Evaluation of Code Blue Implementation Outcomes

Aim: In this study, we aimed to emphasize the importance of Code Blue implementation and to determine deficiencies in this regard. Methods: After obtaining the ethics committee approval, 225 patient’s code blue call data between 2012 and 2014 January were retrospectively analyzed. Age and gender of the patients, date and time of the call and the clinics giving Code Blue, the time needed for the Code Blue team to arrive, the rates of false Code Blue calls, reasons for Code Blue calls and patient outcomes were investigated. Results: A total of 225 patients (149 male, 76 female) were evaluated in the study. The mean age of the patients was 54.1 years. 142 (67.2%) Code Blue calls occurred after hours and by emergency unit. The mean time for the Code Blue team to arrive was 1.10 minutes. Spontaneous circulation was provided in 137 patients (60.8%); 88 (39.1%) died. The most commonly identified possible causes were of cardiac origin. Conclusion: This study showed that Code Blue implementation with a professional team within an efficient and targeted time increase the survival rate. Therefore, we conclude that the application of Code Blue carried out by a trained team is an essential standard in hospitals. (The Medical Bulletin of Haseki 2015; 53:204-8

Evaluation of Suicide and Intoxication Cases Admitted to our Newly Opened Intensive Care Unit

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the suicide and intoxication cases between April 2011 and April 2013. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed hospital records of patients who were admitted to our intensive care unit due to suicide and intoxication. The age, sex, intoxication causes, laboratory analyses, treatment refusal rates, and the prognosis were evaluated. Results: A total of 308 patients (105 males, 203 females) were admitted to the intensive care unit. The mean age of the patients was 27.45±10.26 years (males: 28.70±9.86 years, females: 26.80±10.43 years). There were only 4 patients over 65 years of age. 275 patients had drug intoxication (antidepressant drug, pain killer, antibiotic, etc.) and 33 patients had other causes of intoxication. When analyzing the prognosis; a total of 234 patients were discharged after initial treatment and 57 patients were discharged due to treatment refusal. 15 patients were referred for inpatient psychiatric treatment, 1 patient to the Alcohol and Drug Addiction Treatment Center (AMATEM) and 1 patient was referred to İstanbul University Medical Faculty due to acute hepatic failure. Conclusion: The patients admitted to our intensive care unit due to suicide and intoxications were mainly females (65.9%) and individuals of young age (median age: 27.45 years). Female patients had used antidepressants for suicide attempts and males had used antiflu-acetaminophen combinations. No mortality was observed. (The Me­di­cal Bul­le­tin of Ha­se­ki 2014; 52:153-7

Safety Evaluation and Tolerability Overview of Favipiravir in the Management of COVID-19: A Real-Life Experience from Turkey

Introduction: Coronavirus diseases-2019 (COVID-19) have been ongoing for more than two years. Despite the scientific researchconducted in this process, there is still no widely accepted definitive treatment for the disease. For treating COVID-19, using antiviralagents previously used for the treatment of other RNA-virus infections has been seen as a fast way to a solution, and favipiravir is oneof the leading agents. This prospective, multicenter, observational study was designed to investigate the safety of favipiravir in 500patients treated with favipravir for favipravir.Methods: This study was conducted as a multicenter prospective study. Eight different sites from four cities participated, and 500patients were included in the study. Follow-up of laboratory parameters, adverse events (AEs), and amelioration of fever, dyspnea,and cough symptoms of the patients was recorded in a case report form.Results: A total of 475 patients from eight centers completed the study. A total of 401 AEs were reported in 206 (51.4%) patients, whichwere mild-to-moderate in the majority of cases. Serious AEs occurred in 5 patients and death occurred in 4 patients. From the first tothe last measurement, serum alanine aminotransferase levels (31.9±27.7 vs. 47.2±49.7 U/L, p&lt;0.001) increased, whereas C-reactiveprotein (39.9±66.4 vs. 15.2±30.5 mg/L, p&lt;0.001) and creatine kinase (101.7±187.7 vs. 71.9±43.5 U/L, p=0.018) levels decreased. Infollow-up parameters, oxygen saturation (SpO2; 96.2±2.7 vs. 97.5±2.1%, p&lt;0.001) and amelioration of fever (&gt;37.8 for 6.6% on day 3,3.2% on day 5, and 0.6% on day 10), dyspnea (for 56.4% on day 5, 62.4% on day 7, and 81.2% on day 10), and cough (46.0% on day 5,73.0% on day 7, and 87.3% on day 10) were noted in an increasingly higher percentage of patients with continued therapy.Conclusion: The current study provides real-life data of favipiravir, which is a unique option in Turkey for treating COVID-19 patients.The results revealed that favipiravir is a well-tolerated agent with a low side-effect profile. However, it needs to be evaluated withwell-designed, dose-compared, randomized controlled studies for the evaluation of efficacy</p