Ultrasound at the patient’s bedside for the diagnosis and prognostication of a renal colic

Background Diagnosing a ureteral colic is sometimes difficult; however, clinicians should not fail to detect a surgical emergency. This is why diagnostic strategies depend on the imaging examinations, especially ultrasound. Prior studies have investigated the accuracy of Point of Care Ultrasound (PoCUS), but there are relatively few. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of the PoCUS in the diagnosis of renal colic. The secondary objective was to evaluate the relationship between the imaging results and the treatment performed. Methods After the clinical evaluation of patients aged > 18 years with suspected ureteral colic, the Emergency Physician (EP) trained in ultrasound performed PoCUS to conclude whether a diagnosis of “renal colic” should be made. A computed tomography (CT) examination was subsequently performed, to determine whether ureteral or bladder lithiasis was present to diagnose a ureteral colic. The patient’s management was decided according to the to degree of urinary tract dilatation, presence of perinephric fluid, size, and localization of stones. Results Of the 12 Eps in our units, seven met the training criteria for the inclusion of patients. A total of 103 patients were analyzed, and the renal colic diagnosis was retained in 85 cases after the CT examination. The accuracy of PoCUS was 91% (86; 95%) for detecting urinary tract dilatation, 83% (76; 90%) for detecting perinephric fluid, and 54% (44; 64%) for detecting lithiasis. Only high urinary tract stones with ≥ 6 mm diameter were surgically managed (p < 0.01). Conversely, distal ureteral stones with a diameter of < 6 mm were managed with medical ambulatory treatment (p < 0.05). Conclusion PoCUS is a good diagnostic tool, for renal colic, and could help reduce the requirement for the CT examinations and, hence, reduce induced radiation exposure.

Management of Hemorrhoids with Doppler-Guided Hemorrhoidal Artery Ligation

Background An innovative therapy for symptomatic hemorrhoids has been recently proposed it relies on the reduction of hemorrhoidal vascular flow by suturing hemorrhoidal arteries, which are previously located by means of an ultrasound transducer. Objective To evaluate retrospectively the outcome of Doppler-guided hemorrhoidal artery ligation in the management of symptomatic hemorrhoids. Patients and Methods Aretrospective study. The study conducted in Ain Shams University Hosptial (El Demerdash) under supervision of these supervisors. Study period: Six months. Results In our series, the HAL technique has achieved complete control of symptoms in 93.3% of patients after six-monthes follow-up. Conclusion Hemorrhoid ligation with mucopexy is a simple, safe and cost-effective ambulatory treatment for the patients of symptomatic hemorrhoids. It can be performed on an outpatient or day care basis on all grades of hemorrhoids to control bleeding and prolapsing hemorrhoids. Overall the results of hemorrhoid ligation and mucopexy were satisfactory with good control of patients complains.

Comparison of a pediatric practice-based therapy and an interdisciplinary ambulatory treatment in social pediatric centers for migraine in children: a nation-wide randomized-controlled trial in Germany: “moma – modules on migraine activity”

Background Migraine is common in childhood, peaks in adolescents and persists into adulthood in at least 40% of patients. There is need for early interventions to improve the burden of disease and, if possible, reduce chronification. The aim of the project is to compare two types of ambulatory treatment strategies regarding their effect on headache days and quality of life in 6 to 11 year old children with migraine: 1) the routine care in pediatricians’ practices (intervention group A) and 2) a structured interdisciplinary multimodal intervention administered at social pediatric centers (intervention group B). Methods The study is a nation-wide cluster-randomized study. Based on the postal codes the regions are randomly assigned to the two intervention-strategies. Children with migraine are recruited in the pediatric practices, as common outpatient-care in the German health-care system. Parents rate headache frequency, intensity and acute medication intake at a daily basis via a digital smartphone application specifically designed for the study. Migraine-related disability and quality of life are assessed every 3 months. Study duration is 9 months for every participant: 3 months of baseline at the pediatric practice (both groups); 3 months of intervention at the pediatric practice (intervention group A) or at the social pediatric center (intervention group B), respectively; 3 months of follow-up at the pediatric practice (both groups). Discussion Results of the planned comparison of routine care in pediatric practices and interdisciplinary social pediatric centers will be relevant for treatment of children with migraine, both for the individual and for the health care system. Trial registration The study was approved by the ethics committee at the Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich (number 18–804) and was retrospectively registered on 27 April 2021 in the WHO approved German Clinical Trials Register (number DRKS00016698).

Ambulatory Treatment for Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis in Rural Haiti: A Mixed-Methods Study of Social and Economic Factors Affecting Timely Diagnosis and Treatment Success

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Patients with MDR-TB in remote areas of Haiti face barriers that delay their ability to initiate and complete treatment. These barriers must be addressed to ensure successful decentralization of MDR-TB treatment. We conducted a mixed-methods study at two MDR-TB facilities in rural Haiti to identify factors that impact MDR-TB treatment initiation and documented treatment response after discharge from hospital. METHODS: We enrolled patients who started MDR-TB treatment at two Zanmi Lasante MDR-TB facilities in Haiti between October 2015 and March 2016. We conducted interviews with patients at discharge to assess factors creating delay in treatment initiation; performed a longitudinal quantitative assessment of patient wellbeing at discharge and for four months after; and conducted a second interview with the same patients and family caregivers to identify obstacles to transition from hospital-based care to ambulatory treatment. Qualitative data were coded into six final conceptual categories representing patient experiences with TB treatment and care. We then explored how the patient experience during transition might affect the score obtained in the quantitative assessment. RESULTS: We enrolled 17 MDR-TB patients and 16 family members. Four patients were identified as having poor clinical response after discharge, characterized by low BMI, low hemoglobin, compromised activities of daily life, food insecurity, depression and other treatment side effects. Patients with poor response also experienced limited social support and difficult living conditions. Factors contributing to delayed treatment initiation were present at discharge and may compromise response. These include financial (lost wages, costly transportation) and logistical barriers to reaching highly centralized treatment facilities. The results highlight the barriers that MDR-TB patients in rural Haiti face to find and successfully complete lifesaving treatment. CONCLUSION: Properly implemented decentralized care will help overcome geographical barriers. Strong nutritional, social and financial support are essential to support appropriate treatment for the disease.

The Efficacy of Bamlanivimab in Reducing Emergency Department Visits and Hospitalizations in a Real-World Setting

Bamlanivimab, a monoclonal antibody targeting the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2, is available for ambulatory treatment of COVID-19. This real-world study confirms the efficacy of bamlanivimab in reducing hospital admissions and emergency department visits among high-risk outpatients with mild to moderate COVID-19 illness and reveals a trend toward improved mortality.

Comparisons between the Neighboring States of Amazonas and Pará in Brazil in the Second Wave of COVID-19 Outbreak and a Possible Role of Early Ambulatory Treatment

Brazil and many countries are now experiencing a second wave of the COVID-19 outbreak. The objective of this study is to compare results with statistical samples involving millions of people in the two largest neighboring states in Brazil, Amazonas and Pará, which in the first wave were similar but now show significant different results in combating COVID-19. During the first wave, in May 2020, the maximums of the 7-day average daily deaths per population of Amazonas and Pará were similar: 15.7 and 17.1 deaths per day per million people, respectively, which means a ratio 15.7/17.1 = 0.92 ≈ 1. Now, in the second wave of COVID-19 outbreak, Amazonas has entered a serious situation; meanwhile, Pará has presented a much smaller growth in the mortality. The accumulated mortality per population from 11 November 2020 to 15 March 2021 of Amazonas and Pará are 1645 and 296 deaths per million people, respectively. As 1645/296 = 5.55, Amazonas is presenting an accumulated mortality per population more than five times that of Pará. Future in-depth research can provide a grounded answer to explain this significant difference, nonetheless the explicit support of the Pará state government, after 21 May 2020, to early ambulatory treatment may have played some role on this result.

Early Ambulatory Multidrug Therapy Reduces Hospitalization and Death in High-Risk Patients with SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)

Background: There is an emergency need for early ambulatory treatment of COVID-19 in acutely ill patients in an attempt to reduce disease progression and the risks of hospitalization and death. Methods and Results: We recently reported results on 320 high-risk (age > 50 with ≥ 1 comorbidity) COVID-19 cases and have updated our results with 549 additional cases in the period ending December 16, 2020. Our protocol utilizes at least two agents with antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 (zinc, hydroxychloroquine, ivermectin) and one antibiotic (azithromycin, doxycycline, ceftriaxone) along with inhaled budesonide and/or intramuscular dexamethasone. Albuterol nebulizer, inhaled budesonide, intravenous volume expansion with supplemental parenteral thiamine 500 mg, magnesium sulfate 4 grams, folic acid 1 gram, vitamin B12 1 mg, are administered to severely ill patients who either present or return to the clinic with severe symptoms. In period 1 (April-September, 2020) 6/320 (1.9%) and 1/320 (0.3%) patients were hospitalized and died, respectively. In period 2, (September-December, 2020) 14/549 (2.6%) and 1/549 (0.18%) were hospitalized and died, respectively. For comparison, we used the Cleveland Clinic COVID-19 hospitalization calculator and based on average age and comorbidities the expected rate of hospitalization for both periods was 18.5%. The cumulative mortality among confirmed and suspected COVID-19 in Collin, Dallas, Denton, and Tarrant counties was 0.76, 1.04, 0.90, and 0.97. As a result, our early ambulatory treatment regimen was associated with estimated 87.6% and 74.9% reductions in hospitalization and death respectively, p<0.0001. Conclusions: We conclude that early ambulatory, multidrug therapy is associated with substantial reductions in hospitalization and death compared to available rates in the community. Prompt ambulatory treatment should be offered to high-risk patients with COVID-19 instead of watchful watching and late-stage hospitalization for salvage therapies.

The Case of Bradycardia Occured in the Setting of Hyperkalemia in a Patient in Ambulatory Hemodialysis Department

The presented article contains the clinical observation of bradycardia development in 64-year-old patient with chronic kidney disease who was in ambulatory treatment at the hemodialysis department. During electrocardiogram recording an arrhythmia was detected as a junctional rhythm. The specific changes on electrocardiogram, presence of risk factors, and data of additional collection of history disease allowed purposing the development of dangerous condition — hyperkalemia. The diagnosis was confirmed after detection of the serum potassium level. This case illustrates the necessity to consider the possibility of hyperkalemia in patients with chronic kidney diseases including those who undergoing hemodialysis treatment. Relevant clinical manifestations and changes on the electrocardiogram require the urgent assessment of the serum potassium level for timely and adequate correction of the electrolyte disorder.

Early Ambulatory Multidrug Therapy Reduces Hospitalization and Death in High-Risk Patients with SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)

Background. There is an emergency need for early ambulatory treatment of COVID-19 in acutely ill patients in an attempt to reduce disease progression and the risks of hospitalization and death. Methods and Results. We recently reported results on 320 high-risk (age > 50 with ≥ 1 comorbidity) COVID-19 cases and have updated our results with 549 additional cases in period ending December 16, 2020. Our protocol utilizes at least two agents with antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 (zinc, hydroxychloroquine, ivermectin) and one antibiotic (azithromycin, doxycycline, ceftriaxone) along with inhaled budesonide and/or intramuscular dexamethasone. Albuterol nebulizer, inhaled budesonide, intravenous volume expansion with supplemental parenteral thiamine 500 mg, magnesium sulfate 4 grams, folic acid 1 gram, vitamin B12 1 mg, are administered for severely ill patients who either present or return to the clinic with severe symptoms. In period 1 (April-September, 2020) 6/320 (1.9%) and 1/320 (0.3%) patients that were hospitalized and died, respectively. In period 2, (September-December, 2020) 14/549 (2.6%) and 1/549 (0.18%) were hospitalized and died, respectively. For comparison, we used the Cleveland Clinic COVID-19 hospitalization calculator and based on average age and comorbidities the expected rate of hospitalization for both periods was 18.5%. The cumulative mortality among confirmed and suspected COVID-19 in Collin, Dallas, Denton, and Tarrant counties was 0.76, 1.04, 0.90, and 0.97. As a result, our early ambulatory treatment regimen was associated with estimated 87.6% and 74.9% reductions in hospitalization and death respectively, p<0.0001. Conclusions. We conclude that early ambulatory, multidrug therapy is associated with substantial reductions in hospitalization and death compared to available rates in the community. Prompt ambulatory treatment should be offered to high-risk patients with COVID-19 instead of watchful watching and late-stage hospitalization for salvage therapies.

Early Ambulatory Multidrug Therapy Reduces Hospitalization and Death in High-Risk Patients with SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)

Background. There is an emergency need for early ambulatory treatment of COVID-19 in acutely ill patients in an attempt to reduce disease progression and the risks of hospitalization and death. Methods and Results. We recently reported results on 320 high-risk (age > 50 with ≥ 1 comorbidity) COVID-19 cases and have updated our results with 549 additional cases in period ending December 16, 2020. Our protocol utilizes at least two agents with antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 (zinc, hydroxychloroquine, ivermectin) and one antibiotic (azithromycin, doxycycline, ceftriaxone) along with inhaled budesonide and/or intramuscular dexamethasone. Albuterol nebulizer, inhaled budesonide, intravenous volume expansion with supplemental parenteral thiamine 500 mg, magnesium sulfate 4 grams, folic acid 1 gram, vitamin B12 1 mg, are administered for severely ill patients who either present or return to the clinic with severe symptoms. In period 1 (April-September, 2020) 6/320 (1.9%) and 1/320 (0.3%) patients were hospitalized and died, respectively. In period 2, (September-December, 2020) 14/549 (2.6%) and 1/549 (0.18%) were hospitalized and died, respectively. For comparison, we used the Cleveland Clinic COVID-19 hospitalization calculator and based on average age and comorbidities the expected rate of hospitalization for both periods was 18.5%. The cumulative mortality among confirmed and suspected COVID-19 in Collin, Dallas, Denton, and Tarrant counties was 0.76, 1.04, 0.90, and 0.97. As a result, our early ambulatory treatment regimen was associated with estimated 87.6% and 74.9% reductions in hospitalization and death respectively, p<0.0001. Conclusions. We conclude that early ambulatory, multidrug therapy is associated with substantial reductions in hospitalization and death compared to available rates in the community. Prompt ambulatory treatment should be offered to high-risk patients with COVID-19 instead of watchful watching and late-stage hospitalization for salvage therapies.