Valacyclovir and Acyclovir Neurotoxicity With Status Epilepticus.

We present the case of a 52-year-old man with hypertension, diastolic congestive heart failure, end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis 3 times a week and a remote history of a hemorrhagic stroke who presented to the emergency department with a vesicular rash on his left arm. The rash was observed to be in a dermatomal distribution, and a diagnosis of herpes zoster was made. The patient was discharged home on valacyclovir 1 g 3 times a day for a duration of 7 days. The patient took 2 doses of valacyclovir before presenting to the hospital again with irritability and hallucinations. Over the next several days, the patient's neurologic status declined and he became disoriented and increasingly somnolent. Because of a concern for varicella zoster virus (VZV) or herpes simplex virus (HSV) meningoencephalitis, acyclovir was initiated intravenously at 600 mg (10 mg/kg) for every 12 hours. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of the brain failed to reveal an acute process. Electroencephalogram was interpreted as seizure activity versus metabolic encephalopathy. Lumbar puncture was not suggestive for meningitis, subarachnoid hemorrhage, or HSV/VZV infection. The patient subsequently had a witnessed seizure during dialysis and was felt to have status epilepticus due to acyclovir and valacyclovir neurotoxicity. The patient underwent daily hemodialysis for removal of the drug and eventually made a full neurologic recovery. Our case highlights that acyclovir neurotoxicity can result in status epilepticus, hallucinations, and altered consciousness. Differentiating acyclovir neurotoxicity from HSV or VZV meningoencephalitis is of crucial importance because the symptoms are similar but the management is vastly different.

Burnout in residents of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery: a national inquiry into the health of residency training.

PURPOSE: To characterize resident burnout on a national scale with a large sample size and to identify associated modifiable factors to minimize burnout and improve the quality of residency education. METHOD: A survey was mailed to all 1,364 U.S. residents of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery in September 2005. The main outcome measures were the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Study, demographic information, and potential burnout predictors, including stressors, satisfaction, self-efficacy, and support systems. RESULTS: The response rate was 50% (684/1,364). Current second-year through fifth-year residents were included for further analysis (514). Burnout was extremely common among otolaryngology residents. High burnout was seen in 10% of residents (51), moderate burnout in 76% (391), and low burnout in 14% (72). The strongest associated demographic factor was work hours (P < .001). Hours worked was predictive of emotional exhaustion, with exhaustion scores rising by 0.19 for each hour worked (P < .001). Furthermore, there was an 8% (41 resident) reported violation rate of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) 80-hour-workweek limitation. Satisfaction with the balance between personal and professional life, relationship stability, and satisfaction with career choice were negatively associated with burnout (all P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Burnout is widely prevalent among U.S. otolaryngology residents and is present at greater levels than those seen in chairs or faculty of the same specialty. Work hours predict emotional exhaustion, and adherence to the ACGME 80-hour workweek may help protect against burnout and its deleterious consequences in residents of all specialties.

Burnout in academic faculty of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery.

OBJECTIVE/HYPOTHESIS: To characterize burnout in academic faculty of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery. To identify associated modifiable factors to reduce burnout and improve the health of the field. STUDY DESIGN: Mailed survey. METHODS: A cross section of US academic otolaryngologists was sampled through a mailed survey. Content included the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Study (MBI-HSS) and questions assessing potential burnout predictors such as demographic information, professional stressors, satisfaction, self-efficacy, and support systems. RESULTS: Burnout was common among academic otolaryngologists. High burnout was observed in 4% of faculty, moderate burnout in 66%, and low burnout in 30%. Women experienced a statistically higher level of emotional exhaustion than men. In addition, associate professors were significantly more burned out than full professors and microvascular surgeons were notably more burned out than all other subspecialists. The strongest predictors of burnout were dissatisfaction with the balance between personal and professional life, low self-efficacy, inadequate research time, and inadequate administration time. A significant association was seen between high burnout and likelihood to leave academic medicine within the next 1 to 2 years. CONCLUSIONS: Burnout was prevalent among US academic otolaryngologists, although levels were lower than those of otolaryngology chairs and residents. Modification of risk factors, such as allowing sufficient faculty time for research and administrative activities, should be undertaken to curb the development of burnout and its deleterious sequelae.