Discrepancies Between Clinical and Autopsy Diagnoses in Rapid Response Team-Assisted Patients: What Are We Missing?

OBJECTIVES: The rapid response team (RRT) assists hospitalized patients with sudden clinical deterioration. There is scarce evidence of diagnostic accuracy in this scenario, but it is possible that a considerable rate of misdiagnosis exists. Autopsy remains a valuable tool for assessing such question. This study aimed to compare clinical (premortem) and autopsy (postmortem) diagnoses in patients assisted by the RRT and describe major discrepancies. METHODS: We reviewed 104 clinical data and autopsies from patients assisted by the RRT during a cardiac arrest event in a tertiary care hospital in Brazil. Clinical and autopsy diagnostic discrepancies were classified using the Goldman criteria. Other clinical and pathological data were described, and the group with major diagnostic discrepancies was further analyzed. RESULTS: We found 39 (37.5%) patients with major diagnostic discrepancies. Most frequent immediate causes of death in this group determined by autopsy were sepsis (36%), pulmonary embolism (23%) and hemorrhagic shock (21%). Pulmonary embolism was the cause of death significantly more frequent in the major discrepancy group than in the minor discrepancy group (23% versus 3%, P = 0.002). We individually described all major diagnostic discrepancies. CONCLUSIONS: We found a high rate (37.5%) of major misdiagnosis in autopsies from patients assisted by the RRT in a tertiary teaching hospital. Pulmonary embolism was the most inaccurate fatal diagnosis detected by autopsy.

Time de resposta rápida e atendimento de paradas cardíacas extra-hospitalares / Rapid response Team and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest

Times de Resposta Rápida (TRR) são equipes multidisciplinares treinadas para atender indivíduos com intercorrências agudas e graves, incluindo parada cardiorrespiratória (PCR) súbita, nas unidades de internação. O objetivo deste trabalho é discutir as particularidades do emprego de um TRR hospitalar no atendimento de PCRs extra-hospitalares, utilizando a experiência do time do Instituto Central do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (ICHC-FMUSP) para elucidação. Metodologia: Estudo retrospectivo, descritivo, utilizando o banco de dados do TRR do ICHC-FMUSP. Foram levantados todos os casos classificados como PCR súbita atendidos em ambiente extra-hospitalar, nos anos de 2014 a 2016. Dados globais de cinco pacientes que evoluíram com alta hospitalar e nível neurológico preservado foram descritos e analisados em detalhes. Resultados: Entre 11 atendimentos, oito tiveram retorno da circulação espontânea (RCE) na cena (72,2%) e três morreram no local. Dos oito pacientes admitidos com vida no Departamento de Emergência, cinco tiveram alta hospitalar após o evento (45,5%). A média de tempo de resposta foi 3 ± 1,2 minutos e o intervalo chamada-choque foi de 7,25 ± 3,2 minutos. Os ritmos de parada foram fibrilação ventricular (80%) e atividade elétrica sem pulso (20%). Dois pacientes foram diagnosticados com doença coronariana grave e quatro receberam um cardiodesfibrilador implantável (CDI) para profilaxia secundária de morte súbita. Um paciente, entre os cinco que tiveram alta, faleceu em outro serviço. Conclusão: Apesar de pouco usual, o emprego de um TRR hospitalar no atendimento de PCRs extra-hospitalares pode ser benéfico. Os desfechos favoráveis provavelmente decorreram do treinamento da equipe e da rapidez na realização do atendimento. A investigação cardiológica dos sobreviventes identificou pacientes com doenças graves, que, portanto, mais se beneficiariam da assistência de um time especializado

Introduction: Rapid Response Teams (RRT) are multidisciplinary groups trained to treat individuals with severe and acute events, including sudden cardiac arrest (CA), in in-patient units. The aim of this report is to discuss the singularities of deploying a hospital RRT for out-of-hospital CA assistance, using the experience of the team at the Instituto Central of Hospital das Clínicas of the University of São Paulo School of Medicine (ICHC-FMUSP) as illustration. Methodology: A retrospective, descriptive analysis was conducted, using the RRT database of the ICHC-FMUSP. All cases classified as sudden CA treated outside of the hospital between 2014 and 2016 were surveyed. Global data for five patients who progressed to discharge from hospital free of neuro - logical impairment were described and analyzed in detail. Results: Of the 11 cases, 8 had return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) at the scene (72.2%), and 3 died on site. Of the 8 patients admitted to the Emergency Department, 5 were discharged from the hospital after the event (45.5%). The average response time was 3±1.2minutes, and the call-to-shock time interval was 7.25±3.2minutes. The cardiac arrest rhythms were ventricular fibrillation (80%) and pulseless electrical activity (20%). Two patients were diagnosed with severe coronary disease and four received an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) for secondary prophylaxis of sudden death. One patient, of the 5 discharged, died in another unit. Conclusion: Although unusual, the use of a hospital RRT for out-of-hospital CA assistance can be beneficial. The favorable outcomes likely resulted from the team's training and the speed with which the treatment was given. Cardiovascular evaluation of the survivors identified patents with severe diseases, which would, therefore, most benefit from the care of a specialized team

Gastrointestinal cytomegalovirus disease in a patient with pemphigus vulgaris treated with corticosteroid and mycophenolate mofetil.

Pemphigus vulgaris is an autoimmune disease characterized by the formation of suprabasal intra-epidermal blisters on the skin and mucosal surfaces. Infectious diseases are the main cause of death in patients with pemphigus due to the disrupture of the physiological skin barrier, immune dysregulation, and the use of immunosuppressive medications leaving the patient prone to acquire opportunistic infections. We report the case of a 67-year-old woman diagnosed with pemphigus vulgaris, who was irregularly taking prednisone and mycophenolate mofetil. She was hospitalized because of a 1-month history of watery diarrhea and oral ulcers. Unfortunately, the patient died suddenly on the ward. The autopsy revealed a bilateral saddle pulmonary embolism, Gram-positive cocci bronchopneumonia, and gastrointestinal cytomegalovirus infection, causing extensive gastrointestinal mucosal ulcers.

Gastrointestinal cytomegalovirus disease in a patient with pemphigus vulgaris treated with corticosteroid and mycophenolate mofetil

Pemphigus vulgaris is an autoimmune disease characterized by the formation of suprabasal intra-epidermal blisters on the skin and mucosal surfaces. Infectious diseases are the main cause of death in patients with pemphigus due to the disrupture of the physiological skin barrier, immune dysregulation, and the use of immunosuppressive medications leaving the patient prone to acquire opportunistic infections. We report the case of a 67-year-old woman diagnosed with pemphigus vulgaris, who was irregularly taking prednisone and mycophenolate mofetil. She was hospitalized because of a 1-month history of watery diarrhea and oral ulcers. Unfortunately, the patient died suddenly on the ward. The autopsy revealed a bilateral saddle pulmonary embolism, Gram-positive cocci bronchopneumonia, and gastrointestinal cytomegalovirus infection, causing extensive gastrointestinal mucosal ulcers.

Pretreatment tumor volume estimation based on total serum psa in patients with localized prostate cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To establish a formula that estimates tumor volume in localized prostate cancer based on serum prostate specific antigen levels. One of the main prognostic variables in localized prostate cancer is tumor volume, which can be precisely defined only after prostate extirpation. The present study defines a simple method that allows for estimation of tumor volume before treatment, which can help to establish a better therapeutic strategy for each patient. METHODS: From 1997 to 2002, 735 patients with prostate cancer of stagesT1c-T2c without any previous treatment were submitted to radical prostatectomy. Surgical specimens were evaluated by the same pathologist and the total tumor volume (in cc) and the relative tumor volume (as the percent of the total prostate volume) were determined using the grid morphometric method. Pretreatment serum prostate specific antigen was correlated with tumor volume in each patient using a linear regression model. RESULTS: There were positive correlations between the serum levels of prostate specific antigen and the total tumor volume in cc (p<0.001) and the relative tumor volume as a percentage (p<0.001). For each ng/ml unit increment of serum prostate specific antigen, there was a 0.302 cc increase in total tumor volume and a 0.7% increase in relative tumor volume. Total and percent tumor volume could be calculated, respectively, using the formulas Volume (cc) = 3.476 + 0.302 x PSA (ng/ml) and Volume (%) = 11.331 + 0.704 x prostate specific antigen (ng/ml). CONCLUSIONS: Tumor volume in patients with prostate cancer can be determined before treatment based on the serum prostate specific antigen levels.

Pretreatment tumor volume estimation based on total serum psa in patients with localized prostate cancer

OBJECTIVES: To establish a formula that estimates tumor volume in localized prostate cancer based on serum prostate specific antigen levels. One of the main prognostic variables in localized prostate cancer is tumor volume, which can be precisely defined only after prostate extirpation. The present study defines a simple method that allows for estimation of tumor volume before treatment, which can help to establish a better therapeutic strategy for each patient. METHODS: From 1997 to 2002, 735 patients with prostate cancer of stagesT1c-T2c without any previous treatment were submitted to radical prostatectomy. Surgical specimens were evaluated by the same pathologist and the total tumor volume (in cc) and the relative tumor volume (as the percent of the total prostate volume) were determined using the grid morphometric method. Pretreatment serum prostate specific antigen was correlated with tumor volume in each patient using a linear regression model. RESULTS: There were positive correlations between the serum levels of prostate specific antigen and the total tumor volume in cc (p<0.001) and the relative tumor volume as a percentage (p<0.001). For each ng/ml unit increment of serum prostate specific antigen, there was a 0.302 cc increase in total tumor volume and a 0.7 percent increase in relative tumor volume. Total and percent tumor volume could be calculated, respectively, using the formulas Volume (cc) = 3.476 + 0.302 x PSA (ng/ml) and Volume ( percent) = 11.331 + 0.704 x prostate specific antigen (ng/ml). CONCLUSIONS: Tumor volume in patients with prostate cancer can be determined before treatment based on the serum prostate specific antigen levels.