Search

Background Patients with Eisenmenger syndrome are known to have a high incidence of sudden cardiac death ( SCD ), yet the underlying causes are not well understood. We sought to define the predictors of SCD in this population. Methods and Results A retrospective analysis of all patients with Eisenmenger syndrome from 2 large tertiary referral centers was performed. ECGs, prolonged ambulatory recordings, echocardiograms, and clinical histories were reviewed; and the cause of death was identified. A total of 246 patients (85 [34.6%] men) with a mean age of 37.3 (±14.2) years were followed up for a median of 7 years. Over the study period, 136 patients died, with 40 experiencing SCD and 74 experiencing cardiac death (sudden and nonsudden). Age, atrial fibrillation, prolonged QRS duration, complete heart block, right atrial enlargement, right bundle branch block, increased right atrial pressure, impaired biventricular function, and the presence of a pacemaker were associated with increased risk of SCD , whereas advanced pulmonary hypertension therapies were protective. Atrial fibrillation (11.45‐fold increased risk; P QRS duration ≥120 ms (2.06‐fold increased risk; P =0.034) remained significant predictors of SCD in the multivariate analysis, whereas advanced pulmonary hypertension therapies were strongly protective against SCD ( P Conclusions Atrial arrhythmias, impaired ventricular function, and conduction system disease were associated with increased risk of SCD in this cohort of patients with Eisenmenger syndrome, providing an opportunity for early risk stratification and potential intervention. Clinical heart failure symptoms (New York Heart Association class ≥ II ) were predictive of increased mortality but not of SCD , suggesting a potential arrhythmic cause behind SCD .

The utility of point-of-care ultrasound is well supported by the medical literature. Consequently, pediatric emergency medicine providers have embraced this technology in everyday practice. Recently, the American Academy of Pediatrics published a policy statement endorsing the use of point-of-care ultrasound by pediatric emergency medicine providers. To date, there is no standard guideline for the practice of point-of-care ultrasound for this specialty. This document serves as an initial step in the detailed “how to” and description of individual point-of-care ultrasound examinations. Pediatric emergency medicine providers should refer to this paper as reference for published research, objectives for learners, and standardized reporting guidelines.

Purpose To assess the interrater reliability and test characteristics of lower limb sonographic examination for the diagnosis of deep venous and proximal great saphenous vein thrombosis when performed by Emergency Physicians (EPs) as compared to that by the Department of Radiology (Radiology). The secondary objective was to assess the effects of patient body mass index and EP satisfaction with bedside ultrasound on sensitivity and specificity. Methods A prospective study was conducted for patients with clinical suspicion for lower extremity thrombus. EPs evaluated for venous thrombosis in the common femoral vein, femoral vein of the thigh, popliteal vein, and proximal great saphenous vein. Subsequently, all patients received ultrasounds by Radiology, the criterion standard. Results One hundred ninety-seven patients (257 individual legs) were evaluated. There was 90–95% agreement between EP and Radiology, moderate kappa agreement for common femoral vein, and femoral vein of the thigh and fair kappa agreement for great saphenous vein and popliteal vein. The sensitivity and specificity of EP ultrasounds compared with criterion standard were lower than previously reported. There was no trend in patient body mass index or provider satisfaction influencing the test characteristics. Conclusions Our study suggests that point-of-care sonography should not replace Radiology-performed scans. The required amount of training for EPs to be competent in this examination needs further investigation. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 44:360–367, 2016

Background: Right ventricular systolic dysfunction (RVD) often coexists with various cardiopulmonary diseases. However, the association between RVD and risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) has not been well studied. This study examined the risk of SCD associated with RVD in patients with heterogeneous underlying cardiac diseases. Methods: The Mayo Clinic cardiac care unit database included 5463 consecutive patients with complete echocardiographic evaluation to assess right ventricular systolic function and RVD severity. Prospective surveillance follow-up was obtained for all patients. SCD was adjudicated when a malignant ventricular arrhythmia was documented as the primary rhythm leading to death. RESULTS: The prevalence of mild RVD and moderate-severe RVD was 14.9% and 17.1%, respectively. Patients with RVD were more likely to have a history of congestive heart failure, cardiac arrest, pulmonary disease, and lower baseline left ventricular ejection fraction compared with those with normal right ventricular systolic function. During a median follow-up of 14 months, the incidence of SCD was highest in patients with moderate-severe RVD (7.4% versus 4.4% in mild RVD versus 1.6% in normal right ventricular function; P P =0.046) and moderate-severe RVD (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.91; P =0.006) were independently associated with an increased risk of SCD. Moderate-severe RVD remained an independent predictor of SCD for patients with left ventricular ejection fraction >35% without or with preexisting implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (adjusted hazard ratio, 4.12; P =0.003 and adjusted hazard ratio, 5.04; P Conclusions: Presence of RVD in patients with a history of preexisting cardiac disease is an independent predictor of SCD irrespective of left ventricular ejection fraction.

Background The management of peripheral nerve injuries remains a large challenge for plastic surgeons. With the inability to fuse axonal endings, results after microsurgical nerve repair have been inconsistent. Our current nerve repair strategies rely upon the slow and lengthy process of axonal regeneration (~1 mm/d). Polyethylene glycol (PEG) has been investigated as a potential axonal fusion agent; however, the percentage of axonal fusion has been inconsistent. The purpose of this study was to identify a PEG delivery device to standardize outcomes after attempted axonal fusion with PEG. Materials and Methods We used a rat sciatic nerve injury model in which we completely transected and repaired the left sciatic nerve to evaluate the efficacy of PEG fusion over a span of 12 weeks. In addition, we evaluated the effectiveness of a delivery device's ability to optimize results after PEG fusion. Results We found that PEG rapidly (within minutes) restores axonal continuity as assessed by electrophysiology, fluorescent retrograde tracer, and diffusion tensor imaging. Immunohistochemical analysis shows that motor axon counts are significantly increased at 1 week, 4 weeks, and 12 weeks postoperatively in PEG-treated animals. Furthermore, PEG restored behavioral functions up to 50% compared with animals that received the criterion standard epineurial repair (control animals). Conclusions The ability of PEG to rapidly restore nerve function after neurotmesis could have vast implications on the clinical management of traumatic injuries to peripheral nerves.

Care of the patient with shock can be one of the most challenging issues in Emergency Medicine and Critical Care. Even the most seasoned clinician, standing at the bedside of the patient in extremis, can be unclear about the cause of shock and the optimal initial therapeutic approach. Traditional physical examination techniques can be misleading given the complex physiology of shock. 1 Patients in shock have high mortality

A 62-year-old woman presented to the emergency department (ED) with a chief complaint of 3 weeks of progressively worsening shortness of breath. Her physical examination was normal, except for tachypnea. Her lungs were clear, and no murmurs, gallops or rubs were heard on the cardiac examination. ED bedside echocardiography with color, continuous wave and tissue Doppler ultrasound imaging and lower extremity ultrasonography performed by an ED attending physician revealed a massive pulmonary embolism with right ventricle pressure overload, tricuspid and pulmonic regurgitation, right atrial thrombus and a right popliteal thrombus. The right ventricular outflow tract view allowed for the direct visualization of thrombus in the pulmonary artery. Bedside echocardiography with color, continuous wave and tissue Doppler ultrasound imaging and lower extremity compression ultrasonography can assist the emergency physician and the critical care physician in the diagnosis of massive pulmonary embolism and deep venous thrombosis. Direct visualization of embolic thrombus in the pulmonary artery can help the ED physician accelerate both medical intensive care consultation and therapy and surgical consultation for possible thromboembolectomy and inferior vena cava filter placement.

Introduction A 41-year-old Cuban man with Down syndrome and mental retardation was brought to the Emergency Department for episodes of worsening shortness of breath over one day. Bedside color Doppler ultrasound subcostal and apical four-chamber examination of the heart revealed atrial and ventricular septal defects with left-to-right shunting of blood. A right ventricular outflow tract view revealed a bicuspid aortic valve, and continuous wave Doppler ultrasound in the right ventricular inflow tract view revealed tricuspid regurgitation and pulmonary hypertension. Conclusion Bedside echocardiography with color Doppler and continuous wave Doppler imaging can assist the emergency physician and the critical care physician in the diagnosis of ASD, VSD, bicuspid aortic valve, and pulmonary hypertension in the Down syndrome patient who is short of breath.

Background Hydrophilic polymers have been shown to improve physiologic recovery following repair of transected nerves with microsutures. Our study was designed to combine hydrophilic polymer therapy with nerve tubes (NT) to enhance polymer delivery to the site of nerve injury. Methods Using a rat sciatic nerve injury model, a single transection injury was repaired in an end-to-end fashion with NT+polyethylene glycol (PEG) to NT alone. Compound action potentials (CAPs) were recorded before nerve transection and after repair. Behavioral testing was performed for 5 weeks. Results PEG therapy restored CAPS in all, but one, animals, while no CAPS were recorded in animals not receiving PEG. Behavioral nerve function was measured using the standardized functional assessment technique and foot fault asymmetry scores (FF). FF scores were improved for the PEG therapy groups on postoperative days 7, 14, and 21. However, after expected eventual axonal outgrowth, the benefit was less noticeable at days 28 and 35. Immunohistochemistry of the distal axon segments showed an increase number of sensory and motor axons in the NT+PEG group as compared to NT alone. Conclusion These data suggest that PEG delivery via a conduit may provide a simple, effective way to fuse severed axons and regain early nerve function. For proximal nerve injuries in large animals, recovery of axonal continuity could dramatically improve outcomes, even if fusion only occurs in a small percentage of axons.

To assess the interrater reliability and test characteristics of lower limb sonographic examination for the diagnosis of deep venous and proximal great saphenous vein thrombosis when performed by Emergency Physicians (EPs) as compared to that by the Department of Radiology (Radiology). The secondary objective was to assess the effects of patient body mass index and EP satisfaction with bedside ultrasound on sensitivity and specificity.A prospective study was conducted for patients with clinical suspicion for lower extremity thrombus. EPs evaluated for venous thrombosis in the common femoral vein, femoral vein of the thigh, popliteal vein, and proximal great saphenous vein. Subsequently, all patients received ultrasounds by Radiology, the criterion standard.One hundred ninety-seven patients (257 individual legs) were evaluated. There was 90-95% agreement between EP and Radiology, moderate kappa agreement for common femoral vein, and femoral vein of the thigh and fair kappa agreement for great saphenous vein and popliteal vein. The sensitivity and specificity of EP ultrasounds compared with criterion standard were lower than previously reported. There was no trend in patient body mass index or provider satisfaction influencing the test characteristics.Our study suggests that point-of-care sonography should not replace Radiology-performed scans. The required amount of training for EPs to be competent in this examination needs further investigation. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 44:360-367, 2016.

The thrips-borne tomato spotted wilt tospovirus is a serious economic threat to Georgia's flue-cured tobacco crop. Two thrips vectors, Frankliniella fusca (Hinds) and F. occidentalis (Pergande), are commonly encountered on tobacco foliage and blooms, respectively. Yellow sticky traps were monitored after a 48-h field exposure from March through June in 2003–2005 to assess thrips movement and species composition in the tobacco farm scape. During March each year there were similar numbers of F. fusca and the flower thrips complex [F.occidentalis, F. tritici (Fitch) and F. bispinosa (Morgan), combined] captured on sticky cards. During April, May and June, the flower thrips complex steadily became more abundant comprising around 60, 70, and 95% of the trap capture, respectively. Thrips vector species were captured throughout the entire sampling period. In April and May, F. fusca captures on stick traps related to F. fusca population densities on tobacco foliage. Some sampling periods had differences in thrips captures relative to a north, south, east, or west orientation, with each direction having the highest thrips numbers at least once each season. However, the overall seasonal mean capture was higher on the eastward direction all 3 yrs and on the westward direction on 2 of the 3 yrs, compared to the southern and northern directions. In a time-of-day study, very few thrips were captured between 1830 h and 0,700 h the following morning. Thrips movement increased in midmorning and peaked during midafternoon. It appears that sticky cards can be used to monitor early colonization of thrips species in tobacco fields plus monitor thrips movement throughout the day, thus providing information on when potential vectors arrive and move within the field. Sticky trap monitoring provides an alternative to direct plant observation for predicting thrips abundance on tobacco foliage and the need for thrips controls.

Introduction A 75-year-old man with a 150-pack-year smoking history presented to the emergency department with progressively worsening shortness of breath, dyspnea on exertion, cough with white sputum and right-sided chest pain with right shoulder radiation for 1 week. Chest X-ray and bedside ultrasonography revealed a massive pleural effusion. Bedside subcostal ultrasound examination of the heart showed diastolic collapse of the right ventricle, a tamponade-like picture, that corrected after thoracentesis and pleural fluid removal. Conclusion Bedside emergency department ultrasonography was used to assist in the diagnosis of massive pleural effusion causing right ventricular diastolic collapse.

A 41 year old woman with a history of colon cancer metastatic to her lung and liver, presented to the emergency department severely dehydrated. Bedside ultrasonography revealed a tumor mass in her proximal inferior vena cava at the junction of the right atrium obstructing the ability to assess her volume status with inferior vena cava inspiratory collapse. Bedside emergency department cardiac tissue Doppler ultrasonography of the lateral right ventricle and pulse Doppler ultrasonography of the tricuspid valve was used to estimate her right atrial pressure and intravascular volume status.

Assessment of hemodynamic status in a shock state remains a challenging issue in Emergency Medicine and Critical Care. As the use of invasive hemodynamic monitoring declines, bedside-focused ultrasound has become a valuable tool in the evaluation and management of patients in shock. No longer a means to simply evaluate organ anatomy, ultrasound has expanded to become a rapid and noninvasive method for the assessment of patient physiology. Clinicians caring for critical patients should strongly consider integrating ultrasound into their resuscitation pathways.

The RUSH exam (Rapid Ultrasound in SHock examination), presented in this article, represents a comprehensive algorithm for the integration of bedside ultrasound into the care of the patient in shock. By focusing on a stepwise evaluation of the shock patient defined here as "Pump, Tank, and Pipes," clinicians will gain crucial anatomic and physiologic data to better care for these patients.

A 45-year-old woman presented to the emergency department with a 2-day history of severe left shoulder pain made worse with movement. Emergency department (ED) bedside point-of-care static and dynamic ultrasound examination of the supraspinatus tendon revealed supraspinatus tendon calcification with impingement syndrome, and the patient was urgently referred to orthopedics after ED pain control was achieved. Bedside shoulder and supraspinatus tendon evaluation with static and dynamic ultrasonography can assist in the rapid diagnosis of supraspinatus tendon calcification and supraspinatus tendon impingement syndrome in the emergency department.

A “specific bradycardic agent” has direct negative chronotropic actions without producing other systemic or coronary hemodynamic alterations. UL-FS 49, a recently synthesized structural analog of verapamil without classical slow channel calcium blocking activity, is proposed as such an agent. The purpose of this investigation was to characterize the hemodynamic and electrocardiographic actions of UL-FS 49 (0.25, 0.50, and 1.0 mg/kg) and compare its effects with those of propranolol (0.25, 0.50, and 1.0 mg/kg) in conscious or isoflurane-anesthetized (with and without neuro-muscular blockade by pancuronium) chronically instrumented dogs. In six groups, comprising 52 experiments, UL-FS 49 was found to be more efficacious than propranolol in reducing heart rate, although this agent did not block the hemodynamic response to isoproterenol. UL-FS 49 produced 45–50% reductions in heart rate in dogs with isoflurane-induced tachycardia as compared to 15 and 30% reductions following propranolol. Furthermore, few other he modynamic alterations were produced by UL-FS 49 indicating the remarkable specificity of this drug for reducing heart rate. A “specific bradycardic agent” such as UL-FS 49 may be useful clinically during the perioperative period. Such a drug may be especially advantageous for patients with documented or suspected ischemic heart disease, those who cannot tolerate the side effects of beta adrenergic blockade, as well as patients requiring a greater reduction in heart rate than can be obtained with beta adrenergic receptor antagonists.

Introduction An 88-year-old woman with a history of coronary artery disease, hypertension, and a history of a large left upper lobe lung mass presented to the Emergency Department (ED) from a nursing home with rapidly progressive shortness of breath and chest pain over 1 day with a rapid decline in mental status. Bedside color Doppler ultrasound para-sternal long-axis examination of the heart revealed severe aortic stenosis. Bedside pulsed-wave and continuous-wave Doppler ultrasound in the apical 5-chamber view revealed critical aortic stenosis using the simplified continuity equation. Conclusion Bedside ED cardiac color Doppler, pulsed Doppler evaluation of the left ventricular outflow tract, and continuous-wave Doppler of the aortic valve were used to assist in the diagnosis of critical aortic stenosis.

The influence of volatile anesthetics on ventricular repolarization in vivo (QT interval) has not been studied in a systematic fashion. The purpose of this investigation was to characterize the electrocardiographic and hemodynamic actions of the volatile anesthetics halothane, isoflurane, and enflurane in chronically instrumented dogs. Because autonomic nervous system tone may influence ECG findings, experiments were completed with and without concomitant pharmacologic autonomic nervous system blockade. In six groups comprising 50 experiments with 21 instrumented dogs, anesthesia was mask-induced with nitrous oxide, oxygen, and one of the volatile anesthetics and maintained with the volatile anesthetic in 100% oxygen for 2 hours. Changes in the ECG and in hemodynamics were compared to the conscious state. In the absence of autonomic nervous system blockade, halothane and isoflurane significantly prolonged the QT interval (0.24 +/- 0.01 to 0.30 +/- 0.01 second and 0.22 +/- 0.01 to 0.28 +/- 0.01 second, respectively), whereas enflurane produced no change in ventricular repolarization (0.24 +/- 0.01 to 0.26 +/- 0.01 second). All of the volatile anesthetics increased the QT interval corrected for changes in basal heart rate (QTc), and all agents decreased intravascular pressure and dP/dt. Following autonomic nervous system blockade, halothane, isoflurane, and enflurane significantly increased the QT interval and QTc. The results demonstrate that ventricular repolarization is directly altered by the volatile anesthetics independent of changes in autonomic nervous tone. Whether or not such effects are additive with other congenital or acquired forms of QTc prolongation has yet to be examined. The present results indicate that caution should be used during the administration of volatile anesthetics to patients with abnormalities of the QT interval.

An 85-year-old woman with a past medical history of severe peripheral vascular disease and right below knee amputation presented to the emergency department with a 1-day history of non-positional dizziness and weakness. The patient required intravenous access to work up her dizziness and weakness. The patient had multiple failed blind ED peripheral IV attempts performed in the past. Emergency department bedside ultrasonography with a high frequency linear array vascular probe was used to guide antecubital brachial vein cannulation on the first attempt using the long-axis approach.

A 27-year-old man presents to the emergency department with a 1-day history of severe right upper extremity pain and swelling. The patient's status is post open reduction internal fixation for a left tibial plateau fracture, which was complicated by methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus osteomyelitis. A peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) line was subsequently placed for intravenous antibiotic therapy. Emergency department bedside ultrasound examination of both the right axillary vein and subclavian vein near the PICC line tip revealed deep venous thrombosis of both veins. Bedside upper extremity vascular ultrasonography can assist in the rapid diagnosis of upper extremity deep venous thrombosis in the emergency department.

Introduction A 73-year-old man with a past medical history of myelodysplastic syndrome and recent chemotherapy presented to the emergency department with a 1-week history of progressively increasing left thigh pain and swelling. His physical examination revealed left anterolateral diffuse thigh swelling with no erythema or warmth to palpation. The anterolateral quadriceps was markedly tender to palpation. Emergency department bedside dynamic compression ultrasonography that was performed on the left anterolateral thigh revealed a quadriceps intramuscular abscess with loculated yet movable pus. Conclusion Bedside dynamic compression ultrasonography can assist the emergency or critical care physician in the diagnosis of quadriceps intramuscular abscess or pyomyositis.