Advanced Journal of Emergency medicine
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Comparing the Effects of Hydroxyethyl Starch and Albumin in Cirrhotic Patients with Tense Ascites; a Randomized Clinical Trial
Get PDFIntroduction: Large-volume paracentesis is one of the usual treatments for cirrhotic patients with tense ascites, which may cause different complications including decreased cardiac preload, suppressed renin angiotensin system, inactivation of sympathetic nervous system, electrolyte imbalances, etc. Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of administrating hydroxyethyl starch (HES) and albumin in cirrhotic patients with tense ascites in order to reduce the paracentesis complications. Methods: In the present randomized clinical trial, 108 cirrhotic patients with tense ascites were enrolled. The patients were randomly divided into 3 groups. In group A, albumin 20% with 5 g/L dose of paracentesis fluid, in group B, HES 6% dissolved in saline were administered, and in group C, a combination of albumin 20% and HES 6% with half the dosage administrated to two other groups were prescribed. Then biochemical panel, and liver function tests and renal and electrolyte complications were compared between the groups. Results: The results obtained after intervention did not show significant differences between the groups regarding weight (p=0.102), heart rate and platelet count (both p=0.094), hematocrit (p=0.09), creatinine (p=0.421), serum sodium (p=0.743) and potassium (p=0.147), total bilirubin (p=0.375) and urine volume (p=0.421). Additionally, we concluded that mean arterial pressure of patients who had received albumin was higher than the other 2 groups (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The results of the present study showed the similar effects of HES and albumin in cirrhotic patients with tense ascites undergoing large-volume paracentesis
Jejunal Perforation Following Blunt Abdominal Trauma; a Case Report
Get PDFIntroduction: The possibility of intestinal injury for all patients presenting to emergency department (ED) with blunt abdominal trauma, despite minimal physical signs should be considered. To highlight the patient management, hear, we report a case of hollow viscus injuries resulting from blunt abdominal trauma referring to a teaching hospital in Tehran, Iran. Case presentation: A 30-year-old man presented to the ED after “falling into a hole” with his back and had direct blunt abdominal trauma by a heavy bag of cement. In physical examination, there was a mild abdominal tenderness on right upper quadrant. On bedside ultrasonography, there was small free fluid in his Morison’s pouch without hypotension. So abdominal CT scan was performed which revealed free fluid in pelvic, perihepatic, and perisplenic spaces. Mural hematoma of proximal part of jejunum with mural wall hypodensity in mid jejunal loop were also revealed. The patient underwent surgery, and there was damage to the colon serosa and jejunal perforation which was primarily repaired. Conclusion: The presented case highlights the importance of obtaining history and physical exam and paying attention to the nature and mechanism of injury. Emergency physicians should be aware of hollow viscus injury in traumatic patients. Any delay in diagnosis and operative management are associated with an increase in mortality
A 58-year-old Man with Abdominal Pain; Acute Appendicitis due to an Appendicolith
Get PDFCase presentation: A 58-year-old man presented to the emergency department with abdominal pain, nausea and loss of appetite for the last 8 hours. He reported diffuse pain that had been localized to the right lower quadrant (RLQ). Physical examination revealed muscular defense and tenderness in the RLQ. Computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen and pelvis confirmed luminal distension with a thickened enhancing wall with an appendicolith.
Learning points: Appendicitis may be developed by an appendicolith, a calcified deposit within the appendix. It may be an incidental finding on an abdominal radiograph, ultrasound (US) examination or CT. It appears as echogenic focus and casts an acoustic shadow on US examination and manifests as a calcified mass on plain radiograph or CT. The incidence of appendicolith is higher among patients with a retrocaecal appendix. In our patient, a clinical diagnosis of acute appendicitis was made and the patient was immediately transferred to the operating room and an appendectomy was performed
A 27-years-old Man with Abdominal Pain; Lead Toxicity
Get PDFCase presentation: A 27-year-old man came to our emergency department with chief complaints of abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, colicky pain in all area of abdomen without any radiation and generalized myalgia. In his background, he had no previous medical problem. In his social history he had worked in an automobile battery-reclaiming factory for 5 years. During his physical examination, his appearance was pale with perioral priority, ill and agitated but not toxic with a blood pressure of 127/85 mmHg and a pulse of 80 beats/min, respiratory rate of 14 breaths/min and oral temperature of 37.3 °C, mild generalized abdominal tenderness without rebound. No obvious signs of sensory and motor neuropathy were found. In the head and neck examination, we found lead-lined teeth.
Learning points: The most common cause of chronic metal poisoning is lead. Exposure occurs through inhalation or ingestion. Both inorganic and organic forms of lead that exist naturally produce clinical toxicity. Gastrointestinal manifestations occur more frequently with acute rather than with chronic poisoning, and concurrent hemolysis may cause the colicky abdominal pains. Patients may have complained of a metallic taste and, with long-term exposure, have bluish-gray gingival lead lines. In addition, constitutional symptoms, including arthralgia, generalized weakness, and weight loss raises the possibility of lead toxicity
Fever and Flank Pain in a Diabetic Woman; a Case of Emphysematous Pyelonephritis
Get PDFCase presentation: A 55–year-old diabetic woman presented to the emergency department with a complaint of nausea, vomiting, right upper abdominal pain, and fever with chills since 10 days. She revealed a 10-year history of poorly controlled diabetes on oral agent and kidney stones. On examination, the patient was found to be febrile (39 ℃) with tenderness in the right renal angle. Laboratory data has revealed the following findings: blood sugar (BS: 480 mg/dl), HbA1C: 13%, complete blood count (white blood cells (WBC): 13,900; polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN): 80%; lymphocytes: 18%; hemoglobin: 12 g/dl; and platelet: 118,000), blood urea nitrogen (BUN): 79 mg/dl, creatinine (Cr): 2.3 mg/dl, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR): 103 mm in 1 h. The urine analysis revealed 12–13 WBCs, 7–8 red blood cells (RBCs), and several bacteria. Urgent ultrasound indicated a heterogeneous mass in with focal echoes suggesting intraparenchymal gas, along with gross hydronephrosis and numerous stones, in the right kidney. The patient was treated with hydration, insulin, and intravenous imipenem 500 mg twice daily (adjusted with her creatinine). After 48 h, blood culture report was negative, whereas urine culture revealed presence of imipenem sensitive Citrobacter. Computed tomography (CT) scan without contrast indicated an enlarged, edematous right kidney with multiple air bubbles and air fluid levels. Based on the clinical and radiological findings, diagnosis was confirmed and right urgent nephrectomy was performed after 36 h of admission. The histopathology of the removed kidney revealed acute or chronic inflammation and necrosis, extending to the perinephric fat. The patient was discharged without any major complication after a 14-day hospital stay.
Learning points: Emphysematous pyelonephritis (EPN) is an acute, severe, and gas producing necrotizing bacterial infection that affects the renal parenchymal and surrounding tissues. The predisposing factors include: diabetes mellitus, urinary tract obstructions, and immune incompetence. Diabetes mellitus is the most commonly associated factor and up to 90% of the patients report uncontrolled diabetes mellitus. Bilateral renal involvement and obstruction has been observed in 5% and 30% of the patients, respectively. The most common pathogen causing EPN is Escherichia coli. Other pathogens have been reported including Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Several factors contribute in the pathogenesis of EPN including high levels of glucose inside the tissues, gas forming bacterial infection, impaired vascular blood supply, reduced host immunity, and obstruction in the urinary system. Clinical manifestations are similar to acute pyelonephritis, including fever, nausea, vomiting, and flank pain; however, often they do not respond to the medical treatment. Laboratory investigations often reveal leukocytosis with a shift to the left, thrombocytopenia, and elevation of the serum creatinine levels. As aforementioned, urine analysis reveals WBCs, RBCs, and several bacteria. The diagnosis is confirmed by radiological imaging. A plain abdominal X-ray can be more specific than the ultrasound, indicating the presence of gas in the kidney. The gold standard is abdominal CT scan that reveals the presence of gas and obstruction in the urinary tract systems. Treatment should commence with fluid resuscitation, antibiotic therapy, and control of blood sugar and electrolytes. Percutaneous drainage or DJ-stenting is recommended in the patients with urinary tract obstruction. If the aforementioned measures fail, then emergency nephrectomy should be considered
A 58-Year-Old Woman with Weakness and Shortness of Breath
Get PDFThe patient was a 58-year-old woman with a history of mitral valvuloplasty, presenting to the emergency department (ED) due to weakness and shortness of breath. Her vital signs were stable. The patient’s electrocardiogram (ECG) is presented in figure 1. What is the correct interpretation of this ECG?
Sinus dysrhythmia
Paroxysmal atrial tachycardia with variable AV node block
Atrial flutter with variable AV node block
Sinoatrial block
Atrial fibrillation with normal ventricular rate
The baseline rhythm of this ECG shows an irregularity at the first glance that is repeated without any specific pattern. After considering this irregular abnormal pattern, in the next step, the heartbeat in this ECG should be calculated, taking into account the irregular base rhythm, about six seconds of the ECG should be considered, and the number of complete QRS complexes should be counted in this period. The resulting number should be multiplied by ten in order to estimate the heart rate in a minute. In this patient, the heart rate was about 90 beats per minute. So far, we have an irregular abnormal rhythm in the ECG. Differential diagnosis of this condition in the ECG varies based on the wide or narrow QRS complexes. A narrow QRS complex is a sign of the natural ventricular depolarization, and several rhythms with a natural rate (60-100 beats per minute) can have irregular QRS intervals. In the case of irregular abnormal rhythms, normal rates, and narrow QRS complexes, there are various differential diagnoses, some of which are mentioned in the multiple choice answer to this question. In the following, after mentioning the electrocardiographic characteristics of each of the rhythms mentioned in the question and their simultaneous assessment in this ECG, we will reach the correct answer