Risk factors for repeated febrile seizures during the same febrile illness

Purpose@#We aimed to identify the factors associated with the repeated febrile seizures (RFS), defined as recurrent seizures during the same febrile illness. @*Methods@#We reviewed the medical records of children with febrile seizure who visited 4 academic emergency departments from October 2016 through September 2018. Differences were identified in variables regarding clinical and laboratory characteristics between the children with and without RFS. The RFS was the primary outcome. Logistic regression was conducted to identify factors associated with the occurrence of RFS. @*Results@#Among 1,551 children, 922 were included in the study, of whom, 198 (21.5%) underwent RFS. Of the children with RFS, 188 (94.9%) underwent the recurrences within the initial 24 hours. Logistic regression showed focal seizure (adjusted odds ratio, 6.67; 95% confidence interval, 2.37-18.82), venous pH 30 minutes (1.90; 1.30-2.78) as the factors for RFS. @*Conclusion@#In children with febrile seizure, focal seizure, acidosis, and prolonged postictal state may be independent risk factors for RFS. These findings may be informed to healthcare professionals and parents caring for children with febrile seizure.

The effect of ambulatory ability on the prognosis of elderly sepsis patients as an indicator of frailty

Objective@#The vulnerable and frail elderly individuals are at a compounded risk of worsening, rather than recovering, from external stress such as sepsis. Ambulation is majorly considered as a phenotype and determining factor of frailty. This study was undertaken to determine whether inability of ambulation is predictive for the prognosis of elderly patients afflicted with sepsis. @*Methods@#Data were collected retrospectively from the medical records of an emergency medical center, from 1 November 2016 to 28 February 2017. Patients older than 65 years, who underwent blood culture or with a diagnosis of sepsis or septic shock and with Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score above 2 points, were included in the study. The predictive ability of the clinical factors was analyzed by comparing with the primary outcome of in-hospital mortality. @*Results@#A total of 105 patients were included in the study; 58 (55.2%) male and 47 (44.8%) female patients, with median age 78 years (range, 65-96 years). Of these, 89 (84.8%) patients were independently ambulatory before presentation. The median SOFA score was 3 (2-12), and 20 (19%) patients had expired in the hospital. Logistic regression revealed that inability of ambulation is not predictive of mortality (odds ratio, 0.872; 95% confidence Interval, 0.176-4.309; P=0.866). However, correlation analysis with the SOFA score revealed an association with inability of ambulation (r=0.277, P=0.004), and multiple regression analysis also showed that ambulation affects the SOFA score (t=2.435, P=0.017; t=-2.521, P=0.013). @*Conclusion@#Inability of ambulation does not predict in-hospital mortality, but affects the SOFA score of elderly patients afflicted with sepsis or in septic shock.

Intravenous zoletil administration for the purpose of suicide

Zoletil is a combination of tiletamine hydrochloride and zolazepam hydrochloride used as a veterinary anesthetic. Although zoletil abuse is widely known, zoletil poisoning for the purpose of suicide is very rare. We present a case of a 39-year-old man who attempted suicide by intravenously injecting a large amount of zoletil, resulting in decreased mental status and severe respiratory depression. Intubation and mechanical ventilation were applied. After 30 hours in the hospital, all symptoms of poisoning improved. Because zoletil can cause severe respiratory depression, close observation and aggressive securement of an airway is mandatory

Risk factors for repeated febrile seizures during the same febrile illness

Purpose@#We aimed to identify the factors associated with the repeated febrile seizures (RFS), defined as recurrent seizures during the same febrile illness. @*Methods@#We reviewed the medical records of children with febrile seizure who visited 4 academic emergency departments from October 2016 through September 2018. Differences were identified in variables regarding clinical and laboratory characteristics between the children with and without RFS. The RFS was the primary outcome. Logistic regression was conducted to identify factors associated with the occurrence of RFS. @*Results@#Among 1,551 children, 922 were included in the study, of whom, 198 (21.5%) underwent RFS. Of the children with RFS, 188 (94.9%) underwent the recurrences within the initial 24 hours. Logistic regression showed focal seizure (adjusted odds ratio, 6.67; 95% confidence interval, 2.37-18.82), venous pH 30 minutes (1.90; 1.30-2.78) as the factors for RFS. @*Conclusion@#In children with febrile seizure, focal seizure, acidosis, and prolonged postictal state may be independent risk factors for RFS. These findings may be informed to healthcare professionals and parents caring for children with febrile seizure.

The effect of ambulatory ability on the prognosis of elderly sepsis patients as an indicator of frailty

Objective@#The vulnerable and frail elderly individuals are at a compounded risk of worsening, rather than recovering, from external stress such as sepsis. Ambulation is majorly considered as a phenotype and determining factor of frailty. This study was undertaken to determine whether inability of ambulation is predictive for the prognosis of elderly patients afflicted with sepsis. @*Methods@#Data were collected retrospectively from the medical records of an emergency medical center, from 1 November 2016 to 28 February 2017. Patients older than 65 years, who underwent blood culture or with a diagnosis of sepsis or septic shock and with Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score above 2 points, were included in the study. The predictive ability of the clinical factors was analyzed by comparing with the primary outcome of in-hospital mortality. @*Results@#A total of 105 patients were included in the study; 58 (55.2%) male and 47 (44.8%) female patients, with median age 78 years (range, 65-96 years). Of these, 89 (84.8%) patients were independently ambulatory before presentation. The median SOFA score was 3 (2-12), and 20 (19%) patients had expired in the hospital. Logistic regression revealed that inability of ambulation is not predictive of mortality (odds ratio, 0.872; 95% confidence Interval, 0.176-4.309; P=0.866). However, correlation analysis with the SOFA score revealed an association with inability of ambulation (r=0.277, P=0.004), and multiple regression analysis also showed that ambulation affects the SOFA score (t=2.435, P=0.017; t=-2.521, P=0.013). @*Conclusion@#Inability of ambulation does not predict in-hospital mortality, but affects the SOFA score of elderly patients afflicted with sepsis or in septic shock.

Intravenous zoletil administration for the purpose of suicide

Zoletil is a combination of tiletamine hydrochloride and zolazepam hydrochloride used as a veterinary anesthetic. Although zoletil abuse is widely known, zoletil poisoning for the purpose of suicide is very rare. We present a case of a 39-year-old man who attempted suicide by intravenously injecting a large amount of zoletil, resulting in decreased mental status and severe respiratory depression. Intubation and mechanical ventilation were applied. After 30 hours in the hospital, all symptoms of poisoning improved. Because zoletil can cause severe respiratory depression, close observation and aggressive securement of an airway is mandatory

Initial risk factors associated with in-hospital mortality after surgery in adult patients admitted to emergency department with gastrointestinal perforation

Objective@#Gastrointestinal perforation (GIP) is a life-threatening disease with a high mortality rate. The neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are recognized markers of inflammation associated with poor outcomes in a range of clinical situations. The study aimed to identify the independent risk factors with in-hospital mortality and examine the association of initial NLR and PLR with mortality in adult patients with GIP undergoing surgery. @*Methods@#This was a multi-center retrospective observational study. This study reviewed the electronic medical records of adult patients with GIP admitted to three academic hospitals between January 2009 and December 2018, who underwent surgery. The demographic and clinical data of the GIP patients were obtained. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to evaluate the risk factors associated with in-hospital mortality and to determine the association between the initial NLR and PLR and in-hospital mortality. The primary outcome was all-cause in-hospital mortality. @*Results@#Among the 9,279 patients, 879 adult patients with GIP underwent surgery. Seventy-eight patients (8.9%) died and 801 (91.1%) survived. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed female, underlying chronic renal failure, Creactive protein≥100 mg/L, and albumin<3.5 g/dL to be factors associated with in-hospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio [95% confidence interval], 2.73 [1.07-6.97], 4.20 [1.83-9.68], 8.43 [2.29-31.03], and 5.36 [2.29-12.59], respectively). @*Conclusion@#In adult patients with GIP receiving surgery, female, underlying chronic renal failure, initial high C-reactive protein, and low albumin might be independent risk factors associated with in-hospital mortality. The initial NLR and PLR were not found to be associated with mortality.

Evaluation of Cut-off Values in Acute Acetaminophen Intoxication Following the Revised Guideline of the United Kingdom

PURPOSE: In 2012, a revised guideline for acute acetaminophen overdose was proposed in the UK, recommending that the treatment threshold should be lowered to 100 mcg/ml at 4 hours after ingestion without risk stratification of hepatotoxicity. However, the poison centers in some developing countries do not have laboratory resources to provide serum drug levels in time. The primary aim of the study is to evaluate the cut-off value of reported dose per kilogram to determine when N-acetylcysteine treatment is warranted under the revised guideline. METHODS: Data were collected retrospectively from the toxicology registry of an urban emergency medical center between 1st January 2010 and 30th June 2017. Inclusion criteria were single acute overdose of more than 75 mg/kg in 15 hours from ingestion and over 14 years of age. Subgroups were created by 25 mg/kg increments of reported dose, then sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were calculated for the cutoff values of 100 mg/kg, 125 mg/kg, 150 mg/kg and 175 mg/kg for toxic serum level over ‘100-treatment line’. RESULTS: A total of 99 patients were enrolled in the study; 24 patients showed toxic serum levels (24.2%). Zero of 17 patients with an ingestion dose under 100 mg/kg showed toxic level (0%), and 0 of 15 under 125 mg/kg (0%), 2 of 14 under 150 mg/kg (14.3%), and 4 of 12 under 175 mg/kg (33.3%) had toxic levels. The higher the ingested dose per kilogram of weight, the higher the frequency of the toxic serum concentration on the first test (χ² test for trend, χ²=22.66, p-value < 0.001) and the sensitivity of each value was 100%, 100%, 92% and 76%. CONCLUSION: In acute single acetaminophen intoxication, the ingestion dose of 100 mg/kg of weight will be useful in determining the need for the N-acetylcysteine antidote in the indigent laboratory environment.

The Appropriateness of Modified Trauma Team Activation Protocol for Trauma Patients in Emergency Department

PURPOSE: Rapid multidisciplinary trauma care by trauma team is essential for severely injured patients. Different protocols for trauma team activation are used in each hospital. Correct trauma triage is needed to ensure appropriate use of medical resources. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of our modified protocol for trauma team activation. METHODS: This is an observational, retrospective cohort study. Injured patients with trauma team activation (TTA) or who had been admitted to a surgical intensive care unit were investigated from 1st March 2010 to 31st May 2012. The TTA protocol was analyzed with respect to sensitivity, positive predictive value (PPV), and overtriage (1-PPV). Undertriage (1-sensitivity) was defined as no TTA despite severe injury (Injury Severity Score (ISS) >15). RESULTS: A total of 229 patients were included. There were 201 patients with TTA and 28 patients without TTA. Of the 201 patients with TTA, 104 were identified as severely injured (ISS>15), yielding sensitivity of 79%, PPV of 51%, and overtriage of 49%. Undertriage was 21% (n=28) when considering all severely injured patients (n=132). Among 12 criteria of our TTA protocol, 'injury in two or more body regions' accounted for 85.6% of the overtriage. Of the patients with undertriage, 75% represented isolated head injury and 28.5% from interhospital transfer. CONCLUSION: The rate of overtriage of TTA protocol in our hospital is appropriate, but the rate of undertriage is relatively high. We believe, to decrease the overtriage of all and undertriage in patients with injury in an isolated specific body region, more research for evaluation of effects of protocol excluding the criteria of 'injury in two or more body regions' is needed.

The Characteristics and Outcomes of Foreign Body Aspiration and Ingestion in Pediatric Patients who Visit an Emergency Department

PURPOSE: Many children visit an emergency department with aspiration or ingestion of a foreign body (FB). As little study based on Korean domestic data has been reported, we conducted a retrospective study in order to investigate the characteristics and outcomes in pediatric patients with FB. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of children with FB aspiration or ingestion who visited one of three emergency departments between January 2009 and December 2012 was conducted. Demographic data including age and sex, time of accident, whether the event was witnessed, time to visit, symptoms, radioopacity, diagnostic and therapeutic modalities, and category of FB were recorded. Stepwise forward logistic regression was performed in order to verify the association between variables and confirmation of FB. RESULTS: A total of 1508 pediatric patients presented to the emergency departments with FB aspiration or ingestion 739(49%) patients were 0 to 3 years old; 922(61.1%) patients visited with food itself or food-related materials, including fishbone. A total of 534(35.4%) patients were finally confirmed as having FB. Of those, the Odds ratio of positive radiologic test in patients presenting with a certain sign or symptom was 1.412(95% Confidence interval, 1.133 to 1.759). The proportion of those witnessed was significantly higher in those confirmed with FB than in those not confirmed (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: An emergency physician should take a detailed history, including whether there is a witness, and perform a careful examination in order to make a decision regarding the need for diagnostic and therapeutic modality when a pediatric patient is under three years old, and has no symptom or positive radiologic finding.

The Characteristics and Outcomes of Foreign Body Aspiration and Ingestion in Pediatric Patients who Visit an Emergency Department

PURPOSE: Many children visit an emergency department with aspiration or ingestion of a foreign body (FB). As little study based on Korean domestic data has been reported, we conducted a retrospective study in order to investigate the characteristics and outcomes in pediatric patients with FB. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of children with FB aspiration or ingestion who visited one of three emergency departments between January 2009 and December 2012 was conducted. Demographic data including age and sex, time of accident, whether the event was witnessed, time to visit, symptoms, radioopacity, diagnostic and therapeutic modalities, and category of FB were recorded. Stepwise forward logistic regression was performed in order to verify the association between variables and confirmation of FB. RESULTS: A total of 1508 pediatric patients presented to the emergency departments with FB aspiration or ingestion 739(49%) patients were 0 to 3 years old; 922(61.1%) patients visited with food itself or food-related materials, including fishbone. A total of 534(35.4%) patients were finally confirmed as having FB. Of those, the Odds ratio of positive radiologic test in patients presenting with a certain sign or symptom was 1.412(95% Confidence interval, 1.133 to 1.759). The proportion of those witnessed was significantly higher in those confirmed with FB than in those not confirmed (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: An emergency physician should take a detailed history, including whether there is a witness, and perform a careful examination in order to make a decision regarding the need for diagnostic and therapeutic modality when a pediatric patient is under three years old, and has no symptom or positive radiologic finding.