Hemodynamic effects of leg crossing and skeletal muscle tensing during free standing in patients with vasovagal syncope

Physical maneuvers can be applied to abort or delay an impending vasovagal faint. These countermaneuvers would be more beneficial if applied as a preventive measure. We hypothesized that, in patients with recurrent vasovagal syncope, leg crossing produces a rise in cardiac output (CO) and thereby in blood pressure (BP) with an additional rise in BP by muscle tensing. We analyzed the age and gender effect on the BP response. To confirm that, during the maneuvers, Modelflow CO changes in proportion to actual CO, 10 healthy subjects performed the study protocol with CO evaluated simultaneously by Modelflow and by inert gas rebreathing. Changes in Modelflow CO were similar in direction and magnitude to inert gas rebreathing-determined CO changes. Eighty-eight patients diagnosed with vasovagal syncope applied leg crossing after a 5-min freestanding period. Fifty-four of these patients also applied tensing of leg and abdominal muscles. Leg crossing produced a significant rise in CO (+9.5%; P <0.01) and thereby in mean arterial pressure (+3.3%; P <0.01). Muscle tensing produced an additional increase in CO (+8.3%; P <0.01) and mean arterial pressure (+7.8%; P <0.01). The rise in BP during leg crossing was larger in the elderl

Leg crossing, muscle tensing, squatting, and the crash position are effective against vasovagal reactions solely through increases in cardiac output

Tensing of lower body muscles without or with leg crossing (LBMT, LCMT), whole body tensing (WBT), squatting, and sitting with the head bent between the knees ("crash position," HBK) are believed to abort vasovagal reactions. The underlying mechanisms are unknown. To study these interventions in patients with a clinical history of vasovagal syncope and a vasovagal reaction during routine tilt table testing, we measured blood pressure ( BP) continuously with Finapres and derived heart rate, stroke volume, cardiac output ( CO), and total peripheral resistance using Modelflow. In series A (n = 12) we compared LBMT to LCMT. In series B ( n = 9), WBT was compared with LCMT. In series C ( n = 14) and D ( n = 9), we tested squatting and HBK. All maneuvers caused an increase in BP, varying from a systolic rise from 77 +/- 8 to 104 +/- 18 mmHg ( P <0.05) in series A during LBMT to a rise from 70 +/- 10 to 123 +/- 9 mmHg ( P <0.05) in series B during LCMT. In each maneuver, the BP increase started within 3 - 5 s from start of the maneuver. In all maneuvers, there was an increase in CO varying from 54 +/- 12% of baseline to 94 +/- 21% in WBT to a rise from 65 +/- 17% to 110 +/- 22% in LCMT in series A. No maneuver caused significant change in total peripheral resistance. We conclude that the mechanism underlying the effects of these maneuvers is exclusively an increase in C

Diagnostic accuracy and patient acceptance of MRI in children with suspected appendicitis

To compare magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound in children with suspected appendicitis. In a single-centre diagnostic accuracy study, children with suspected appendicitis were prospectively identified at the emergency department. All underwent abdominal ultrasound and MRI within 2 h, with the reader blinded to other imaging findings. An expert panel established the final diagnosis after 3 months. We evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of three imaging strategies: ultrasound only, conditional MRI after negative or inconclusive ultrasound, and MRI only. Significance between sensitivity and specificity was calculated using McNemar's test statistic. Between April and December 2009 we included 104 consecutive children (47 male, mean age 12). According to the expert panel, 58 patients had appendicitis. The sensitivity of MRI only and conditional MRI was 100% (95% confidence interval 92-100), that of ultrasound was significantly lower (76%; 63-85, P  < 0.001). Specificity was comparable among the three investigated strategies; ultrasound only 89% (77-95), conditional MRI 80% (67-89), MRI only 89% (77-95) (P values 0.13, 0.13 and 1.00). In children with suspected appendicitis, strategies with MRI (MRI only, conditional MRI) had a higher sensitivity for appendicitis compared with a strategy with ultrasound only, while specificity was comparable. • In children, MRI has a higher sensitivity for appendicitis than ultrasound. • Ultrasound followed by MRI in negative or inconclusive findings is accurate. • The tolerance for ultrasound and MRI in children is comparable. • MRI can be performed in children in an emergency settin

A 5-Year Evaluation of the Implementation of Triple Diagnostics for Early Detection of Severe Necrotizing Soft Tissue Disease : A Single-Center Cohort Study

BACKGROUND: The standardized approach with triple diagnostics (surgical exploration with visual inspection, microbiological and histological examination) has been proposed as the golden standard for early diagnosis of severe necrotizing soft tissue disease (SNSTD, or necrotizing fasciitis) in ambivalent cases. This study's primary aim was to evaluate the protocolized approach after implementation for diagnosing (early) SNSTD and relate this to clinical outcome. METHODS: A cohort study analyzing a 5-year period was performed. All patients undergoing surgical exploration (with triple diagnostics) for suspected SNSTD since implementation were prospectively identified. Demographics, laboratory results and clinical outcomes were collected and analyzed. RESULT: Thirty-six patients underwent surgical exploration with eight (22%) negative explorations. The overall 30-day mortality rate was 25%, with an early, SNSTD-related mortality rate of 11% (n = 3). Of these, one patient (4%) underwent primary amputation, but died during surgery. No significant differences between baseline characteristics were found between patients diagnosed with SNSTD in early/indistinctive or late/obvious stage. Patient diagnosed at an early stage had a significantly shorter ICU stay (2 vs. 6 days, p = 0.031). Mortality did not differ between groups; patients who died were all ASA IV patients. CONCLUSION: Diagnosing SNSTD using the approach with triple diagnostics resulted in a low mortality rate and only a single amputation in a pre-terminal patient in the first 5 years after implementation. All deceased patients had multiple preexisting comorbidities consisting of severe systemic diseases, such as end-stage heart failure. Early detection proved to facilitate faster recovery with shorter ICU stay

A 5-Year Evaluation of the Implementation of Triple Diagnostics for Early Detection of Severe Necrotizing Soft Tissue Disease : A Single-Center Cohort Study

BACKGROUND: The standardized approach with triple diagnostics (surgical exploration with visual inspection, microbiological and histological examination) has been proposed as the golden standard for early diagnosis of severe necrotizing soft tissue disease (SNSTD, or necrotizing fasciitis) in ambivalent cases. This study's primary aim was to evaluate the protocolized approach after implementation for diagnosing (early) SNSTD and relate this to clinical outcome. METHODS: A cohort study analyzing a 5-year period was performed. All patients undergoing surgical exploration (with triple diagnostics) for suspected SNSTD since implementation were prospectively identified. Demographics, laboratory results and clinical outcomes were collected and analyzed. RESULT: Thirty-six patients underwent surgical exploration with eight (22%) negative explorations. The overall 30-day mortality rate was 25%, with an early, SNSTD-related mortality rate of 11% (n = 3). Of these, one patient (4%) underwent primary amputation, but died during surgery. No significant differences between baseline characteristics were found between patients diagnosed with SNSTD in early/indistinctive or late/obvious stage. Patient diagnosed at an early stage had a significantly shorter ICU stay (2 vs. 6 days, p = 0.031). Mortality did not differ between groups; patients who died were all ASA IV patients. CONCLUSION: Diagnosing SNSTD using the approach with triple diagnostics resulted in a low mortality rate and only a single amputation in a pre-terminal patient in the first 5 years after implementation. All deceased patients had multiple preexisting comorbidities consisting of severe systemic diseases, such as end-stage heart failure. Early detection proved to facilitate faster recovery with shorter ICU stay

Long-term follow-up after rib fixation for flail chest and multiple rib fractures

PURPOSE: Rib fixation for flail chest has been shown to improve in-hospital outcome, but little is known about treatment for multiple rib fractures and long-term outcome is scarce. The aim of this study was to describe the safety, long-term quality of life, and implant-related irritation after rib fixation for flail chest and multiple rib fractures. METHODS: All adult patients with blunt thoracic trauma who underwent rib fixation for flail chest or multiple rib fractures between January 2010 and December 2016 in our level 1 trauma facility were retrospectively included. In-hospital characteristics and implant removal were obtained via medical records and long-term quality of life was assessed over the telephone. RESULTS: Of the 864 patients admitted with ≥ 3 rib fractures, 166 (19%) underwent rib fixation; 66 flail chest patients and 99 multiple rib fracture patients with an ISS of 24 (IQR 18-34) and 21 (IQR 16-29), respectively. Overall, the most common complication was pneumonia (n = 58, 35%). Six (9%) patients with a flail chest and three (3%) with multiple rib fractures died, only one because of injuries related to the thorax. On average at 3.9 years, follow-up was obtained from 103 patients (62%); 40 with flail chest and 63 with multiple rib fractures reported an EQ-5D index of 0.85 (IQR 0.62-1) and 0.79 (0.62-0.91), respectively. Forty-eight (48%) patients had implant-related irritation and nine (9%) had implant removal. CONCLUSIONS: We show that rib fixation is a safe procedure and that patients reported a relative good quality of life. Patients should be counseled that after rib fixation approximately half of the patients will experience implant-related irritation and about one in ten patients requires implant material removal

Severely injured patients benefit from in-house attending trauma surgeons

INTRODUCTION: There is continuous drive to optimize healthcare for the most severely injured patients. Although still under debate, a possible measure is to provide 24/7 in-house (IH) coverage by trauma surgeons. The aim of this study was to compare process-related outcomes for severely injured patients before and after transition of attendance policy from an out-of-hospital (OH) on-call attending trauma surgeon to an in-house attending trauma surgeon. METHODS: Retrospective before-and-after study using prospectively gathered data in a Level 1 Trauma Center in the Netherlands. All trauma patients with an Injury Severity Score (ISS) >24 presenting to the emergency department for trauma before (2011-2012) and after (2014-2016) introduction of IH attendings were included. Primary outcome measures were the process-related outcomes Emergency Department length of stay (ED-LOS) and time to first intervention. RESULTS: After implementation of IH trauma surgeons, ED-LOS decreased (p =  0.009). Time from the ED to the intensive care unit (ICU) for patients directly transferred to the ICU was significantly shorter with more than doubling of the percentage of patients that reached the ICU within an hour. The percentage of patients undergoing emergency surgery within 30 min nearly doubled as well, with a larger amount of patients undergoing CT imaging before emergency surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Introduction of a 24/7 in-house attending trauma surgeon led to improved process-related outcomes for the most severely injured patients. There is clear benefit of continuous presence of physicians with sufficient experience in trauma care in hospitals treating large numbers of severely injured patients

Long-term follow-up after rib fixation for flail chest and multiple rib fractures

PURPOSE: Rib fixation for flail chest has been shown to improve in-hospital outcome, but little is known about treatment for multiple rib fractures and long-term outcome is scarce. The aim of this study was to describe the safety, long-term quality of life, and implant-related irritation after rib fixation for flail chest and multiple rib fractures. METHODS: All adult patients with blunt thoracic trauma who underwent rib fixation for flail chest or multiple rib fractures between January 2010 and December 2016 in our level 1 trauma facility were retrospectively included. In-hospital characteristics and implant removal were obtained via medical records and long-term quality of life was assessed over the telephone. RESULTS: Of the 864 patients admitted with ≥ 3 rib fractures, 166 (19%) underwent rib fixation; 66 flail chest patients and 99 multiple rib fracture patients with an ISS of 24 (IQR 18-34) and 21 (IQR 16-29), respectively. Overall, the most common complication was pneumonia (n = 58, 35%). Six (9%) patients with a flail chest and three (3%) with multiple rib fractures died, only one because of injuries related to the thorax. On average at 3.9 years, follow-up was obtained from 103 patients (62%); 40 with flail chest and 63 with multiple rib fractures reported an EQ-5D index of 0.85 (IQR 0.62-1) and 0.79 (0.62-0.91), respectively. Forty-eight (48%) patients had implant-related irritation and nine (9%) had implant removal. CONCLUSIONS: We show that rib fixation is a safe procedure and that patients reported a relative good quality of life. Patients should be counseled that after rib fixation approximately half of the patients will experience implant-related irritation and about one in ten patients requires implant material removal