Camel-Hump T-Wave, Tee-Pee Sign, and Wavy Triple Sign (Yasser’s Sign) with Hypocalcemia and Hyperkalemia in Covid-19 Pneumonia with Lacunar Infarction

Rationale: A novel COVID-19 is a multi-systemic critical worldwide pandemic infection. Certainly, associated multiple electrolytes imbalance in COVID-19 pneumonia is a remarkable decisive event. Camel-hump T-wave, Tee-Pee sign, and Wavy triple sign (Yasser’s sign)are novel highly significant descriptive electrocardiographic signs that are seen in calcium and potassium disturbance. There is an established and strong relationship between and electrocardiographic abnormalities and electrolytes imbalance. COVID-19 pneumonia and cerebrovascular stroke are commonly seen in a patient with Coronavirus infection. Patient concerns: A 69-year-old married worker Egyptian male patient was presented to the emergency department with COVID-19 pneumonia and cerebrovascular stroke. Diagnosis: COVID-19 pneumonia with lacunar infarction, hypocalcemia, and hyperkalemia. Interventions: Chest CT scan, brain CT scan, electrocardiography, oxygenation, and echocardiography. Outcomes: Initial bad and deterioration outcome but, the dramatic outcome had happened after later management. Lessons: The understanding of electrocardiographic signs regarding metabolic disorders such as electrolytes imbalance and other associated systemic diseases is very important. Elderly male sex, heavy smoker, COVID-19 pneumonia, cerebrovascular stroke, chronic renal impairment, ischemic heart disease, hypokalemia, hypocalcemia, and hypernatremia represent bad prognostic points and is indicating a high-risk condition.

Images – Penile pain in the setting of end-stage renal disease: An unusual anatomic location for calciphylaxis

In this report, we present a case of penile calciphylaxis, an extremely rare and serious condition occurring in association with dysregulation of systemic calcium metabolism in the setting of chronic renal impairment. Calciphylaxis can occur at various body sites and is associated with diffuse vascular calcifications in small and medium-sized arteries of the involved tissues. Penile calciphylaxis has a grim prognosis. Calciphylaxis is an important etiologic differential diagnosis for penile necrosis and penile pain in patient’s being treated with dialysis for end-stage kidney disease. Diagnosis of penile calciphylaxis is possible via clinical and radiological evaluations. Medical management may alleviate symptoms; however surgical interventions may be necessary, and histological studies may allow for definitive classification.

EP.TH.1063Independent Risk Factors influencing healing times in pilonidal sinus excision surgery

Aims Pilonidal Sinus excision surgery is commonly accompanied by a complex healing process. This study assesses the risk factors associated with poor wound healing from pilonidal excision surgery, and which patient demographics would benefit from assisted healing interventions, such as vacuum assisted closure, to enhance recovery times in a cost effective manner. Methods OMIS Theatre databases were used to identify primary pilonidal sinus excision procedures between January 2016 and January 2018 with a 32-patient cohort. Clinical workstation highlighted the time of wound healing based on date of clinic discharge. Risk factors for poor healing including smoking status, BMI, Diabetes, Vascular disease, gender, immunocompromised status, Chronic Renal impairment and ASA classification were identified. Results Of the 32: 16% have not healed at present and require further surgical intervention and 10% had not been followed up. The median duration for wounds healed was 105.5 days. The risk factors highlighted for complicated wound healing was gender, smoking status and diabetes. Median time for current smokers (30%) was 187 as opposed to 96.5 within the non-smoking population. Males (65%) had a longer healing time of 111 in comparison with females (75 days). Diabetic patients (9%) had a median time of 196.5 in comparison with non-diabetes patients with 96 days. Conclusion The highest risk factors for a prolonged healing process are the male gender, presence of diabetes and current smoking status. Therefore consideration of assisted healing interventions should be taken for patients with these demographics, implementing a cost effective approach to complex wound healing procedures.

484 CHANGING PRACTICES OF DECISION MAKING REGARDING DO-NOT-ATTEMPT-CARDIOPULMONARY-RESUSCITATION ORDERS AMID THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic has brought the decision-making process regarding cardiopulmonary resuscitation into focus. This study aims to analyse Do-Not-Attempt CPR (DNACPR) documentation in older hospitalised patients before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods This was a retrospective repeated cross-sectional study. Data including co-morbidities and resuscitation status was collected on 300 patients with COVID-19 hospitalised from March 1st to May 31 s t 2020. DNACPR documentation rates in patients aged ≥65 years with a diagnosis of COVID-19 were compared to those without COVID-19 admitted during the same period. Pre-COVID-19 pandemic DNACPR documentation rates were also examined. Factors associated with DNACPR order instatement during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic were identified. Results Of 300 COVID-19-positive patients, 28% had a DNACPR order documented during their admission. 50% of DNAR orders were recorded within 24 hours of a positive swab result for SARS-CoV-2. Of 131 patients aged 65 years or over within the cohort admitted with COVID-19, 60.3% had a DNACPR order compared to 25.4% of 130 patients ≥65 without COVID-19 (p < 0.0001). During a comparable time period pre-pandemic, 15.4% of 130 older patients had a DNACPR order in place (p < 0.0001). Independent associations with DNACPR order documentation included increasing age (Odds Ratio [O.R.] 1.12; 95% CI 1.05-1.21); nursing home resident status (O.R. 3.57; 95% CI 1.02-12.50); frailty (O.R. 3.34; 95% CI 1.16-9.61) and chronic renal impairment (O.R. 5.49; 1.34-22.47). The case-fatality-rate of older patients with COVID-19 was 29.8% versus 5.4% without COVID-19. Of older COVID-19-positive patients, 39.2% were referred to palliative care services and 70.2% survived. Conclusion The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted more widespread and earlier decision-making regarding resuscitation status. Although case-fatality-rates were higher for older hospitalised patients with COVID-19, many older patients survived the illness. Advance care planning should be prioritised in all patients and should remain clinical practice despite the pandemic.

Pattern of Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Outcomes of Patients Older Than 80 Years and Presenting with Acute Coronary Syndromes

Objective: Elderly patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) are at higher risk for morbidity, complications and early mortality than younger patients. Elderly are frequently underrepresented in clinical trials. Methods: A descriptive multi-center study including 760 patients admitted with ACS aiming to determine the most frequently encountered cardiovascular risk factors, as well as the in-hospital complications. Results: Of the 760 patients, 42.1% were males with a mean age of 85 years. Non-ST-elevation ACS was encountered in 496 patients (65.3%; NSTEMI 50% and unstable angina 15.3%) while STEMI was encountered in 264 patients (34.7%). Regarding risk factors, 61.1% of patients were hypertensive, 60% were diabetics, 44.7% were smokers, 28.9% had dyslipidemia, 16.8% had a family history of coronary artery disease, and 20% had chronic renal impairment at presentation. 252 patients (33.2%) underwent primary PCI, 440 patients (57.9%) underwent elective PCI, 36 patients (4.7%) underwent coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery while 32 patients (4.2%) were maintained on conservative medical therapy and no patients received fibrinolytic therapy. In-hospital mortality was only 3.7% (28 patients), Cerebrovascular stroke occurred in 16 patients (2.1%) and recurrent infarction occurred only in 8 patients (1.1%). Conclusion: In patients over 80 years presenting with ACS, female sex, hypertension and diabetes were the most frequently encountered cardiovascular risk factors, with more frequent presentation of NSTEMI than STEMI and in-hospital mortality of 3.7%.

Renal hemodynamics, function and oxygenation in critically ill patients and after major surgery

The present review outlines the available data from the work of our group on renal hemodynamics, function and oxygenation in critically ill patients with acute renal dysfunction such as in postoperative acute kidney injury, early clinical septic shock, in patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass or in patients undergoing liver transplantation. We also provide information on renal hemodynamics, function and oxygenation in patients with chronic renal impairment due to congestive heart failure. This review will argue that the common denominator, for these groups of patients, is that renal oxygenation is impaired in all groups caused by a lower renal oxygen delivery or a pronounced increase in renal oxygen consumption.

A Rare Case of Fungal Necrotising Otitis Externa Centred on the Left Temporomandibular Joint

Introduction. Necrotising otitis externa (NOE) is a rare life-threatening complication of simple otitis externa which can be difficult to diagnose and manage. It is very rarely centred on the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Fungi cause NOE in approximately 5–20% of patients, and a high index of suspicion is required for diagnosis, particularly when there is no improvement with prolonged topical and intravenous antibiotic therapy. Objective. To report a novel case of fungal NOE centred on the left TMJ in an immunocompromised adult male with a focus on investigations and optimal management. Case Report. A 67-year-old male with comorbid chronic renal impairment presented to our otolaryngology department with prolonged left otalgia and otorrhoea. Subsequent cross-sectional imaging demonstrated left NOE centred on the TMJ. Poor resolution with prolonged courses of systemic and topical anti-pseudomonal antibiotics prompted maxillofacial surgical input for left TMJ exploration, washout, and biopsy from the joint capsule. The causative organism was identified as Aspergillus flavus on PCR analysis. The patient was successfully treated with oral posaconazole and repeated topical insertions of amphotericin B-soaked ribbon gauze to the left ear. Discussion. A combination of various imaging modalities including CT, MRI, Tc-99, and gallium-67 are utilised in clinical practice both to diagnose NOE and subsequently monitor disease progression or resolution. Immunocompromised patients with confirmed fungal NOE may require a combination of treatments including surgical debridement and prolonged antifungal therapy for a number of months, if not lifelong, treatment. Initiating empirical antifungal therapy may be justified in some patients. However, this should be judged on a case-by-case basis and guided by discussion with the local microbiology and infectious diseases departments. However, there is no national guideline or consensus regarding treatment of these patients, especially in cases of fungal NOE.

Perioperative Evolution of Sodium Levels in Cirrhotic Patients Undergoing Liver Transplantation: An Observational, Prospective Study

Background & Aims: Hyponatremia is an important predictor of early death among cirrhotic patients in the orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) waiting list. Evidence exists that prioritizing OLT waiting list according to the MELD score combined with plasma sodium concentration might prevent pretransplantation death. However, the evolution of plasma sodium concentrations during the perioperative period of OLT is not well known. We aimed to describe the evolution of perioperative sodium concentration during OLT and its relation to perioperative neurohormonal responses.Methods: Twenty-seven consecutive cirrhotic patients who underwent OLT were prospectively included in the study over a period of 27 months. We studied the evolution of plasma sodium levels, the hemodynamics, the neurohormonal response and other biological markers during the perioperative period of OLT.Results: All patients with a hyponatremia before OLT were in the Child C group. None of the patients had acute or chronic renal impairment. Interestingly, in patients with hyponatremia, plasmatic sodium reached normal levels as soon as the injured livers were removed during surgery and the plasma sodium concentration remained within normal ranges 1 day, 7 days, as well as 6 months after surgery.Conclusions: Further investigation of rapid correction and stabilization of sodium levels after OLT, as observed in our study, would be of interest in order to fully understand the mecanisms involved in cirrhosis related hyponatremia, its prognostic value and clinical implications.

Giant Brachial Aneurysm after Arteriovenous Fistula Ligation: A Review of the Different Surgical Approaches

The aim of this paper is to describe the case of a patient successfully treated for left brachial arterial aneurysm occurring 15 years after renal transplantation and consequent 8 years after arteriovenous fistula (AVF) ligation. We describe our experience and our surgical approach. A 45-year-old man presented to our attention for a large pulsatile formation on the volatile face of the left forearm, which he reported to have enlarged in the last year. He had a history of chronic renal impairment in 2000, then AVF for dialysis was realized, and he was finally addressed to kidney transplantation in 2004. In 2011 the AVF was ligated. We observed absence of radial pulse and direct flow on the ulnar artery; a large pulsatile formation was evident along the course of the left brachial artery, associated with forearm venous dilatation. Doppler ultrasound showed fusiform aneurysm of the brachial artery with 3.5 cm diameter and longitudinal extension of 5 cm up to the brachial bifurcation. We removed the brachial aneurysm, with a venous bypass on the ulnar artery. The patient was discharged in good general condition on the second postoperative day. At 1- and 6-month follow-up he had complete recovery with graft patency, without any neurological impairment and with a good esthetic result. An open surgical repair with great saphenous vein interposition seems to be the best choice in terms of patency and perioperative morbidity.

Significance of Basal ganglia calcification in Down's syndrome

Purpose There is high incidence of dementia in individuals with Down’s syndrome. Much of the emphasis has been on Alzheimer’s disease as being most prevalent; however, it is apparent that other dementia types are also likely, to which this patient cohort may be predisposed. Specifically, this paper aims to highlight the potential for subcortical dementias in Down’s syndrome, suggesting a role for broader cognitive screening in aging individuals. Design/methodology/approach This paper describes a case of a female with Down’s syndrome and mild intellectual disability who presented with early signs of distinctive cognitive impairment and radiological calcification of the basal ganglia. Findings An active 42-year-old lady, who was mostly independent of activities of daily living and in part-time employment, presented with a three-year history of progressive cognitive deficit, characteristic of subcortical decline. She had no personal or known family history of mental illness, epilepsy or dementia. Routine blood tests showed chronic renal impairment, mild hypocalcaemia and vitamin D deficiency, managed by her GP. CT scan showed only bilateral basal ganglia calcification. Originality/value There is a widespread appreciation for the link between Down’s syndrome and Alzheimer’s disease but lesser consideration of the possibility of subcortical dementias. Given the differential nature and presentation of the two dementias, this case report highlights a need for clinicians to consider both to effectively manage these patients in the longer-term. Screening is discussed as a potential means of achieving this.