Michael F. Mayo-Smith

Acute epiglottitis in adults: an eight-year experience in the state of Rhode Island

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records on all cases of acute epiglottitis in adults from each of the hospitals in Rhode Island and from the state medical examiners office over an eight-year period (1975-1982). We found 56 cases--an annual incidence of 9.7 cases per million adults. A significant increase occurred in the last two study years. Indirect laryngoscopy proved to be more reliable in making a diagnosis than did x-ray films of the neck; all of 41 indirect examinations were performed without complications. Twenty-three percent (6 of 26) of patients in whom blood cultures had been obtained had bacteremia, all with Hemophilus influenzae. Bacteremia was associated with a high risk of airway obstruction. Four patients died, all from acute airway obstruction, for a mortality rate of 7.1 percent--a rate significantly higher than the current rate among children. Two deaths occurred after admission, while the patients were being observed without an artificial airway. We conclude that the incidence of epiglottitis in adults is higher than previously believed and may be increasing. Fatal airway obstruction can occur without warning, indicating a need for early protection of the airway in adults as well as in children.

Independent clinical correlates of severe alcohol withdrawal

This retrospective cohort study sought to identify clinical variables that independently correlate with severe alcohol withdrawal and to quantify risk in a clinically useful manner. The records of 284 inpatients admitted to an acute detoxification unit at a Veterans Affairs teaching hospital were reviewed. Clinical data were recorded on standardized forms at the time of admission and abstracted by a physician reviewer. Alcohol withdrawal severity was prospectively measured with the revised Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol (CIWA-Ar) scale. Seventy-one patients (25% of cohort) had severe withdrawal. We identified six independent correlates of severe withdrawal: use of a morning eye-opener (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 5.6; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2–25.9), an initial CIWA-Ar score ≥q 10 (OR, 5.1; 95% CI, 2.4–10.6), a serum aspartate aminotransferase ≥ 80 U/L (OR, 4.2; 95% CI, 2.0–8.8), past benzodiazepine use (OR, 3.6; 95% CI, 1.3–9.9), self-reported history of “delirium tremens” (OR, 2.9; 95% CI, 1.3–6.2), and prior participation in two or more alcohol treatment programs (OR, 2.6; 95% CI, 1.3–5.6). Significantly higher risk was observed in subjects with three or more independent correlates. In conclusion, several readily available clinical variables correlate with the occurrence of severe alcohol withdrawal. Ascertainment of these variables early in the course of alcohol withdrawal has the potential to improve triage and treatment decisions.

Alcohol withdrawal: a nationwide survey of inpatient treatment practices

AbstractOBJECTIVE: To describe current practices employed in the inpatient treatment for alcohol withdrawal. DESIGN: Survey. SETTING: Inpatient alcoholism treatment programs in the United States. PARTICIPANTS: Medical directors of 176 (69%) of 257 eligible programs randomly selected from a national listing. RESULTS: The medical directors estimated that of all inpatients treated for alcohol withdrawal at the programs, 68% received one of the following medications. Benzodiazepines, including the long-acting chlordiazepoxide (33%) and diazepam (16%), and less frequently the short-acting oxazepam (7%) and lorazepam (4%), were the most commonly used agents. Barbiturates (11%), phenytoin (10%), clonidine (7%), (5-blockers (3%), carbamazepine (1%), and antipsychotics (1%) were less frequently given. Drug was most often given on a fixed dosing schedule with additional medication “as needed” (52% of the programs). Only 31% of the programs routinely used a standardized withdrawal severity scale to monitor patients. Mean duration of sedative treatment was three days; inpatient treatment, four days. Use of fixed-schedule regimens was associated with longer sedative treatment (mean four vs three days, p<0.01). Northeast census region location and psychiatrist program director were significantly associated with longer sedative and inpatient treatment duration. CONCLUSIONS: The most commonly reported regimen for alcohol withdrawal included three days of long-acting benzodiazepines on a fixed schedule with additional medication “as needed.” Standardized monitoring of the severity of withdrawal was not common practice. The directors reported using a variety of other regimens, some not known to prevent the major complications of withdrawal. Although geographic location and director specialty were significantly associated with treatment duration, much of the variation in treatment for alcohol withdrawal remains unexplained.

Thermal epiglottitis in adults: A new complication of illicit drug use

Four cases of acute epiglottitis due to thermal injury were identified in a larger study of 407 cases of epiglottitis in Rhode Island from 1975 through 1992. All occurred in young adults (aged 22-33 yr) and were caused by the inhalation of heated objects when smoking illicit drugs (a tip of a marijuana cigarette in 1 case and metal pieces from crack cocaine pipes in 3 cases). Symptoms, signs, and X-ray and laryngoscopic findings were similar to infectious epiglottitis. All recovered with observation and intravenous antibiotics; none required intubation. Emergency physicians should be aware of this etiology when managing young adults who present with acute epiglottitis.

Treatment of crack-cocaine-induced compulsive behavior with trazodone.

Foraging is a compulsive behavior of searching for pieces of crack cocaine that the individual believes might have been accidentally misplaced. Three clinical cases of compulsive foraging behavior associated with crack cocaine are described. Due to the development of side effects secondary to the antidepressant desipramine, the patients were switched to the antidepressant trazodone. The use of trazodone led to remission of the foraging behavior. The authors hypothesize this remission was due to trazodone serotonin reuptake inhibitory action. In all three cases, the patients did not relapse into abusing crack cocaine.