Adnan Bilge

Combination of mean platelet volume and the CURB-65 score better predicts 28-day mortality in patients with community-acquired pneumonia.

OBJECTIVE This study aims to investigate whether mean platelet volume (MPV) is correlated with the CURB-65 (Confusion, Urea, Respiratory rate, Blood pressure, >65 years of age) score, and whether a combination of the CURB-65 score with MPV could better predict the 28-day mortality in patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). METHODS This prospective, observational, single-center, and cross-sectional study was conducted at emergency department (ED) between September 1, 2013, and July 31, 2014. All patients underwent follow-up evaluations 28 days after admission. The end point was defined as all-cause mortality. RESULTS A total of 174 patients (mean age, 66.7 ± 15.8 years; 66.1% men) with CAP were enrolled in this study. All-cause mortality at the 28-day follow-up evaluation was 16.1%. A significant and inverse correlation between MPV and CURB-65 score was found (R = -.58, P < .001). We determined that the optimal MPV cutoff for predicting 28-day mortality at the time of ED admission was 8.55 fL, with a 75.0% sensitivity and a 75.3% specificity. For the prediction of 28-day mortality, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.819 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.740-0.898; P < .001) when the CURB-65 score was used alone, whereas it increased to 0.895 (95% CI, 0.819-0.936; P < .001) with the addition of MPV to the score. CONCLUSIONS Mean platelet volume level is valuable for predicting mortality and the severity of disease among patients with CAP at ED admission. Furthermore, a combination of CURB-65 score and MPV can enhance the predictive accuracy of 28-day mortality.

Diagnosis of delayed diffuse axonal İnjury

Diffuse axonal injury is usually caused by head trauma, and patients have significant clinical symptoms during admission to the emergency department. In our case, we present a five-year-old patient who was involved in a car accident. During admission to the emergency department, the patient had no symptoms of trauma. However, 6 h after admission to emergency service, neurological symptoms occurred, and mental status changed. Diffuse axonal injury (DAI) is characterized by diffuse nerve axon injury in the brain and brainstem. This is one of the worst results of a head trauma and occurs in one-third of the patients admitted to the hospital with head trauma. In some studies, it has been reported that diffuse axonal injury is permanent in accelerated and decelerated head traumas without accompanying loss of consciousness. Neurological sequels have occurred in the recovery phase of some patients with diffuse axonal damage. In this study, we present a delayed diffuse axonal injury case accompanying a head trauma.

Prognostic value of serum pregnancy-associated plasma protein A level at the initial ED presentation in elderly patients with CAP

OBJECTIVE This study aims to compare serum pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) levels in surviving and nonsurviving elderly patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), investigating whether PAPP-A is correlated with CAP prediction scores and whether PAPP-A can successfully predict 28-day mortality rates in elderly patients. METHODS This prospective, observational, single-center, cross-sectional study was conducted at the emergency department (ED) of Celal Bayar University Hospital in Manisa, Turkey, between January and September 2014. All patients underwent follow-up evaluations 28 days after admission. The end point was defined as all-cause mortality. RESULTS A total of 100 elderly patients (mean age, 77.3 ± 7.6 years [range, 65-94 years]); 60% men) with CAP were enrolled in this study. All-cause mortality at the 28-day follow-up evaluation was 22%. Admission PAPP-A levels were significantly higher in nonsurvivors compared with 28-day survivors (10.3 ± 4.5 vs 3.8 ± 2.6 ng/mL, P < .001). A significant and positive correlation between admission PAPP-A levels and pneumonia severity index; confusion, oxygen saturation, respiratory rate, blood pressure, and age 75 years or older; and confusion, urea, respiratory rate, blood pressure, and age older than 65 years scores was found (r = .440, P < .001; r = .395, P < .001; and r = .359, P < .001, respectively). Moreover, we determined that the optimal PAPP-A cutoff for predicting 28-day mortality at the time of ED admission was 5.1 ng/mL, with 77.3% sensitivity and 77.9% specificity. CONCLUSIONS Serum PAPP-A level is valuable for predicting mortality and the severity of the disease among elderly patients with CAP at ED admission. Thus, PAPP-A might play a further role in the clinical assessment of the severity of CAP.

Prognostic value of plasma ST2 in patients with non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndrome

Objective The aim of this study is to detect plasma ST2 levels in patients who were admitted to emergency department with chest pain and diagnosed with non st segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and to research the relationship between 28-day mortality and ST2 levels. Methods The present study was conducted at Emergency Department of Celal Bayar University Hafsa Sultan Hospital between September 2015 and January 2016 as a prospective, single-center, cross-sectional study. Plasma ST2 levels were detected in patients who were diagnosed with NSTEMI based on physical examination, ECG and troponin. The eligible patients were followed up with regard to mortality during 28 days. Results A total of 88 patients diagnosed with NSTEMI were included in the study and followed up for 28 days. While 18 (20.5%) patients died at the end of 28 days, 70 (79.5%) patients survived. Mean ST2 level of surviving 70 patients was 651.37 ± 985.66 pg/mL and mean ST2 level of dying 18 patients was 2253.66 ± 1721.15 pg/mL (p < 0.001). ST2 value was higher among the dying (non-survivors) compared to the survivors at the end of 28 days and this was found related to mortality. ST2 cut-off value was found as 1000 pg/mL with 72.2% sensitivity and 20.0% specificity. Conclusion Among the patients who were diagnosed with NSTEMI at the emergency department, ST2 levels on admission were found significantly higher among the non-survivors compared to the survivors. ST2 level was accepted as a reliable biomarker for prediction of 28 mortality in patients diagnosed with NSTEMI.

Do we really know the duration of pain after rib fracture

Introduction The duration of pain after rib fracture is the question physicians are most frequently asked. The duration of pain following a traumatic rib fracture without any comorbidity is not widely published. Aim We report our experience to investigate the duration of pain following isolated traumatic rib fractures without any traumatic comorbidity. Material and methods We examined 182 patients with isolated rib fracture without any trauma to other body parts. The numeric rating scale (NRS) for pain was used to rate the level of pain. The NRS pain scores were evaluated in the emergency department at presentation, on the 15th day, and at the 3rd and 6th months of trauma. The Mann-Whitney U test was performed for the statistical analysis. Results The pain level of young patients on the 15th day and at the third month and sixth month was lower than that in the old group, and the difference was statistically significant. While patients with two rib fractures had a higher pain level in the emergency room than those with one rib fracture, there was no statistically significant difference at other time points. In patients with anterior fractures, the pain level was significantly lower than in the lateral and posterior regions, whereas in the lateral fractures, the pain score was significantly higher than others at all time points except at the 6th month. The pain score of displaced fractures was significantly higher than that of non-displaced ones at all time points except the 6-month follow-up. Conclusions Rib fractures cause significant pain and need appropriate medication. The time of the 6th month could be an important milestone.

Oblique Chest X-Ray: An Alternative Way to Detect Pneumothorax

Purpose: To identify occult pneumothorax with oblique chest X-ray (OCXR) in clinically suspected patients. Methods: In this retrospective study, we examined 1082 adult multitrauma patients who were admitted to our emergency service between January 2016 and January 2017. Clinical findings that suggest occult pneumothorax were rib fracture, flail chest, chest pain, subcutaneous emphysema, abrasion or ecchymosis and moderate to severe hypoxia in clinical parameters. All of these patients underwent anteroposterior chest X-ray (APCXR), but no pneumothorax could be detected. Upon this, OCXR was performed using mobile X-ray equipment. Results: Traumatic pneumothorax was observed in 421 (38.9%) of 1082 patients. We applied OCXR to 26 multitrauma patients. Occult pneumothorax was evaluated at 22 patients (2.03%) in 1082 multitrauma patients. The 22 patients who had multitrauma occult pneumothorax on OCXR were internated at intensive care unit (ICU) and follow-up was done using OCXR and APCXR. Conclusions: OCXR can be an alternative imaging technique to identify occult pneumothorax in some trauma patients at emergency room and also follow period at ICU.

A National Survey of Turkish Emergency Residents’ Perspectives Regarding Interventional Skills

Results A total of 493 residents were enrolled in the study which included subjects from 31 UHs and 18 ETHs. Emergency medicine residents in UHs indicated that the number of interventions performed for acquiring skills during the education of emergency medical proficiency (UH VAS=5.60±2.86, ETH VAS=4.55±2.99, p<0.001), and the skill level for performing these interventions (UH VAS=6.61±2.40, ETH VAS=6.01±2.83, p=0.01) were superior when compared to the emergency medicine residents in ETHs. The three most successful interventions for all emergency medicine residents were found to be defibrillation/cardioversion (VAS=6.85±3.07), endotracheal intubation (VAS=6.80±3.19) and paracentesis (VAS=6.31±3.78) respectively. Measurement of intraocular pressure (VAS=0.91±1.93), emergent thoracotomy (VAS=1.10±2.09), extracting foreign body with biomicroscope (VAS=1.18±2.41), cricothyrotomy (VAS=1.44±3.36), retrograde intubation (VAS=1.46±2.57), repairing of extensor tendon (VAS=1.80±2.56), emergent labor (VAS=1.89±2.65), administration of thrombolytic treatment (VAS=2.44±3.26) and arthrocentesis (VAS=2.61±3.34) were determined as the most inadequate interventional procedures.

Acil Tıpta Uzmanlık Öğrenicilerinin, Rotasyon Etkinliği Üzerine Görüşleri: Ulusal Anket Çalışması

Methods Conducting a survey to comprise of all the emergency medicine proficiency students working in the medical faculties providing emergency medicine training and the research and educational training hospitals had been planned to be implemented between June 2011 and October 2011. In order to determine the contribution of the rotations to medical education, a visual analogous scale had been used whereas closed-end questions had been used in order to determine the number of attempts made during the rotations and open-end questions had been implemented in order to determine the insufficiencies in rotation.