Comparison of End-Tidal Carbon Dioxide (ETCO2) Gradient and Vena Cava Collapsibility Index (VCCI) in Response to Intravenous Fluid Therapy in Patients with Moderate and Severe Dehydration and Acute Gastroenteritis

Introduction and Objective: Acute gastroenteritis (AGE) is one of the most common clinical diagnoses globally, and dehydration in severe AGE cases can cause severe morbidity and mortality. Depending on the metabolic acidosis that occurs in dehydration, the respiratory rate per minute is increased, and the carbon dioxide pressure in the arterial blood is decreased. This condition correlates with end-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2). Therefore, this study primarily aims to evaluate whether ETCO2 measurement has a role in detecting metabolic fluid deficit, dehydration level, and regression in dehydration level after fluid replacement and its correlation with Vena Cava Collapsibility Index (VCCI). Material and Method: This study included spontaneously breathing patients admitted to the emergency department of a tertiary training and research hospital with symptoms of AGE and were thought to be moderately (6.0%-9.0%) and severely (>10.0%) dehydrated according to the Primary Options of Acute Care (POAC) Clinical Dehydration Scale. After the first evaluation, the patients' vital signs, ETCO2 values, diameters of the inferior vena cava (IVC) in inspiration and expiration, and VCCI were measured and recorded. These measurements were repeated after intravenous (IV) fluid replacement, and finally, a comparison was made between the measurements. Results: A total of 49 patients, as 16 male (32.7%) and 33 female (67.3%), were included in the study. The mean fluid replacement value was calculated as 664.29 (SD = 259.41) ml. The mean increase in ETCO2 was 3.653 (SD = 2.554) mmHg (P <.001). The mean increase in inferior vena cava expirium (IVCexp) was calculated as 0.402 (SD = 0.280) cm (P <.001) and the mean increase in inferior vena cava inspirium (IVCinsp) as 0.476 (SD = 0.306) cm (P <.001). The VCCI (%) decreased by 12.556 (SD = 13.683) (P <.001). Post-replacement vital signs, ETCO2, and VCCI correlations of the patients were examined and no significant correlation was found between ETCO2 and VCCI (%). As a result of this study, a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was established for the ETCO2 values predicting the level of dehydration and fluid response, and the area under the curve was calculated as 0.748. However, to classify the patient as moderately dehydrated, the ETCO2 cutoff value was determined as 28.5mmHg. Conclusion: The sensitivity and specificity of ETCO2 levels were 71.43% and 74.29% in evaluating the level of dehydration, and no correlation was found with VCCI, which is known to have high sensitivity and specificity in previous studies in determining the level of dehydration and fluid response. Hence, VCCI measurement made through ultrasonography (USG) is a method that should be preferred more in determining the level of dehydration. Nevertheless, as per the results of this study, swift ETCO2 measurements may be helpful in monitoring the change in the degree of dehydration with treatment in patients who were admitted to the emergency department with dehydration findings and were administered IV fluid replacement therapy

Neuroprotective effects of progesterone in spinal cord ischemia in rabbits

Background: This experimental study was performed to investigate the neuroprotective effects of progesterone on spinal cord ischemia in rabbits

Neuroprotective effects of progesterone in spinal cord ischemia in rabbits

Background: This experimental study was performed to investigate the neuroprotective effects of progesterone on spinal cord ischemia in rabbits

Ability of Emergency Physicians to Detect Early Ischemic Changes of Acute Ischemic Stroke on Cranial Computed Tomography

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the ability of emergency physicians (EPs) to diagnose early ischemic changes due acute ischemic stroke on cranial computed tomography (CT). Subjects and Methods: Three EPs interpreted CT scans obtained within 3 h of symptom onset in 50 patients with acute stroke. The CT scans were interpreted by the EPs and compared to official neuroradiologist reports as a gold standard. kappa statistics were calculated to determine agreement among the three readers. Sensitivities and specificities were analyzed for each reader. Results: The EPs' sensitivities were 50, 45.5, and 45.5%, and specificities were 64.3, 82.1, and 64.3%, respectively. Focal parenchymal hypodensity was the criterion for which the EPs were the most sensitive (77.3%). The ability of EPs to recognize early ischemic changes on CT scans in acute ischemic stroke was moderate based on sensitivities. Conclusion: Based on this study, EPs must be trained especially for recognizing early ischemic changes in acute ischemic stroke to improve their accuracy of interpretation. Copyright (C) 2012 S. Karger AG, Base

Evaluation of a quality improvement intervention to reduce anastomotic leak following right colectomy (EAGLE): pragmatic, batched stepped-wedge, cluster-randomized trial in 64 countries

Background Anastomotic leak affects 8 per cent of patients after right colectomy with a 10-fold increased risk of postoperative death. The EAGLE study aimed to develop and test whether an international, standardized quality improvement intervention could reduce anastomotic leaks. Methods The internationally intended protocol, iteratively co-developed by a multistage Delphi process, comprised an online educational module introducing risk stratification, an intraoperative checklist, and harmonized surgical techniques. Clusters (hospital teams) were randomized to one of three arms with varied sequences of intervention/data collection by a derived stepped-wedge batch design (at least 18 hospital teams per batch). Patients were blinded to the study allocation. Low- and middle-income country enrolment was encouraged. The primary outcome (assessed by intention to treat) was anastomotic leak rate, and subgroup analyses by module completion (at least 80 per cent of surgeons, high engagement; less than 50 per cent, low engagement) were preplanned. Results A total 355 hospital teams registered, with 332 from 64 countries (39.2 per cent low and middle income) included in the final analysis. The online modules were completed by half of the surgeons (2143 of 4411). The primary analysis included 3039 of the 3268 patients recruited (206 patients had no anastomosis and 23 were lost to follow-up), with anastomotic leaks arising before and after the intervention in 10.1 and 9.6 per cent respectively (adjusted OR 0.87, 95 per cent c.i. 0.59 to 1.30; P = 0.498). The proportion of surgeons completing the educational modules was an influence: the leak rate decreased from 12.2 per cent (61 of 500) before intervention to 5.1 per cent (24 of 473) after intervention in high-engagement centres (adjusted OR 0.36, 0.20 to 0.64; P &lt; 0.001), but this was not observed in low-engagement hospitals (8.3 per cent (59 of 714) and 13.8 per cent (61 of 443) respectively; adjusted OR 2.09, 1.31 to 3.31). Conclusion Completion of globally available digital training by engaged teams can alter anastomotic leak rates. Registration number: NCT04270721 (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov)