Search

The regulation of the unscheduled care takes part of the different methods engaged to better organize the global demand for unscheduled urgent care among the different levels of care. Indeed, the first level of care equally with the emergency departments are facing major patient inflows often exceeding their available resources. Technological advances in healthcare and spreading of medical information reveal themselves as precursors of new adaptive strategies and daily challenges. The creation of an interactive app for patients self-triage through the different levels of care involves those different concepts. We created a new interactive platform, the ODISSEE mobile application (Outil Décisionnel et Informatif des Structures de Soins Efficientes Existantes), to allow patient's self-triage to the best level of care. The protocols used were directly based on a previously validated tool with a 5-year experience in our institution, the SALOMON algorithm (Système Algorithmique Liégeois d'Orientation pour la Médecine Omnipraticienne Nocturne). Establishment of interactive self-triage platform to guide patients to the best level of care could potentially be a promising tool to improve the regulation of unscheduled urgent care.

Moyamoya disease is a rare cerebral vasculopathy. Disease onset is mainly sudden presenting as an ischemic stroke but also sometimes as a brain hemorraghe. Cerebral angiography is the gold standard to confirm the diagnosis. Different therapeutic approaches have been described such as conservative management or endoscopic and surgical approaches. We report the case of a young patient who was diagnosed with a brain hemorraghe following a sudden loss of consciousness.

Facing the aging of primary care practitioners and their still increasing duties, we implemented a new and original solution to maintain the continuity of primary care in the area surrounding of our university hospital. Thereby, we created a new model of nurse telephone triage for the regulation of out-of-hours primary care calls, the SALOMON algorithm ("Système Algorithmique Liégeois d'Orientation pour la Médecine Omnipraticienne Nocturne"). Following the nurse telephone triage and the assessment of the illness severity, the patient is referred to four potential orientations : Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Emergency Department Referred Consultation (EDRC), Primary Care Physician Home visit (PCPH) and Primary Care Physician Delayed visit (PCPD). In this article, we aim to describe the SALOMON model and present a 12-month feasibility study in order to determine the safety of the tool. We can also notice nurse and general practitioner satisfaction about this approach with a positive impact on the global primary care out-of-hour organization. Currently, SALOMON seems to be full of promise. Further investigations on a larger cohort are needed to determine more precisely the reliability of the algorithm.

Heart transplantation remains undoubtedly the most effective treatment for end-stage heart failure, whatever its cause. Last decade has witnessed significant improvements in terms of morbidity and mortality following heart transplant. The 5-year survival rate is now beyond 70 %. However, the shortage of potential donors limits its use and requires strict criteria before listing a candidate for heart transplantation. Herein, we present a review of current indications and results of the heart transplantation program at the University hospital of Liège.

In March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic started to spread among the Belgian territory. Our university hospital was confronted to the very need of specific reorganizations guided by the implementation of the Hospital Emergency Plan.This article aims to describe the experience of the University Hospital of Liège (CHU Liège) during the COVID-19 outbreak and demonstrates the efficiency of advanced triage centers to regulate hospital admissions from the emergency department (ED)., Methods: since the beginning of March 2020, the CHU of Liège has implemented specific advanced triage centers to manage patients with SARS-CoV-2 suspected symptoms. The first center was organized inside the hospital but the need of outside structures led to the creation of two centers by the end of March. From March 2 to May 3, data from the different visits at the COVID-19 centers were collected (numbers of admissions, rationale for coming, work up and outcome)., Results: during the study period, 3,094 patients were admitted to the specific COVID-19 centers of the CHU Liège. This represents 3,431 visits among which 337 were classified as readmission visits. The sensitivity and specificity of the triage centers to determine the need for hospitalization were, respectively, estimated at 87,9 % and 93,4 %., Conclusion: our experience tends to demonstrate the role of specific COVID-19 triage centers located very close to the EDs aimed at managing COVID-19 suspected patients in order to actually determine their need for subsequent hospitalization.

We report a case of left ventricular pseudo-aneurysm and we take the opportunity to briefly review the literature concerning etiologies, diagnosis and management of this pathology, emphasizing some differences with the true aneurysm.

To cope with overcrowding, a consequence of their constant growth, emergency departments have implemented operational strategies based on triage systems. Despite its interest, nurse triage has been limited by several hindrances, and new strategies are emerging. Among those, advanced nurse triage, allowing a nurse to initiate the diagnostic process just after categorization of the patient, seems to be promising. A study on advanced nurse triage for patients presenting with chest pain has been conducted in the emergency department of the CHU of Liège. The encouraging results obtained following this new system demonstrate a reduction of the delay to management of patients, and a reduction of the total length of stay in the emergency unit mainly during overcrowding periods. Advanced nurse triage, in addition to a conventional triage during overcrowding periods, improves management of patients in terms of time and reduces the total time spent in the emergency department.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is the third most common cardiovascular disease in industrialized countries. Multiple clinical presentations and non-specific symptoms lead to frequents misdiagnosis. Using and plan therapeutic and admission versus discharge strategies.

Acute heart failure is a common cause of admission in emergency department. Management requires rapid support when haemodynamic or respiratory parameters are altered. Identifying enabling factors and their specific treatment is an integral part of management. The most common clinical presentation is volume overload, whose treatment remains the combination of diuretics and vasodilators. In case of impaired perfusion, various inotropic supports may be considered, but also more and more circulatory assistance devices.

The endothelium plays a vital role as part of the cardiovascular continuum. Risk factors such as hypertension and dyslipidemia unbalance angiotensin II - bradykinin homeostasis, leading to endothelial dysfunction and changes in vascular structure that promote atherosclerosis and thrombosis. When dealing with risk factors, treatment should focus on the prevention and restoration of endothelial function. Not all cardiovascular drugs are able to reverse vascular and structural endothelial dysfunction. Increasing levels of bradykinin is an effect of the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-Is), and also a fundamental part of their mode of action. The cardiovascular protection observed with ACE-I, and not with sartans, can be explained rationally by the specific effects of bradykinin on the endothelium. In the pharmacological class of ACE-Is, perindopril likely produces the strongest effects on bradykinin, which may explain, at least in part, the documented superiority of this drug in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease.

Numerous epidemiological studies have shown that a high resting heart rate is associated with an increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, particularly in heart failure. The resting heart rate is not only a risk marker in heart failure, but it is also a risk factor, i.e., modifying heart rate also modifies the risk. Chronotropic drugs have shown benefits in terms of morbidity and mortality. Nevertheless, there is a major difference between the recommended heart rate and the patients’ everyday life heart rate. Indeed, even if the proportion of heart failure patients on beta-blockers is satisfactory, the number of patients with an optimal heart rate remains insufficient. The aim of this article is to examine the deleterious effect of an elevated resting heart rate in heart failure with systolic dysfunction, in order to overcome the therapeutic inertia and to improve the outcome in this patient group.

Heart failure is a major public health problem in industrialized countries. Its prognosis remains poor. The new European recommendations for heart failure management allow validation of the latest advances in the field. This article focuses on the definition, classification and treatment of chronic heart failure. Indeed, there are new aspects to consider such as, a new classification, a new therapeutic class and new remote monitoring solutions. On the contrary, there is no change in initial drug therapy, integration of the patient in a multidisciplinary program and the importance of treatment of comorbidities.

Sometimes, the emergency department is confronted with cases of repetitive vomiting and abdominal pain without organic causes. These patients come back again and again for this problem. All diagnostic tests are systematically negative. A well conducted history taking reveals a chronic cannabis addiction and the disappearance of symptomatology by taking hot showers. This presentation is pathognomonic of the cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome.

On the basis of the case report of a pregnant woman with acute pleuritis, this article describes the diagnostic modalities of dyspnea during pregnancy. The utility and effectiveness of bedside ultrasound examination by the emergency physician («POCUS») are reviewed in view of recent literature data. The ultrasound in this case is considered to be the extension of physical examination aiming at providing answers with immediate clinical relevance.

Medical regulation represents an essential tool for emergency medical assistance. Even if it is essentially based on a 1964 law, our medical regulation is constantly evolving to meet the present needs and to follow the medical and technological advances. In this article, we shall outline its major components and evoke some long-awaited developments in the field of public health.

Chronic consumption of soda energizing caffeine has known a growing success. Its deleterious effects, however, are often ignored. We report a case of tetraparesis associated with chronic excessive consumption of cola. The development of muscle weakness is variable, resulting from a hyperpolarization of excitable membranes. The outcome is most often favorable after potassium supplementation and interruption of the offending beverage consumption. The mechanisms involved are multiple and involve both a leakage of fecal and urinary potassium and a potassium entry into the intracellular compartment. Other mechanisms related to caffeine are also involved. It therefore appears mandatory to assess the consumption of such beverages in the presence of hypokalemia and muscle weakness.

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia is a rare, but not exceptional pathology combining the occurrence of potentially fatal arrhythmias with a gradual deterioration of the structure and function of the right ventricle. In this article, we discuss the etiopathology of the disease and emphasize the diagnostic approach.

The prolongation of life expectancy can only increase the proportion of elderly people in the future. The Emergency Departments being the main gateway to our hospitals, they will often have to admit such patients with their distinct characteristics. These individuals present with a more or less marked geriatric profile; it will be essential to determine their degree of frailty, a factor allowing to predict their survival and future level of autonomy. Evaluation tools have been developed to improve the management of these patients at important moments of their stay in the Emergency Department.

Heart failure in the elderly represents a major public health problem.In this population, the general objective of therapy, defined by current guidelines, does not differ from that proposed for younger patients: the aims are to decrease symptoms, to improve quality of life, to decrease hospitalizations, and to increase survival. However, in this category of patients, respect for autonomy and quality of life remains a priority, and requires a personalized approach because of the geriatric characteristics of many patients.

Methemoglobinemia is a rare disorder preferentially affecting children. The outcome may be dramatic when the disorder remains unidentified, however early recognition using unspecific exams allows prompt therapy. We report the case of a 14-month-old baby who presented with a sudden access of cyanosis resulting from acute methemoglobinemia. Careful investigation identified contamination of familial food by an excess of nitrates related to the use of well water from rural location.

Sudden cardiac arrest is an event associated with a very low survival rate. The latter is inversely proportional to the duration of the cardiovascular arrest. The chain of survival concept is a sequence of 4 events to be carried out as fast as possible with a view to ensure the patient's survival. This sequence consists of early access to and activation of the emergency medical system, early initiation of basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation, early defibrillation and early specialized care. The number of potential witnesses trained in Basic Life Support (BLS) does not guarantee an adequate basic resuscitation before the arrival of medical aid. In order to optimize the management of victims and callers, the concept of dispatching-assisted cardiopulmonary resuscitation based on a structured protocol has been implemented. The implementation of this plan to improve the quality of call handling required training and assessment of impacts on beneficiaries. The research datashow a reduction of the duration of cardiac arrest, an increase in resuscitation initiated by a witness, an improved survival rate, and a decreased stress and unanimous approval of dispatchers. Currently, the process is being improved and sustained.

Training methodology having emerged primarily over the last two decades, simulation in health care has arisen from the idea that students should never practice on the patient for their "first time". Simulation makes it possible to try out the errors and to repeat the skills over and over, in a reproducible way and in the most realistic possible environment, but with no harm to the patients, a risk socially intolerable. Simulation implies multiple methods from simple role-playing schemes to most powerful experiments on high-fidelity mannequins. In all cases, simulation implies a strictly codified structure: briefing, scenario, then debriefing. Indeed, debriefing represents the cornerstone of the teaching process allowing, both technical and non-technical skills acquisition through a work based on self-criticism. It should be noticed however that, although medical simulation has very clearly provided evidence of its effectiveness in skills acquisition, appropriate behaviours or application of algorithms, it has not demonstrated any benefit in terms of patients' care quality. Further research is therefore needed to validate this last assumption, which represents the very objective of any evolution in medicine.

Phone cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) assists any cardiac arrest witness, previously trained or not, through standardized instructions given by phone. These instructions are intended to guide the bystander in checking for responsiveness, opening the airway and checking for adequate breathing, and to initiate chest compressions in case of apparent death. The "Algorithme Liégeois d'Encadrement à la Réanimation par Té1éphone" (ALERT) is an original phone CPR protocol helping the dispatchers to guide callers during the dispatcher's time window, between the beginning of the call and the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) arrival on scene. Its use has been demonstrated to increase the frequency and performance of bystanders' initial CPR efforts. Such improvement might increase the survival chances of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victims (OOHCA).

Emergency departments are frequently overcrowded due to the imbalance between need and availability of care. It results that influx patients should be regulated by using a triage tool located at the entrance area. This process has been in development for almost 15 years.We propose a new algorithm of triage (ELISA or Liège Scale of severity index at admission) based on a five-score level of emergency from U1 (emergent) to U5 (non urgent). Such a stratification of the state of emergency is associated with a time-delay for the first medical contact (immediate to 120 min) and a corresponding track for providing optimal care (emergency care unit, B sector or bed, A sector or ambulatory and waiting room) which together fit the sorting for the right patient to the right resources in the right place at the right time. Our algorithm has a confident efficiency as evidenced by the comparison between initial score of emergency and patient's follow up (intensive care, hospital recovery and discharge).

The hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is rare and of guarded prognosis in adults. It expresses a renal thrombotic microangiopathy. We report the case of a young patient whose clinical presentation and exploration make a diagnosis of HUS likely. The atypical presentation provides an opportunity not only to discuss all diagnostic elements based on recent pathophysiological hypotheses, but also to highlight recommendations for the management of this severe disease.

The congenital long QT syndrome (LQTS) is a hereditary cardiac disease characterized by a prolongation of the QT interval > 440 ms at rest ECG associated with a high risk of ventricular arrhythmias (torsade de pointe). Clinical manifestations are syncope and sudden cardiac death. The implicated genes encode cardiac ion channel subunits or proteins involved in modulating ionic currents. The diagnosis of LQTS can be complex in borderline cases. Etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment are discussed.

Epiploic appendagitis is the term used to describe the inflammation of an epiploic appendage. These small masses of fat distributed along the colon, from the caecum to the recto-sigmoid junction can inflammate by torsion, spontaneously or secondarily with the inflammation of an anatomical structure in the neighbourhood. Symptomatology may mimic retro-caecal appendicitis or diverticulitis and the diagnosis by CT avoids unnecessary surgery or hospitalization. Indeed, under conservative treatment by AINS and analgesics, symptomatology regresses in about five days. In this article, we relate the case of a patient with a typical clinical presentation, to remind the elements of this pathological entity.

Severe exacerbations of asthma can be life-threatening if not aggressively treated. Despite the publication of therapeutic guidelines developed by experts in this field and people education programs, early recognition and characterization of patients at risk for fatal asthma remain scarce. We report the case of a young lady suffering from acute exacerbation of asthma responsible for intensive care admission with long term mechanical ventilation due to the lack in initial appropriate care.

Aortic pseudo-aneurysm is a well-known late complication after surgical repair of aortic coarctation. We report two cases of pseudo-aneurysm of the aortic isthmus evidenced after previous surgical repair of congenital aortic coarctation. These clinical observations give us the opportunity to underline the importance of a specific lifelong medical follow-up for patients who have undergone such surgery.

Drug self-poisoning is a common cause of admission in ED. Among various incriminated substances, paracetamol is often implicated and presents a severe toxicity. We briefly describe the epidemiology and physiopathology of paracetamol self-poisoning. We then clarify the diagnostic elements, thresholds of toxicity, indications for treatment and different available therapeutic guidelines.

Evaluation of the aid of an emergency mobile unit to transfer monitorized patients to a University hospital, in the political context of regional care network offering highly qualified but restricted tertiary area centres, and an open prospective study conducted over the 5 first months in 2006. The call regulation was assessed by the emergency physician of the transfer team and all missions were concluded with an evaluating report. An amount of 197 requests were taken into account from which 80 % were addressed between 8 am and 8 pm. The mean average time interval for missions was 59 minutes (base to base) and the distance covered was 20.7 km as a mean. In essence, indications for medical secondary transfer regarded patients in need for acute coronary care (42.6%), specific intensive care (26.4%) and neurosurgical interventions (19.3%). We noted that endotracheal intubation occurred in only one case. Mortality during such a transfer activity was absent. Medical transfer unit allows the development of specific high qualified network resources owing to the secondary addressee of patients. However, the weak incidence of complication questions the practice of systematic medical accompanying during such transfers.

Retroperitoneal fibrosis is an uncommon inflammatory disease which is characterized by the development of a fibrous process that surrounds the major vessels and organs located within the retroperitoneum. Isolated as an idiopathic expression or associated with several other diseases in its secondary form, retroperitoneal fibrosis remains relatively of rare occurrence and as a result, is devoid of either diagnostic or therapeutic definitive recommendations. We report the observation of one case admitted in the emergency room for abdominal pain induced by left hydronephrosis. Radiographic exploration with contrast-enhanced studies evidenced retroperitoneal fibrosis causing left ureteric obstruction. Therapeutic approach was based on corticosteroids and ureteral drainage which prevented recurrence while fibrosis was almost reversed six months later.

In this paper we review the current knowledge on pulmonary hypertension (PH) occurring in COPD. PH is defined as a mean pulmonary arterial pressure at rest greater than 20 mmHg measured by right heart catheterisation. PH is usually present during exercise before appearing at rest. PH in COPD increases the risk of hospitalisation and darkens the disease prognosis. Chronic hypoxemia is the major contributor to PH, but remodelling of arterial wall and mechanical factors such as hyperinflation also play a role. Transthoracic echocardiography is the most useful non invasive investigation, but right heart catheterisation is necessary to ascertain the diagnosis. Long term 02 supplementation is the basis of the treatment while vasodilatators may worsen hypoxemia.

Recent international guidelines about emergency situations (ILCOR / ERC) pointed to the need of the whole "chain of survival". ALS, Advanced Life Support (the last and "medical" part of the chain ) is important and influences survival rate. If no doubt exists about "what" and "when" to do in such situations, there is no consensus in industrialized countries about "who" should be in charge of such out-of-hospital acute diagnosis and treatment: emergency physicians, emergency nurses, emergency medical technicians (EMT), other "new" professionals ? ... A description of the MICU system in Belgium is given.

Diabetic ketoacidosis and hyperglycaemic hyperosmolar state are relatively frequent metabolic emergencies. Such entities complicate type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus, respectively. Diagnosis is ultimately provided by blood and urine analysis. The pathophysiology is mainly based on insulin privation regarding ketoacidosis and resistance to insulin in hyperglycaemic crisis, with an additional deleterious role of counterregulatory hormones. Prognosis of such complications remains generally severe. Management is based on insulin infusion, fluid resuscitation as well as concomitant compensation for electrolytes losses.

Asthma exacerbations constitute a common medical emergency, which in the past has been shown to be poorly managed. Although its management has recently improved, it remains suboptimal. For instance, acute life-threatening asthma is still responsible for 2000 death each year in France. More than two thirds of deaths should be avoided by a prompt and adjusted treatment. Initial assessment of the severity of the exacerbation is fundamental. The clinical story, physical examination and objective measurement of airflow obstruction by peak flow meter should permit to quickly establish an adapted treatment. The aim of this paper is, once general considerations about clinical approach and currently used treatments have been made, to propose a home and a hospital-based management of the asthma exacerbations.

Gemcitabine pulmonary toxicity is rare and represents a difficult diagnosis. A 61 year old female treated with gemcitabine for a metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) developed during the fifth chemotherapy cycle an acute respiratory distress syndrome with fever, tachypnea, marked hypoxemia and a diffuse interstitial-alveolar infiltrate on chest radiograph. No infectious or opportunistic etiology or cardiovascular disease was demonstrated. Withdrawal of gemcitabine and administration of corticosteroids led to symptomatic improvement. This acute pneumonitis was likely drug induced.

We report the case of a patient with liver cirrhosis who was admitted to the emergency room for rapid occurrence of dyspnea and severe hypoxemia at rest. Lung CT-scan and echocardiography did not disclose any right-to-left shunt and right-sided heart catheterization evidenced major precapillary pulmonary hypertension. The present feature supports the hypothesis that the pulmonary complications of cirrhosis, the hepatopulmonary syndrome and the portopulmonary hypertension, which are usually considered as mutually exclusive, may coexist. In such circumstances, the right failing heart is the major determinant to the immediate prognosis.

Almost twenty years ago, Trunkey showed that deaths due to trauma followed a trimodal distribution over time. Half of these deaths were delayed by at least one to two hours after the initiating insult. This interval (the "golden hour") can be exploited, especially in specialized trauma centers (where the most severely injured patients are cared for), to aggressively treat these patients, thereby reducing morbidity and mortality. In Belgium, this hierarchy of trauma care centers is non-existent; patients are distributed within the healthcare system randomly, depending on the localisation of the accident and the directives of the unified "100" call centre. Because this limits the number of cases any one centre treats, this type of arrangement acts to inhibit the acquisition of competency in the handling of these complex patients. The relative lack of experience of individual emergency departments leads to difficulties in establishing diagnostic and treatment priorities for the most severely injured trauma victims. The approach to these patients must follow very precise guidelines, established scientifically in order to minimize the impact of the injury on life and maximize chances of satisfactory functional recovery. In this paper, we describe the general principles of the initial approach to victims of complex multiple trauma.

The management of the trauma victim admitted to the emergency department must be rapid and efficient. Within the first hour, vital functions must be stabilised while a systematic survey of all injuries is carried out. This survey must be as complete as possible, and depends on the patient's status and response to initial resuscitative measures. The need for urgent surgical intervention, therapeutic radiology, or other treatment modalities must be quickly established. This systematic approach, which follows a seven step sequence, can only be carried out by a well-trained team. Because at this time emergency and SMUR are often staffed with general practitioners, and because the trauma centers do not yet exist in Belgium, the application of the treatment protocol presented in this paper is a pre-requisite to quality of care for these patients. It is the only means to end, once and for all, the improvised or intuitive, and often erroneous, approach to these patients.

We report the case of a 48-year-old man who was admitted to our emergency department because of a superior vena caval syndrome from which the symptoms occurred only during exercise. His past history included an episode of lower limb deep venous thrombosis. Because an atrio-ventricular partial block was fortuitously evidenced, the patient was submitted to a pacemaker insertion. A few years later, the patient suffered from rapid dyspnea on exercise, associated with facial cyanosis and systemic hypotension. The exploration by phlebography evidenced that the inferior vena cava was completely obstructed. Therefore the venous return from the lower part of the body to right heart was obtained through hypertrophy of the vena azygos. In addition, the presence of cardiac pacing electrodes induced a stenosis at the level of the superior vena cava, just before its entrance into the right atrium. Such a venous network accounted for the occurrence of a chronic superior vena caval syndrome associated with peripheral arterial hypotension during exercise. Treatment consisted of a superior vena caval percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty followed by a Wallstent insertion. This procedure led to a correction of all hemodynamic abnormalities responsible for reported pathophysiological limitations to stress.