Comparison of airway intubation devices when using a biohazard suit: a feasibility study.

OBJECTIVES: We set out to compare emergency medicine residents' intubating times and success rates for direct laryngoscopy (DL), GlideScope-assisted intubation (GS), and the Supraglottic Airway Laryngopharyngeal Tube (SALT) airway with and without biohazard gear. METHODS: Each resident passed through 2 sets of 3 testing stations (DL, GS, SALT) in succession, intubating Laerdal mannequin heads with the 3 modalities after randomization to start with or without biohazard gear. RESULTS: Thirty-seven residents participated, and 27 were male (73%); 14 (37.8%) had prior experience intubating in biohazard suits. There was a statistically significant difference in those who had prior intubation experience between DL (37, 100%), GS (32, 86.5%), and SALT (12, 32.4%) (P < .001) and in median time to intubation (48 seconds, no suit; 57 seconds, with suits) (P = .03). There was no statistically significant difference between the overall times to intubate for the 3 devices. First-pass success was highest for DL (91.2%, no suit; 83.7%, suit) followed by GS (89%, no suit; 78.3%, suit) and SALT (51%, no suit; 67.6%, suit). CONCLUSION: A minority of participants had prior experience intubating in biohazard suits. Use of biohazard suits extends time to successful intubation. There was no difference in time to intubation for the 3 devices, but first-pass success was highest for DL (with or without biohazard gear).

Charles Bonnet Syndrome in the Setting of a Traumatic Brain Injury.

Traumatic brain injuries are often associated with a broad range of neuropsychiatric sequelae, for which no straightforward treatment approach is established. Historically, the treatment of traumatic brain injuries has been tailored towards the symptoms presented by the patient. In this paper, we present the case of a 42-year-old male with a past medical history significant for retinitis pigmentosa who suffered a traumatic brain injury and subsequently developed visual hallucinations consistent with Charles Bonnet syndrome.

Management of Psychosis in the Setting of Binge Eating, Mania, and Extrapyramidal Side Effects.

Psychosis is a mental disorder in which an individual exhibits a loss of contact with reality; this definition, however, often fails to convey the broadness and complexity behind the diagnosis. While studies agree that it is best practice to address psychosis by treating its underlying cause, manifestations of psychosis do vary widely and may be challenging to identify in some clinical scenarios, such as the one presented here. Binge eating in the setting of psychosis has been observed in instances where alterations of the gut microbiota in response to an eating disorder trigger psychotic episodes. However, instances in which the manifestation of psychosis itself is the catalytic factor for the presentation of a binge-eating event with aggression and delusions are seldom observed in the current medical literature. Of note, many of the drugs used to treat mental illness have been associated with regulating food intake. We aim to further expand on the association between psychosis, eating disorders, and management thereof in the setting of polypharmacy and undesired side effects. Here, we present the case and management of a 71-year-old male Hispanic patient with a significant history of mental illness who was admitted to the hospital due to acute gastroenteritis precipitated by binge eating during a psychotic episode.

Safety and Feasibility of Outpatient Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Selected Patients: A Spanish Multicenter Registry.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The exponential increase in coronary interventions plus the generalization of the radial approach represent the ideal scenario for starting outpatient angioplasty programs with the aim of reducing the costs while maintaining safety. This article reports data from a multicenter Spanish registry on fully ambulatory transradial angioplasty in selected patients for the first time. METHODS: Prospective registry of elective outpatient transradial-ulnar angioplasty in patients with stable coronary disease. Patients were discharged the same day and were followed up at 24hours and 30 days. Safety and feasibility were analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 723 patients included (76% male; age, 66.6±10.5 years), 533 (73.7%) were finally discharged after 4 to 12hours of surveillance. Among the remaining 190 (26.7%) patients, the most common reason for hospitalization was clinical instability after the procedure (60.5%). Independent predictors of admission were a history of peripheral artery disease, a higher baseline creatinine level, ad hoc performance of the procedure, and multivessel disease. At 24hours, there was 1 major adverse event in 1 patient (0.19%), who required hospitalization for major bleeding not related to vascular access. At 30 days, there were 3 major adverse events (0.56%): 1 subacute stent thrombosis, 1 revascularization of a vessel other than the treated vessel, and 1 minor stroke. Eight patients (1.5%) required admission at 30 days. CONCLUSIONS: The application of an outpatient transradial-ulnar angioplasty program with discharge after 4 to 12 hours' surveillance is safe and feasible in well-selected patients.

Seguridad y factibilidad de la intervención coronaria percutánea ambulatoria en pacientes seleccionados: datos de un registro multicéntrico español / Safety and feasibility of outpatient percutaneous coronary intervention in selected patients: a Spanish multicenter registry

Introducción y objetivos: El aumento exponencial de la intervención coronaria y la generalización del acceso radial son el escenario ideal para iniciar programas de angioplastia ambulatoria con el objetivo de disminuir ocupación y reducir el coste manteniendo la seguridad. Se presentan por primera vez datos de un registro multicéntrico español sobre angioplastia transradial ambulatoria en pacientes seleccionados. Métodos: Registro prospectivo de angioplastia ambulatoria electiva con acceso radial-cubital en pacientes con cardiopatía isquémica estable. Los pacientes eran dados de alta el mismo día y se realizó seguimiento a las 24 h y a los 30 días. Se analizan la seguridad y la factibilidad. Resultados: De un total de 723 pacientes incluidos (el 76% varones; edad, 66,6 ± 10,5 años), a 533 (73,7%) se les dio finalmente el alta tras 4-12 h de vigilancia. El motivo más frecuente de ingreso entre los 190 (26,7%) restantes fue inestabilidad clínica tras el procedimiento (60,5%). El antecedente de arteriopatía periférica, un valor de creatinina basal más elevado, la realización del procedimiento ad hoc y sobre enfermedad multivaso fueron predictores independientes de ingreso. A las 24 h se registró un evento adverso mayor (0,19%) en 1 paciente que necesitó ingreso por hemorragia mayor no relacionada con el acceso vascular. A los 30 días se registraron 3 eventos mayores (0,56%), 1 trombosis subaguda de stent, 1 revascularización sobre un vaso diferente del tratado y 1 ictus minor. A los 30 días habían necesitado ingreso 8 pacientes (1,5%). Conclusiones: La aplicación de un programa de angioplastia ambulatoria transradial-cubital con alta tras 4-12 h de vigilancia es factible y segura en pacientes apropiadamente seleccionados (AU)

Introduction and objectives: The exponential increase in coronary interventions plus the generalization of the radial approach represent the ideal scenario for starting outpatient angioplasty programs with the aim of reducing the costs while maintaining safety. This article reports data from a multicenter Spanish registry on fully ambulatory transradial angioplasty in selected patients for the first time. Methods: Prospective registry of elective outpatient transradial-ulnar angioplasty in patients with stable coronary disease. Patients were discharged the same day and were followed up at 24 hours and 30 days. Safety and feasibility were analyzed. Results: Of the 723 patients included (76% male; age, 66.6 ± 10.5 years), 533 (73.7%) were finally discharged after 4 to 12 hours of surveillance. Among the remaining 190 (26.7%) patients, the most common reason for hospitalization was clinical instability after the procedure (60.5%). Independent predictors of admission were a history of peripheral artery disease, a higher baseline creatinine level, ad hoc performance of the procedure, and multivessel disease. At 24 hours, there was 1 major adverse event in 1 patient (0.19%), who required hospitalization for major bleeding not related to vascular access. At 30 days, there were 3 major adverse events (0.56%): 1 subacute stent thrombosis, 1 revascularization of a vessel other than the treated vessel, and 1 minor stroke. Eight patients (1.5%) required admission at 30 days. Conclusions: The application of an outpatient transradial-ulnar angioplasty program with discharge after 4 to 12 hours’ surveillance is safe and feasible in well-selected patients (AU)