Frontiers in Emergency Medicine (E-Journal)
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Professional quality of life and emotional well-being among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Iran
Get PDFObjective: Healthcare workers (HCWs) are among the highest groups impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to analyze professional quality of life (ProQOL) and its association with emotional well-being in HCWs during the pandemic. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on HCWs being in close contact with COVID-19 patients in Iran. The questionnaires assessing ProQOL, emotional well-being, and demographic and occupational characteristics were recruited via email or social media. The ProQOL was used to measure compassion fatigue (CF), burnout (BO) and compassion satisfaction (CS). Results: Among the respondents, 705 HCWs were enrolled, including a higher proportion of physicians 449 (63.7%), females 452 (64.1%), and married 486 (68.9%). The mean of participants’ work experience was 8.41 ± 8.91 years. Almost all of HCWs showed moderate to high levels of CS (98.3%). Also, most of HCWs showed a moderate level of CF (96.3%), and the majority of them (76.6%) had a moderate level of BO. There were significant differences in the duration of contact with COVID-19 patients for all three components of ProQOL and emotional well-being score. Women had a higher level of BO than men (P=0.003). CS was significantly higher in married HCWs than in singles (P=0.007). Pearson correlation coefficient showed that CS had a negative relationship with CF and BO. However, there was a direct correlation between emotional well-being and the CS. Conclusion: During the COVID-19 pandemic, Iranian HCWs showed to have moderate to high levels of CS, and a moderate level of both CF and BO, and showed that emotional well-being had a direct correlation with CS
Abdominopelvic Pain in Patient with Uterus Didelphys and Unilateral Obstructed Hemivagina and Ipsilateral Renal Agenesis (OHVIRA Syndrome)
Get PDFIntroduction: Uterus didelphys with obstructed hemivagina associated with ipsilateral renal agenesis (OHVIRA syndrome) is a rare female urogenital malformation and delay in its diagnosis could lead to several complications. Case presentation: A 21-year-old virgin woman was admitted to the emergency department (ED) with severe abdominal pain, without fever and vaginal discharge. She reported a history of cyclic abdominopelvic pain and dysmenorrhea for 5 years. The primary diagnosis (OHVIRA syndrome) was made using ultrasonography, spiral computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In addition, laparoscopy was performed to confirm diagnosis and drain hematosalpinx. Then, hysteroscopy was carried out for septum resection and catheter insertion. At one-month follow-up the ultrasonography showed normal left hemicavity of uterus associated with significant decrease in dysmenorrhea. Conclusion: Being aware of OHVIRA syndrome and clinical suspicion of this rare anomaly are essential for making a timely diagnosis, preventing complications, relieving symptoms, and preserving future fertility
Spontaneous pneumothorax in a pregnant woman with COVID-19: a case report
Get PDFNumerous symptoms and complications of COVID-19 include pneumothorax as a rare but potentially-lethal condition. The present case report involved a pregnant woman with COVID-19 presenting with pneumothorax. A 30-year-old pregnant woman with COVID-19 and a gestational age of 32 weeks presented to our hospital with dyspnea, coughs and fever. The rales initially heard in both lungs continued to be heard only in the left lung after 24 hours. Pneumothorax was confirmed through radiology. The emergency cesarean section performed to avoid the potential detrimental effects of the infection on the fetus caused no breathing episodes in the biophysical profile. The patient recovered postpartum without complications and both the mother and the newborn were discharged 12 days later. Spontaneous pneumothorax is a rare complication in COVID-19 pregnant patients that can emerge at any stage of the disease
Predicting the 30-day Adverse Outcomes of Non-Critical New-Onset COVID-19 Patients in Emergency Departments based on their Lung CT Scan Findings; A Pilot Study for Derivation an Emergency Scoring Tool
Get PDFIntroduction: Coronavirus Disease (COVID‐19) has become the most important global health issue, and chest computed tomography (CT) scan can help determine the severity of the infection. Objectives: This study aimed to provide an emergency scoring tool for predicting 30-day adverse outcomes in non-critical new-onset COVID-19 patients. Methods: This derivation study was conducted on new-onset COVID-19 patients presenting to the emergency department of an urban teaching hospital in Tehran, Iran, between 20 February and 20 March 2020. The total lobe severity score (TSS), age, history of comorbidities, and 30-day adverse outcomes (death, ICU admission or intubation) were taken into account to produce three prediction models. Results: Overall, 137 patients were included in the study. Their mean age was 59.9±16.8 years and 62% were male. The ground glass nodule, patch B/punctate ground-glass opacity, fibrous stripes, and air bronchogram sign with perihilar distribution, bilateral and ≥ 2 affected lobes were the most common findings. The mean TSS (model 1) was significantly higher in patients with an adverse outcome (9.4±3.2) compared to the discharged patients (7.2±3.3) (p<0.001, AUC: 0.703, sensitivity: 64.4% and specificity: 74.1%). The optimal cut-off point of model 2 (TSS and age) had the following parameters: AUC: 0.721, sensitivity: 71.2% and specificity: 67.2%. The optimal cut-off point of model 3 (TSS, age, comorbidities) had: AUC: 0.755, sensitivity: 79.7% and specificity: 65.5%. The discrimination achieved with model 3 based on Bonferroni’s test was significantly better than that achieved with TSS (p<0.001). Conclusion: TSS combined with age and history of at least one comorbidity had a better predictive value for adverse outcomes with a cut-off point above 8
The effect of training on the promotion of emotional intelligence and its indirect role in reducing job stress in the emergency department
Get PDFObjective: The present study aimed at evaluating the role of training in improving emotional intelligence (EI) skills and assessing its indirect effect on reducing job stress in emergency medicine residents (EMRs). Methods: In the present study, 20 EMRs were trained for EI skills while 22 EMRs received no training. Then, all participants’ EI level and job stress were assessed and compared before and after the intervention using the Bar-On Emotional Quotient Inventory(EQ-I) and the Osipow job stress questionnaire, respectively. Results: The results of the present study revealed that the EI level in the training group with a mean score of 338.27 ± 27.57 was significantly higher than the control group with a mean score of 320.50 ± 28.50 after training intervention (P = 0.043). In addition, job stress in the training group with a mean score of 170.82 ± 16.11 was significantly lower than the control group with a mean score of 183.30 ± 22.21 (P=0.045). Moreover, in the training group, the relationship between EI and job stress was inverse and significant (r = -0.746, P<0.001), but in the control group it was non-significant (r = 0.017, P=0.938). Conclusion: According to the results of the present study, training for EI skills can play a significant role in improving EI and reducing stress in EMRs
Double inferior vena cava with bilateral mild hydronephrosis: a rare case report
Get PDFA 47-year-old female with a history of antiphospholipid syndrome and ischemic stroke was presented to theemergency department due to abdominal pain and bloody vomiting. Ultrasonography showed double inferiorvena cava and bilateral mild hydronephrosis. Furthermore, the abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan didnot show any evidence of urolithiasis. The ultrasound images of distinctive developmental variations of inferiorvena cava and other veins are important to be known. Vascular anomalies, although rare, should be taken intoaccount in the differential diagnosis of focal lesions within the abdominal cavity. Double IVC might have beenthe cause of hydronephrosis in our patient
Could Fampridine Attenuate the Severity of COVID-19 in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis?
Get PDFSince the onset of COVID-19 in December 2019, millions of people have been infected with SARS-CoV-2 across the world and many have died of the disease. Therefore, the search for any drug with a positive effect on the course of this disease is of great value. Fampridine is a drug widely used to improve gait disorders in patients with multiple sclerosis. The mentioned drug is a potassium channel blocker that increases the conduction of action potentials in damaged axons. However, it is not evident whether this drug can affect potassium channels on the surface of other cells. Some studies have revealed that potassium-blocking drugs can play a role in reducing the incidence or severity of infectious diseases. Hence, the question of whether fampridine could also have a protective effect on patients with MS in the face of COVID-19 should be attended to. The incidence and severity of COVID-19 in patients with MS receiving fampridine (Dalfyra®, Arvand Pharmed) were evaluated to address the mentioned question. In the present study conducted in November 2020, 117 MS patients receiving fampridine were tested for COVID-19. The majority of these patients (55.6%) were receiving rituximab. Of these 117 patients, nine were infected by the COVID-19 virus. Of these nine patients, five and four were female and male, respectively. Eight of the infected patients took rituximab, and one did not take any disease modulatory drug (DMD). One of these nine patients required to be hospitalized. She was a 40-year-old woman with MS disease duration of 3.5 years and was treated with rituximab. Her symptoms were manifested by fever, shortness of breath, and dry cough. The mentioned patient was hospitalized for three days due to the conditions associated with COVID-19. She did not need to be admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and was discharged with a good medical condition after three days. The incidence of COVID-19 in these patients was 7%, and the hospitalization rate was 11% in patients receiving fampridine. None of the patients with COVID-19 required hospitalization in the ICU, and no fatalities were reported. In a previous study conducted on 4,647 patients with MS in Iran, the incidence rate was reported to be 1.46% during the first wave of COVID-19 (May 2020). The incidence rate in our study was 7%, which was significantly higher than the percentage of the previous report. It should be noted that our study was conducted at the height of the second wave of COVID-19 in Iran, during which a much larger number of people were infected with COVID-19, according to official statistics. In the previous study, the hospitalization rate was 25%. However, fampridine users, despite being more infected, had a lower hospitalization rate (11%), which indicated a lower severity of the disease in these patients. The mentioned finding could be due to the possible protective effect of fampridine on the exacerbation of COVID-19 in these patients. This hypothesis requires further examination in more detail
Evaluation of the Effects of Melatonin Supplementation on Coagulation in Patients with Haemorrhagic Stroke; A Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled Trial
Get PDFIntroduction: Considering that hemorrhagic stroke patients are at higher risk for bleeding, administration of higher doses of melatonin with a controversial coagulation profile is a serious concern. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the possible effects of high doses of melatonin on bleeding parameters and blood hemostasis in hemorrhagic stroke patients. Methods: This study is a randomized, double-blind, prospective, controlled trial. Confirmed hemorrhagic stroke patients were divided into two groups. Participants were randomly assigned into the melatonin group (30 mg daily via gastric tube gavage for 5 consecutive days) or the control group. Each patient was monitored for 5 days, and 2 blood samples were taken and the effect of the intervention on coagulation factors and blood hemostasis were investigated. Result: In total, 30 patients were randomly assigned to melatonin (n=15) or control groups (n=15). there was no significant difference between the two groups in demographic and clinical characteristics. There was a significant decline in prothrombin time (PT) and fibrinogen levels in the melatonin group (p=0.011 & p<0.001, respectively). P-values for VII and VWB factors showed a significant increment in these two factors in the melatonin group after the intervention (p=0.035 & p=0.002, respectively). No significant changes in serum levels of D-dimer factor, APACHE II, and GCS scores were evident in the two groups after the intervention (p>0.05). Conclusion: Considering the favorable changes in coagulation parameters observed in this study, it could be concluded that melatonin can have both procoagulant and antithrombin properties
Reverse Sural Fascio-Cutaneous Flap for Management of Patients with Distal Third of Lower Limb Soft Tissue Defects Referring to the Emergency Department Following Traumatic Events; A Review of 13 Cases
Get PDFIntroduction: Soft tissue defects over the distal leg and/or heel are probable injuries that need a flap. Various coverage techniques have been described in this regard. It seems that applying Reverse Sural Fascio-Cutaneous Flap (RSFCF) for reconstructing soft tissue defects of lower limbs has superiorities over other techniques. Objective: We intend to present a case series with soft tissue defect over the distal third of lower limb, covered using RSFCF technique. Methods: This is a case series and longitudinal study in which patients with crush injuries who referred to the emergency department (Sina hospital, Tehran, Iran) from 2013 until 2020 and were treated with RSFCF technique were included. The data were collected using patients’ charts, by interviewing the patients, and from hospital records. The patients' wounds were prepared, examined, and the surgery was done. Tendon and bone defects were repaired, and wounds were closed using reverse sural Fascio-Cutaneous Flap. Results: A total of 13 patients were eligible during the 6-year study period. Men were more commonly affected with no conclusive gender trend. The posterolateral part of the foot of the right leg was the most frequently injured part (53.8%). Only 1 patient had mentioned complications after surgery including mild congestion and abnormal sensory and motor examination. Patients were followed by the surgeons until 3 months after the operation and all of them had been able to resume their daily life activities by then. Conclusion: According to our findings, almost all of the patients (except one) had received their flaps without any complications. All the patients had been able to resume their daily life activities three months after the surgery. This may show that RSFCF, which can be quickly performed and does not need microsurgical skills, could be a suitable option for the coverage of distal third of lower limb soft tissue defects caused mainly by trauma
Severe COVID-19 in a Postpartum Woman: A Three-Month Challenge with Convalescent Plasma and Corticosteroid
Get PDFIntroduction: Management of seriously ill patients infected with new corona virus (SARS-CoV-2) is challenging especially in pregnancy and postpartum state. Case presentation: A 39- year-old primigravid critically ill woman with acute respiratory distress (ARDS) due to confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection underwent urgent cesarean delivery (a healthy neonate) at 33 weeks and 5/7 of pregnancy. She received treatments including hydroxychloroquine, antivirals and broad-spectrum antibiotics while she was intubated for mechanical ventilation. In spite of all treatments, she developed a critical course after the mild primary clinical improvement. Convalescent plasma transfusion as a rescue treatment was performed and led to an improvement in her general condition and delayed gradual recovery in respiratory function after two months. Conclusion: The promising role of early treatment with convalescent plasma transfusion in seriously ill pregnant women infected with SARS-CoV-2, needs to be elucidated by further randomized studies.