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Background Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) is an uncommon cerebrovascular condition, constituting less than 1% of all stroke cases, particularly affecting young adults. CVST typically presents with nonspecific symptoms, complicating timely diagnosis. Although anticoagulation remains the primary treatment, complicated cases may necessitate endovascular intervention. Reports of CVST presenting with multifaceted neurological and orthopedic complications in young patients without thrombophilic disorders are uncommon, underscoring the importance and educational value of documenting such cases. Case presentation We report the case of an 18-year-old female without prior medical or migraine history who presented to the emergency department with a six-day history of persistent, progressive headache accompanied by nausea. Initial clinical evaluation revealed no neurological deficits, but symptoms and positional exacerbation warranted further investigation. Neuroimaging via contrast-enhanced CT demonstrated extensive thrombosis involving the superior sagittal sinus and bilateral cortical veins, accompanied by minimal parietal hemorrhage and edema. Endovascular thrombectomy was performed due to progressive neurological deterioration, achieving significant clot reduction and continuous venous recanalization. Despite treatment, the patient experienced persistent left-sided hemianopsia and subsequent focal seizures, managed effectively with anti-epileptic therapy. She also sustained an orthopedic injury; anteroinferior left shoulder dislocation, secondary to nocturnal seizure activity, requiring orthopedic intervention. Extensive thrombophilia screening was negative, with no identifiable hereditary factors. Follow-up imaging showed marked thrombus resolution, clinical symptoms improved significantly, and hemianopsia resolved completely after seven months. Conclusions This case illustrates the potential severity and complexity of CVST in healthy young patients. It underscores the importance of prompt diagnosis and multidisciplinary management, including consideration of endovascular thrombectomy in refractory or complicated cases. Further research is needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and optimize treatment strategies, particularly in young patients without identifiable thrombophilic disorders.

Older patients frequently present to the emergency department (ED) with nonspecific complaints (NSC), such as generalized weakness. They are at risk of adverse outcomes, and early risk stratification is crucial. Triage using Emergency Severity Index (ESI) is reliable and valid, but older patients are prone to undertriage, most often at decision point D. The aim of this study was to assess the predictive power of additional clinical parameters in NSC patients. Baseline demographics, vital signs, and deterioration of activity of daily living (ADL) in patients with NSC were prospectively assessed at four EDs. Physicians scored the coherence of history and their first impression. For prediction of 30-day mortality, we combined vital signs at decision point D (heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation) as \"ESI vital,\" and added \"ADL deterioration,\" \"incoherence of history,\" or \"first impression,\" using logistic regression models. We included 948 patients with a median age of 81 years, 62% of whom were female. The baseline parameters at decision point D (ESI vital) showed an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.64 for predicting 30-day mortality in NSC patients. AUCs increased to 0.67 by adding ADL deterioration to 0.66 by adding incoherence of history, and to 0.71 by adding first impression. Maximal AUC was 0.73, combining all parameters. Adding the physicians' first impressions to vital signs at decision point D increases predictive power of 30-day mortality significantly. Therefore, a modified ESI could improve predictive power of triage in older patients presenting with NSCs.

Background: Adequate management is crucial to reduce symptoms, hospitalization, and relapses in patients with asthma. Hospitals often struggle to meet treatment guidelines, and no recent data for Switzerland are available. Objectives: The aim of the study was to audit the asthma exacerbation management in the Cantonal Hospital of Baselland in order to evaluate the level of compliance with guidelines in a narrative discussion. Method: The study design is a retrospective observational cohort study. We evaluated all adult patients presenting to the hospital with a physician-diagnosed asthma exacerbation in 2018 and 2019. The asthma management patients received was compared to the Swiss guidelines and the international GINA guidelines. Results: 160 patients were included (mean age: 50 years old, 57.5% female). SpO 2 and heart rate were assessed at presentation in nearly all patients. Peak expiratory flow (PEF) was measured in only 14%. Adequate management of asthma exacerbation with inhaled bronchodilator medication in a combination of short-acting beta-agonists and short-acting anticholinergics was administered to 96% of the patients. Patients with severe symptoms received systemic glucocorticosteroids within 6 h in 55%. At discharge, a reliever medication was prescribed for 64% of the patients and 55% received a new or increased controller therapy with inhaled glucocorticosteroid (ICS). 49% of the patients had no follow-up organized. Conclusion: To increase the guideline conformity and quality of asthma exacerbation management, the severity should be better assessed, especially by routinely performing PEF measurements. Treatment needs to be intensified; in particular, the ICS dose should be increased significantly and systemic glucocorticosteroids should be given with a lower threshold.

We aimed to validate the clinical performance of the high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I [VITROS Immunodiagnostic Products hs Troponin I (hs-cTnI-VITROS)] assay. We enrolled patients presenting to the emergency department with symptoms suggestive of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Final diagnoses were centrally adjudicated by 2 independent cardiologists considering all clinical information, including cardiac imaging: first, using serial hs-cTnT-Elecsys (primary analysis) and, second, using hs-cTnI-Architect (secondary analysis) measurements in addition to the clinically used (hs)-cTn. hs-cTnI-VITROS was measured at presentation and at 1 h in a blinded fashion. The primary objective was direct comparison of diagnostic accuracy as quantified by the area under the ROC curve (AUC) of hs-cTnI-VITROS vs hs-cTnT-Elecsys and hs-cTnI-Architect, and in a subgroup also hs-cTnI-Centaur and hs-cTnI-Access. Secondary objectives included the derivation and validation of an hs-cTnI-VITROS-0/1-h algorithm. AMI was the adjudicated final diagnosis in 158 of 1231 (13%) patients. At presentation, the AUC for hs-cTnI-VITROS was 0.95 (95% CI, 0.93-0.96); for hs-cTnT-Elecsys, 0.94 (95% CI, 0.92-0.95); and for hs-cTnI-Architect, 0.92 (95% CI, 0.90-0.94). AUCs for hs-cTnI-Centaur and hs-cTnI-Access were 0.95 (95% CI, 0.94-0.97). Applying the derived hs-cTnI-VITROS-0/1-h algorithm (derivation cohort n = 519) to the validation cohort (n = 520), 53% of patients were ruled out [sensitivity, 100% (95% CI, 94.1-100)] and 14% of patients were ruled in [specificity, 95.6% (95% CI, 93.4-97.2)]. Patients ruled out by the 0/1-h algorithm had a survival rate of 99.8% at 30 days. Findings were confirmed in the secondary analyses using the adjudication including serial measurements of hs-cTnI-Architect. The hs-cTnI-VITROS assay has at least comparable diagnostic accuracy with the currently best validated hs-cTnT and hs-cTnI assays. NCT00470587.

Background We aimed to derive and validate a 0/2 h-algorithm using the new high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI)-VITROS assay (VITROS® Immunodiagnostic Products hs-Troponin I Reagent Pack, Ortho Clinical Diagnostics) for rapid rule-out/in of non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). Methods The final diagnosis was centrally adjudicated by 2 independent cardiologists according to the fourth universal definition of myocardial infarction (MI) among 1888 patients presenting to the emergency department with acute chest pain. hs-cTnI-VITROS concentrations were measured at presentation and at 2 h in a blinded fashion. The optimal assay-specific thresholds for the hs-cTnI-VITROS 0/2 h-algorithm were derived in a randomly selected 70% of the cohort and validated in the remaining 30%. Results NSTEMI was the final diagnosis in 216/1322 (16.3%) patients of the derivation cohort. Rule-out was defined as baseline hs-cTnI concentrations of <1 ng/L in patients presenting with chest pain onset >3 h or a baseline hs-cTnI concentration of <2 ng/L and an absolute change of <3 ng/L within 2 h. Thresholds for rule-in were either ≥40 ng/L at presentation or an absolute change within 2 h of ≥ 5ng/L. In the derivation cohort, these thresholds ruled-out 50.8% of patients with a negative predictive value (NPV) and sensitivity of 99.7% (95% Confidence Interval (CI), 98.8–99.9%) and 99.1% (95% CI, 96.7–99.9%), and ruled-in 17.9% with a positive predictive value (PPV) of 79.2% (95% CI, 74.3–83.5%). In the validation cohort, NSTEMI was the final diagnosis in 91/566 (16.1%) patients. The derived 0/2 h-algorithm ruled-out 46.3% of patients with a NPV and sensitivity of 100% (95% CI, 95.6–100%) and 100% (95% CI, 96.0–100%), and ruled-in 18.9% with a PPV of 73.8% (95% CI, 66.1–80.3%) in the validation cohort. Conclusion hs-cTnI-VITROS concentrations at presentation combined with absolute changes within the first 2 h allowed safe rule-out and accurate rule-in of NSTEMI in two-thirds of unselected patients presenting with acute chest pain to the emergency department. Trial registration www.clinicaltrials.gov: NCT0047058

We aimed to assess the diagnostic utility of the Dimension EXL LOCI High-Sensitivity Troponin I (hs-cTnI-EXL) assay. This multicenter study included patients with chest discomfort presenting to the emergency department. Diagnoses were centrally and independently adjudicated by two cardiologists using all available clinical information. Adjudication was performed twice including serial measurements of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTn) I-Architect (primary analysis) and serial measurements of hs-cTnT-Elecsys (secondary analysis) in addition to the clinically used (hs)-cTn. The primary objective was to assess and compare the discriminatory performance of hs-cTnI-EXL, hs-cTnI-Architect and hs-cTnT-Elecsys for acute myocardial infarction (MI). Furthermore, we derived and validated a hs-cTnI-EXL-specific 0/1h-algorithm. Adjudicated MI was the diagnosis in 204/1454 (14%) patients. The area under the receiver operating characteristics curve for hs-cTnI-EXL was 0.94 (95%CI, 0.93-0.96), and comparable to hs-cTnI-Architect (0.95; 95%CI, 0.93-0.96) and hs-cTnT-Elecsys (0.93; 95%CI, 0.91-0.95). In the derivation cohort (n = 813), optimal criteria for rule-out of MI were <9ng/L at presentation (if chest pain onset >3h) or <9ng/L and 0h-1h-change <5ng/L, and for rule-in ≥160ng/L at presentation or 0h-1h-change ≥100ng/L. In the validation cohort (n = 345), these cut-offs ruled-out 56% of patients (negative predictive value 99.5% (95%CI, 97.1-99.9), sensitivity 97.8% (95%CI, 88.7-99.6)), and ruled-in 9% (positive predictive value 83.3% (95%CI, 66.4-92.7), specificity 98.3% (95%CI, 96.1-99.3)). Secondary analyses using adjudication based on hs-cTnT measurements confirmed the findings. The overall performance of the hs-cTnI-EXL was comparable to best-validated hs-cTnT/I assays and an assay-specific 0/1h-algorithm safely rules out and accurately rules in acute MI. ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00470587 [Display omitted]

ObjectivePatients with suspected acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in the setting of left bundle branch block (LBBB) present an important diagnostic and therapeutic challenge to the clinician.MethodsWe prospectively evaluated the incidence of AMI and diagnostic performance of specific ECG and high-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTn) criteria in patients presenting with chest discomfort to 26 emergency departments in three international, prospective, diagnostic studies. The final diagnosis of AMI was centrally adjudicated by two independent cardiologists according to the universal definition of myocardial infarction.ResultsAmong 8830 patients, LBBB was present in 247 (2.8%). AMI was the final diagnosis in 30% of patients with LBBB, with similar incidence in those with known LBBB versus those with presumably new LBBB (29% vs 35%, p=0.42). ECG criteria had low sensitivity (1%–12%) but high specificity (95%–100%) for AMI. The diagnostic accuracy as quantified by the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve of hs-cTnT and hs-cTnI concentrations at presentation (area under the ROC curve (AUC) 0.91, 95% CI 0.85 to 0.96 and AUC 0.89, 95% CI 0.83 to 0.95), as well as that of their 0/1-hour and 0/2-hour changes, was very high. A diagnostic algorithm combining ECG criteria with hs-cTnT/I concentrations and their absolute changes at 1 hour or 2 hours derived in cohort 1 (45 of 45(100%) patients with AMI correctly identified) showed high efficacy and accuracy when externally validated in cohorts 2 and 3 (28 of 29 patients, 97%).ConclusionMost patients presenting with suspected AMI and LBBB will be found to have diagnoses other than AMI. Combining ECG criteria with hs-cTnT/I testing at 0/1 hour or 0/2 hours allows early and accurate diagnosis of AMI in LBBB.Trial registration numberAPACE: NCT00470587; ADAPT: ACTRN12611001069943; TRAPID-AMI: RD001107;Results.

ObjectiveTo develop an ECG-based tool for rapid risk assessment of a cardiac cause of syncope in patients ≥40 years.MethodsIn a prospective international multicentre study, 2007 patients ≥40 years presenting with syncope were recruited in the emergency department (ED) of participating centres ranging from large university hospitals to smaller rural hospitals in eight countries from May 2010 to July 2017. 12-Lead ECG recordings were obtained at ED presentation following the syncopal event. The primary diagnostic outcome, a cardiac cause of syncope, was centrally adjudicated by two independent cardiologists using all available clinical information including 12-month follow-up. ECG predictors for a cardiac cause of syncope were identified using penalised backward selection and a continuous-scale likelihood was calculated based on regression analysis coefficients. Findings were validated in an independent US multicentre cohort including 2269 patients.ResultsIn the derivation cohort, a cardiac cause of syncope was adjudicated in 267 patients (16%). Seven ECG criteria were identified as predictors for this outcome: heart rate and QTc-interval (continuous predictors), rhythm, atrioventricular block, ST-segment depression, bundle branch block and ventricular extrasystole/non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (categorical predictors). Diagnostic accuracy of these combined predictors for a cardiac cause of syncope was high (area under the curve 0.80, 95% CI 0.77 to 0.83). Overall, 138 patients (8%) were rapidly triaged towards rule-out and 181 patients (11%) towards rule-in of a cardiac cause of syncope. External validation showed similar performance.ConclusionIn patients ≥40 years with a syncopal event, a combination of seven ECG criteria enabled rapid assessment of the likelihood that syncope was due to a cardiac cause.Trial registration number NCT01548352 (BASEL IX), NCT01802398 (SRS study).

The early diagnosis of urgent abdominal pain (UAP) is challenging. Most causes of UAP are associated with extensive inflammation. Therefore, we hypothesized that quantifying inflammation using interleukin-6 and/or procalcitonin would provide incremental value in the emergency diagnosis of UAP. This was an investigator-initiated prospective, multicenter diagnostic study enrolling patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with acute abdominal pain. Clinical judgment of the treating physician regarding the presence of UAP was quantified using a visual analog scale after initial clinical and physician-directed laboratory assessment, and again after imaging. Two independent specialists adjudicated the final diagnosis and the classification as UAP (life-threatening, needing urgent surgery and/or hospitalization for acute medical reasons) using all information including histology and follow-up. Interleukin-6 and procalcitonin were measured blinded in a central laboratory. UAP was adjudicated in 376 of 1038 (36%) patients. Diagnostic accuracy for UAP was higher for interleukin-6 [area under the ROC curve (AUC), 0.80; 95% CI, 0.77-0.82] vs procalcitonin (AUC, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.62-0.68) and clinical judgment (AUC, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.65-0.72; both < 0.001). Combined assessment of interleukin-6 and clinical judgment increased the AUC at presentation to 0.83 (95% CI, 0.80-0.85) and after imaging to 0.87 (95% CI, 0.84-0.89) and improved the correct identification of patients with and without UAP (net improvement in mean predicted probability: presentation, +19%; after imaging, +15%; < 0.001). Decision curve analysis documented incremental value across the full range of pretest probabilities. A clinical judgment/interleukin-6 algorithm ruled out UAP with a sensitivity of 97% and ruled in UAP with a specificity of 93%. Interleukin-6 significantly improves the early diagnosis of UAP in the ED.