Maintenance Electroconvulsive Therapy in Catatonia: Clinical Profiles From a Case Series.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to conduct a descriptive analysis of the clinical features and treatment responses in 6 patients with catatonia who received maintenance electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). METHODS: Our study included all patients who underwent maintenance ECT (mECT) at the Hospital Clínic de Barcelona between September 2020 and September 2022 following a catatonic episode. RESULTS: The study cohort comprised 5 patients with schizophrenia and 1 patient with major depressive disorder. Among patients with schizophrenia, the first catatonic episode occurred several years after their initial paranoid psychotic episode, whereas the patient with depression experienced a rapid progression from the first depressive episode to catatonia. After acute ECT, 4 patients achieved complete symptomatic remission, 1 patient exhibited a partial response, and another maintained a severe catatonic state. Maintenance ECT was indicated because of the high risk of severe relapses. The mean frequency of mECT sessions was 9.83 (SD, 5.60) days. Notably, 66.67% of the patients were concurrently receiving clozapine as part of their pharmacological treatment. Among patients with schizophrenia, mECT sessions could not be extended beyond 7 to 10 days, whereas the depressed patient could space ECT sessions up to 21 days without experiencing a relapse. CONCLUSIONS: Maintenance ECT proves to be a safe and well-tolerated strategy for preventing relapses in severe catatonic patients who have previously stabilized with acute ECT. Further research is needed to develop clinical guidelines that define optimal application strategies for mECT in catatonia.

Catatonic postpartum paternal depression as a first debut of a bipolar disorder: a case report.

Paternal postpartum depression (PD) is considered an affective disorder that affects fathers during the months following childbirth. Interestingly, it has been observed that during these months the chances of a male parent suffering from depression are double that for a non-parent male counterpart. We present the case of a 34-year-old man with no relevant medical history in who, overlapping her daughter's birth, several depressive symptoms emerged, such as fatigue, lack of concentration, sleeping disturbances and abandonment of care of the newborn. Prior to consultation, patient refused to eat and open his eyes, and his speech became progressively more parsimonious until reaching mutism. The patient was diagnosed with a severe depressive disorder with catatonia. Given the lack of improvement with pharmacological treatment and due to the evidence of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)'s effectiveness on patients with catatonia, acute ECT treatment was indicated and started. It should be noted that PD is an important entity to consider in our differential diagnosis of young parents who present a depressive episode. Few cases of relatively young patients presenting with such clinical presentation have been described and, although this case presents some of the characteristics described in the epidemiology of PD, other clinical aspects are not typical of this entity. Informed consent was obtained from the patient for the purpose of publication.

Stroke Unit as an alternative to Intensive Care Unit for initial hospital admission of low-grade non-aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage: A safety and cost-minimisation analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Stroke Units (SU) have been suggested as an alternative to Intensive Care units (ICU) for initial admission of low-grade non-aneurysmal spontaneous subarachnoid haemorrhage (naSAH). We hypothesised that the incidence of in-hospital complications and long-term clinical outcomes in low-grade naSAH patients would be comparable in both settings, and that a cost-minimisation analysis would favour the use of SU. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective, single-centre study at a third-level stroke-referral hospital, including low-grade spontaneous naSAH patients with WFNS 1-2. Primary outcomes were death and functional status at 3 months. Secondary outcomes were incidence of in-hospital major neurological and systemic complications. Additionally, a cost-minimisation analysis was conducted to estimate the average cost savings that could be achieved with the most efficient approach. RESULTS: Out of 96 naSAH patients, 30 (31%) were initially admitted to ICU and 66 (69%) to SU. Both groups had similar demographic and radiological features except for a higher proportion of WFNS 2 in ICU subgroup. There were no statistically significant differences between ICU and SU-managed subgroups in death rate (2 (7%) and 1 (2%), respectively), functional outcome at 90 days (28 (93%) and 61 (92%) modified Rankin Scale 0-2) or neurological and systemic in-hospital complications. Cost-minimisation analysis demonstrated significant monetary savings favouring the SU strategy. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Initial admission to the SU appears to be a safe and cost-effective alternative to the ICU for low-grade naSAH patients, with comparable clinical outcomes and a reduction of hospitalisation-related costs. Prospective multicenter randomised studies are encouraged to further evaluate this approach.

Neuropsychiatric symptoms in a patient under cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator modulators treatment: a case report.

In recent times, some research has focused on the study of potential treatments for cystic fibrosis (CF), such as cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) modulators. These treatments have been reported to produce neuropsychiatric symptoms in a few patients, even though there is still no clear correlation nor underlying mechanism proposed. We present the case of a 23-year-old woman with CF and no previous psychiatric history who was admitted to our inpatient psychiatric unit presenting a wide range of neuropsychiatric symptoms, such as disorganized speech, bizarre poses or persecutory delusional ideation, after going under CFTR modulators treatment. After several diagnostic tests, other possible organic causes were ruled out. Multiple antipsychotic treatments were tested during her admission, with poor tolerance and scarce response. Finally, symptomatic remission was only observed after electroconvulsive therapy was initiated. The final diagnostic hypothesis was unspecified psychosis. This case highlights the relevance of considering the possibility of neuropsychiatric symptoms appearing in patients under CFTR modulators treatment.

Manejo de la sepsis grave y el shock séptico en un servicio de urgencias de un hospital urbano de tercer nivel. Oportunidades de mejora / Management of severe sepsis and septic shock in a tertiary care urban hospital emergency department: opportunities for improvement

Objetivos: Describir las características del manejo inicial de la sepsis grave y el shock séptico (SS) en un servicio de urgencias hospitalario (SUH) en el que no existe una identificación específica en el triaje. Determinar cuáles serían las oportunidades de mejora. Método: Diseño de cohortes prospectivo de marzo de 2014 a marzo de 2015. Se incluyó el primer paciente del día de estudio que fue atendido en el SUH por un cuadro compatible con SS. Se registró el nivel de triaje asignado (mediante el Modelo Andorrano de Triaje -MAT-) y las variables clínico epidemiológicas primarias. Se realizó seguimiento del paciente durante el ingreso hasta el alta. Resultados: Se incluyeron 50 pacientes con SS (35 varones, edad media 65 años), 35 fueron clasificados como nivel 1-2 del MAT y 15 como nivel 3. Los pacientes clasificados inicialmente como nivel 1-2, en comparación con los de nivel 3, presentaban una frecuencia cardiaca de 110 frente a 90 latidos por minuto (p = 0,003) y una frecuencia respiratoria de 27 frente a 18 respiraciones por minuto (p = 0,001). La diferencia entre la hora de llegada y la hora de entrada al box (nivel 1-2: 18 minutos; nivel 3: 117 minutos, p = 0,002), así como entre la hora de llegada y la primera dosis de antibiótico (nivel 1-2: 85 minutos, nivel 3: 231 minutos, p = 0,001 fue significativamente menor en los pacientes clasificados como nivel 1-2). Conclusiones: La atención médica a los pacientes con SS en un SUH sin identificación específica es susceptible de mejora en cuanto al diagnóstico precoz y a la adhesión a las guías de manejo terapéutico inicial (AU)

Objectives: To describe the characteristics of early management of severe sepsis and septic shock in a hospital emergency department that does not have a specific triage category to identify patients in these states. To determine opportunities for improvement. Methods: Prospective cohort study from March 2014 to March 2015. On each day during the study period, we included the first patient with signs compatible with septic shock. We recorded the severity level assigned according to the Andorran Triage Model and the main clinical and epidemiological variables. Patients were followed until hospital discharge. Results: Fifty patients (35 men) with septic shock (mean age 65 years) were included. Thirty-five were at triage level 1 or 2 and 15 were at level 3. Patients initially classified as level 1-2 had significantly higher heart rates than level 3 patients (mean 110 vs 90 bpm, respectively; P=.003) and respiratory rates (mean 27 vs 18 breaths per minute; P=.001). Patients classified as level 1-2 also had significantly shorter care times than level 3 patients: time from arrival to examination room entry, 18 vs 117 minutes, respectively (P=.002); time from arrival to the first antibiotic dose (85 vs 231 minutes (P=.001). Conclusions: Medical care for patients with septic shock in this emergency department needs to improve in terms of earlier diagnosis and better compliance with guidelines for initial therapeutic management (AU)

[Management of severe sepsis and septic shock in a tertiary care urban hospital emergency department: opportunities for improvement]. / Manejo de la sepsis grave y el shock séptico en un servicio de urgencias de un hospital urbano de tercer nivel. Oportunidades de mejora.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the characteristics of early management of severe sepsis and septic shock in a hospital emergency department that does not have a specific triage category to identify patients in these states. To determine opportunities for improvement. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prospective cohort study from March 2014 to March 2015. On each day during the study period, we included the first patient with signs compatible with septic shock. We recorded the severity level assigned according to the Andorran Triage Model and the main clinical and epidemiological variables. Patients were followed until hospital discharge. RESULTS: Fifty patients (35 men) with septic shock (mean age 65 years) were included. Thirty-five were at triage level 1 or 2 and 15 were at level 3. Patients initially classified as level 1-2 had significantly higher heart rates than level 3 patients (mean 110 vs 90 bpm, respectively; P=.003) and respiratory rates (mean 27 vs 18 breaths per minute; P=.001). Patients classified as level 1-2 also had significantly shorter care times than level 3 patients: time from arrival to examination room entry, 18 vs 117 minutes, respectively (P=.002); time from arrival to the first antibiotic dose (85 vs 231 minutes (P=.001). CONCLUSION: Medical care for patients with septic shock in this emergency department needs to improve in terms of earlier diagnosis and better compliance with guidelines for initial therapeutic management.

OBJETIVO: Describir las características del manejo inicial de la sepsis grave y el shock séptico (SS) en un servicio de urgencias hospitalario (SUH) en el que no existe una identificación específica en el triaje. Determinar cuáles serían las oportunidades de mejora. METODO: Diseño de cohortes prospectivo de marzo de 2014 a marzo de 2015. Se incluyó el primer paciente del día de estudio que fue atendido en el SUH por un cuadro compatible con SS. Se registró el nivel de triaje asignado (mediante el Modelo Andorrano de Triaje ­MAT­) y las variables clínico epidemiológicas primarias. Se realizó seguimiento del paciente durante el ingreso hasta el alta. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron 50 pacientes con SS (35 varones, edad media 65 años), 35 fueron clasificados como nivel 1-2 del MAT y 15 como nivel 3. Los pacientes clasificados inicialmente como nivel 1-2, en comparación con los de nivel 3, presentaban una frecuencia cardiaca de 110 frente a 90 latidos por minuto (p = 0,003) y una frecuencia respiratoria de 27 frente a 18 respiraciones por minuto (p = 0,001). La diferencia entre la hora de llegada y la hora de entrada al box (nivel 1-2: 18 minutos; nivel 3: 117 minutos, p = 0,002), así como entre la hora de llegada y la primera dosis de antibiótico (nivel 1-2: 85 minutos, nivel 3: 231 minutos, p = 0,001 fue significativamente menor en los pacientes clasificados como nivel 1-2). CONCLUSIONES: La atención médica a los pacientes con SS en un SUH sin identificación específica es susceptible de mejora en cuanto al diagnóstico precoz y a la adhesión a las guías de manejo terapéutico inicial.