Trends in oxycodone and oxycodone-containing analgesics administration for back pain in emergency departments in the USA(2007–2018)

BACKGROUND:To describe trends in oxycodone and oxycodone-containing analgesic prescribing for the treatment of back pain among adults in emergency departments(EDs) in the USA from 2007 to 2018.METHODS:Data were gathered from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey(NHAMCS) from 2007 to 2018.The study population included individuals of all ages presenting to USA EDs.The NHAMCS reasons for visit and oxycodone drug ID codes were used to isolate patients with back pain.The main outcome was the proportion of oxycodone and oxycodone-containing analgesics prescribed for back pain in the EDs over the specified time period.RESULTS:There was a relative decrease in the overall administration of oxycodone for back pain in the EDs by 62.3% from 2007(244,000 visits) to 2018(92,000 visits).The proportion of ED patients prescribed with oxycodone-containing analgesics for back pain increased among patients aged 45 years and older(from 43.8% to 57.6%),female patients(from 54.5% to 62.0%),black patients(from 22.5% to 30.4%),and Hispanic/Latino patients(from 9.4% to 19.6%).Oxycodone/acetaminophen was most prescribed and accounted for 90.2% of all oxycodone-containing analgesics in 2007,with a decrease to 68.5% in 2018.Pure oxycodone was the second most prescribed medication,accounting for 6.1% in 2007 and 31.5% in 2018.CONCLUSION:The overall number of oxycodone-containing analgesics decreased significantly from 2007 to 2018.However,that number trended upward in 45-year-old and older,female,black,or Hispanic/Latino patients from 2007 to 2018.The total amount of pure oxycodone increased significantly from 2007 to 2008.

Innovative pathways allow safe discharge of mild acute pancreatitis from the emergency room

Acute pancreatitis(AP)is a leading cause of gastrointestinal-related hospitalizations in the United States,resulting in 300000 admissions per year with an estimated cost of over$2.6 billion annually.The severity of AP is determined by the presence of pancreatic complications and end-organ damage.While moderate/severe pancreatitis can be associated with significant morbidity and mortality,the majority of patients have a mild presentation with an uncomplicated course and mortality rate of less than 2%.Despite favorable outcomes,the majority of mild AP patients are admitted,contributing to healthcare cost and burden.In this Editorial we review the performance of an emergency department(ED)pathway for patients with mild AP at a tertiary care center with the goal of reducing hospitalizations,resource utilization,and costs after several years of implementation of the pathway.We discuss the clinical course and outcomes of mild AP patients enrolled in the pathway who were successfully discharged from the ED compared to those who were admitted to the hospital,and identify predictors of successful ED discharge to select patients who can potentially be triaged to the pathway.We conclude that by implementing innovative clinical pathways which are established and reproducible,selected AP patients can be safely discharged from the ED,reducing hospitalizations and healthcare costs,without compromising clinical outcomes.We also identify a subset of patients most likely to succeed in this pathway.

Mega-Constellations Based TT&C Resource Sharing: Keep Reliable Aeronautical Communication in an Emergency

With the development of the transportation industry, the effective guidance of aircraft in an emergency to prevent catastrophic accidents remains one of the top safety concerns. Undoubtedly, operational status data of the aircraft play an important role in the judgment and command of the Operational Control Center(OCC). However, how to transmit various operational status data from abnormal aircraft back to the OCC in an emergency is still an open problem. In this paper, we propose a novel Telemetry, Tracking,and Command(TT&C) architecture named Collaborative TT&C(CoTT&C) based on mega-constellation to solve such a problem. CoTT&C allows each satellite to help the abnormal aircraft by sharing TT&C resources when needed, realizing real-time and reliable aeronautical communication in an emergency. Specifically, we design a dynamic resource sharing mechanism for CoTT&C and model the mechanism as a single-leader-multi-follower Stackelberg game. Further, we give an unique Nash Equilibrium(NE) of the game as a closed form. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed resource sharing mechanism is effective, incentive compatible, fair, and reciprocal. We hope that our findings can shed some light for future research on aeronautical communications in an emergency.

Assessment of Satisfaction in the Reception and Emergency Department of a Health Center

Introduction The main objective of any healthcare establishment must be to ensure the quality of patient care and customer satisfaction. It is necessary to regularly assess patient satisfaction. The aim of this study was to assess the level of satisfaction of customers aged over 18 years attending the emergency department of the health center. Methodology This was a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study of patients aged 18 years and over, who attended the Samu Municipal emergency department between 02 and 30 May 2023. The satisfaction index was determined using the adapted 2009 SAPHORA-MCO questionnaire and the Likert satisfaction scale. Results A total of 400 patients were surveyed. The average age was 35 years, with a standard deviation of 14.7. Of those surveyed, 51% were women, 87% were educated, 50% lived in Grand Yoff and 59.5% were unemployed. Satisfaction levels linked to perception of the cost of care (72%), waiting time (64.3%), information given to patients (69.1%) and pain management (74 .5%) are fair. On the other hand, the levels of satisfaction linked to administrative procedures (82.5%), staff attitudes towards patients (84%), staff availability (86.4%), patient privacy (89.2%), general atmosphere (87.2%), staff competence (87.3%), and the effectiveness of care (89.4%) were satisfactory. The average waiting time was 38 minutes. However, 32% of patients waited less than 30 minutes and 92% less than an hour. The satisfaction index linked to administration and reception was 72.9% and 79.85%, respectively. The satisfaction index linked to the administration and technical quality of care is equal to 85.8% and 83.7%, respectively. The overall satisfaction index is equal to 80.6%;the level of satisfaction of users of the health structure is satisfactory. Conclusion Patient satisfaction is an essential part of quality care. Patient satisfaction must be based on effective communication from the healthcare team and the creation of a patient-caregiver relationship.

Factors Associated with Mortality in Diabetic Patients with End-Stage Renal Failure Starting Emergency Hemodialysis

Background: Diabetic nephropathy is the leading cause of end-stage chronic kidney disease with poor prognosis in resource-limited settings. This study aimed to determine factors associated with mortality in patients starting dialysis treatment for end-stage chronic renal disease in an emergency context. Patients and Methods: This was a retrospective study from January 2020 to December 2022 at CHU-B. Data from 79 diabetic patients requiring emergency dialysis were compared with those of 79 non-diabetic patients with an end-stage renal disease requiring emergency dialysis. Data were collected from the Nephrology Department registry. We studied their initial clinical and biological profiles and factors related to mortality. Results: Out of 545 compiled records, 79 diabetic chronic kidney disease patients needing dialysis were included (group 1). A control group of 79 non-diabetic chronic kidney disease patients requiring emergency dialysis was also included (group 2). The average age of patients was 53.5 ± 17 years, and the duration of diabetes at dialysis initiation was 14.8 ± 4.3 years. Twenty-three percent were hypertensive. Fifty-two percent of patients experienced intra-dialytic hypotension. Death occurred in 22% of patients. Results show that age (adjusted OR 1.955;CI: 1.025 - 1.086;p-value: Conclusion: Emergency dialysis in diabetics is associated with unfavorable outcomes in terms of mortality. Despite follow-up, renal involvement remains poorly explored, emphasizing the need for physician awareness.

Don’t forget emergency surgery! Lessons to learn from elective indocyanine green-guided gastrointestinal interventions

Fluorescence-based imaging has found application in several fields of elective surgery,but there is still a lack of evidence in the literature about its use in the emergency setting.Clinical trials have consistently shown that indocyanine green(ICG)-guided surgery can dramatically reduce the risk of postoperative complic-ations,length of in-hospital stay and total healthcare costs in the elective setting.It is well-known that emergency surgery has a higher complication rate than its elective counterpart,therefore an impelling need for research studies to explore,validate and develop this issue has been highlighted.The present editorial aims to provide a critical overview of currently available applications and pitfalls of ICG fluorescence in abdominal emergencies.Furthermore,we evidenced how the experience of ICG-fluorescence in elective surgery might be of great help in implementing its use in acute situations.In the first paragraph we analyzed the tips and tricks of ICG-guided cancer surgery that might be exploited in acute cases.We then deepened the two most described topics in ICG-guided emergency surgery:Acute cholecystitis and intestinal ischemia,focusing on both the advantages and limitations of green-fluorescence application in these two fields.In emergency situations,ICG fluorescence demonstrates a promising role in preventing undue intestinal resections or their entity,facilitating the detection of intestinal ischemic zones,identifying biliary tree anatomy,reducing post-operative complications,and mitigating high mortality rates.The need to improve its application still exists,therefore we strongly believe that the elective and routinary use of the dye is the best way to acquire the necessary skills for emer-gency procedures.

Management of obstructed colorectal carcinoma in an emergency setting:An update

Colorectal carcinoma is common,particularly on the left side.In 20%of patients,obstruction and ileus may be the first clinical manifestations of a carcinoma that has advanced(stage II,III or even IV).Diagnosis is based on clinical presentation,plain abdominal radiogram,computed tomography(CT),CT colonography and positron emission tomography/CT.The best management strategy in terms of short-term operative or interventional and long-term oncological outcomes re-mains unknown.For the most common left-sided obstruction,the first choice should be either emergency surgery or endoscopic decompression by self-expen-dable metal stents or tubes.The operative plan should be either one-stage or two-stage resection.One-stage resection with on-table bowel decompression and irrigation can be accompanied or not accompanied by proximal defunctioning stoma(colostomy or ileostomy).Primary anastomosis is more convenient but has increased risks of anastomotic leakage and morbidity.Two-stage resection(Hart-mann’s procedure)is safer and the most widely used despite temporally affecting quality of life.Damage control surgery in high-risk frail patients is less frequently performed since it can be successfully substituted with endoscopic stenting or tubing.For the less common right-sided obstruction,one-stage surgical resection is more beneficial than endoscopic decompression.The role of minimally invasive surgery(laparoscopic or robotic)is a subject of debate.Emergency laparoscopic-assisted management is advantageous to some extent but requires much expertise due to inherent difficulties in dissecting the distended colon and the risk of rup-ture and subsequent septic complications.The decompressing stent as a bridge to elective surgery more substantially decreases the risks of morbidity and mortality than emergency surgery for decompression and has equivalent medium-term overall survival and disease-free survival rates.Its combination with neoadjuvant chemotherapy or radiation may have a positive effect on long-term oncological outcomes.Management plans are crucial and must be individualized to better fit each case.Core Tip:Acute obstruction is common in patients with more advanced colorectal carcinoma and may be the first manifestation mainly of left-sided obstruction and in elderly individuals.Emergency decompression is mandatory.Emergency surgical resection and primary anastomosis accompanied or not accompanied by proximal defunctioning stoma must be the first treatment choice for fit patients under 70 years.Hartmann’s two-stage procedure,although more preferable,must be the second alternative choice.Emergency endoscopic self-expendable metal stents must be preferred in unfit patients as a bridge to surgery and for palliative treatment in all inoperable cases.However,these basic management principles constitute a general direction.Decision-making is important and should be individualized.

Approach to traumatic cardiac arrest in the emergency department: a narrative literature review for emergency providers

BACKGROUND:Traumatic cardiac arrest(TCA)is a major contributor to mortality and morbidity in all age groups and poses a significant burden on the healthcare system.Although there have been advances in treatment modalities,survival rates for TCA patients remain low.This narrative literature review critically examines the indications and eff ectiveness of current therapeutic approaches in treating TCA.METHODS:We performed a literature search in the PubMed and Scopus databases for studies published before December 31,2022.The search was refi ned by combining search terms,examining relevant study references,and restricting publications to the English language.Following the search,943 articles were retrieved,and two independent reviewers conducted a screening process.RESULTS:A review of various studies on pre-and intra-arrest prognostic factors showed that survival rates were higher when patients had an initial shockable rhythm.There were conflicting results regarding other prognostic factors,such as witnessed arrest,bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation(CPR),and the use of prehospital or in-hospital epinephrine.Emergency thoracotomy was found to result in more favorable outcomes in cases of penetrating trauma than in those with blunt trauma.Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta(REBOA)provides an advantage to emergency thoracotomy in terms of occupational safety for the operator as an alternative in managing hemorrhagic shock.When implemented in the setting of aortic occlusion,emergency thoracotomy and REBOA resulted in comparable mortality rates.Veno-venous extracorporeal life support(V-V ECLS)and veno-arterial extracorporeal life support(V-A ECLS)are viable options for treating respiratory failure and cardiogenic shock,respectively.In the context of traumatic injuries,V-V ECLS has been associated with higher rates of survival to discharge than V-A ECLS.CONCLUSION:TCA remains a signifi cant challenge for emergency medical services due to its high morbidity and mortality rates.Pre-and intra-arrest prognostic factors can help identify patients who are likely to benefit from aggressive and resource-intensive resuscitation measures.Further research is needed to enhance guidelines for the clinical use of established and emerging therapeutic approaches that can help optimize treatment effi cacy and ameliorate survival outcomes.

Thoracic giant cell tumor after two total en bloc spondylectomies including one emergency surgery:A case report

BACKGROUND For patients with acute paraplegia caused by spinal giant cell tumor(GCT)who require emergency decompressive surgery,there is still a lack of relevant reports on surgical options.This study is the first to present the case of an acute paraplegic patient with a thoracic spinal GCT who underwent an emergency total en bloc spondylectomy(TES).Despite tumor recurrence,three-level TES was repeated after denosumab therapy.CASE SUMMARY A 27-year-old female patient who underwent single-level TES in an emergency presented with sudden severe back pain and acute paraplegia due to a thoracic spinal tumor.After emergency TES,the patient's spinal cord function recovered,and permanent paralysis was avoided.The postoperative histopathological examination revealed that the excised neoplasm was a rare GCT.Unfortunately,the tumor recurred 9 months after the first surgery.After 12 months of denosumab therapy,the tumor size was reduced,and tumor calcification.To prevent recurrent tumor progression and provide a possible cure,a three-level TES was performed again.The patient returned to an active lifestyle 1 month after the second surgery,and no recurrence of GCT was found at the last follow-up.CONCLUSION This patient with acute paraplegia underwent TES twice,including once in an emergency,and achieved good therapeutic results.TES in emergency surgery is feasible and safe when conditions permit;however,it may increase the risk of tumor recurrence.

Research on Public Engineering Emergency Decision-Making Based on Multi-Granularity Language Information

To effectively deal with fuzzy and uncertain information in public engineering emergencies,an emergency decision-making method based on multi-granularity language information is proposed.Firstly,decision makers select the appropriate language phrase set according to their own situation,give the preference information of the weight of each key indicator,and then transform the multi-granularity language information through consistency.On this basis,the sequential optimization technology of the approximately ideal scheme is introduced to obtain the weight coefficient of each key indicator.Subsequently,the weighted average operator is used to aggregate the preference information of each alternative scheme with the relative importance of decision-makers and the weight of key indicators in sequence,and the comprehensive evaluation value of each scheme is obtained to determine the optimal scheme.Lastly,the effectiveness and practicability of the method are verified by taking the earthwork collapse accident in the construction of a reservoir as an example.

Arterial Embolization: A Superior Treatment for Massive Urinary Tract Bleeding in Emergency Care

Objective:To analyze the effect of arterial embolism(AE)in patients with massive urinary system bleeding(MBUS).Methods:From September 2018 to September 2023,175 cases of MBUS patients in the emergency department of the hospital were randomly selected and divided into groups according to the length of stay.Among them,85 cases(September 2018–September 2020)underwent bladder irrigation treatment with aluminum potassium sulfate solution through a catheter(Group A),and 90 cases(October 2020–September 2023)underwent AE treatment(Group B).The treatment effects of the two groups were compared.Results:The treatment effectiveness of Group B is higher than that of Group A(P<0.05).The urinary hemoglobin level of Group B is lower than that of Group A at 1,6,12,and 24 hours after treatment(P<0.05).Among the 90 cases treated with AE,7 cases had a fever,with body temperatures ranging from 37.3°C to 38.9℃,with a mean temperature of 38.2±0.3℃.Four cases experienced local pain,nausea,and vomiting,while two cases of intra-iliac AE showed transient buttock pain.These patients with adverse reactions were treated symptomatically for 7 days.All patients recovered after treatment.Intravenous urography of 87 patients in June showed that the renal pelvis and calyces were in good condition,the renal function returned to normal,and the blood urea nitrogen and blood creatinine test results were within the normal range.After 1 year of follow-up,no hypertension occurred.Conclusion:AE treats MBUS patients in the emergency department with remarkable efficacy.It has the advantages of less damage to the body,rapid hemostasis,high safety,and maximum preservation of organ function.

Application of Mobile Technology and Information Management in Emergency Pre- Examination and Triage

The primary objective of emergency pre-examination and triage is to provide the most appropriate clinical service to patients with acute and critical illnesses while ensuring the optimal utilization of limited medical resources.With the advancement of medical information technology,mobile technology,and information management,these features have been gradually incorporated into emergency pre-examination and triage and have shown promising outcomes.In this article,the benefits of implementing mobile technology and the current status of integrated information management to provide a reference for the future development and enhancement of emergency pre-examination and triage are reviewed.

Risk factors for postpartum posttraumatic stress disorder after emergency admission

BACKGROUND:Postpartum posttraumatic stress disorder(PTSD)can occur in women who give birth after emergency admission.The identification of risk factors for this condition is crucial for developing effective preventive measures.This retrospective study aimed to explore the incidence and risk factors for postpartum PTSD in women who give birth after emergency admission.METHODS:Medical records of women who gave birth after emergency admission were collected between March 2021 and April 2023.The patients’general conditions and perinatal clinical indicators were recorded.The puerperae were divided into PTSD group and control group based on symptom occurrence at six weeks postpartum.Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify risk factors.RESULTS:A total of 276 puerperae were included,with a PTSD incidence of 20.3% at six weeks postpartum.Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified emergency cesarean section(odds ratio[OR]=2.102;95%confidence interval[CI]:1.114-3.966,P=0.022),admission to the emergency department after midnight(12:00 AM)(OR=2.245;95%CI:1.170-4.305,P<0.001),and cervical dilation(OR=3.203;95%CI:1.670–6.141,P=0.039)as independent risk factors for postpartum PTSD.Analgesia pump use(OR=0.500;95%CI:0.259–0.966,P=0.015)was found to be a protective factor against postpartum PTSD.CONCLUSION:Emergency cesarean section,admission to the emergency department after midnight,and cervical dilation were identified as independent risk factors for postpartum PTSD,while analgesic pump use was a protective factor.These findings provide insights for developing more effective preventive measures for women who give birth after emergency admission.

Management of Acute Bowel Obstruction in Adults in Ziguinchor Hospital Establishments: About 163 Cases Followed Up

Acute intestinal obstruction represents a very frequent admission to surgical emergencies. The aim of our study was to make a descriptive analysis of the management of acute intestinal obstructions at the level of hospital establishments in Ziguinchor. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective, descriptive, multicenter study from the period of January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2021. Patients over 15 years of age admitted for occlusive syndrome in the two surgical departments of the Ziguinchor regional hospitals were included in the study. Epidemiological, diagnostic, therapeutic and evolutionary data were studied. Results: Acute intestinal occlusions accounted for 8.3% of admissions. A total of 163 patients were enrolled, 61.9% were men, sex ratio of 1.6. The mean age was 48.7 years. The average consultation time was 74.8 hours (3.12 days). The total occlusive syndrome was in 48.5% of the cases. Abdominal pain was present in 87.1%, vomiting in 74.2%, cessation of matter and gas in 60.7% and meteorism in 36.2%. Biological lab tests reported hyperleukocytosis in 28.1% of the cases. Abdominal CT scans were performed in 71.2%, confirming the diagnosis in 90.5% and determining the etiology in 93.1%. The zone of the obstruction in the small bowel was 62.7%, and in the colon in 37.3%. Functional occlusions accounted for 22.7% of cases and mechanical for 77.3%, including 120 cases of strangulation occlusion (95.2%) and 6 cases of obstruction. Etiologies were dominated by adhesions and/or fibrous bands (61.2%). Medical treatment resolved the occlusive syndrome in 9.2% of cases, instrumental treatment in 17.1% and surgical treatment in 77.3%. Adhesiolysis/section of fibrous bands (55.7%), detorsion (14.3%) and resection anastomosis (11.9%) were the most common surgical procedures. Overall morbidity was 11.6%, dominated by surgical site infection (7.14%). The mean resumption of intestinal transit was 2.7 days, and the mean hospital stay was 7.9 days. Overall mortality was 6.7%. Conclusion: Acute intestinal obstruction is a frequent, absolute medical-surgical emergency, with multiple etiologies dominated in our series by adhesions and/or fibrous bands, whose morbi-mortality could be reduced by early and appropriate management before the onset of intestinal necrosis.

Effect of a cervical collar on optic nerve sheath diameter in trauma patients

BACKGROUND:As advocated in advanced trauma life support and prehospital trauma life support protocols,cervical immobilization is applied until cervical spine injury is excluded.This study aimed to show the difference in optic nerve sheath diameter(ONSD)between patients with and without a cervical collar using computed tomography(CT).METHODS:This was a single-center,retrospective study examining trauma patients who presented to the emergency department between January 1,2021,and December 31,2021.The ONSD on brain CT of the trauma patients was measured and analyzed to determine whether there was a difference between the ONSD with and without the cervical collar.RESULTS:The study population consisted of 169 patients.On CT imaging of patients with(n=66)and without(n=103)cervical collars,the mean ONSD in the axial plane were 5.43±0.50 mm and 5.04±0.46 mm respectively for the right eye and 5.50±0.52 mm and 5.11±0.46 mm respectively for the left eye.The results revealed an association between the presence of a cervical collar and the mean ONSD,which was statistically significant(P<0.001)for both the right and left eyes.CONCLUSION:A cervical collar may be associated with increased ONSD.The effect of this increase in the ONSD on clinical outcomes needs to be investigated,and the actual need for cervical collar in the emergency department should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Digestive Surgical Emergencies at the “Mother Child”Hospital Center Luxembourg in Mali

Digestive surgical emergencies concern all patients admitted urgently, for whom a decision for surgical intervention may be necessary within 24 hours. They are on guard duty day and night. To carry out this work, we set ourselves the objectives of: 1) Studying digestive surgical emergencies in the general surgery department of the “Mother Child” Le Luxembourg hospital in Bamako, Mali;2) Determine the frequency of digestive surgical emergencies, 3) Describe the clinical and therapeutic aspects, and 4) Analyze the results of treatment. From November 1, 2022 to October 31, 2023, the general surgery department of the “Mother Child” Luxembourg Hospital Center in Bamako, Mali, carried out 139 digestive surgical emergencies whose files were usable;75 men and 64 women, a sex ratio of 1.2. The 20 - 40 years old age group was the most represented, at 40.29%. The average age was 39 years;the extremes 16 years and 93 years with a standard deviation of 21.65 years. The reference concerned 51.08% of our patients. Abdominal pain was the main reason for consultation (100% of cases). In the majority of cases, the physical examination made it possible to make the diagnosis. Faced with certain clinical cases, we requested ultrasound (109/139), ASP (46/139) and CT (15/139). The main etiology was acute appendicitis with 42.45% of cases. The frequency of digestive surgical emergencies was 10.71% of all activities in the general surgery department of the “Mère Enfant” Le Luxembourg hospital center in Bamako. All our patients were seen in consultation by an anesthesiologist before entering the operating room. The surgical consequences were complicated in 11.51% of cases with 7.91% deaths. Surgical site infections accounted for 12.5% of postoperative complications. Eleven deaths were noted, representing 68.75% of complications and 7.91% of our sample. Acute peritonitis was the cause of death in 100% of cases. The average cost of care was 329,000 FCFA.

Performance of the EDACS-ADP incorporating high-sensitivity troponin assay:Do components of major adverse cardiac events matter?

BACKGROUND:The accelerated diagnostic protocol(ADP)using the Emergency Department Assessment of Chest pain Score(EDACS-ADP),a tool to identify patients at low risk of a major adverse cardiac event(MACE)among patients presenting with chest pain to the emergency department,was developed using a contemporary troponin assay.This study was performed to validate and compare the performance of the EDACS-ADP incorporating high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I between patients who had a 30-day MACE with and without unstable angina(MACE I and II,respectively).METHODS:A single-center prospective observational study of adult patients presenting with chest pain suggestive of acute coronary syndrome was performed.The performance of EDACS-ADP in predicting MACE was assessed by calculating the sensitivity and negative predictive value.RESULTS:Of the 1,304 patients prospectively enrolled,399(30.6%;95%confidence interval[95%CI]:27.7%–33.8%)were considered low-risk using the EDACS-ADP.Among them,the rates of MACE I and II were 1.3%(5/399)and 1.0%(4/399),respectively.The EDACS-ADP showed sensitivities and negative predictive values of 98.8%(95%CI:97.2%–99.6%)and 98.7%(95%CI:97.0%–99.5%)for MACE I and 98.7%(95%CI:96.8%–99.7%)and 99.0%(95%CI:97.4%–99.6%)for MACE II,respectively.CONCLUSION:EDACS-ADP could help identify patients as safe for early discharge.However,when unstable angina was added to the outcome,the 30-day MACE rate among the designated lowrisk patients remained above the level acceptable for early discharge without further evaluation.

Skin and Soft Tissue Infections in the Surgical Area at the Kara Teaching Hospital

Objective: To report the management of skin and soft tissue infections in the surgical area of Kara University Hospital in Togo. Material and Methods: This study was conducted retrospectively from January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2022, in the general surgery and orthopedic trauma departments. The study focused on soft tissue infections of the pelvic and thoracic limbs and analyzed epidemiological, clinical, paraclinical, therapeutic, and evolutionary data. Results: We registered 165 patients, comprising 109 men and 56 women.The sex ratio (F/H) were 0.51. The mean age was 45 years with extremes ranging from 23 to 90 years. Farmers (64.8%) followed by housewives (34.0%) were the social strata most affected. The consultation period varied between 1 and 90 days. The pathologies found were necrotizing fasciitis (53.3%), erysipelas (18.2%), infected limb wounds (12.1%), pyomyositis (9.7%), and necrotizing dermo-hypodermitis (1.8%). The main procedures performed were necrosectomy and grafting (62.9%), sample necrosectomy (18.8%), drainage (9.7%), and pelvic limb amputation (1.2%). Follow-up was favorable in 86.7% of cases. The study noted a death rate of 13.3% due to septic shock secondary to a delay in consultation. Conclusion: Skin and soft tissue infections were a common reason for surgical hospitalization at Kara University Hospital, with a high mortality rate due to delayed consultations.

Reliable Data Collection Model and Transmission Framework in Large-Scale Wireless Medical Sensor Networks

Large-scale wireless sensor networks(WSNs)play a critical role in monitoring dangerous scenarios and responding to medical emergencies.However,the inherent instability and error-prone nature of wireless links present significant challenges,necessitating efficient data collection and reliable transmission services.This paper addresses the limitations of existing data transmission and recovery protocols by proposing a systematic end-to-end design tailored for medical event-driven cluster-based large-scale WSNs.The primary goal is to enhance the reliability of data collection and transmission services,ensuring a comprehensive and practical approach.Our approach focuses on refining the hop-count-based routing scheme to achieve fairness in forwarding reliability.Additionally,it emphasizes reliable data collection within clusters and establishes robust data transmission over multiple hops.These systematic improvements are designed to optimize the overall performance of the WSN in real-world scenarios.Simulation results of the proposed protocol validate its exceptional performance compared to other prominent data transmission schemes.The evaluation spans varying sensor densities,wireless channel conditions,and packet transmission rates,showcasing the protocol’s superiority in ensuring reliable and efficient data transfer.Our systematic end-to-end design successfully addresses the challenges posed by the instability of wireless links in large-scaleWSNs.By prioritizing fairness,reliability,and efficiency,the proposed protocol demonstrates its efficacy in enhancing data collection and transmission services,thereby offering a valuable contribution to the field of medical event-drivenWSNs.

Mediastinal emphysema in the context of perforated gastric ulcer

In the context of mediastinal emphysema/pneumomediastinum,the main aetiologies are associated with oesophageal perforation,lung pathology or post head and neck surgery related.The main way to differentiate the pathologies would be through Computed Tomographic Imaging of the Thorax and abdomen with oral and intravenous contrast in the context of triple phase imaging.The causes of pneumomediastinum should be differentiated between traumatic and non-traumatic.Oesophageal perforation(Boerhaave syndrome)is associated with Mackler’s triad in upto 50%of patients(severe retrosternal chest pain,pneumomediastinum,mediastinitis).Whereas in cases of lung pathology this can be associated with pneumothorax and pleural effusion.