The primary goal in management of STEMI is rapid coronary revascularization. STEMI's are occasionally complicated by ventricular fibrillation (VF) arrest. High quality chest compressions and early defibrillation will improve survival. But what can be done in cases where conventional ACLS measures fail and patients have shock-refractory VF?
Some have suggested that emergent PCI with ongoing CPR en route may be beneficial. This option may be considered in close consultation with cardiology if the arrest is thought to be driven by ongoing ischemia and infarction. However, definitive data is lacking and this has only been described in a handful of case reports.
There may also be a role for venoarterial ECMO to aid in perfusion of vital organs and limit the risk of multisystem organ failure. The ECMO circuit can also help facilitate therapeutic hypothermia after the culprit vessel(s) is revascularized and rhythm is restored.
Chances for survival are highest in younger patients, those that do not have chronic illnesses, and those who received immediate CPR after arrest.
Summary:
Consider emergent consultation for salvage PCI and ECMO in select cases of shock-refractory ventricular fibrillation associated with STEMI
Want more emergency cardiology pearls? Follow me @alifarzadmd
1309292147_NEJM-Refractory_VF_arrest.pdf (800 Kb)
Prior fracture represents the strongest predictor of stress fracture in both sexes
For girls: Low body mass index, (<19), late menarche (age 15 or older), previous participation in gymnastics and dance.
For boys: increased number of seasons.
Participation in basketball appears protective in boys.
This may represent a modifiable risk factor for stress fractures.
General Information:
Relevance to the EM Physician:
Although road traffic injury deaths have decreased in some high-income countries, by 2030 it is predicted that they will be the fifth leading cause of death worldwide, and the seventh leading cause of Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALY) lost.
Bottom Line:
Developing trauma and acute care capacities in low and middle-income countries is of utmost importance to mitigate the global burden of injuries.
University of Maryland Section of Global Emergency Health
Author: Walid Hammad, MB ChB
Background:
Clinical Question:
Meta-analysis:
Conclusions:
Limitations:
Bottom Line:
27 year-old female with no past medical history presents with sudden onset of left lower quadrant pain. What's the diagnosis?
Is RBBB More Indicative of Large Anteroseptal MI?
Treatment:
Consider these therapies the next time you see a pregnant with persistent nausea and vomiting in her 1st
--Yemi
We have learned how to diagnose compartment syndrome in adults, but how do you determine the early warning signs in a nonverbal or even frightened child?
Rising compartment pressures are related to increasing anxiety and agitation in children. A Boston study in 2001 showed that increasing pain medication requirements were detected 7 hours earlier than a vascular exam change. 90% of the patients with compartment syndrome in this study reported pain, but only 70% had another ‘P” (pallor, parasthesia, paralysis or pulselessness).
This has led to the proposal of the 3 “A”s for early identification of compartment syndrome in children: increasing anxiety, agitation and analgesia requirement.
General Information:
· The coming of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is designed to shift patient care from episodic encounters to continuous community based partnerships.
· Elsewhere in the world, community health workers (CHWs) have been used effectively to improve health outcomes, reduce heath care costs and create jobs in infectious disease (TB, HIV), maternal child health and chronic disease management.
· CHWs are paid, full time lay provider members of community health systems.
o Sub-Saharan Africa is training, deploying and integrating one million CHWs into the health system via a targeted campaign.
o Brazil’s CHWs are part of family health teams that care for 110 million people.
o India employs 600,000 CHWs paid through a fee-for-service system for primary care functions.
· CHWs cost less, reduce readmissions and help address root causes of preventable chronic disease while remaining embedded in the community helping to strengthen long-term community relationships.
Relevance to the EM Physician:
As frustration with non-compliant patients mounts and the impact of the ACA looms, CHWs integrated into American communities may be just the answer we haven’t yet considered to help reduce ED overcrowding and improve our patients’ outcomes.
University of Maryland Section of Global Emergency Health
Author: Emilie J.B. Calvello, MD, MPH
Peri-Intubation Cardiac Arrest
8 year-old girl presents with dysphagia and drooling, Xray is shown. What’s the diagnosis (and where is it located)?
Colchicine is known to be effective in treatment of recurrent pericarditis, but until recently its efficacy during the first attack of acute pericarditis has been uncertain.
A recent multicenter, double-blinded, RCT of patients with acute pericarditis found colchicine to be effective in reducing the rate of incessant or recurrent pericarditis (primary outcome), as well as the rate of hospitalization. Here are some highlights:
Bottom-line:
Colchicine is a safe and effective drug for the treatment of acute pericarditis. Consider adding colchicine to conventional therapies to reduce duration of symptoms, recurrences, and rate of hospitalization.
1309151219_NEJM-Colchicine_RCT.pdf (527 Kb)
The thumb MCP joint is subject to arthritric changes.
Sx's of arthritis will frequently present with pain in a similar region to deQuervain's disease.
The basal joint grind test
Perform by stabilizing the triquetrum with your thumb and index finger and then dorsally subluxing the thumb metacarpal on the trapezium while providing compressive force with the opposite hand.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEJH7KFGx_Y
With several new diabetes medications available, it is important to know which ones are likely to cause hypoglycemia after overdose. Based on mechanism of action and reported cases, the likelihood of hypoglycemia after overdose is listed below by drug class.
Keep in mind that other drugs can interact with antidiabetics resulting in hypoglycemia. This table applies only to single agent ingestion/administration.
| Drug Class | Examples | Hypoglycemic Potential |
|---|---|---|
| Insulins | Glargine, Aspart, Detemir | High |
| Sulfonylureas | Glyburide, Glipizide | High |
| Meglitinides | Nateglinide, Repaglinide | High |
| Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) Receptor Agonists | Exenatide | Low-Moderate |
| Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors | Acarbose, Miglitol | Low |
| Thiazolidinediones | Rosiglitazone, Piaglitazone | Low |
| Biguanides | Metformin | Low |
| Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 (DPP-4) Inhibitors | Sitagliptin, Saxagliptin | Low |
Background Information:
A recent review article in NEJM evaluated what effects globalization and climate change can be expected to have on human health. If global population increases and temperatures continue to rise, diseases that were once limited by either remoteness or climatologic regions may have new geographical spread.
Pertinent Conclusions:
There are three primary ways which climate change may be expected to affect health:
- Primary: Direct biologic consequences (i.e. heat waves, extreme weather events, air pollution)
- Secondary: Risks caused by process changes (i.e. decreased crop yields, tropical vectors with increased spread)
-Tertiary: More diffuse effects (mental health issues in failed farmers, conflict due to scarce water)
Bottom Line:
No matter what your views are on the causes, the current trend is that the overall climate is getting warmer and human population is increasing. Anticipation of possible consequences is key to planning for the future.
University of Maryland Section of Global Emergency Health
Author: Andi Tenner, MD, MPH
Necrotizing Pneumonia
Necrotizing pneumonia is a rare, but potentially deadly complication of bacterial pneumonia.
It is characterized by the finding of pneumonic consolidation with multiple areas of necrosis within the lung parenchyma. Necrotic foci may coalesce, resulting in a localized lung abscess, or pulmonary gangrene if involving an entire lobe.
Most common pathogens: S. aureus, S. pneumoniae, and Klebsiella pneumonia.
Others include S. epidermidis, E. coli, Acinetobacter baumannii, H. influenzae and Pseudomonas.
Contrast-enhanced chest CT is the diagnostic test of choice and is also helpful in evaluating for parenchymal complications.
Empiric antibiotic therapy should include:
Consider an early surgical evaluation for the patient with necrotizing pneumonia complicated by septic shock, empyema, bronchopleural fistula, or hemoptysis.
This week's case is challenging, but very interesting...
An elderly patient presents with a history of significant weight loss and chronic constipation; abdominal Xray is below. What's the diagnosis? (Hint: why is the right kidney and psoas muscle so well defined?)
*Please see the attachment below for Figures A-D
Although there is a paucity of data to guide dosing of antimicrobials in the critically ill obese patient, we can draw some conclusions from existing kinetic studies. Assuming normal renal and hepatic function, here's what to do:
Penicillins: Use the high end of dosing range. For example, if the plan is to use piperacillin/tazobactam 3.375 gm IV every 6 hours for a complicated intra-abdominal infection, use 4.5 gm instead.
Cephalosporins: Use the high end of the dosing range.
Carbapenems: Use the high end of the dosing range.
Quinolones: Use the high end of the dosing range.
Aminoglycosides: Dose using adjusted body weight. ABW (kg) = IBW + 0.4 X (actual body weight - IBW)
Vancomycin: 15-20 mg/kg actual body weight every 8 to 12 hours. Adjust based on trough level.
When dosing most antibiotics in critically ill obese patients, use the high end of the dosing range (if not more).
