Articles: outcome.
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Septic syndromes remain the leading cause of mortality in intensive care units (ICU). Septic patients rapidly develop immune dysfunctions, the intensity and duration of which have been linked with deleterious outcomes. Decreased mRNA expressions of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II-related genes have been reported after sepsis. We investigated whether their mRNA levels in whole blood could predict mortality in septic shock patients. ⋯ Decreased CD74 mRNA expression significantly predicts 28-day mortality after septic shock. After validation in a larger multicentric study, this biomarker could become a robust predictor of death in septic patients.
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ABSTRACTObjective:Because a majority of urinary tract stones (UTSs) pass spontaneously and clinically significant alternative pathology is rare, we hypothesize that many computed tomographic (CT) scans to diagnose them are likely unnecessary. We sought to measure the impact of renal CT scans on resource use and to justify a prospective study to derive a score that predicts an emergent diagnosis in patients with suspected UTS by doing so in our retrospective series. Methods:We conducted a retrospective study of ED patients who had noncontrast CT of the abdomen for suspected UTS. ⋯ A score derived using these predictors had a potential range of -2 (0.26% predicted risk, 0.5% actual risk of the outcome) to 6 (52% predicted risk). The score was moderately discriminatory with c-statistics of 0.752 (derivation) and 0.668 (validation) and accurate with Hosmer-Lemeshow statistics of 10.553 (p = 0.228, derivation) and 9.70 (p = 0.286, validation). Conclusions:A sensible, relevant score derived and validated on all patients presenting with symptoms suggestive of renal colic could be useful in reducing abdominal CT scan ordering.
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ABSTRACTTraumatic dislocation of the elbow is rare in children and can most often be managed in the emergency department using procedural sedation and closed reduction with good functional outcome. Radiographs must be evaluated for associated avulsions and fractures around the elbow. We present the case of a 14-year-old girl who sustained a fracture of the radial neck subsequent to repeated attempts at closed reduction of a pure posterior elbow dislocation that was missed on postreduction radiographs. Careful use of reduction techniques and avoidance of repeated forceful manipulations is emphasized.
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Clinical questionIn patients presenting with transient ischemic attack in the emergency department, what is the accuracy of the ABCD2 score for predicting stroke?Article chosenPerry JJ, Sharma M, Sivilotti ML, et al. Prospective validation of the ABCD2 score for patients in the emergency department with TIA. CMAJ 2011;183:1137-45. ObjectiveThe study collaborators sought to externally validate the ABCD2 score as a tool for identifying patients seen in the emergency department with transient ischemic attack who are at high risk for stroke within 7 (primary outcome) and 90 (one of the secondary outcomes) days.
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End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is associated with an increased propensity for critical illness, but whether ESRD is independently associated with a greater risk of death after major surgical procedures is unclear. ⋯ In this large cohort of surgical ICU patients, presence of ESRD at ICU admission was associated with greater morbidity and mortality and independently associated with a greater risk of in-hospital death. Our data can be useful in preoperative risk stratification.