Mehmet Ali Karaca

Use and effectiveness of prothrombin complex concentrates vs fresh frozen plasma in gastrointestinal hemorrhage due to warfarin usage in the ED

OBJECTIVES High International Normalized Ratio (INR) level resulting from warfarin use increases the risk of gastrointestinal hemorrhages. We aimed to compare the efficacy of prothrombin complex concentrates (PCC) and fresh frozen plasma (FFP) at lowering the INR level, decreasing active hemorrhages visible by endoscopy, and shortening the length of stay at the emergency department (ED). METHOD This study is a prospective cohort study of consecutive patents with gastrointestinal hemorrhages that received either PCC or FFP. With strict exclusion criteria, only patients over 18 years of age with a high INR level (>2.1) due to warfarin usage were included. RESULTS A total of 40 patients (18 female) were included in the study, 20 each in the PCC and FFP groups. For the PCC group, the mean INR levels at the second and sixth hours were lower than those for the FFP group (second hour INR: 1.53 vs 4.50, P<.01, sixth hour INR: 1.52 vs 2.41, P<.01). Seven patients experienced active bleeding (Forrest 1) in the FFP group, whereas no patient experienced active bleeding in the PCC group based on the Forrest classification (35% vs 0%, P<.01), and only 3 patients in the FFP group underwent invasive/surgical treatment (15% vs 0%, P<.01). The ED length of stay was lower for the PCC group (1.62 days vs 3.46 days, P<.01). CONCLUSION For patients experiencing a gastrointestinal hemorrhage, INR levels were reversed more quickly, there was less active bleeding on endoscopy, and the ED length of stay was lower in the PCC group than in the FFP group.

Emergency admissions due to swallowed foreign bodies in adults.

AIM To study a retrospective analysis of patients who presented to the emergency departments (ED) with complaints related to foreign body ingestions. METHODS Patients older than 16 years of age who presented to the ED between January 1(st) and December 31(st) of 2010 with complaints related to swallowed foreign bodies were identified from electronic health records and patient charts. RESULTS A total of 100 patients presented with a complaint of foreign body ingestion during the study period. Overall, an X-ray was performed on 75 patients, and a fiberoptic evaluation was performed on 45 patients. A foreign body was detected in 46 (46%) patients. The diagnostic yield of the X-ray was 27 (36%) out of 75 patients, while the diagnostic yield of the fiberoptic evaluations was 21 (47%) out of 45 patients. The detected foreign bodies were mostly located in the esophagus (17 out of 46 foreign bodies detected). When the types of ingested foreign bodies were evaluated, 52 (52%) patients reported ingesting food, and 19 (19%) patients reported swallowing pins. An X-ray was performed on 33 patients with accidental food ingestions but yielded a positive result in only two cases. In 12 out of 21 patients with accidental food ingestion who underwent fiberoptic evaluation, the foreign material was detected and removed. CONCLUSION Plain radiography is helpful in the localization of radiopaque swollen foreign bodies, while fiberoptic methods are useful as both diagnostic and therapeutic tools, regardless of radiopacity.

Monocyte to high-density lipoprotein ratio as a new prognostic marker in patients with STEMI undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention

BACKGROUND Monocyte count to high-density lipoprotein ratio (MHR) has recently emerged as an indicator of inflammation and oxidative stress in the literature. We aimed to investigate the prognostic value of MHR in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS A total of 513 patients who were hospitalized with diagnosis of acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and treated with primary PCI were retrospectively enrolled in the study. Demographic and clinical data, admission laboratory parameters, and MHR values were recorded. Inhospital major adverse cardiac events (MACE) and mortality were reported as the clinical outcomes. RESULTS Twenty-six patients (5%) died, and MACE was observed in 86 patients (17%) during hospital follow-up. Patients were categorized in 3 groups according to tertiles of admission MHR. The rates of inhospital mortality and MACE were significantly higher in tertile 3 group compared to tertile 1 group (10% vs 1%, 27% vs 11%; P < .01 and P < .01). In multivariate regression analysis, age, sex, presence of Killip 3 or 4, left ventricular ejection fraction, troponin I, C-reactive protein, and increased MHR levels (odds ratio, 1.03; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-1.05; P < .01) independently predicted inhospital mortality; age, presence of Killip 3 or 4, troponin I, and increased MHR levels (odds ratio, 1.02; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-1.04; P < .01) independently predicted MACE. CONCLUSION Admission MHR values were found to be independently correlated with inhospital MACE and mortality after primary PCI.

Identification of Mutations and Evaluation of Cardiomyopathy in Turkish Patients with Primary Carnitine Deficiency

Primary systemic carnitine deficiency (SCD) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by defective cellular carnitine transport. Patients usually present with predominant metabolic or cardiac manifestations. SCD is caused by mutations in the organic cation/carnitine transporter OCTN2 (SLC22A5) gene. Mutation analysis of SLC22A5 gene was carried out in eight Turkish patients from six families. Six patients presented with signs and symptoms of heart failure, cardiomyopathy, and low plasma carnitine levels, five of them with concurrent anemia. A patient with dilated cardiomyopathy had also facial dysmorphia, microcephaly, and developmental delay. Tandem MS analyses in siblings of the patients revealed two more cases with low plasma carnitine levels. SCD diagnosis was confirmed in these two cases by mutation screening. These two cases were asymptomatic but echocardiography revealed left ventricular dilatation in one of them. Carnitine treatment was started before the systemic signs and symptoms developed in these patients. Mean value of serum carnitine levels of the patients was 2.63±1.92μmol/L at the time of diagnosis. After 1year of treatment, carnitine values increased to 16.62±5.11 (p<0.001) and all responded to carnitine supplementation clinically. Mutation screening of the OCTN2 gene study in the patients revealed two novel (p.G411V, p.G152R), and four previously identified mutations (p.R254X, p.R282X, p.R289X, p.T337Pfs12X). Early recognition and carnitine supplementation can be lifesaving in this inborn error of fatty acid oxidation.

Effectiveness of pre-emptive metoclopramide infusion in alleviating pain, discomfort and nausea associated with nasogastric tube insertion: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Aim of this study was to demonstrate that intravenous metoclopramide can reduce pain, nausea and discomfort during nasogastric tube (NGT) insertion in ED.

Predictors of poor outcome in gastrointestinal bleeding in emergency department

AIM To determine the prognostic risk factors of gastrointestinal bleeding in emergency department cases. METHODS The trial was a retrospective single-center study involving 600 patients over 18-years-old and carried out with approval by the Institutional Ethics Committee. Patient data included demographic characteristics, symptoms at admission, past medical history, vital signs, laboratory results, endoscopy and colonoscopy results, length of hospital stay, need of intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and mortality. Mortality rate was the principal endpoint of the study, while duration of hospital stay, required interventional treatment, and admission to the ICU were secondary endpoints. RESULTS The mean age of patients was 61.92-years-old. Among the 600 total patients, 363 (60.5%) underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and the most frequent diagnoses were duodenal ulcer (19.2%) and gastric ulcer (12.8%). One-hundred-and-fifteen (19.2%) patients required endoscopic treatment, 20 (3.3%) required surgical treatment, and 5 (0.8%) required angiographic embolization. The mean length of hospital stay was 5.21 ± 5.85 d. The mortality rate was 6.3%. The ICU admission rate was 5.3%. Patients with syncope, higher blood glucose levels, and coronary artery disease had significantly higher ICU admission rates (P = 0.029, P = 0.043, and P = 0.002, respectively). Patients with low thrombocyte levels, high creatinine, high international normalized ratio, and high serum transaminase levels had significantly longer hospital stay (P = 0.02, P = 0.001, P = 0.019, and P = 0.005, respectively). Patients who died had significantly higher serum blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels (P = 0.016 and P = 0.038), and significantly lower mean blood pressure and oxygen saturation (P = 0.004 and P = 0.049). Malignancy and low Glasgow coma scale (GCS) were independent predictive factors of mortality. CONCLUSION Prognostic factors for gastrointestinal bleeding in emergency room cases are malignancy, hypotension on admission, low GCS, and impaired kidney function.

Evaluation of gunshot wounds in the emergency department

BACKGROUND This study aimed to evaluate injury patterns of patients admitted to the emergency department with gunshot wounds, results of imaging studies, treatment modalities, outcomes, mortality ratios, and complications. METHODS A retrospective descriptive study was carried out including a total number of one hundred and forty-two patients admitted to Hacettepe University Emergency Department with gunshot injuries between January 1, 1999 and December 31, 2013. The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), Revised Trauma Score (RTS), Injury Severity Score (ISS), and the Trauma and Injury Severity Score (TRISS) probability of survival for penetrating trauma were calculated for all patients. RESULTS Among the one hundred and forty-two patients in the study, one hundred and twenty-eight (90.1%) were male. Mean age was 36 years. On admission, the average GCS score was 13, mean RTS was 6.64, median ISS was 5 and median TRISS probability for survival was 99.4% for penetrating trauma. Fluid was detected in three (13%) patients in FAST, whereas intra-abdominal solid organ injury and bowel injury were detected in 11 (58%) patients in abdominal CT. The pneumothorax, hemothorax and lung injuries were detected in 10 (40%) patients, whereas hemothorax was detected only in one patient with thoracic injury by chest X-ray. Twenty four (16.9%) patients died; eighteen patients (75%) had isolated severe intracranial injuries, two (8.3%) had thoracic injuries with head and neck injuries, and four (16.7%) patients had intra-abdominal organ injuries (one with concomitant head injury). Ten patients were brought to the ED in cardiopulmonary arrest. In dead patients, GCS, RTS and TRISS were significantly lower, and ISS were significantly higher than in surviving patients. Twenty three (95.8%) patients were in critical injury level (ISS 25-75, actually ISS >50) in the exitus group. CONCLUSION Mortality rates in gunshot wound patients with cranial injuries are very high. Spontaneous return is not seen in patients brought to the ED in arrest state. Bullets can cause internal organ injuries which can be greater than expected. In thoracoabdominal gunshot wound injuries, conventional X-ray and bedside FAST can be ineffective in detecting the whole extent of intrathoracic and intra-abdominal injuries. Thus, thoracic and abdominal CT should be planned early for hemodynamically stable patients in order to eliminate causes of fatality and make a timely and correct diagnosis. ISS, RTS and GCS are useful in predicting prognosis and mortality. Especially in patients with ISS scores >50, the mortality rate can be as high as 96%.

Aşırı kalabalık aciller için şikayet temelli bir model: Beş-Düzeyli Hacettepe Acil Triyaj Sistemi

BACKGROUND To compare ESI Five-Level Triage System with 5-Level Hacettepe Emergency Triage System (HETS), which was developed for Overcrowded EDs in our country. METHODS Over a period of six days, patients were assessed by a different ED staff everyday using HETS, then re-evaluated blindly by an emergency physician using HETS. Then patients were evaluated blindly for a third time by an independent, ESI-using emergency physician. RESULTS Of the patients in the study, 133 were men, 175 were women and the average age was 44.41±18.033. Inter-rater agreement was 97.40% (Kappa=0.963) between HETS and HETS-Blind, 74.35% (Kappa=0.646) between HETS and ESI-Blind, 74.67% (Kappa=0.652) between HETS-Blind and ESI-Blind. Inter-observer agreement between the second emergency physician performing HETS-Blind and the first emergency physician, resident, or nurse was very good (Kappa=1.0). Intern doctor, non-medical secretary and paramedic were found to have almost very good agreement (Kappa=0.971; 0.935; 0.864, respectively). An overtriage of 7.25% and undertriage of 1.08% were found in HETS. CONCLUSION Complaint-based HEST developed for overcrowded Eds is a triage system with a very good agreement between observations and observers. Low undertriage and overtriage ratios, and easy application by all staff from a non-medical secretary to the emergency physician.