The relationship among plasma copeptin, carboxyhemoglobin, and lactate levels in carbon monoxide poisoning.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study is to determine whether there is a change in the plasma levels of copeptin and there is a relationship among the plasma levels of carboxyhemoglobin (COHb), lactate, and copeptin levels in patients presenting to the emergency department with carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. METHODS: Fifty-seven patients admitted to the emergency department with CO poisoning were included in the study. The blood samples of the patients were collected on arrival 0th, 6th, and 12th hours for copeptin, lactate, and COHb levels. Data were analyzed using SPSS-17 statistical software. RESULTS: Arrival serum copeptin levels of the patients were compared to copeptin levels of healthy individuals and a statistically significant difference was found between them (p = 0.008). There was a statistically significant difference between the arrival levels of copeptin and 6th-hour (p = 0.006) and 12th-hour (p = 0.001) levels of copeptin. There was no significant difference between 6th-hour and 12th-hour copeptin levels (p = 0.51). In terms of serum lactate levels, there was a significant difference between arrival and 6th h (p < 0.001), arrival and 12th h (p < 0.001), and 6th and 12th h (p < 0.001). Likewise, in terms of serum COHb levels, there was a significant difference between arrival and 6th h (p < 0.001), arrival and 12th h (p < 0.001), and 6th and 12th h (p < 0.001). There was a positive correlation between COHb and lactate levels on arrival (r = 0.52; p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Copeptin as a stress hormone can be used in the diagnosis and monitoring of patients with CO poisoning. However, the copeptin level was not superior to COHb and lactate levels.

Benefit of cardiac sonography for estimating the early term survival of the cardiopulmonary arrest patients.

INTRODUCTION: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is the most important intervention that connects the cardiopulmonary arrests (CPA), to life. Ultrasonography  (USG) is used to detect the presence of cardiac activity during CPR. METHODS: Files of the patiens, admitted to Kayseri Training and Research Hospital during one calendar year (2011) and suffered CPA were retrospectively evaluated by using hospital information management system. Patients enrolled in the study should have arrival electrocardiogram and cardiac ultrasound performed and  recorded. RESULTS: A total of 410 patients were included in the study. When we examined the cardiac rhythm on arrival, 290 patients (70.7%) had asystole, 45 (11%) patients had ventricular fibrillation/ pulseless ventricular tachycardia (VF/pVT) and 75 (18.3%) patients had pulseless electrical activity (PEA). Twenty-four hour survival rates of the groups that the cardiac activity was detected with USG on arrival to the Emergency Department were: 2 patients in asystole group,  35 patients in VF/pVT group and  44 patients in PEA group. CONCLUSIONS: Usage of USG during CPR in order to evaluate cardiac contractility, increases the success rate of accomplished CPR.

Comparison of hyperpronation and supination-flexion techniques in children presented to emergency department with painful pronation.

CONTEXT: Radial head subluxation, also known as 'pulled elbow', 'dislocated elbow' or 'nursemaid's elbow', is one of the most common upper extremity injuries in young children and a common reason to visit Emergency Department (ED). AIM: To compare supination of the wrist followed by flexion of the elbow (the traditional reduction technique) to hyperpronation of the wrist in the reduction of radial head subluxations (nursemaid's elbow) maneuvers in children presented to ED with painful pronation and to determine which method is less painful by children. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: This prospective randomize study involved a consecutive sampling of children between 1-5 year old who were presented to the ED with painful pronation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The initial procedure was repeated if baseline functioning did not return 20 minutes after the initial reduction attempt. Failure of that technique 30 minutes after the initial reduction attempt resulted in a cross-over to the alternate method of reduction. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Datas were analyzed using SPSS for Windows 16.0. Mean, standard deviation, independent samples t test, Chi-square test, and paired t test were used in the assessment of pain scores before and after reduction. RESULTS: When pain scores before and after reduction were compared between groups to determine which technique is less painful by children, no significant difference was found between groups. CONCLUSIONS: It was found that in the reduction of radial head subluxations, the hyperpronation technique is more effective in children who were presented to ED with painful pronation compared with supination-flexion. However, there was no significant difference between these techniques in terms of pain.