Comparison of Mental Health Visits at a Military Treatment Facility Emergency Department Pre- and Post-COVID-19 Pandemic.

INTRODUCTION: There is a paucity of quantitative research regarding the effect of coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) on Emergency Department (ED) visits in the United States, and specifically mental health-related ED visits. The small existing body of research describes an overall decline in ED visits worldwide; however, there are anecdotal reports that psychiatric complaints to the ED have increased during the pandemic. The primary objective of this study was to describe the volume of mental health ED visits at a single ED during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to previous years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a single-center, retrospective chart review of adult patients evaluated in the ED at an academic military medical facility from March to December of 2017-2020 for mental health. The electronic medical record was queried for mental health International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision diagnosis codes. Demographic data including age, gender, disposition, diagnosis, and beneficiary status were collected, and Pearson Chi-Square was used to assess for statistical significance between years. RESULTS: There was a total of 1,486 mental health ED visits from March to December 2020, compared to an average of 1,668 visits from March to December 2017-2019. Statistically significant (P < 0.05) differences, between 2020 and the prior 3 years combined, were identified in the categories of age, disposition, beneficiary status, and diagnosis. In 2020, there was a lower proportion of visits for patients aged ≥60 (1.2%) than in 2017-2019 (2.5%). Active-duty patients comprised a higher proportion of mental health visits in 2020 (82.4%) versus 2017-2019 (77%). Proportionately fewer patients were admitted in 2020 (25.2%) versus 2017-2019 (29.2%). Adjustment disorders made up 19.0% of visits in 2020 versus 23.2% in 2017-2019, and suicidal ideation and intentional self-inflicted injury comprised 43.3% in 2020 compared with 40.4% in 2017-2019. CONCLUSION: There was a significant decline in ED visits for patients over the age of 60 but a significant increase in visits for active-duty patients. Fewer patients were admitted compared to previous years. There was a significant increase in patients diagnosed with suicidal ideation and intentional self-inflicted injury in 2020 compared to previous years. Alarmingly, this study shows increased rates of self-harm and suicidal ideation. Further study is needed to determine why these effects were seen and if there is a higher risk for suicide attempt or completion in these populations. These results indicate that military leadership and the military health system is failing to adequately support and protect service members and their families during these uniquely stressful times. High-level attention to this issue by military leadership is required; the readiness and safety of the nation's fighting force is at stake.

Spontaneous hemopneumothorax in a patient with COVID-19.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is primarily a febrile respiratory illness that was first documented in China in December 2019 and shortly after declared a pandemic on March 11, 2020. The pathophysiology of the virus is still not completely understood and remains under investigation. Consequently, new symptomatic manifestations and complications of the disease continue to be discovered. Here we present the case of a spontaneous hemopneumothorax resulting in hemorrhagic shock in an adult male with PCR confirmed COVID-19.

Infected Recurrent Thyroglossal Duct Cyst: A Case Report.

INTRODUCTION: A thyroglossal duct cyst (TGDC) is a congenital malformation in the neck. Surgical management is often recommended due to risk of recurrent infections and rare possibility of malignancy. CASE REPORT: Herein, we describe the case of an adult presenting with tender neck mass and fever. She had a history of previous surgical excision of her TGDC as a child. On evaluation she was found to have a recurrent TGDC complicated by acute infection via computed tomography imaging. CONCLUSION: In patients who have had previous surgical intervention to remove a TGDC, recurrence with infection should remain a diagnostic consideration.

A Case Report of Nebulized Tranexamic Acid for Post-tonsillectomy Hemorrhage in an Adult.

INTRODUCTION: Post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage is a potentially life-threatening, postoperative complication that is commonly encountered in the emergency department (ED). CASE REPORT: Herein, we describe the case of a 22-year-old male who presented to the ED with an active post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage. He rapidly became hypotensive and experienced an episode of syncope. Immediate interventions included intravenous fluids, emergency release blood and nebulized tranexamic acid (TXA). After completion of the nebulized TXA, the patient's bleeding was controlled. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first case in the emergency medicine literature that describes the use of nebulized TXA in an adult to achieve hemostasis in post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage.

Epstein-Barr Virus-induced Jaundice.

Infectious mononucleosis is primarily caused by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and is a common diagnosis made in emergency departments worldwide. Subclinical and transient transaminase elevations are a well-established sequela of EBV. However, acute cholestatic hepatitis is a rare complication. EBV infection should be considered as part of the differential diagnosis in patients with an obstructive pattern on liver function tests without evidence of biliary obstruction demonstrated on advanced imaging.

A Desquamating Skin Rash in a Pediatric Patient.

Prompt identification and treatment of true dermatologic emergencies is essential in emergency medicine, especially in vulnerable populations such as pediatric patients. This is a case of a three-year-old female who presented with significant dehydration in the setting of a desquamating skin rash diagnosed in our emergency department as staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome.