Conference Lectures 1/2020

Obstetrics and Gynecology Emergencies – Dr. Marques

Normal Vaginal Delivery Key Steps

  • Support the perineum to prevent tearing with delivery of the anterior shoulder
  • Upon delivery of the anterior shoulder, provide upward pressure to deliver the newborn
  • Pull only gentle traction when delivering the placenta, to avoid uterine inversion

Post-Partum Hemorrhage

  • Palpate the uterus to feel for inversion or retained products
  • Provide tone by providing suprapubic pressure with an external hand and uterine pressure with an intravaginal hand
  • Oxytocin can be given IM or IV to treat uterine atony

Shoulder Dystocia

  • Leg hyperflexion and abduction at the hips along with suprapubic pressure (McRobert’s Maneuver) can be done if the anterior shoulder cannot be delivered

Breech Delivery

  • This happens in 3-4% of all deliveries
  • Do not pull traction at any time, as this can lead to entrapment in a cervix that is not dilated
  • A pressure against the popliteal fossa can help flex the leg and deliver each leg

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Oral Boards: Sepsis Due to Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis – Hugh, Shoff, MD

  • The CMS Core Measures (SEP-1) provide quality measures for providers to follow in sepsis
  • Severe Sepsis is defined as Lactate >2 or organ dysfunction
  • Septic Shock is defined as severe sepsis with hypoperfusion despite fluid resuscitation or lactate>4
  • Within 3 hours of presentation, obtain a lactate, blood cultures prior to broad spectrum antibiotics, and 30cc/kg fluid resuscitation
  • Within 6 hours, lactate must be repeated if >2

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CCU Follow-Up – Phil Giddings, MD

Myocardial bridging- coronary arteries travel deep into myocardium as opposed to laying upon the muscle

The vessels are occluded but when there is demand ischemia it can look like a STEMI

Myocardial bridging is fairly common in the general population, but usually isn’t symptomatic or pathologic.

If it is symptomatic- you could do Ca2+ channel blockers, beta blockers, and even myotomy or CABG if you’re feeling wild.

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Urology Review- Isaac Shaw, MD

Priapism-

  • Normal tumescence- veins constrict so the corpus cavernosum engorges because blood flows in
  • Ischemic= low flow, less venous outflow, rigid, painful
  • Nonsichemic= high flow, more arterial inflow, half rigid
  • (Distinguish w/ a blood gas)
  • Treatment
  • anesthetize by blocking the dorsal nerve of the penis (2 & 10 o’clock) w/o epi
  • then aspirate at 3 or 9 o’clock from the corpus cavernosum
  • Use a phenylephrine stick from Room 9, 100mcg-500mcg Q1-5min

Fournier’s Gangrene

  • polymicrobial
  • assoc w/ DM
  • 22-40% mortality
  • empiric + clindamycin (clinda first because it’s addressing the toxins)

consult surgery before imaging

Paraphimosis

  • foreskin trapped proximal to glans so the tip can get ischemic
  • Treatment: manually reduce, dextrose, lube, may have to incise the dorsal foreskin

Phimosis

  • foreskin can’t be retracted over the glans 2/2 inflammation
  • Treatment in ED: topical steroids with urology follow-up

Urinary Retention

  • often have hesitancy, nocturia, frequency, urgency
  • >200cc PVR
  • d/c w/ Foley à Uro will keep that in for 2 weeks prior to void trial

Renal Stones

  • remember that 10-15% don’t have hematuria
  • CT w/o contrast is still the standard for diagnosis, but some emergent literature exists that US alone is sufficient in young, healthy patients
  • if <5mm, 90% pass; but if >8mm, 5% pass
  • admit for intractable vomiting, pain, urinary extravasation, infection & obstruction

Balanitis

  • Candida on the glans
  • Associated with DM or uncircumcised

Torsion

  • twisted around the spermatic cord
  • if actively torsed, you will NOT have a cremasteric reflex
  • ultrasound 88-100% sensitive because they can torse and untorse
  • consult before imaging

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Breaking Bad NewsFrank Woggon, PhD

  • insensitive truth telling can have similar effects as lying
  • goals include gathering info, provide info, support patient, strategy for care
  • keep it simple, no jargon, talk slow, repeat PRN, use neutral language, be honest, allow emotions, consider cultural differences
  • “compassion is the willingness to let yourself be affected by the life and suffering of others”

SPIKES

  • Setting- privacy, sit down, eye contact, turn off pager
  • Perception- don’t combat denial at first, interpret first
  • Invitation- ask how much they want to know first
  • Knowledge- “what I’m about to say is not good,” be direct but not blunt, use their language
  • Empathize- ok to validate the emotions, silence is ok
  • Strategy & Summary- what comes next

GRIEV_ING Protocol

  • Gather the family
  • Resources- call for support
  • Identify yourself & staff, those in the room
  • Educate the family about what happened
  • Verify that the patient died by using that word
  • SPACE- silence is ok, let them have their gut reaction
  • Inquire whether they have questions
  • Nuts & bolts- organ donation, funeral arrangements, personal belongings, etc.
  • Give contact info for f/u questions

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STEMI Mimicks – Frank Shary, MD

OMI= occlusive MI

  • V2 & V3 2mm elev = STEMI; Everywhere else 1mm
  • Wellens: biphasic T wave, they recently had an OMI, symptoms may have gotten somewhat better by the time of the EKG, they need a cath
    • Deep T Wellens- deep and wide
  • LV aneurysm- deep Q wave w/ biphasic T wave, static
  • Sgarbossa criteria- OMI in the setting of LBBB and/or paced rhythm
    • look at vector of QRS and vector of ST segment
    • concordant elevation or depression greater than 1mm
    • discordant greater than 5mm
  • Hyperacute T waves- early into the ischemia, before ST elevation, cath soon because you have potential to save more myocardium, large area under the curve especially in proportion to the QRS complex
    • L circumflex is the vessel most likely to be silent
  • aVR- if it’s the only lead elevated and everywhere else is diffusely depressed, you might have diffuse subendocardial ischemia
    • could be bad triple vessel disease

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Managing the Bleeding Patient Without Blood Products – Chase, PharmD

There are 6 Jehovah’s Witness churches in Louisville

  • Plasma Derivatives are technically not Blood products… so whether or not a patient wants that is up to the individual
  • albumin, clotting factors, PCC, Immunoglobulins (including Rhogam and vaccines)
  • equine Ig and Crofab could also be iffy
  • ECMO, cardiopulmonary bypass, dialysis are allowed generally

Source Control

  • bone wax/putty- use in NES and long bone fx, high infection rate though
  • oxidized regenerated cellulose- ex. Surgicell, promotes rebuilding of proteins to heal & achieve hemostasis, like a mesh
  • gelatin matrix- ex. Floseal, more like a gel
  • there is a powder too but it’s $$$ and causes microemboli so don’t use
  • thombin- apply w/ 4×4’s
  • TXA- derivative of lysine THIS IS NOT A PLASMA DERIVATIVE SO THEY SHOULD BE OK WITH IT, 1g over 10min à another 1g over 8-10 hours
  • have a lower threshold to give TXA since there is a decrease in mortality, even if you wouldn’t have given TXA to a non-Jehovah’s witness

Usable Therapies:

  • Cell Saver
    • blood is collected, washed, centrifuged, returned to patient
    • example indications: AAA, TKA, THA, cardiac surgeries
  • Vitamin K
  • PCC- most efficacious
    • 4 factor is better than 3 factor, but if you try to give 3 factor and then just add Factor VII a la carte, more thromboembolic events
  • FFP- prep time is longer, tonzo volume
  • Adnexanet Alpha- new antidote for rivaroxaban and apixaban, we don’t have that
  • Novo7- directly activates Factor VIII, black box warning for thromboembolic events, no difference in mortality but there was a reduction in transfusions
  • Dabigatran reversal- idarucizumab, dialysis, charcoal
  • Antiplatelet reversal- ASA and Plavix are irreversible, but ticagrelor is reversible
    • DDAVP- indicated for DI, von Willebrand disease, uremic bleeding (renal failure), nocturnal enuresis
    • 0.4mcg/kg over 10min

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Pediatric Environmental Emergencies- Dr. Said

Drowning

  • fresh or salt water doesn’t matter, you’re ruining your surfactant
  • if you are anoxic you get brain damage in 4-6min, irreversible
  • cold temp is only helpful if it happens really quickly
  • outcomes depend on initial resuscitation, degree of pulmonary damage, time submerged
  • poor prognosis- coma, apnea, submersion >9min
  • can try vapotherm for positive pressure, albuterol can treat bronchospasm
  • steroids don’t help
  • goal warming 32C
  • if asymptomatic, obs for 8 hours! Oy vey
  • admit if prolonged submersion, respiratory or neuro symptoms, abnormal CXR

Electrical Injuries

  • lightning strikes carry 30% mortality risk, it causes asystole
  • doesn’t cause renal failure or burns/compartment syndrome
  • thicker tissue less damaged
  • tissue between entry and exit wounds could be more damaged interiorly than it appears
  • AC worse than DC because AC at low voltage causes tetany so you’re holding on longer
  • we use DC for defib, countershock, pacing but you get thrown off
  • oral electrical injury – monitor for progressive edema
  • could have delayed bleeding from labial artery

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EMTALA- Melissa Platt, MD

  • in court, all are case-by-case
  • we have to provide a medical screening exam and treat and stabilize an emergency medical condition
  • transferring physician assumes the risk if the patient crumps en route to accepting hospital

RLQ pain and N/V

15 yr male with hx of hemophilia presenting with 1 day hx of progressively worsening RLQ pain, decreased PO, nausea, and vomiting. Described RLQ as a “small swelling’ that continued to span across the R abdomen as the day progressed. Denies dysuria, hematuria, hematemesis, hematochezia, constipation, diarrhea, abd trauma, or testicular pain. No previous abdominal surgeries. Physical exam is significant for RUQ and RLQ tenderness, no obvious swelling, no ecchymosis seen. He definitely appeared ill and uncomfortable. A&Ox4.

So already…what are we considering?  Appendicitis …. Peritoneal bleed … bowel obstruction …maybe a few others (UTI, Kidney Stones, STI).

While waiting on CT Abd/Pelvis imaging to be completed, patient is found to be anemic with a Hgb of 8. Normal WBCs. Platelets: 300. Elevated PTT: 83. Normal PT/INR. Urinalysis…. negative. IV Fluids have already been started. Zofran for his continued nausea.

Here’s a significant snapshot of the CT

Abdomen

———————

It spanned from the R kidney down to the bladder. Actively extravasating. Hydronephrosis due to the hematoma compressing the R ureter. It compressed the R renal vasculature as well, and anteriorly displaced the R kidney.

Contacted Hematology, where we decided to administer FEIBA. (He usually takes Alphanate MWF, but had not taken any medicine on day of presentation. Plus, the hospital did not have his particular medication, so we needed to find an alternative.) He was admitted to the Hematology service. They have plans of contacting Surgery for any possible interventions once his Hgb stabilized.

Repeat CBC (after patient had been admitted) showed that the Hgb had fallen to 6.0.

Diagnosis: 15 year old male with non-traumatic R retro peritoneal hematoma. Source currently unknown.

PEM Chronicles: Rasburicase

     A case I saw  last month led me to utilizing a drug I’d never heard of before in the ED: Rasburicase.

     The drug: a recombinant urate oxidase enzyme, which converts existing uric acid to allantoin. This is key due to the higher solubility of allantoin in urine. Patients with Tumor Lysis Syndrome are at risk of acute renal failure due to precipitation of uric acid crystals in renal tubules and collecting ducts.

The case: a 12 yo F with no PMHx who was transferred from an urgent care center for multiple tender, enlarged lymph nodes and a WBC count of 98.

As we worked her up for a new presentation of a hematologic malignancy, it became evident she fit into the parameters for TLS. Initial uric acid level – 14.5 along with hyperkalemia, elevated serum LDH, and hyperphosphatemia. When Hem/Onc came on board, once labs were back, the first recommendations were hydration and Rasburicase.

Provided below is the article I found that informed me on the treatment and a few key points picked up when using it.

For kids only – The drug hasn’t been approved in the US for adults.

G6PD deficiency – Yes, from the depths of med school knowledge, this condition is a contraindication to using Rasburicase. The hydrogen peroxide it produces as a byproduct can lead to hemolysis. Ask if there is a family history.

Coordinating with pharmacy – Due to the preparation of rasburicase, it should be administered immediately after it has been prepared. IV access should be obtained well in advance.

Type of IV access – In our case, hem/onc was considering emergent dialysis. It may be prudent to discuss this with your consultants to get a head-start on what they’ll need once going upstairs.

Not at your medical facility, a specialized pediatric hospital, or somewhere with this in stock??? As you transfer, consider:

1.) Aggressive IV Hydration. Easy to start getting this started, especially if transporting to the next hospital will require hours instead of blocks.

2.) Allopurinol. Though it isn’t required when Rasburicase is given, allopurinol can’t decrease what is already present, but it can help prevent the formation of more uric acid.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1200736/

The Hypercoagulable Liver Failure Patient?

Hey Guys,
Just listened to a portion of April EM:RAP (so if you’ve heard it already here’s a little repetition) and was surprised to hear their Notes from the Community Section about coagulopathy in Liver Disease, which basically informed me that many liver patients are at just a high of risk of thrombosis as they are of bleeding.

3 Articles were referenced:
– Tripodi A, Mannucci PM. The coagulopathy of chronic
liver disease. N Engl J Med. 2011 Jul 14;365(2):147-56.
– Villanueva C et al. Transfusion strategies for acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding. N Engl J Med. 2013 Jan 3;368(1):11-21.
– DeLoughery TG et al. Invasive line placement in critically ill patients: do hemostatic defects matter? Transfusion. 1996 Sep;36(9):827-31.

Summary:
– The liver makes both procoagulant and anti-coagulant proteins which can be actually reduced close to equally rendering the patient basically in equilibrium (thus not so hypercoagulable).
– No study has shown that coagulation defects predict issues with procedures (but the experience of the clinician performing the procedure does).
– INR is not standardized in Liver Failure patients (like it is with Warfarin) and thus is not that helpful.
– PT & PTT may also not be helpful in patients with liver failure (due to the variability of loss of clotting factors)
**Fibrinogen may be low in liver failure patients, and you may consider replacement of this with Cryoprecipitate (10 units of Cryo increases the Fibrinogen by 100mg/dl).
– Raising intravascular volume with pRBCs may make them bleed more.

For the full references & discussion see the EM:RAP written summary. Perhaps this is something we should discuss with our GI colleagues and/or MICU people. Any thoughts?