Increasing frailty is associated with higher prevalence and reduced recognition of delirium in older hospitalised inpatients: results of a multi-centre study

Purpose: Delirium is a neuropsychiatric disorder delineated by an acute change in cognition, attention, and consciousness. It is common, particularly in older adults, but poorly recognised. Frailty is the accumulation of deficits conferring an increased risk of adverse outcomes. We set out to determine how severity of frailty, as measured using the CFS, affected delirium rates, and recognition in hospitalised older people in the United Kingdom. Methods: Adults over 65 years were included in an observational multi-centre audit across UK hospitals, two prospective rounds, and one retrospective note review. Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS), delirium status, and 30-day outcomes were recorded. Results: The overall prevalence of delirium was 16.3% (483). Patients with delirium were more frail than patients without delirium (median CFS 6 vs 4). The risk of delirium was greater with increasing frailty [OR 2.9 (1.8–4.6) in CFS 4 vs 1–3; OR 12.4 (6.2–24.5) in CFS 8 vs 1–3]. Higher CFS was associated with reduced recognition of delirium (OR of 0.7 (0.3–1.9) in CFS 4 compared to 0.2 (0.1–0.7) in CFS 8). These risks were both independent of age and dementia. Conclusion: We have demonstrated an incremental increase in risk of delirium with increasing frailty. This has important clinical implications, suggesting that frailty may provide a more nuanced measure of vulnerability to delirium and poor outcomes. However, the most frail patients are least likely to have their delirium diagnosed and there is a significant lack of research into the underlying pathophysiology of both of these common geriatric syndromes

Does C reactive protein/Albumin ratio have prognostic value in patients with COVID-19

INTRODUCTION: There is paucity of data regarding C reactive protein/Albumin (CRP/Alb) ratio in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. We aimed to evaluate the significance of CRP/Alb ratio in COVID-19 patients. METHODOLOGY: Patients hospitalized between March – April 2020 with COVID-19, who had CRP and Albumin levels documented within 24 hours from admission were retrospectively analyzed. Unpaired Student’s t-test was used for continuous and Pearson Chi-square (χ²) test for categorical variables. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were developed to assess the relationship between CRP/Alb and mortality. Nonparametric correlations were calculated using Spearman’s Rho correlation coefficient. RESULTS: 75 patients were included. Mean age was 62.92, 26 females (34.67%) and 49 males (65.33%), mean Body Mass Index (BMI) 29.86, mean body temperature 101.3 and mean length of stay (LOS) was 14.80 days. 24 (32%) patients required invasive mechanical ventilation and 51 (68%) did not, mean CRP/Alb ratio was 6.89 and 4.7 respectively (p = 0.036). 15 (20%) patients died, 60 (80%) survived and the mean CRP/Alb difference between these groups was also statistically significant (7.74 vs 4.83, p = 0.02). LOS (OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.57.-0.88, p < 0.001) and BUN (OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.01.-1.07, p = 0.006) were independent predictors of mortality by multivariate logistic regression, whereas CRP/Alb (OR 1.21, 95% CI 0.96.-1.51, p = 0.06) was not. CONCLUSIONS: CRP/Alb ratio could be useful as a prognostic indicator of disease severity in COVID-19, but we could not corroborate its potential to predict mortality. The work was conducted at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons at Harlem Hospital

Acute Pancreatitis with Splenic Infarction as Early Postoperative Complication following Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy

Obesity is becoming a global health burden along with its comorbidities. It imposes tremendous financial burden and health costs worldwide. Surgery has emerged as the definitive treatment option for morbidly obese patients with comorbidities. Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy is performed now more than ever making it imperative for physicians and surgeons to recognize both the common and the uncommon risks and complications associated with it. In this report we describe a rare early life-threatening postoperative complication following laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. From our extensive review of literature, there is no existing report of acute pancreatitis with splenic infarction postsleeve gastrectomy to this date

Case Report A Rare Case of Diffuse Idiopathic Pulmonary Neuroendocrine Cell Hyperplasia

Diffuse idiopathic pulmonary neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia (DIPNECH) is a rare clinical condition with only about 100 cases reported in the literature. It is characterized by primary hyperplasia of pulmonary neuroendocrine cells (PNECs) which are specialized epithelial cells located throughout the entire respiratory tract, from the trachea to the terminal airways. DIPNECH appears in various forms that include diffuse proliferation of scattered neuroendocrine cells, small nodules, or a linear proliferation. It is usually seen in middle-aged, nonsmoking women with symptoms of cough, dyspnea, and wheezing. We present a 45-yearold, nonsmoking woman who presented with symptoms of DIPNECH associated with bilateral pulmonary nodules and left hilar adenopathy. Of interest, DIPNECH in our patient was associated with metastatic pulmonary carcinoids, papillary carcinoma of the left breast, oncocytoma and angiomyolipoma of her left kidney, and cortical nodules suggestive of tuberous sclerosis. She had video assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), modified radical mastectomy with reconstruction, and radical nephrectomy. She is currently symptom-free most of the time with over two years of follow-up

A Rare Case of Diffuse Idiopathic Pulmonary Neuroendocrine Cell Hyperplasia

Diffuse idiopathic pulmonary neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia (DIPNECH) is a rare clinical condition with only about 100 cases reported in the literature. It is characterized by primary hyperplasia of pulmonary neuroendocrine cells (PNECs) which are specialized epithelial cells located throughout the entire respiratory tract, from the trachea to the terminal airways. DIPNECH appears in various forms that include diffuse proliferation of scattered neuroendocrine cells, small nodules, or a linear proliferation. It is usually seen in middle-aged, nonsmoking women with symptoms of cough, dyspnea, and wheezing. We present a 45-year-old, nonsmoking woman who presented with symptoms of DIPNECH associated with bilateral pulmonary nodules and left hilar adenopathy. Of interest, DIPNECH in our patient was associated with metastatic pulmonary carcinoids, papillary carcinoma of the left breast, oncocytoma and angiomyolipoma of her left kidney, and cortical nodules suggestive of tuberous sclerosis. She had video assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), modified radical mastectomy with reconstruction, and radical nephrectomy. She is currently symptom-free most of the time with over two years of follow-up

Case Report of Ectopic Liver on Gallbladder Serosa with a Brief Review of the Literature

This case describes an intraoperative incidental finding and surgical removal of ectopic liver tissue attached to the gallbladder during a standard laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis. These anomalies are rare, with interesting associations and possible clinically relevant complications. The details of the case, along with a brief literature review of embryology, common ectopic sites, and associations/complications, are presented in this paper. Since laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a very common procedure, it is important to increase vigilance of ectopic liver tissues during surgeries to minimize complications and provide optimal management

Omental Infarction with Acute Appendicitis in an Overweight Young Female: A Rare Presentation

Omental infarction is an uncommon cause of acute abdomen but one that clinically mimics more serious and common causes of acute abdomen like appendicitis and cholecystitis. Historically, it was diagnosed only intraoperatively during surgery for presumed appendicitis or other causes of acute abdomen. But with the increase in the use of imaging, especially abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan in the work-up for acute abdomen, more cases of omental infarction are being diagnosed preoperatively. This has also led to the observation that omental infarction is a self-limiting condition which can be managed conservatively. Currently, conservative management and surgery are the only treatment options for omental infarction with no consensus as to the best treatment modality. Having a patient with both acute appendicitis and omental infarction simultaneously is extremely rare with only two reported cases in the literature thus far. Here, we present a 10-year-old obese female who presented to our hospital with acute abdomen and was found to have acute appendicitis and omental infarction. The patient underwent laparoscopic appendectomy and resection of the infarcted omentum and had uneventful recovery and was discharged on the second postoperative day. In this report, we present a review of current literature on omental infarction and highlight the importance of imaging especially abdominal CT scan in the nonoperative diagnosis and treatment of omental infarction

Omental Infarction with Acute Appendicitis in an Overweight Young Female: A Rare Presentation.

Omental infarction is an uncommon cause of acute abdomen but one that clinically mimics more serious and common causes of acute abdomen like appendicitis and cholecystitis. Historically, it was diagnosed only intraoperatively during surgery for presumed appendicitis or other causes of acute abdomen. But with the increase in the use of imaging, especially abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan in the work-up for acute abdomen, more cases of omental infarction are being diagnosed preoperatively. This has also led to the observation that omental infarction is a self-limiting condition which can be managed conservatively. Currently, conservative management and surgery are the only treatment options for omental infarction with no consensus as to the best treatment modality. Having a patient with both acute appendicitis and omental infarction simultaneously is extremely rare with only two reported cases in the literature thus far. Here, we present a 10-year-old obese female who presented to our hospital with acute abdomen and was found to have acute appendicitis and omental infarction. The patient underwent laparoscopic appendectomy and resection of the infarcted omentum and had uneventful recovery and was discharged on the second postoperative day. In this report, we present a review of current literature on omental infarction and highlight the importance of imaging especially abdominal CT scan in the nonoperative diagnosis and treatment of omental infarction