Mustafa Uzkeser

The evaluation of myocardial damage in 83 young adults with carbon monoxide poisoning in the East Anatolia region in Turkey

Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is the leading cause of death from intoxication. In CO poisoning, it is important to know if there are any symptoms regarding myocardial damage, which are usually unobserved as a result of hypoxia. This study was planned to assess myocardial damage in young healthy patients with CO poisoning. Eighty-three young healthy cases who had been exposed to CO were included in this study. The demographic and clinical characteristics, the origin of CO gas and smoking habits of the patients were recorded. The evaluation of ECG, peripheral ABG, complete blood count and serial cardiac biomarkers (creatine kinase, creatine kinasemyocardial band and troponin I) measurements were performed in all cases. Additionally, echocardiogram (ECHO) and myocardial perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) were performed at the appropriate times in all cases. The mean age of the patients was 27.39 /10.9 years. The main complaint of the patients was loss of consciousness with a 62.7% rate. The average carboxyhaemoglobin level of the patients was 34.49 /15.9%. Sinus tachycardia was present in 26.5% of patients. Diagnostic ischaemic ECG changes were present in 14.4% of patients. In myocardial SPECT, myocardial ischaemic damage was observed in 9 cases, in 6 of whom ECHO findings were also confirmed. Myocar-dial damage due to CO poisoning should not be ignored. If patients are at risk in terms of myocardial damage, further studies, such as ECHO and scintigraphy are needed to determine myocardial damage resulting from CO poisoning. However, in the young adults of the risk group, if the baseline ECG and serial cardiac biomarkers are normal, further studies such as ECHO and scintigraphy, considering the length of exposure and the severity of poisoning, may not be necessary for the evaluation of myocardial damage due to CO poisoning.

Complete atrioventricular block due to overdose of pregabalin

Pregabalin, a synthetic derivate of the inhibitory neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid, shows antiepileptic, analgesic, anticonvulsant, anxiolytic, and sleep-modulating activities. The major advantage of pregabalin is its relative reliability, easy use, high tolerance, and lack of negative interaction with other drugs. A 65-year-old woman with medical histories of diabetes mellitus, lumbar spondylosis, diabetic nephropathy, chronic renal failure, and anemia of chronic disease was admitted with the complaint of dizziness and syncope. She had been taking pregabalin 300 mg daily for 8 months. Electrocardiogram revealed complete atrioventricular (AV) block and right bundle-brunch block with a heart rate of 39 per minute. Her creatinine was 1.8 mg/dL, and creatinine clearance was 50 mL/min. Pregabalin treatment was discontinued. Four days later, the complete AV block resolved spontaneously to Mobitz type II block and to sinus rhythm with right bundle-brunch block on the seventh day. To our knowledge, this is the first case of complete AV block associated with pregabalin. We believe that AV block occurred as a result of pregabalins effect on L-type Ca++ channels in the heart. Pregabalins different effects on electrocardiogram and on the heart in different individuals may have an association with the patterns of distribution of the L-type calcium channels in myocardium.

Myocarditis due to oral flurbiprofen use.

We report a 23-year-old man presenting with chest pain. He denoted skin eruptions on his hands, lips, mouth, and penis 24 to 36 hours after he had taken flurbiprofen 10 days ago. Detailed examination showed an ulcerated, pitching lesion with a dimension of approximately 2x2 cm on his penis; however, other explained skin lesions were ameliorated. ST elevations were present in the electrocardiogram. Cardiac biomarkers gradually rose. The scintigraphy showed myocardial hypoperfusion in the inferoseptal wall. This phenomenon is a rare case of myocarditis due to hypersensitivity reaction. In the case of nonspecific angina pectoris accompanied by electrocardiogram changes, drug-induced myocarditis must hold a place in differential diagnoses.

Acute Abdomen Associated with Organophosphate Poisoning

BACKGROUND Pesticides are extensively used in developed and developing countries. OBJECTIVES The present study was designed to evaluate the clinical course of patients with carbamate or organophosphate poisoning presenting to a University-based emergency department (ED). METHODS All consecutive patients admitted to our ED due to intoxication with carbamate or organophosphate compounds over a 2-year period were enrolled prospectively. RESULTS A total of 49 consecutive patients (26 females) were diagnosed with carbamate or organophosphate poisoning in the 24-month study period. The mean age of the patients was 32±13.1 years (range 16-70 years). Signs and symptoms most frequently noted in patients with organophosphate or carbamate poisoning were perspiration, vomiting, and bronchorrhea. Abdominal pain was reported by 65.3% of the patients. Abdominal ultrasonography was performed in 22 patients who complained of abdominal pain as a leading symptom. Among these, 63.6% were found to have abdominal free fluid. Pancreatitis and peritonitis developed in one case. Atropine treatment was administered for approximately 24-36h, with a mean total dose of 13.75±6.75mg. Pralidoxime was administered to 70.9% of patients with organophosphate poisoning, but was not used in patients intoxicated with carbamates. Endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilatory support were required in 14.2% of the patients. Mean duration of mechanical ventilation was 3.7±2.2 days. The overall mortality rate was 10.2%. CONCLUSION Patients with a diagnosis of organophosphate poisoning should be screened for acute abdomen. The findings in our study suggest that these patients should undergo routine abdominal ultrasonography, especially in cases with abdominal pain along with other abdominal complaints.

Amitraz: an unusual aetiology of Ogilvie's syndrome

Amitraz is an insecticide/acaricide of formamidine pesticides used worldwide for ectoparasites in animals. Because of its widespread use, amitraz poisoning is frequently encountered in Turkey. Case report: A 36-year-old, comatose female was admitted to the hospital. Although it was stated that she had taken a glass of water containing amitraz, the exact volume of the substance was unknown. On admission, her Glasgow Coma Scale score was 10/15. Clinical findings were vomiting, miosis, bradycardia and hypotension. The patients vital signs were body temperature 37.28C, pulse 54 bpm, blood pressure 80/50 mmHg and pulse-oximetry 84%. Supportive treatment consisting of oxygen, fluid replacement and gastric lavage, activated charcoal and atropine was administered. On the second day, signs of Ogilvies syndrome characterized by severe tenderness, distension and pain in the abdomen were seen. On the third day, the patients condition improved except for abdominal distension and pain, inability to pass faeces or flatus through the anus. Although continuous nasogastric tube decompression was performed, her complaints were not resolved completely. Neostigmine was administered on the fourth day. On the fifth day, abdominal pain and distension were decreased, and stool passage began. She had a complete clinical and laboratory improvement, which warranted her discharge on the seventh day of admission.

Plasmapheresis is useful in phenprobamate overdose.

Although previous scientific articles claim that morbidity and mortality are low in pure skeletal muscle relaxant ingestion, this is the 10th leading cause of death recently; however, this represents only a 2.1% ratio in adult toxic exposures in the United States. We report the case of a patient with phenprobamate overdose whose neurologic and psychiatric symptoms were the dominant findings. We were unable to perform hemoperfusion because of insufficient equipment. Thus, the patient was taken to for hemodialysis for 3 hours. However, the clinical response was inadequate. Furthermore, plasmapheresis was applied using 12 U of fresh frozen plasma for the consecutive 2 days. This caused resolution of neurologic and psychiatric symptoms. The patient was released with no residual complication on the fifth day of admission. We conclude that in phenprobamate intoxication, if hemoperfusion is impossible, plasmapheresis seems to be the best modality.

Defining the percentage of intra-abdominal hemorrhage in abdominal computerized tomography using stereology in patients with blunt liver injury and determining its relationship with outcomes.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study is to determine the percentage of intra-abdominal hemorrhage (PIAH) on computerized tomographic (CT) scan via the Cavalieri method and to define whether this is correlated with the outcome. METHODS Fifty-one patients (24 children and 27 adults) with blunt hepatic injury were studied in this Level III prognostic clinical cohort study. The stereologic method of point counting based on the Cavalieri approach was adapted to CT data so as to assess IAH and abdominal volume. PIAH was calculated as intra-abdominal fluid volume/whole abdominal volume × 100. RESULTS Mean PIAHs in children and adults were 4.20% ± 2.85% and 6.28% ± 5.21%, respectively. Coexisting intra-abdominal injuries in children and in adults were as follows: splenic injury (29.2, 11.1%; p = 0.012), kidney (25, 11.1%), bladder (4.2, 14.8%), and pelvic fracture (12.5, 11.1%). PIAH was moderately negatively associated with hemoglobin levels (r = −0.301; p = 0.032), hematocrit levels (r = −0.322; p = 0.021), and GCS (Glasgow Coma Scale) score (r = −0.276; p = 0.05). Neither receiver operating characteristic curve analyses for PIAH nor outcomes were statistically significant in children. In adults, sensitivity and specificity of PIAH in predicting the prognoses when the cutoff levels were taken as 5.39%, 9.9%, and 12.4%, respectively, were as follows: operation (71, 84%), mortality (36, 93%), and intensive care unit admission (25, 94%). CONCLUSION In patients with blunt hepatic injury, the Cavalieri principle of stereology can easily be added to the CT slices to calculate PIAH. This method is repeatable in other institutions and can be used as a guide to predict outcomes. It is suitable for a universal parameter to measure intra-abdominal fluid in blunt injury. PIAH has low sensitivity but high specificity to predict intensive care unit admission and mortality in cases of blunt hepatic injury in adults. Its specificity in predicting the need for operation is better than that of the anatomic liver injury grading systems in computerized tomography. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Prognostic study, level III.

Two questions for Kounis syndrome: can we use magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis and does ST elevation correlates with troponin levels?

Kounis syndrome (KS) is an acute coronary vasospasm after exposure to an allergen due to mast cell degranulation and existing mediators. Various drugs, conditions, and environmental exposures can cause KS. We presented 2 cases, 1 of whom had taken an antiflu drug (containing paracetamol, pseudoephedrine, and dextromethorphan). His electrocardiogram (ECG) showed inferior ST elevations (2 mm) with normal cardiac biomarkers. His cardiac magnetic resonance imaging showed hypokinesis and myocardial hibernation on apical septum and on the left ventricle. The second patient took a pill of naproxen sodium. The ECG showed 1-mm ST elevation in leads DII, V5, and V6. His troponin was markedly elevated. These cases showed that there seems to be no correlation with ECG and troponin levels in KS. In addition, for patients in whom KS type 1 is expected without troponin elevation, noninvasive cardiac magnetic resonance imaging study seems to be appropriate for the diagnosis of KS.

The Feasibility of Dual-Energy Computed Tomography in Cardiac Contusion Imaging for Mildest Blunt Cardiac Injury.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficiency and feasibility of dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) used in the diagnosis of cardiac contusion with the mildest blunt cardiac injury. Material and Methods This study was performed between February 2014 and September 2015; a total of 17 consecutive patients (10 men and 7 women; median age, 51 years [range: 20–78]) were enrolled in the study. The DECT was performed within 48 hours of the trauma and a subsequent follow-up DECT was performed a little less than 1 year after the first examination. All examinations were analyzed on iodine map images by 2 experienced radiologists. Interobserver and intraobserver agreement was calculated. The correlation of initial troponin level, age, and sex with number of contusion areas in the left ventricle and complete recovery of contusion were measured. Results The contusion areas were amorphous, with considerable variation in their size, shape, and density. Contusions were primarily located in the left free wall of the ventricle, the ventricular septum, and the apex, respectively. In 10 patients, contusion areas disappeared on follow-up examination. In 4 patients, the contusion areas decreased but were still present in the follow-up examination. The interobserver agreements were almost perfect with respect to the presence of cardiac contusion, the anatomic location of contusions, and the contusion areas (kappa values of 1.0, 1.0, and 0.9 for intraobserver agreement and 1.0, 1.0, and 1.0 for intraobserver agreement, respectively). Correlations were found between age of patients and complete recovery of contusion (P = 0.01). Conclusions Dual-energy computed tomography can show cardiac contusion and could be useful and feasible for the diagnosis and follow-up of blunt cardiac injuries. Dual-energy computed tomography is a new, user-independent, and valuable imaging technique.

Evacuation of Hospitals during Disaster, Establishment of a Field Hospital, and Communication

The buildings, working personnel, and patients and their relatives may directly or indirectly be affected by the disasters. Here we will discuss evacuation, establishing a field hospital, communication, the role of the media in disasters, and defending against sabotage. The affected individuals should be evacuated and transferred to secure zones safely and rapidly. How the decision for evacuation should be made and how the evacuation triage should be performed are important issues. Field hospitals should be established within the bounds of possibility for continuation of the treatments of evacuated people. The standards for the field hospitals and its sections that may be created according to the needs will be explained. Undoubtedly, since one of the most important subjects in disasters is communication, the types of communication in disasters and their significance will be mentioned. How the relationships with the media should be an aspect of communication and how they can be beneficially used will also be mentioned. As in all organizations and institutions, sabotage attempts may also be present concerning health facilities. For this reason, during the preparation of the hospital disaster plan, defending against sabotage will be discussed, and what should be done at that stage will be mentioned.