The American journal of emergency medicine
-
New York City (NYC) is home to the largest public healthcare system in the United States and was an early epicenter of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections. This system serves as the safety net for underserved and marginalized communities disproportionately affected by the pandemic. Prior studies reported substantial declines in pediatric emergency department (ED) volume during the initial pandemic surge, but few describe the ongoing impact of COVID-19 throughout the year. We evaluated the characteristics of pediatric ED visits to NYC public hospitals during the pandemic lockdown and reopening periods of 2020 compared to the prior year. ⋯ NYC public hospitals experienced a sharp decrease in pediatric volume but an increase in patient acuity during both the initial pandemic surge and through the reopening periods. As COVID-19 variants emerge, the threat of the current pandemic expanding remains. Understanding its influence on pediatric ED utilization can optimize resource allocation and ensure equitable care for future surge events.
-
Acute cardiogenic pulmonary edema (ACPE), one of the outcomes of acute heart failure (AHF), is a common reason in a critical condition with respiratory distress. Non-invasive synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation(nSIMV) mode, which includes inspiratory pressure in addition to positive end expiratory pressure with/without pressure support provided in the non-invasive continuous positive airway pressure plus/pressure support(nCPAP/PS) mode can be effective in hypercarbia and the associated changes in consciousness. This study aimed to demonstrate the efficacy of nSIMV in ACPE. ⋯ The nSIMV mode is as effective as the nCPAP/PS mode in the treatment of patients with ACPE. We believe that the nSIMV mode can be preferable, particularly in patients with hypercarbia who have relatively lower GCS and oxygenation.
-
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2) that causes Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) may determine a series of neurological complications directly, by invasion of the nervous system or indirectly, secondary to systemic organ failure. Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) represents a clinical and radiological neurological entity involving predominantly the occipital lobes. PRES was observed in patients receiving cytotoxic drugs, patients suffering from infectious diseases and sepsis, hypertensive emergencies and eclampsia, renal or autoimmune diseases. As more infectious SARS-COV-2 variants are now dominant in most of the Europe, an increasing number of patients is presenting to the Emergency Department. ⋯ This is a rare and interesting case of a patient with PRES and COVID-19 as underlying pathology, in whom rapid diagnosis in the ED and early initiation of appropriate treatment led to full recovery. Immediate extensive work-up in patients with COVID-19 and neurological symptoms proves to be paramount for best outcome. To our knowledge this is the first case of PRES described in a patient with Delta variant of SARS-COV-2.
-
This study aims to compare the efficacy of ultrasound-guided interscalene block (US-ISB) with that of intravenous analgesia and sedation (IVAS) in reducing first shoulder dislocation. ⋯ Compared with IVAS group, US-ISB group reduces the time to discharge and achieves lesser complication. The pain score and reduction attempt are lower in the IVAS group than in the US-ISB group.