in the Review Manager software (RevMan 5.4.1). Additionally, pooled results were examined using the Review Manager software and presented as forest plots. Our search of electronic databases elicited a total of 2163 articles, of which only six were deemed eligible for inclusion and analysis. Data pooled from the six studies demonstrated the effectiveness of LMWH in minimizing the reoccurrence of VTE over warfarin [risk ratio (RR): 0.67; 95% CI: 0.47 - 0.95; p = 0.03]. However, LMWH had a similar effect statistically as warfarin on the major bleeding events (RR: 1.05; 95% CI: 0.62 - 1.77; p = 0.85), minor bleeding events (RR: 0.80; 95% CI: 0.54 - 1.20; p = 0.28), and all-cause mortality (RR: 1.00; 95% CI: 0.88 - 1.13; p = 0.99). While LMWH demonstrated its effectiveness in minimizing the incidence of VTE recurrence over warfarin in cancer patients, it had no statistical difference in terms of mortality or bleeding events when compared to warfarin. Based on our findings, we recommend that LMWH continues to be used as a first-line treatment regimen to mitigate recurrent VTE in cancer patients.
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Background and purpose: Guillain- Barré syndrome (GBS) is a neuropathic condition that leads to the rapid development of impairments and is characterized by weakness and numbness or tingling sensation in the legs and arms and sometimes loss of movement and feeling in the legs, arms, upper body, and face. Currently, the cure for the disease is yet to be developed. However, treatment options such as intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and plasma exchange (PE) have been used to minimize the symptoms and duration of the disease. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis compared the efficacy of IVIG and PE in treating GBS patients with severe symptoms. Methodology: Six electronic databases, including PubMed, Embase, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Medline, and Google scholar, were scoured for articles related and relevant to our research. Additionally, more studies were obtained through the reference lists of the studies retrieved from these electronic databases. Quality assessment and statistical data analysis were conducted using Review Manager software (RevMan 5.4.1). Results: The search for relevant articles resulted in 3253 articles, of which only 20 were included for review in the current study. A sub-group analysis indicated no significant difference in the curative effect (Hughes score reduces by at least one score 4 weeks after GBS treatment; OR: 1.00; 95% CI: 0.66-1.52; p = 1.00 and Achieving grade 0 or 1 on Hughes scale; OR: 1.03; 95% CI: 0.27-3.94; p = 0.97). Similarly, the statistical showed that the difference in length of hospitalization and duration of mechanical ventilation was insignificant between the IVIG and PE group (Standard Mean Difference (SMD): -0.45; 95% CI: -0.92, 0.02; I2 = 91%; p = 0.06 and SMD: -0.54; 95% CI: -1.67, 0.59; I2 = 93%; p = 0.35, respectively). Moreover, the meta-analysis did not find any significant difference in the risk of GBS relapse (RR: 0.47; 95% CI: 0.20-1.14; p = 0.10) and risk of complications related to the treatment regimens (RR: 1.03; 95% CI: 0.71-1.48; p = 0.89). However, the statistical analysis of outcomes from 3 studies showed that the risk of discontinuation was significantly lower in the IVIG group than in the PE group (RR: 0.22; 95% CI: 0.06-0.88; p = 0.03). Conclusion: Our study suggests that IVIG and PE have similar curative effects. Similarly, IVIG seems easier to use and thus can be preferred for treating GBS.
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Lacerations are common injuries managed by emergency department practitioners and are mostly witnessed in children. These lacerations usually require wound closure, which may result in one of the most unpleasant and painful childhood experiences. The pain can be minimized through topical anesthesia, such as a combination of lidocaine, epinephrine, and tetracaine (LET) and a eutectic mixture of local anesthetics (EMLA). The current study was carried out to demonstrate the efficacy of EMLA and LET in pediatric wound management. A thorough literature search was carried out without any time limitation on five electronic databases, including PubMed, Medline, Web of Science, Embase, and Google Scholar. Relevant studies from these databases and their references were scoured for additional studies. Study quality appraisal and data analysis were conducted using Review Manager software (RevMan 5.4.1). The literature search yielded 1651 articles of which only eight were eligible for inclusion in the present study. A meta-analysis of results from 3 studies showed that LET had a significant pain reduction than the control interventions (SMD: -0.46; 95% CI: -0.69, -0.23: p<0.0001). However, the pooled effect size of data from 3 studies showed EMLA had an insignificant difference with the control interventions (SMD: -0.79; 95% CI: -1.82, -0.24: p = 0.13). Similarly, no significant difference in the number of adverse reactions was reported in either EMLA (OR: 2.31; 95% CI: 0.67, 7.93; p = 0.18) or LET (OR: 0.99; 95% CI: 0.15, 6.50; p = 0.99) Our study suggests that the topical application of EMLA and LET effectively offers pain-free wound management among pediatric patients. However, the interventions are subject to adverse reactions that should be considered when managing the wounds.
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Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common upper extremity neuropathy. The disease initially manifests as a sensory disorder in the form of paresthesia, numbness, or tingling of the fingers. The diagnosis is usually made based on history and clinical symptoms, which are confirmed using nerve conduction studies (NCS) and electromyography. More recently, ultrasound has gained more use in CTS diagnosis due to its advantages, which include patients' comfort during diagnosis, better visualization of anatomy and nerve forms directly, and cost-effectiveness. However, a literature review shows that the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound over NCS is still in question; therefore, the present systematic review was carried out to compare the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound to NCS and electromyography. A systematic literature search was performed on five electronic databases: PubMed, Medline, Web of Science, Embase, and Google Scholar. The search strategy limited the retrieval of literature published between 2000 and 2022. Of the 1098 articles retrieved from the electronic databases, only 12 met the inclusion criteria. A meta-analysis of outcomes from the included studies showed that the pooled sensitivity and specificity of the ultrasound were 0.80 (95% CI: 0.73, 0.88) and 0.90 (0.83, 0.96), respectively. On the other hand, combing the outcomes of electromyography and NCS resulted in sensitivity and specificity values of 0.89 (95% CI: 0.84, 0.95) and 0.77 (95% CI; 0.64, 0.90), respectively. The results show that ultrasound has comparable sensitivity and slightly higher specificity than NCS and electromyography; therefore, ultrasound can be used as an alternative diagnostic test for CTS. However, it cannot replace NCS and electromyography since more research needs to be done on doubtful and secondary cases of CTS.
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Background: We sought to evaluate the clinical characteristics and risk factors for early versus late pulmonary embolism (PE) in trauma patients. Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of injured patients who presented with a confirmed PE between 2013 and 2019. Data were analysed and compared for patients with early PE (≤4 days) versus late PE (>4 days post-trauma). Results: The study included 82 consecutive trauma patients with confirmed diagnosis of PE. The mean age of patients was 42.3 ± 16.2 years. The majority were males (79.3%) and the median time from injury to PE was 10 days. Of the PE cases, 24 (29.3%) had early PE, while 58 (70.7%) had late PE. The early PE group had higher rates of surgical intervention within 24 hours of admission than the late PE group (p = 0.001). Also, the rate of sub-segmental thrombi was significantly higher in the early PE group (p = 0.01). The late PE group sustained more moderate-to-severe injuries ie, GCS ED <13 (p = 0.03) and the median time from injury to PE diagnosis was 15 days (p = 0.001). After adjusting for the potential covariates, surgery within 24 hours of admission [adjusted odds ratio 37.58 (95% confidence interval 3.393-416.20), p = 0.003] was found to be significant independent predictor of early PE in trauma patients. Conclusion: One-third of post-trauma PEs occurs early after trauma and the surgical intervention within the first 24 hours of admission is a major risk factor. A prospective study is needed to develop an objective risk assessment for the prevention and detection of early and late PE post-trauma.
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Acute cholecystitis and cardiac ischemia can have a similar clinical presentation in some patients. Nonspecific electrocardiographic changes and arrhythmias can occur in acute cholecystitis and gallbladder disease that can confuse the treating physician leading to extensive cardiac workup. Emergency physicians and cardiologists should be aware of these changes so they can expedite the management of acute cholecystitis, which can lead to the resolution of these changes. We report a case of a 53-year-old male who presented with diffuse abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. His ECG showed sinus bradycardia. Imaging confirmed the diagnosis of acute calculous cholecystitis. His cardiac workup was unremarkable. His sinus bradycardia was resolved with the management of acute cholecystitis. This case highlights the possibility of a "cardio-biliary reflex" that is initiated by gallbladder pain via autonomic vagal innervation.
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Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become the fastest-spreading pandemic of the 21st century. Various vaccines have been made available via emergency use authorization. Currently, two mRNA vaccines are being offered internationally, BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273. In randomized trials of these vaccines, the incidence of Bell's palsy in the vaccinated group does not statistically exceed the placebo group. The FDA recommends increased surveillance for Bell's palsy as a potential side effect with the administration of the vaccines among larger populations globally. There have been a few case reports of Bell's palsy associated with mRNA vaccines. Type I interferons have been proposed as the potential mechanism linking mRNA COVID-19 vaccines to Bell's palsy. Here, we report the case of a 36-year-old previously healthy patient who developed symptoms of Bell's palsy along with left-arm numbness, tingling, and subjective weakness masquerading as a subacute stroke after receiving the second dose of the mRNA-1273 vaccine. CT and MRI of the brain were unremarkable. He was discharged home with a diagnosis of Bell's palsy and improved on follow-up. mRNA COVID-19 vaccines may be considered a risk factor for Bell's palsy.
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INTRODUCTION: Point of care ultrasound (POCUS) has been a part of emergency medicine (EM) training for almost two decades. EM training program has a very broad and rigorous POCUS curricula which, in several cases, does not translate to routine application in clinical settings. This study therefore sought to compare the indications, utilization, barriers, and preferred POCUS educational method in a large Middle Eastern academic EM. METHODOLOGY: A validated questionnaire was emailed to 50 EM faculties between April and May 2019. Volunteer faculty members partook in a semi-structured interview to better understand the indications, current use, barriers, and preferred learning method. Responses were anonymous, and data were analyzed with descriptive statistics. RESULTS: This was a mixed design study. 30/50 (60%) of faculty responded to the survey, with a mean age of 39.2 years and a mean number of years in practice, 13.1. 55% (n=28) completed POCUS training in less than five years, while 45% completed more than five years ago and 5% never completed it. Forty percent of EM physicians were trained in Africa, while 55% were qualified in Asia and 5% completed their training in Europe. The indications and frequently performed procedures were consistent with the previous research. The common barrier reported was lack of time, lack of credentialing, lack of quality assurance, and national guidelines. The majority of the faculty preferred a blended learning approach for POCUS. CONCLUSION: POCUS perceived barriers to its full use include time constraints, lack of national guidelines, and credentialing (awarding POCUS qualifications) of the faculty. Blended learning appears to be the preferred approach towards acquiring the knowledge and skills of POCUS.
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A 48-year-old man presented with a traumatic arteriovenous fistula (AVF) in the left popliteal space, due to a bullet injury 20 years back. A computed tomographic (CT) angiography revealed an AVF in the left popliteal space with an associated large iliac vein aneurysm (9.2 x 9.0 cms). Primary repair of the AVF was done. A Doppler scan showed marked reduction in the size of the aneurysm, 4 months after surgery. Cases associated with a venous aneurysm distant from the site of AVF are rare and there are only 7 cases reported in the international literature.
