Two injection digital block versus single subcutaneous palmar injection block for finger lacerations.

PURPOSE: We aimed to compare two digital nerve block techniques in patients due to traumatic digital lacerations. METHODS: This was a randomized-controlled study designed prospectively in the emergency department of a university-based training and research hospital. Randomization was achieved by sealed envelopes. Half of the patients were randomised to traditional (two-injection) digital nerve block technique while single-injection digital nerve block technique was applied to the other half. Score of pain due to anesthetic infiltration and suturing, onset time of total anesthesia, need for an additional rescue injection were the parameters evaluated with both groups. Epinephrin added lidocaine hydrochloride preparation was used for the anesthetic application. Visual analog scale was used for the evaluation of pain scores. Outcomes were compared by using Mann-Whitney U test and Student t-test. RESULTS: Fifty emergency department patients ≥18 years requiring digital nerve block were enrolled in the study. Mean age of the patients was 33 (min-max: 19-86) and 39 (78 %) were male. No statistically significant difference was found between the two groups in terms of our main parameters; anesthesia pain score, suturing pain score, onset time of total anesthesia and rescue injection need. CONCLUSION: Single injection volar digital nerve block technique is a suitable alternative for digital anesthesias in emergency departments.

Can initial lactate levels predict the severity of unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning?

INTRODUCTION: Accidental carbon monoxide (CO) intoxication is a major cause of unintentional poisoning. This study aimed to determine the value of initial lactate levels in patients with CO poisoning and to evaluate its utilization in the emergency department (ED). METHODS: A retrospective cross-sectional study was carried out among patients with CO intoxication, who were admitted to the ED between April 1, 2011 and April 1, 2012. The study data were extracted from a hospital database system using International Classification of Diseases-10 diagnosis codes. The patients were analyzed according to lactate levels, carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) levels, electrocardiographic manifestations, and clinical features at admission to the ED. RESULTS: A total of 74 patients with CO poisoning were enrolled in this study. The average COHb value of the patients was 21.5 ± 13.9%. A total of 50 patients (67.6%) received normobaric oxygen treatment and 24 patients (32.4%) received hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) treatment. The patients who received HBO treatment had increased lactate levels compared with patients receiving normobaric oxygen treatment (2.3 mmol/L vs. 1.0 mmol/L, p < 0.001). The lactate levels were positively correlated with COHb values (r = 0.738, p < 0.001). We determined that a lactate level of 1.85 mmol/L has a sensitivity of 70.8% and a specificity of 78.0% to predict the HBO treatment needed in CO poisoning. CONCLUSION: In evaluating patients with CO poisoning, an initial lactate level could be taken into consideration as an adjunctive parameter of severity, together with the clinical criteria and levels of COHb.