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Objective This study investigated the associations between paraspinal muscle measurements on chest computed tomography and clinical outcomes of elderly patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Methods This single-center, retrospective, observational study analyzed elderly patients (≥65 years) with CAP hospitalized through an emergency department between March 2020 and December 2022. We collected their baseline characteristics and laboratory data at the time of admission. The paraspinal muscle index and attenuation were calculated at the level of the 12th thoracic vertebra using chest computed tomography taken within 48 hours before or after admission. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to evaluate the association between paraspinal muscle measurements and 28-day mortality. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and area under the curve (AUC) analyses were used to evaluate the prognostic predictive power. Results Of the 338 enrolled patients, 60 (17.8%) died within 28 days after admission. A high paraspinal muscle index was associated with low 28-day mortality in elderly patients with CAP (adjusted odds ratio, 0.994; 95% confidence interval, 0.992–0.997). The area under the ROC curve for the muscle index was 0.75, which outperformed the pneumonia severity index and the CURB-65 (confusion, urea, respiratory rate, blood pressure, age ≥65 years) metric, both of which showed an AUC of 0.64 in predicting mortality. Conclusion A high paraspinal muscle index was associated with low 28-day mortality in patients aged 65 years or older with CAP.

Background The older population (≥65 years) has rapidly increased in size in recent years. Among them, the middle-to-oldest-old (≥75 years) tend to have a poor health status. Therefore, subdivision and evaluation of older patients with traumatic injury are required. We focused on the risk of femoral intertrochanteric fractures occurring in older adults due to minor falls and compared young-old and middle-to-oldest-old populations. Methods The medical records of patients who visited the emergency center due to hip injuries between March 2017 and March 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into older adult (≥65 years) and non-older (age 18–64 years) groups; the older adult group was subdivided into young-old (65–74 years), middle-old (75–84 years), and oldest-old (≥85 years) groups. This study investigated the occurrence rate of femoral intertrochanteric fractures and related factors. Results The older adult group had a higher incidence of femoral intertrochanteric fractures than that in the non-older adult group (95.3% vs. 4.7%, p

Background: Social changes related to the elderly in regard to factors such as population, region, cohabitant status and depression incidence, have recently been observed. The aim of our study was to investigate the characteristics of elderly suicide attempters according to these changes. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of suicide attempters who visited an Emergency Department between January 2013 and March 2016. Patients were classified into an elderly or non-elderly group. Data included demographic, socioeconomic, and clinical characteristics. The Risk-Rescue Rating Scale (RRRS) and Suicide Intent Scale (SIS) scores were calculated. Results: Of 340 patients, 78 were elderly. Male sex, lower educational and financial status, chronic disease, and depression were more common in the elderly group, while previous history of suicide attempt was more frequent in the non-elderly group. RRRS was higher in the elderly group, while SIS was not significantly different between the 2 groups. Unlike the non-elderly group, no correlation between suicide lethality and intention was found in the elderly group. Multiple logistic regression analysis identified that chronic disease, depression, unemployment, cohabitation, and high lethality were risk factors of suicidal attempts in the elderly. Similar results were observed in the study classified by suicide method. Conclusion: Chronic disease, depression, unemployment, and lethality were found to be risk factors of suicidal attempts in the elderly. However, unlike previous reports, several risk factors, including male sex, cohabitation, and suicide intention took on a different aspect in our study. The differences in these characteristics can be an important guide aiming to develop specific elderly suicide precautions.

Background: The population of individuals classified as oldest-old (aged ≥85 years) has increased rapidly in recent years. The rates of morbidity from chronic diseases and physical dependence tend to be higher in the oldest-old compared with individuals classified as young-to-middle-old (aged 65-84 years). Therefore, the classification and evaluation of traumatic injuries in the oldest-old group are necessary. Herein we focused on the risk of traumatic intracranial hemorrhage from low-energy falls in older patients. Methods: Patient medical records from the Emergency Department after low-energy falls that occurred between November 2014 and April 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into an older group (aged ≥65 years) and an adult group (aged 18-64 years); the older group was subdivided into the oldest-old group (aged ≥85 years) and a young-to-middle-old group (aged 65-84 years). The rate of intracranial hemorrhage and related factors were also investigated. Results: The older group had a greater risk of traumatic intracranial hemorrhage than the adult group (20% vs. 12.6%, p=0.019). Furthermore, more cases of traumatic intracranial hemorrhage were found in the oldest-old group than in the young-to-middle-old group (37.5% vs. 18.0%, p=0.024). Similarly, the risk of traumatic intracranial hemorrhage in the oldest-old was higher than in the young-to-middle-old group (p=0.032). Conclusion: The risk of traumatic intracranial hemorrhage from low-energy falls in the oldest-old patients was higher than in the young-to-middle-old patients. Therefore, physicians need to pay particular attention to oldest-old patients, even to those with mental integrity and without neurological deficits.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between systolic blood pressures (SBPs) within 10 hours after intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) treatment and early neurological outcomes in geriatric and nongeriatric patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Methods: This was a retrospective observational study of patients with AIS who received intravenous rtPA between January 2010 and May 2015. Clinical factors were compared between geriatric and nongeriatric patients. SBPs at the time of rtPA bolus and every hour thereafter were collected. The primary outcome was major neurological improvement (MNI) at 24 hours after thrombolysis. Results: Serial measures of SBP revealed different 10-hour courses between patients with and without MNI in the geriatric group. The difference in SBP tendency was statistically significant (p=0.049). In contrast, there was no significant difference in SBP change in the nongeriatric group (p=0.251). In univariate analysis, geriatric patients with MNI showed higher frequency of very early neurological improvement (VENI) at 1 hour after rtPA infusion (p=0.023) and lower level of SBP at 3 hours and 10 hours (p=0.037 and p=0.046, respectively). In multivariate analysis using a logistic regression model, VENI at 1 hour and SBP value after 10 hours were independently related to MNI. Conclusion: SBP level and its change during the first 10 hours after intravenous rtPA treatment are different between geriatric and nongeriatric patients. In the geriatric group, SBP decrease is predictive of neurological state at 24 hours after thrombolysis. In the nongeriatric group, SBP decrease is not associated with neurological outcome.

The use of high-pressure air instruments has become more common. Consequently, there have been a number of cases of orbital emphysema caused by contact with high-pressure air. In this case, a 62-year-old male patient visited an emergency medical center after his left eye was shot by an air compressor gun that was used to wash cars. Lacerations were observed in the upper and lower eyelids of his left eye. Radiological examinations revealed orbital emphysema, optic nerve transection, pneumocephalus, and subcutaneous emphysema in the face, neck, shoulder, and mediastinum. Canalicular injury repair was performed, and the emphysema resolved. However, there was near-complete vision loss in the patient’s left eye. Because most optic nerve transections occur after a severe disruption in bone structure, pure optic nerve transections without any injury of the bone structure, as in the present case, is extremely rare.

Background: Incidence rate of ureterolithiasis has been increasing worldwide in general, with an especially rapid increase in the elderly, over 65 years of age. Therefore, the characteristics of geriatric patients diagnosed with uureterolithiasis in an Emer- gency Center were examined. Methods: A total of 613 consecutive patients who were diagnosed with ureterolithiasis through computed tomography from January 2012 to March 2014 were analyzed retrospectively. The patients were divided in two groups: the geriatric group and nongeriatric group. Results: Among the 613 patients, there were 64 geriatric patients (⩾65 years, 10.4%) and 549 nongeriatric patients (<65 years, 89.6%). In the geriatric patients, 13 patients (20.3%) appeared without any pain or with atypical types of pain, while 39 of the nongeriatric patients (7.1%) had no pain or atypical symptoms, presenting a statistically significant difference (p<0.001). Gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea and vomiting were more common in geriatric patients than in nongeriatric patients (42.2% vs. 29.9%, p=0.044), while lower positive rate of microscopic hematuria was reported (78.1% vs. 90.5%, p=0.002). Furthermore, in geriatric patients, the positive rate of costovertebral angle tenderness was lower and distal ureter stones were found to be more common, while urine pH and serum creatinine levels were higher. Conclusion: In comparison to nongeriatric patients, geriatric patients with ureterolithiasis showed lower rates of renal colic and hematuria, while showing higher rates of having gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea and vomiting. Thus, diffe- rences between these two groups should be considered in evaluating geriatric patients to prevent complications which may be caused from the late diagnosis of ureterolithiasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Doxylamine is an over-the-counter drug that is popular in the treatment of insomnia. Doxylamine is relatively safe but can cause rhabdomyolysis. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the incidence of rhabomyolysis increased in elderly patients (age⩾65 years) with doxylamine overdose. Methods: This study included 108 patients admitted to an Emergency Department after doxylamine overdose between January 1, 2000, and March 31, 2013. Age, sex, time ingested before admission, amount of drug ingested, gastric lavage, tachycardia, vomiting, hematuria, blood urea nitrogen, blood creatinine, urine pH, and alcohol ingestion were investigated for the risk factors of rhabdomyolysis. Results: Forty-three patients (47.6%) developed rhabdomyolysis. Of 16 elderly patients, 11 developed rhabdomyolysis. Of the 92 patients <65 years-of-age, 34 developed rhabdomyolysis. Advanced age, alcohol ingestion, and increased blood creatinine level were significantly associated with the development of rhabdomyolysis. Conclusion: In elderly patients with doxylamine overdose, the incidence rate of rhabdomyolysis may be increased. A high index of suspicion and evaluation of rhabdomyolysis is warranted in elderly patients with doxylamine overdose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectiveTo describe the CT findings of focal osteolysis following total hip replacement (THR).Design and patientsCT imaging features of 30 THRs with focal osteolysis visualized on follow-up radiographs and undertaken revision surgery were reviewed. On CT scans, the shape and anatomic location of osteolytic lesions was recorded, as well as their size and number. The presence of cortical disruption or expansion, liner wear, metallosis, and heterotopic ossification was also noted. In each case, surgical and histologic findings were correlated with imaging features.ResultsFocal osteolysis was common in the superior part of acetabular and femoral components. CT features of focal osteolysis were multiple, expansile, oval, or round radiolucencies, which were conglomerated into multilobular shape. The cortex adjacent to the osteolytic lesions revealed irregular thinning and discontinuity (29/30, 97%) accompanied by a few tiny fragments. Liner wear was common (27/30, 90%), and metallosis was frequent (8/30, 26.7%). Pathologic results were foreign body reaction in 20 patients, chronic inflammation in eight, and fibrosis in two.ConclusionCT appearances of focal osteolysis following THR are multilobulated lucent areas with expansile periosteal reaction and cortical abnormalities, mimicking infection or tumor. We consider that CT is useful for the prediction and assessment of the nature and extent of focal osteolysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma is a rare soft-tissue sarcoma that usually occurs in deep soft tissues, especially those of the proximal extremities and limb girdles, but is rare in children. We present an unusual case of a tumor arising in the perineum and involving the bulbous urethra in a 21-month-old boy. The patient was treated with surgical excision and urethroplasty followed by combination chemotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extrapericardial tamponade is a life-threatening compression of the heart with an extrapericardial etiology. Common causes of extrapericardial tamponade are hematoma, tumors, ascites, and hernias. This report describes the case of a 70-year-old woman with repeated intestinal obstruction due to esophagocologastrostomy who presented to our emergency department (ED) with complaints of abdominal discomfort and nausea. The patient was diagnosed with extrapericardial tamponade due to intestinal obstruction by computed tomography, which showed a dilated colon loop compressed the heart. After the computed tomographic scan, the patient's cardiac rhythm showed pulseless electrical activity. The patient received emergent percutaneous transabdominal catheter decompression during cardiopulmonary resuscitation and had restoration of spontaneous circulation. This is the first report of emergent transabdominal decompression of extrapericardial tamponade due to intestinal obstruction in an ED. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]