Carbon monoxide poisoning cases presenting with non-specific symptoms.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colourless and odourless gas appearing as a result of incomplete combustion of carbon-containing fuels. Many domestic or occupational poisonings are caused by CO exposure. Malfunctioning heating systems, improperly ventilated motor vehicles, generators, grills, stoves and residential fires may be listed in the common sources of CO exposure. The aim of this study was to emphasize the significance of early diagnosis of CO poisoning with non-invasive measurement of CO levels of the patients with non-specific symptoms using a pulse oximeter device in the triage. Our study was a cross-sectional study. Patients who presented to the emergency department (ED) due to non-specific symptoms and had a Canadian Triage and Acuity scale level of 4 or 5 were included in the study; 106 (5.9%) of 1788 patients admitted during the study period were diagnosed with CO poisoning. Patients with CO poisoning and the other patients had statistically significant differences in terms of presenting symptoms, namely, headache, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. More CO poisoning cases were admitted in the fall and winter compared to the spring and summer. The number of CO poisoning victims can be decreased if preventive measures like CO monitoring systems and well-designed ventilation systems are generalized at homes and workplaces. Measurement of carboxyhaemoglobin levels of patients presenting to ED due to non-specific symptoms like headache and dizziness during cold seasons and winter months using a pulse CO-oximeter should be a part of the routine of emergency medicine triage.

An Unusual Cause of Asystole: Insertion of a Central Venous Catheter.

Central venous catheters are a commonly used medical device which may sometimes cause complications. We present first case who had an asystolic cardiac arrest during insertion of a central venous catheter, needed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and was resuscitated successfully. A46-year lady presented to the emergency department due to mushroom poisoning. Acentral venous catheter was inserted through the internal jugular vein. However, the patient suddenly lost consciousness and asystole was seen on the monitor immediately after the insertion of the catheter. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was started, and the catheter was withdrawn nearly 5 cm. Spontaneous circulation returned 2 minutes later. The patient was hospitalised, hemodialysis was performed, and she was discharged the next day. Emergency physicians should be prepared for dysrhythmias and asystole during insertion of a central venous catheter. If cardiac arrest develops, the catheter should be withdrawn a few centimeters while CPR continues.

Aortic stiffness increases in proportion to the severity of apnoea-hypopnea index in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSA) and aortic stiffness are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Although aortic stiffness increased in patients with OSA, the relationship between severity of OSA indicated with apnoea-hypopnea index (AHI) and aortic stiffness was not investigated in previous studies. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between the severity of OSA and aortic stiffness. METHODS: In the present study, 90 consecutive OSA patients definite diagnosed with sleep test were prospectively included (mean age 54.5 ± 11.6 years). Aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) and augmentation index (AIx) were calculated using the single-point method via the Mobil-O-Graph® ARCsolver algorithm. Aortic distensibility (AD) was calculated from the echocardiographically derived ascending aorta diameters and haemodynamic pressure measurements. Overnight full-laboratory polysomnography examination was conducted on each subject. Patients were classified into two groups according to their median AHI values (AHIlow and AHIhigh groups). RESULTS: PWV values were higher and AD values were lower in AHIhigh group compared with AHIlow group (P < 0.05, for all). AHI was associated with body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure, pulse pressure, aortic diameter, AD, AIx and PWV in bivariate analysis (P < 0.05, for all). Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that AHI was independently associated with BMI (ß = 0.175, P = 0.047), PWV (ß = 0.521, P < 0.001) and aortic distensibility (ß = -0.223, P = 0.020). CONCLUSIONS: Aortic stiffness is associated both with the presence and the severity of OSA.

The relationship between ischemic stroke and weather conditions in Duzce, Turkey.

BACKGROUND: Weather conditions are thought to increase the risk of stroke occurrence. But their mechanism has not yet been clarified. We investigated possible relationships between ischemic stroke and weather conditions including atmospheric pressure, temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed. METHODS: One hundred and twenty-eight patients with ischemic stroke who had been admitted to our hospital between January 1 and December 31, 2010 were enrolled in this study. We investigated the relationship between daily cases and weather conditions the same day or 1, 2, and 3 days before stroke. RESULTS: A negative correlation was found between maximum wind speed and daily cases 3 days before stroke. As the relationship between daily cases and changes of weather conditions in consecutive days was evaluated, a negative correlation was found between daily cases and change of atmospheric pressure in the last 24 hours. CONCLUSIONS: The maximum wind speed 3 days before stroke and change of atmospheric pressure in the last 24 hours were found to increase the cases of ischemic stroke. We recommend that individuals at risk of ischemic stroke should pay more attention to preventive measures, especially on days with low maximum wind speed, on subsequent 3 days, and on days with low atmospheric pressure in the last 24 hours.

Erythropoietin stimulates patellar tendon healing in rats.

BACKGROUND: Erythropoietin (EPO), regulating erythropoiesis, is used to provide protective and regenerative activity in non-haematopoietic tissues. There is insufficient knowledge about the role of EPO activity in tendon healing. Therefore, we investigated the effect of EPO treatment on healing in rat patellar tendons. METHODS: One hundred and twenty-six, four-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to three experimental groups: 1, no treatment; 2, treatment with isotonic saline (NaCl) and 3, treatment with EPO. Each group was randomly subdivided into two groups for sacrifice at three (1a, 2a, 3a) or six weeks (1b, 2b, 3b). Complete incision of the left patellar tendon from the distal patellar pole was performed. We applied body casts for 20 days after the incised edges of the patellar tendon were brought together with a surgical technique. Both legs were harvested and specimens from each group underwent histological, biomechanical, and protein mRNA expression analyses. RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences in the ultimate breaking force between the EPO group and others at both weeks three and six (p<0.05); significant differences in fibroblast proliferation, capillary vessel formation, and local inflammation were found between groups 1a and 3a, and 2a and 3a (p<0.05). There were statistical differences between 1a, 3a and 2a, 3a for Col III, TGF-ß1, and VEGF and between 1b, 3b and 2b, 3b for Col I, Col III, TGF-ß1, and VEGF mRNA expressions. CONCLUSION: EPO had an additive effect with surgery on the injured tendon healing process in rats compared to the control groups biomechanically, histopathologically and with tissue protein mRNA expression. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This is the first experimental study to analyze the relationship between EPO treatment and the patellar tendon repair process by biomechanical, histopathological, and tendon tissue mRNA expression methodologies.

Acute intoxication cases admitted to the emergency department of a university hospital.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to describe the clinical and socio-demographic aspects of acute poisoning in 2010 in Duzce City, Northwest Anatolian Region of Turkey. METHODS: Acute poisoning was due to the intentional ingestion of drugs in young and adult people (≥16), who were treated at the Emergency Service of Duzce University Medical Hospital, Turkey from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010. In this retrospective and descriptive study, 95 patients were diagnosed with intoxications and 30 of them intentionally ingested drugs to commit suicide. Records of the patients diagnosed with intoxication were obtained from the Clinical Archive of the hospital. Their diagnoses were established according to the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems. Codes X60-X84 of this classification were used to classify self-infringed drug injuries and drug poisoning. RESULTS: In this series, 35 (36.8%) patients were male and 60 patients (63.2%) female. The male/female ratio was 1.0/1.7. The mean age of the patients was 33.1±14.2 years; 17 (17.9%) patients were below 20 years old and 9 (9.5%) were older than 50 years. Of these patients, 29 (30.5%) were single, 7 (7.4%) divorced or separated, and 59 (62.1%) married. Their mean time for admission to the emergency service after the incident was 208±180 (15-660) minutes. The mean time for admission to the emergency service for patients with food intoxication after the incident was 142±160 minutes, for those with drug intoxication 173±161 minutes, for those with carbon monoxide (CO) intoxication 315±209 minutes, and for those with undefined intoxication 289±166 minutes (P=0.005). Most of the intoxication cases occurred in winter (41.1%, 39 of 95 patients). Admissions to the emergency service were most common in December and April (21 and 16 of 95 patients, respectively). Sixty-five (68.4%) cases were involved in non-deliberate poisoning, whereas 30 (31.6%) were involved in deliberate poisoning. Twenty-six of the 95 patients with acute poisonings had mortality risk at admission, however only one died from CO intoxication in the emergency service (1.1%). Suicide attempts were more common in females than in males (21 of 30 patients, 70%, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: In Duzce City of Turkey, most intoxication cases occurred in winter, especially in December. They had non-deliberate poisoning, but deliberate poisoning in suicide attempts was more common in females than in males.

Comparison of effects on the oxidant/antioxidant system of sevoflurane, desflurane and propofol infusion during general anesthesia / Comparação dos efeitos da perfusão de sevoflurano, desflurano e propofol sobre o sistema oxidante/antioxidante durante anestesia geral / Comparación de los efectos de la perfusión de sevoflurano, desflurano y del propofol sobre el sistema oxidante/antioxidante durante la anestesia general

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Desflurane and sevoflurane are frequently used for maintenance of anesthesia and studies have shown that these anesthetics cause a variety of changes to the oxidative stress and antioxidative defense mechanisms. This study aims to compare the effects of sevoflurane, desflurane and propofol infusion anesthesia on the oxidant and antioxidant systems of patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. METHODS: 45 patients between 18 and 50 years with planned laparoscopic cholecystectomy under general anesthetic were included in the study. Patients were divided into three groups on the way to surgery: propofol (group P n: 15), sevoflurane (group S n: 15) and desflurane (group D n: 15). All groups were given hypnotic 2 mg/kg propofol IV, 1 mcg/kg fentanyl IV and 0.1 mg/kg vecuronium IV for induction. For maintenance of anesthesia group S were ventilated with 2% sevoflurane, group D cases were given 6% desflurane and group P were given propofol infusions of 12 mg/kg/h for the first 10 min, 9 mg/kg/h for the second 10 min and 6 mg/kg/h after that. Before induction and after the operation venous blood samples were taken to evaluate the levels of glutation peroxidase, total oxidants and antioxidants. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The 45 patients included in the study were 22 male and 23 female patients. The demographic characteristics of the groups were similar. In the postoperative period we observed that while sevoflurane and propofol increased antioxidants by a statistically significant level, desflurane increased the total oxidants level by a significant amount compared to levels before the operation. .

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: Desflurano e sevoflurano são usados com frequência para a manutenção da anestesia e estudos mostraram que esses anestésicos causam alterações variadas nos mecanismos de defesa antioxidante contra o estresse oxidativo. Este estudo teve como objetivo comparar os efeitos de anestesias com perfusão de sevoflurano, desflurano e propofol sobre os sistemas oxidante/antioxidante de pacientes submetidos à colecistectomia laparoscópica. MÉTODOS: Foram incluídos no estudo 45 pacientes entre 18 e 50 anos, agendados para colecistectomia laparoscópica sob anestesia geral. Os pacientes foram divididos em três grupos para receberem propofol (Grupo P, n = 15), sevoflurano (Grupo S, n = 15) e desflurano (Grupo D, n = 15). Todos os grupos receberam 2 mg/kg de propofol IV, 1 mcg/kg de fentanil IV e 0,1 mg/kg de vecurônio IV para indução. Para manutenção da anestesia, o Grupo S recebeu ventilação com sevoflurano a 2%, o Grupo D recebeu desflurano a 6% e o Grupo P recebeu propofol em perfusões de 12 mg/kg/h nos primeiros 10 minutos, 9 mg/kg/h nos 10 minutos seguintes e 6 mg/kg/h subsequentemente. Antes da indução e depois da cirurgia, amostras de sangue venoso foram colhidas para avaliar os níveis de glutationa peroxidase e o total de oxidantes e antioxidantes. RESULTADOS E CONCLUSÕES: Dos 45 pacientes incluídos no estudo, 22 eram do sexo masculino e 23 do feminino. As características demográficas dos grupos eram semelhantes. No período pós-operatório, observamos que enquanto sevoflurano e propofol aumentaram os antioxidantes a um nível de significância estatística, desflurano aumentou o nível total de oxidantes em quantidade significativa, em comparação com os níveis pré-operação. .

JUSTIFICACIÓN Y OBJETIVOS: El desflurano y el sevoflurano son usados a menudo para el mantenimiento de la anestesia, y hay estudios que mostraron que esos anestésicos causan diversas alteraciones en los mecanismos de defesa antioxidante contra el estrés oxidativo. El objetivo de este estudio es comparar los efectos de las anestesias con perfusión de sevoflurano, desflurano y propofol sobre los sistemas oxidante/antioxidante de pacientes sometidos a colecistectomía laparoscópica. MÉTODOS: Fueron incluidos en el estudio 45 pacientes entre 18 y 50 años programados para colecistectomía laparoscópica bajo anestesia general. Los pacientes fueron divididos en 3 grupos para recibir propofol (grupo P, n = 15), sevoflurano (grupo S, n = 15) y desflurano (grupo D, n = 15). Todos los grupos recibieron 2 mg/kg de propofol IV, 1 µg/kg de fentanilo IV y 0,1 mg/kg de vecuronio IV para inducción. Para el mantenimiento de la anestesia, el grupo S recibió ventilación con sevoflurano al 2%, al grupo D se le administró desflurano al 6% y el grupo P recibió propofol en perfusiones de 12 mg/kg/h en los primeros 10 min, 9 mg/kg/h en los 10 min siguientes y 6 mg/kg/h subsecuentemente. Antes de la inducción y después de la cirugía, fueron extraídas muestras de sangre venosa para evaluar los niveles de glutatión peroxidasa y el total de oxidantes y antioxidantes. RESULTADOS Y CONCLUSIONES: De los 45 pacientes incluidos en el estudio, 22 eran del sexo masculino y 23 del femenino. Las características demográficas de los grupos eran similares. En el período postoperatorio observamos que mientras el sevoflurano y el propofol aumentaron los antioxidantes a un nivel de significación estadística, el desflurano aumentó el nivel total de oxidantes en una cantidad significativa, en comparación con los niveles preoperatorios. .

Neuropsychiatric side effects due to a transdermal fentanyl patch: hallucinations.

Opioid analgesics are used commonly in end-stage cancer patients for pain treatment. Central nervous system adverse effects are rare. A73-year-old female patient was admitted to the emergency department for auditory and visual hallucinations. The patient had been receiving palliative treatment for liver, cervical, and lumbar bone metastases from an unknown origin. The patient used a transdermal fentanyl patch for palliative pain management and metoclopramide hydrochloride for nausea and vomiting. The patient had suffered weight loss of 10 kg within 5 months, and laboratory findings revealed hypoalbuminemia. The patient was considered to have experienced a fentanyl overdose, and the transdermal fentanyl patch treatment was stopped. The hallucinations improved during follow-up, and the patient was discharged with a dose adjustment. End-stage cancer patients with weight loss and hypoalbuminemia may be more prone to opioid adverse effects, such as hallucinations. The dose of fentanyl must be adjusted for weight loss, and correction of hypoalbuminemia may also lower the incidence of such adverse effects.

[Comparison of effects on the oxidant/antioxidant system of sevoflurane, desflurane and propofol infusion during general anesthesia]. / Comparação dos efeitos da perfusão de sevoflurano, desflurano e propofol sobre o sistema oxidante/antioxidante durante anestesia geral.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Desflurane and sevoflurane are frequently used for maintenance of anesthesia and studies have shown that these anesthetics cause a variety of changes to the oxidative stress and antioxidative defense mechanisms. This study aims to compare the effects of sevoflurane, desflurane and propofol infusion anesthesia on the oxidant and antioxidant systems of patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. METHODS: 45 patients between 18 and 50 years with planned laparoscopic cholecystectomy under general anesthetic were included in the study. Patients were divided into three groups on the way to surgery: propofol (group P, n=15), sevoflurane (group S, n=15) and desflurane (group D, n=15). All groups were given hypnotic 2mg/kg propofol IV, 1mcg/kg fentanyl IV and 0.1mg/kg vecuronium IV for induction. For maintenance of anesthesia group S were ventilated with 2% sevoflurane, group D cases were given 6% desflurane and group P were given propofol infusions of 12mg/kg/h for the first 10minutes, 9mg/kg/h for the second 10minutes and 6mg/kg/h after that. Before induction and after the operation venous blood samples were taken to evaluate the levels of glutation peroxidase, total oxidants and antioxidants. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The 45 patients included in the study were 22 male and 23 female patients. The demographic characteristics of the groups were similar. In the postoperative period we observed that while sevoflurane and propofol increased antioxidants by a statistically significant level, desflurane increased the total oxidants level by a significant amount compared to levels before the operation.

The relationship between ischemic stroke and weather conditions in Duzce, Turkey / 世界急诊医学杂志（英文）

BACKGROUND: Weather conditions are thought to increase the risk of stroke occurrence. But their mechanism has not yet been clarified. We investigated possible relationships between ischemic stroke and weather conditions including atmospheric pressure, temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed. METHODS: One hundred and twenty-eight patients with ischemic stroke who had been admitted to our hospital between January 1 and December 31, 2010 were enroled in this study. We investigated the relationship between daily cases and weather conditions the same day or 1, 2, and 3 days before stroke. RESULTS: A negative correlation was found between maximum wind speed and daily cases 3 days before stroke. As the relationship between daily cases and changes of weather conditions in consecutive days was evaluated, a negative correlation was found between daily cases and change of atmospheric pressure in the last 24 hours. CONCLUSIONS: The maximum wind speed 3 days before stroke and change of atmospheric pressure in the last 24 hours were found to increase the cases of ischemic stroke. We recommend that individuals at risk of ischemic stroke should pay more attention to preventive measures, especially on days with low maximum wind speed, on subsequent 3 days, and on days with low atmospheric pressure in the last 24 hours.

Acute intoxication cases admitted to the emergency department of a university hospital / 世界急诊医学杂志（英文）

@#BACKGROUND: This study aimed to describe the clinical and socio-demographic aspects of acute poisoning in 2010 in Duzce City, Northwest Anatolian Region of Turkey. METHODS: Acute poisoning was due to the intentional ingestion of drugs in young and adult people (≥16), who were treated at the Emergency Service of Duzce University Medical Hospital, Turkey from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010. In this retrospective and descriptive study, 95 patients were diagnosed with intoxications and 30 of them intentionally ingested drugs to commit suicide. Records of the patients diagnosed with intoxication were obtained from the Clinical Archive of the hospital. Their diagnoses were established according to the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems. Codes X60-X84 of this classification were used to classify self-infringed drug injuries and drug poisoning. RESULTS: In this series, 35 (36.8％) patients were male and 60 patients (63.2％) female. The male/female ratio was 1.0/1.7. The mean age of the patients was 33.1±14.2 years; 17 (17.9％) patients were below 20 years old and 9 (9.5％) were older than 50 years. Of these patients, 29 (30.5％) were single, 7 (7.4％) divorced or separated, and 59 (62.1％) married. Their mean time for admission to the emergency service after the incident was 208±180 (15–660) minutes. The mean time for admission to the emergency service for patients with food intoxication after the incident was 142±160 minutes, for those with drug intoxication 173±161 minutes, for those with carbon monoxide (CO) intoxication 315±209 minutes, and for those with undefined intoxication 289±166 minutes (P=0.005). Most of the intoxication cases occurred in winter (41.1％, 39 of 95 patients). Admissions to the emergency service were most common in December and April (21 and 16 of 95 patients, respectively). Sixty-five (68.4％) cases were involved in non-deliberate poisoning, whereas 30 (31.6％) were involved in deliberate poisoning. Twenty-six of the 95 patients with acute poisonings had mortality risk at admission, however only one died from CO intoxication in the emergency service (1.1％). Suicide attempts were more common in females than in males (21 of 30 patients, 70％, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: In Duzce City of Turkey, most intoxication cases occurred in winter, especially in December. They had non-deliberate poisoning, but deliberate poisoning in suicide attempts was more common in females than in males.

A rare consequence of blunt abdominal trauma: bilateral renal infarction.

A 28-year-old man was admitted to the emergency department with lumbar pain owing to a motorbike accident. On clinical examination, abdominal tenderness, pelvic and left cruris pains were present. Erythrocytes, leucocytes and protein was found to be positive in urine analysis. Abdominal computed tomography with intravenous contrast solution showed contrast enhancement in 80% of right kidney, and 30% of left kidney; some intra-abdominal free fluid was also seen. Conservative management was planned for bilateral renal infarction. Urine output was 1.1 L per day. He was discharged on the seventh day of the hospital stay. The patient had not got any problems on the sixth month follow-up. Urine output is a very important parameter for multiple trauma patients. Any decrease in urine output may not be seen inspite of the presence of bilateral renal damage as in the case of the patient, and this situation does not allow ruling out renal injury completely. Hence, emergency physician should still be careful about the risk of renal injury.

Asystole after the first dose of lansoprazole.

Allergic reactions due to drug intake are responsible from an important amount of emergency admissions. Patients mostly complain of urticarial lesions. But clinical picture may sometimes include a large scale of signs and symptoms ranging from a simple confusion to serious conditions like coma and even cardiopulmonary arrest. In this article, a case of anaphylactic shock and respiratory arrest after lansoprazole intake is presented. Delays in reaching basic and advanced life support decrease chance of positive results of life support in anaphylactic shock victims. It is important to remember that any medication we usually prescribe in our daily practice for treatment of any disease has a potential to kill the patient.

Anaphylaxis after intramuscular injection of diclofenac sodium.

Diclofenac sodium is a 2-arylacetic acid, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. It is widely used in pain management. Side effects such as urticaria, asthmatic attack, vasospastic angina, ischemic stroke, and Kounis syndrome may be seen after the use of diclofenac sodium. However, anaphylactic shock is rare. Anaphylactic shock secondary to injection of diclofenac sodium can be treated successfully with intramuscular injection of adrenaline. Because diclofenac sodium is commonly used in analgesic treatment in emergency departments, we present this case report to emphasize that anaphylactic shock may be seen after the use of that drug.