守谷 俊

INTRODUCTION: Ingestion of gasoline can cause severe pulmonary and gastrointestinal complications. Computed tomography may reveal characteristic findings. CASE SUMMARY: A 61-year-old man had gastrointestinal symptoms, and subsequently developed respiratory distress and altered mental status after ingesting approximately 150 mL of gasoline. IMAGES: Abdominal computed tomography revealed a characteristic three-layered appearance of intestinal contents, likely representing intestinal fluid, ingested gasoline, and gas. Chest computed tomography showed bilateral pulmonary infiltrates consistent with pneumonitis. CONCLUSION: Recognition of the characteristic three-layered appearance of the intestinal contents on abdominal computed tomography might aid in the diagnosis of gasoline ingestion.

OBJECTIVES: We aim to assess the early use of contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) of patients with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) using the computed tomography severity index (CTSI) in prognosis prediction. The CTSI combines quantification of pancreatic and extrapancreatic inflammation with the extent of pancreatic necrosis. METHODS: Post-hoc retrospective analysis of a large, multicentric database (44 institutions) of SAP patients in Japan. The area under the curve (AUC) of the CTSI for predicting mortality and the odds ratio (OR) of the extent of pancreatic inflammation and necrosis were calculated using multivariable analysis. RESULTS: In total, 1097 patients were included. The AUC of the CTSI for mortality was 0.65 (95 % confidence interval [CI:] [0.59-0.70]; p < 0.001). In multivariable analysis, necrosis 30-50 % and >50 % in low-enhanced pancreatic parenchyma (LEPP) was independently associated with a significant increase in mortality, with OR 2.04 and 95 % CI 1.01-4.12 (P < 0.05) and OR 3.88 and 95 % CI 2.04-7.40 (P < 0.001), respectively. However, the extent of pancreatic inflammation was not associated with mortality, regardless of severity. CONCLUSIONS: The degree of necrosis in LEPP assessed using early CECT of SAP was a better predictor of mortality than the extent of pancreatic inflammation.

AIM OF THE STUDY: Peripheral intravascular catheter (PIVC) insertion is frequently performed in the emergency room (ER) and many failures of initial PIVC insertion occur. To reduce the failures, new needles were developed. This study aimed to investigate whether the use of the newly developed needle reduced the failure of initial PIVC insertion in the ER compared with the use of the existing needle. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This single-centre, prospective observational study was conducted in Japan between April 1, 2022, and February 2, 2023. We included consecutive patients who visited our hospital by ambulance as a secondary emergency on a weekday during the day shift (from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM). The practitioners for PIVC insertion and assessors were independent. The primary and secondary outcomes were the failure of initial PIVC insertion and number of procedures, respectively. We defined the difficulty of titrating, leakage, and hematoma within 30 s after insertion as failures. To evaluate the association between the outcomes and the use of newly developed needles, we performed multivariate logistic regression and multiple regression analyses by adjusting for covariates. RESULTS: In total, 522 patients without missing data were analysed, and 81 (15.5%) patients showed failure of initial PIVC insertion. The median number of procedures (interquartile range) was 1 (1-1). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed no significant association between the use of newly developed PIVCs and the failure of initial PIVC insertion (odds ratio, 0.79; 95% confidence interval, [0.48-1.31]; p = 0.36). Moreover, multiple regression analysis revealed no significant association between the use of newly developed PIVCs and the number of procedures (regression coefficient, -0.0042; 95% confidence interval, [-0.065-0.056]; p = 0.89). CONCLUSIONS: Our study did not show a difference between the two types of needles with respect to the failure of initial PIVC insertion and the number of procedures.

INTRODUCTION: Early and accurate identification of high-risk patients with peripheral intravascular catheter (PIVC)-related phlebitis is vital to prevent medical device-related complications. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aimed to develop and validate a machine learning-based model for predicting the incidence of PIVC-related phlebitis in critically ill patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four machine learning models were created using data from patients ≥ 18 years with a newly inserted PIVC during intensive care unit admission. Models were developed and validated using a 7:3 split. Random survival forest (RSF) was used to create predictive models for time-to-event outcomes. Logistic regression with least absolute reduction and selection operator (LASSO), random forest (RF), and gradient boosting decision tree were used to develop predictive models that treat outcome as a binary variable. Cox proportional hazards (COX) and logistic regression (LR) were used as comparators for time-to-event and binary outcomes, respectively. RESULTS: The final cohort had 3429 PIVCs, which were divided into the development cohort (2400 PIVCs) and validation cohort (1029 PIVCs). The c-statistic (95% confidence interval) of the models in the validation cohort for discrimination were as follows: RSF, 0.689 (0.627-0.750); LASSO, 0.664 (0.610-0.717); RF, 0.699 (0.645-0.753); gradient boosting tree, 0.699 (0.647-0.750); COX, 0.516 (0.454-0.578); and LR, 0.633 (0.575-0.691). No significant difference was observed among the c-statistic of the four models for binary outcome. However, RSF had a higher c-statistic than COX. The important predictive factors in RSF included inserted site, catheter material, age, and nicardipine, whereas those in RF included catheter dwell duration, nicardipine, and age. CONCLUSIONS: The RSF model for the survival time analysis of phlebitis occurrence showed relatively high prediction performance compared with the COX model. No significant differences in prediction performance were observed among the models with phlebitis occurrence as the binary outcome.

BACKGROUND: Status epilepticus (SE) is potentially life-threatening, however, it is unclear which antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) should be used as second-line AEDs. OBJECTIVE: We conducted a network meta-analysis (NMA) of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing multiple second-line AEDs for SE to investigate the efficacy of AEDs. METHODS: We searched MEDLINE, CENTRAL, ClinicalTrials.gov, and World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Platform Search Portal and included RCTs for patients aged ≥15 years with SE on December 31, 2023. We compared multiple second-line AEDs for SE including fosphenytoin (fPHT), lacosamide (LCM), levetiracetam (LEV), phenytoin (PHT), phenobarbital (PHB), and valproate (VPA). The primary and secondly outcomes were termination of seizures integrating the absence of seizure recurrence at 30 min and 60 min, and adverse events associated with AEDs, respectively, with expressing as relative risk (RR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). We conducted a NMA using frequentist-based approach with multivariate random effects, and assessed the certainty based on the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations framework. RESULTS: Seven RCTs (n = 780) were included, and statistically significant difference was detected between VPA vs. PHB (RR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.53-0.85; very low certainty), fPHT vs. PHB (RR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.48-0.90; very low certainty), LCM vs. PHB (RR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.41-0.93; very low certainty), and LEV vs. PHB (RR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.51-0.94; very low certainty). Moreover, PHB was the highest in the ranking for termination of seizures. For adverse events, no significant reduction was observed owing to the selection of AEDs, although the ranking of PHB was the lowest. CONCLUSIONS: PHB may have been the most effective for seizure termination as second-line AEDs in adult patients with SE. However, the certainty of almost all comparisons was "very low", and careful interpretation is essential.

BACKGROUND: In patients who experience out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), it is important to assess the association of sub-phenotypes identified by latent class analysis (LCA) using pre-hospital prognostic factors and factors measurable immediately after hospital arrival with neurological outcomes at 30 days, which would aid in making treatment decisions. METHODS: This study retrospectively analyzed data obtained from the Japanese OHCA registry between June 2014 and December 2019. The registry included a complete set of data on adult patients with OHCA, which was used in the LCA. The association between the sub-phenotypes and 30-day survival with favorable neurological outcomes was investigated. Furthermore, adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated by multivariate logistic regression analysis using in-hospital data as covariates. RESULTS: A total of, 22,261 adult patients who experienced OHCA were classified into three sub-phenotypes. The factor with the highest discriminative power upon patient's arrival was Glasgow Coma Scale followed by partial pressure of oxygen. Thirty-day survival with favorable neurological outcome as the primary outcome was evident in 66.0% participants in Group 1, 5.2% in Group 2, and 0.5% in Group 3. The 30-day survival rates were 80.6%, 11.8%, and 1.3% in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the ORs (95% CI) for 30-day survival with favorable neurological outcomes were 137.1 (99.4-192.2) for Group 1 and 4.59 (3.46-6.23) for Group 2 in comparison to Group 3. For 30-day survival, the ORs (95%CI) were 161.7 (124.2-212.1) for Group 1 and 5.78 (4.78-7.04) for Group 2, compared to Group 3. CONCLUSIONS: This study identified three sub-phenotypes based on the prognostic factors available immediately after hospital arrival that could predict neurological outcomes and be useful in determining the treatment strategy of patients experiencing OHCA upon their arrival at the hospital.

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to investigate whether early advanced airway management during the entire resuscitation period is associated with favorable neurological outcomes and survival in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients with OHCA aged ≥18 years enrolled in OHCA registry in Japan who received advanced airway management during cardiac arrest between June 2014 and December 2020. To address resuscitation time bias, we performed risk set matching analyses in which patients who did and did not receive advanced airway management were matched at the same time point (min) using the time-dependent propensity score; further, we compared early (≤10 min) and late (>10 min) advanced airway management. The primary and secondary outcome measures were favorable neurological outcomes using Cerebral Performance Category scores and survival at 1 month after cardiac arrest. RESULTS: Of the 41,101 eligible patients, 21,446 patients received early advanced airway management. Thus, risk set matching was performed with a total of 42,866 patients. In the main analysis, early advanced airway management was significantly associated with favorable neurological outcomes (risk ratio [RR] 0.997, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.995-0.999) and survival (RR 0.990, 95% CI 0.986-0.994) at 1 month after cardiac arrest. In the sensitivity analysis with early advanced airway management defined as ≤5 min and ≤20 min, the results were comparable. CONCLUSIONS: Although early advanced airway management was statistically significant for improved neurological outcomes and survival at 1 month after cardiac arrest, the RR was very close to 1, indicating that the timing of advanced airway management has minimal impact on clinical outcomes, and decisions should be made based on the individual needs of the patient.

Naphazoline, a nonspecific alpha-adrenoceptor stimulant, is a potent vasoconstrictor used in nasal sprays, eye drops, and over-the-counter antiseptics. Naphazoline intoxication increases afterload by constricting the peripheral arteries, which can lead to complications including multiple organ failure. Although phentolamine, a nonselective alpha-adrenoceptor antagonist, and nicardipine, a calcium channel blocker, are used for the treatment of naphazoline intoxication, no established administration protocols currently exist. We present the case of a 32-year-old male with depression who ingested 150 mL of an antiseptic containing 0.1% naphazoline (equivalent to 150 mg of naphazoline). Five hours after ingestion, the patient was admitted to hospital exhibiting signs of naphazoline intoxication, such as bradycardia (46 beats/min), blood pressure of 166/122 mmHg, and peripheral cyanosis. We used the FloTrac™/EV1000™ system (Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, CA, USA), a minimally invasive cardiac output monitoring system, to monitor systemic vascular resistance. The systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI) was elevated (4457 dyne.s/cm5/m2; nomal range: 1970-2390 dyne.s/cm5/m2) upon admission and initial treatment with continuous intravenous infusion of phentolamine led to SVRI normalization within 2 h. With the goal of maintaining SVRI normalization, continuous infusion with nicardipine was then started. At 10 h after treatment initiation, the nicardipine dose peaked at 9 mg/h (1.9 μg/kg/min). Treatment was discontinued 8 h later, and the patient was discharged on the fourth day without sequelae. In conclusion, the use of a minimally invasive cardiac output monitoring system to track vascular resistance can effectively guide the dosing of phentolamine or nicardipine in the treatment of naphazoline intoxication.

BACKGROUND: The use of venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO), particularly during radiotherapy, for severe malignant central airway obstruction has rarely been reported. CASE PRESENTATION: A 47-year-old female presented to our emergency department with severe respiratory distress. Given her medical history, she was initially diagnosed with asthma. Despite initial treatment, which included intubation, her condition deteriorated, necessitating VV-ECMO. Computed tomography performed following the initiation of VV-ECMO revealed extensive lung cancer involving both bronchial types. Radiotherapy while on VV-ECMO led to a significant reduction in tumor size, allowing for the weaning of ECMO support and successful extubation. CONCLUSION: Malignant central airway obstruction is life-threatening. Our case demonstrates the efficacy of combining VV-ECMO with radiotherapy when conventional therapies fail. Further research is necessary to validate and explore this novel approach's implications.

INTRODUCTION: Hybrid emergency room systems (HERSs) have shown promise for the management of severe trauma by reducing mortality. However, the effectiveness of HERSs in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of HERSs on treatment duration and neurological outcomes in patients with AIS undergoing endovascular therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This single-center retrospective study included 83 patients with AIS who were directly transported to our emergency department and underwent endovascular treatment between June 2017 and December 2023. Patients were divided into the HERS and conventional groups based on the utilization of HERSs. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients achieving a favorable neurological outcome (modified Rankin Scale score 0-2) at 30 days. The secondary outcomes included door-to-puncture and door-to-recanalization times. Univariate analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney U test for continuous variables and the chi-squared test or Fisher's exact test for categorical variables, as appropriate. RESULTS: Of the 83 eligible patients, 50 (60.2%) were assigned to the HERS group and 33 (39.8%) to the conventional group. The median door-to-puncture time was significantly shorter in the HERS group than in the conventional group (99.5 vs. 131 min; p = 0.001). Similarly, the median door-to-recanalization time was significantly shorter in the HERS group (162.5 vs. 201.5 min, p = 0.018). Favorable neurological outcomes were achieved in 16/50 (32.0%) patients in the HERS group and 6/33 (18.2%) in the conventional group. The HERS and conventional groups showed no significant difference in the proportion of patients achieving favorable neurological outcomes (p = 0.21). CONCLUSION: Implementation of the HERS significantly reduced the door-to-puncture and door-to-recanalization times in patients with AIS undergoing endovascular therapy. Despite these reductions in treatment duration, no significant improvement in neurological outcomes was observed. Further research is required to optimize patient selection and treatment strategies to maximize the benefits of the HERS in AIS management.

A computed tomography (CT) image of the patient's neck after a cricothyroidotomy was performed due to upper airway obstruction. The CT revealed that the tracheostomy tube was inserted into the thyrohyoid membrane, not the cricothyroid ligament.

BACKGROUND: Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is a serious condition. The volume-outcome relationship and various post-cardiac arrest care elements are believed to be associated with improved neurological outcomes. Although previous studies have investigated the volume-outcome relationship, adjusting for post-cardiac arrest care, intra-class correlation for each institution, and other covariates may have been insufficient. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the volume-outcome relationships and favorable neurological outcomes among OHCA cases in each institution. METHODS: We conducted a prospective observational study of adult patients with non-traumatic OHCA using the OHCA registry in Japan. The primary outcome was 30-day favorable neurological outcomes, and the secondary outcome was 30-day survival. We set the cutoff values to trisect the number of patients as equally as possible and classified institutions into high-, middle-, and low-volume. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) were performed to adjust for covariates and within-hospital clustering. RESULTS: Among the 9909 registry patients, 7857 were included. These patients were transported to either low- (2679), middle- (2657), or high- (2521) volume institutions. The median number of eligible patients per institution in 19 months of study periods was 82 (range, 1-207), 252 (range, 210-353), and 463 (range, 390-701), respectively. After multivariable GEE using the low-volume institution as a reference, no significant difference in odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were noted for 30-day favorable neurological outcomes for middle volume [1.22 (0.69-2.17)] and high volume [0.80 (0.47-1.37)] institutions. Moreover, there was no significant difference for 30-day survival for middle volume [1.02 (0.51-2.02)] and high volume [1.09 (0.53-2.23)] institutions. CONCLUSION: The patient volume of each institution was not associated with 30-day favorable neurological outcomes. Although this result needs to be evaluated more comprehensively, there may be no need to set strict requirements for the type of institution when selecting a destination for OHCA cases.

Some critically ill patients completely rely on parenteral nutrition (PN), which often cannot provide sufficient energy/amino acids. We investigated the relationship between PN doses of energy/amino acids and clinical outcomes in a retrospective cohort study using a medical claims database (≥10.5 years, from Japan, and involving 20,773 adult intensive care unit (ICU) patients on mechanical ventilation and exclusively receiving PN). Study patients: >70 years old, 63.0%; male, 63.3%; and BMI < 22.5, 56.3%. Initiation of PN: third day of ICU admission. PN duration: 12 days. In-hospital mortality: 42.5%. Patients were divided into nine subgroups based on combinations of the mean daily doses received during ICU days 4-7: (1) energy (very low <10 kcal/kg/day; low ≥10, <20; and moderate ≥20); (2) amino acids (very low <0.3 g/kg/day; low ≥0.3, <0.6; and moderate ≥0.6). For each subgroup, adjusted odds ratios (AORs) of in-hospital mortality with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated by regression analysis. The highest odds of mortality among the nine subgroups was in the moderate calorie/very low amino acid (AOR = 2.25, 95% CI 1.76-2.87) and moderate calorie/low amino acid (AOR = 1.68, 95% CI 1.36-2.08) subgroups, meaning a significant increase in the odds of mortality by between 68% and 125% when an amino acid dose of <0.6 g/kg/day was prescribed during ICU days 4-7, even when ≥20 kcal/kg/day of calories was prescribed. In conclusion, PN-dependent critically ill patients may have better outcomes including in-hospital mortality when ≥0.6 g/kg/day of amino acids is prescribed.

PURPOSE: We performed a network meta-analysis (NMA) of multiple tracheostomy timings using data from randomized control trials (RCTs) to investigate the impact on patient prognosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We searched MEDLINE, CENTRAL, ClinicalTrials.gov, and World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Platform Search Portal for RCTs on mechanically ventilated patients aged ≥18 years on February 2, 2023. We classified the timing of tracheostomy into three groups based on the clinical importance and previous studies: ≤ 4 days, 5-12 days, and ≥ 13 days. The primary outcome was short-term mortality, defined as mortality at any reported time point up to hospital discharge. RESULTS: Eight RCTs were included. The results revealed no effect between ≤4 days vs. 5-12 days and 5-12 days vs. ≥ 13 days and a significant effect in ≤4 days vs. ≥ 13 days as follows: in ≤4 days vs. 5-12 days (RR, 0.79 [95% CI, 0.56-1.11]; very low certainty), ≤ 4 days vs. ≥ 13 days (RR, 0.67 [95% CI, 0.49-0.92]; very low certainty), and 5-12 days vs. ≥ 13 days (RR, 0.85 [95% CI, 0.59-1.24]; very low certainty). CONCLUSIONS: Tracheostomy ≤4 days may result in lower short-term mortality than tracheostomy ≥13 days.

Guidelines for the nutritional management of critically ill patients recommend the use of injectable lipid emulsion (ILE) as part of parenteral nutrition (PN). The ILE's impact on outcomes remains unclear. Associations between prescribed ILE and in-hospital mortality, hospital readmission, and hospital length of stay (LOS) in critically ill patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) were investigated. Patients who were ≥18 years old in an ICU from January 2010 through June 2020, receiving mechanical ventilation, and fasting for >7 days, were selected from a Japanese medical claims database and divided, based on prescribed ILE during days from 4 to 7 of ICU admission, into 2 groups, no-lipid and with-lipid. Associations between the with-lipid group and in-hospital mortality, hospital readmission, and hospital LOS were evaluated relative to the no-lipid group. Regression analyses and the Cox proportional hazards model were used to calculate the odds ratios (OR) and regression coefficients, and hazard ratios (HR) were adjusted for patient characteristics and parenteral energy and amino acid doses. A total of 20,773 patients were evaluated. Adjusted OR and HR (95% confidence interval) for in-hospital mortality were 0.66 (0.62-0.71) and 0.68 (0.64-0.72), respectively, for the with-lipid group relative to the no-lipid group. No significant differences between the two groups were observed for hospital readmission or hospital LOS. The use of ILE for days 4 to 7 in PN prescribed for critically ill patients, who were in an ICU receiving mechanical ventilation and fasting for more than 7 days, was associated with a significant reduction in in-hospital mortality.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of targeted temperature management, including the appropriate length of time, in pediatric traumatic brain injury is inconclusive. We aimed to compare the efficacy of normothermia and therapeutic hypothermia administered for various durations. METHODS: We searched four databases without language limitations until December 2021 and included peer-reviewed published randomized controlled trials comparing normothermia (>35.1°C) with therapeutic hypothermia (32°C -35°C) in children aged <18 years with an acute closed severe head injury (Glasgow Coma Scale < 8) requiring hospitalization. A favorable neurological outcome was the primary outcome; secondary outcomes were mortality and arrhythmia. Two reviewers performed screening, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias. Network meta-analysis was performed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation working group approach. RESULTS: We included six trials comprising 448 children. No significant difference was observed in favorable neurological outcomes between normothermia and hypothermia at 24, 48, and 72 h (relative risk, 1.05 [95% confidence interval 0.72-1.54]); 1.14 [0.82-1.57]), and 1.19 [0.77-1.85], respectively). Mortality did not differ significantly between normothermia and hypothermia at 24, 48, and 72 hours (0.56 [0.06-5.44]), (0.63 [0.12-3.36]), and 0.90 [0.10-8.18], respectively). Arrhythmias did not differ significantly between normothermia and hypothermia at 24, 48, and 72 h (0.92 [0.01-14.58], 0.36 [0.09-1.45), and 0.95 [0.03-29.92], respectively). CONCLUSION: No conclusive evidence was found on optimal temperature management for pediatric traumatic brain injury. A large randomized controlled trial that considers the temperature control enforcement duration is required.

AIM: To investigate the effect of intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) use after extracorporeal membrane oxygenation-assisted cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) on short-term neurological outcomes and survival in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). METHODS: We retrospectively analysed data collected between June 2014 and December 2019 from the Japanese OHCA registry. Adult patients (aged ≥18 years) who underwent ECPR were included. We divided the patients into those who received IABP and those who did not receive IABP. The primary outcome was the 30-day favourable neurological outcomes in survived patients. The secondary outcome was the 30-day survival. We performed propensity score matching (PSM) to adjust for confounding factors after multiple imputations of missing data. Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using logistic regression analysis after PSM to adjust for confounding factors after IABP initiation. RESULTS: Among 2135 adult patients who underwent ECPR, 1173 received IABP. In 842 matched patients, IABP use was associated with survival (aOR, 1.98; 95% CI, 1.39-2.83; p < 0.001). However, IABP use was not significantly associated with the 30-day neurologically favourable outcome in 190 survived patients (aOR, 1.22; 95% CI, 0.79-1.89; p = 0.36). CONCLUSION: The use of IABP in patients with OHCA who underwent ECPR was associated with 30-day survival. Among survived patients, there was no significant association between IABP use and 30-day neurological outcome. A further well-designed prospective study is needed.

AIM: To investigate an association between failure of initial peripheral intravascular catheter (PIVC) insertion and adverse events in patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) from the emergency room (ER). METHODS: This study was a post hoc analysis of the AMOR-VENUS study, a multicenter cohort study that included 22 institutions and 23 ICUs in Japan between January and March of 2018. Study participants included consecutive adult patients admitted to the ICU with PIVCs inserted in ICU during the study period exclusively from the ER. The primary outcome was adverse events. Adverse events were composite of arterial puncture, hematoma, extravasation, nerve injury, tendon injury, compartment syndrome, pain, redness, bad location, and effusion. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the association between adverse events and the failure of initial PIVC insertion. RESULTS: In total, 363 patients and 1121 PIVCs were analyzed. Moreover, 199 catheters failed to insert properly, and 36 patients and 107 catheters experienced adverse events. After performing multivariate logistic regression analysis, there were statistically significant associations in the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for the failure of initial insertion (OR, 1.66 [1.02-2.71]; p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: Failure of initial insertion may be a risk factor for adverse events. We could potentially provide various interventions to avoid failure of initial PIVC insertion. For example, PIVC insertion could be performed by experienced practitioners.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Emergency endoscopic hemostasis for colonic diverticular bleeding is effective in preventing serious consequences. However, the low identification rate of the bleeding source makes the procedure burdensome for both patients and providers. We aimed to establish an efficient and safe emergency endoscopy system. METHODS: We prospectively evaluated the usefulness of a scoring system (Jichi Medical University diverticular hemorrhage score: JD score) based on our experiences with past cases. The JD score was determined using four criteria: CT evidence of contrast agent extravasation, 3 points; oral anticoagulant (any type) use, 2 points; C-reactive protein ≥1 mg/dL, 1 point; and comorbidity index ≥3, 1 point. Based on the JD score, patients with acute diverticular bleeding who underwent emergency or elective endoscopy were grouped into JD ≥3 or JD <3 groups, respectively. The primary and secondary endpoints were the bleeding source identification rate and clinical outcomes. RESULTS: The JD ≥3 and JD <3 groups included 35 and 47 patients, respectively. The rate of bleeding source identification, followed by the hemostatic procedure, was significantly higher in the JD ≥3 group than in the JD <3 group (77% vs. 23%, p <0.001), with a higher JD score associated with a higher bleeding source identification rate. No significant difference was observed between the groups in terms of clinical outcomes, except for a higher incidence of rebleeding at one-month post-discharge and a higher number of patients requiring interventional radiology in the JD ≥3 group than in the JD <3 group. Subgroup analysis showed that successful identification of the bleeding source and hemostasis contributed to a shorter hospital stay. CONCLUSION: We established a safe and efficient endoscopic scoring system for treating colonic diverticular bleeding. The higher the JD score, the higher the bleeding source identification, leading to a successful hemostatic procedure. Elective endoscopy was possible in the JD <3 group when vital signs were stable.

BACKGROUND: Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) with shockable rhythms, including ventricular fibrillation and pulseless ventricular tachycardia, is associated with better prognosis and neurological outcome than OHCA due to other rhythms. Antiarrhythmic drugs, including lidocaine and amiodarone, are often used for defibrillation. This study aimed to compare the effects of lidocaine and amiodarone on the prognosis and neurological outcome of patients with OHCA due to shockable rhythms in a real-world setting. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective observational study using a multicenter OHCA registry of 91 participating hospitals in Japan. We included adult patients with shockable rhythms, such as ventricular fibrillation and pulseless ventricular tachycardia, who were administered either lidocaine or amiodarone. The primary outcome was 30-day survival, and the secondary outcome was a good neurological outcome at 30 days. We compared the effects of lidocaine and amiodarone for patients with OHCA due to shockable rhythms for these outcomes using logistic regression analysis after propensity score matching (PSM). RESULTS: Of the 51,199 patients registered in the OHCA registry, 1970 patients were analyzed. In total, 105 patients (5.3%) were administered lidocaine, and 1865 (94.7%) were administered amiodarone. After performing PSM with amiodarone used as the reference, the odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals of lidocaine use for 30-day survival and 30-day good neurological outcome were 1.44 (0.58-3.61) and 1.77 (0.59-5.29), respectively. CONCLUSION: The use of lidocaine and amiodarone for patients with OHCA due to shockable rhythms within a real-world setting showed no significant differences in short-term mortality or neurological outcome. There is no evidence that either amiodarone or lidocaine is superior in treatment; thus, either or both drugs could be administered.

We aimed to compare the efficacy of therapeutic hypothermia for 24, 48, and 72 h, and normothermia following pediatric cardiac arrest. We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE via Ovid, World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Platform Search Portal, and ClinicalTrials.gov. from their inception to December 2021. We included randomized controlled trials and observational studies evaluating target temperature management (TTM) in children aged < 18 years with the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) after cardiac arrest. We compared four intervention groups (normothermia, therapeutic hypothermia for 24 h (TTM 24h), therapeutic hypothermia for 48 h (TTM 48h), and therapeutic hypothermia for 72 h (TTM 72h)) using network meta-analysis. The outcomes were survival and favorable neurological outcome at 6 months or more. Seven studies involving 1008 patients and four studies involving 684 patients were included in the quantitative synthesis of survival and neurological outcome, respectively. TTM for 72 h was associated with a higher survival rate, compared to normothermia (RR 1.75 (95% CI 1.27-2.40)) (very low certainty), TTM 24h (RR 1.53 (95% CI 1.06-2.19)) (low certainty), and TTM 48h (RR 1.54 (95% CI 1.06-2.22)) (very low certainty). TTM for 72 h was also associated with favorable neurological outcomes compared with normothermia (RR 9.36 (95% CI 2.04-42.91)), or TTM 48h (RR 8.15 (95% CI 1.6-40.59)) (all very low certainty). TTM for 24 h was associated with favorable neurological outcome, compared with normothermia (RR 8.02 (95% CI 1.28-50.50)) (very low certainty). In the ranking analysis, the hierarchies for efficacy for survival and favorable neurological outcome were TTM 72h > TTM 48h > TTM 24h > normothermia. Although prolonged therapeutic hypothermia might be effective in pediatric patients with ROSC after cardiac arrest, the evidence to support this result is only weak to very weak. There is no conclusive evidence regarding the effectiveness and length of therapeutic hypothermia and high-quality RCRs comparing long-length therapeutic hypothermia to short-length hypothermia and normothermia are needed.

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) has been the standard treatment for intermediate-stage, unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (u-HCC). However, with recent advances in systemic therapy and the emergence of the concept of TACE-refractory or -unsuitable, the effectiveness of systemic therapy, as well as TACE, has been demonstrated for patients judged to be TACE-refractory or -unsuitable. In this study, the efficacy of lenvatinib and its combination with TACE after lenvatinib was investigated in 140 patients with intermediate-stage u-HCC treated with lenvatinib mainly because of being judged to be TACE-refractory or -unsuitable. Median overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were 24.4 and 9.0 months, respectively, indicating a good response rate. In multivariate analysis, modified albumin-bilirubin (mALBI) grade and up to seven criteria were identified as independent factors for OS, and mALBI grade and tumor morphology were identified as independent factors for PFS. While 95% of all patients were TACE-refractory or -unsuitable, the further prognosis was prolonged by the combination with TACE after lenvatinib initiation. These findings suggest that systemic therapy should be considered for intermediate-stage u-HCC, even in patients judged to be TACE-refractory or -unsuitable. The use of TACE after the start of systemic therapy may further improve prognosis.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown an association between hyperoxemia and mortality in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) after cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR); however, evidence is lacking in the extracorporeal CPR (ECPR) setting. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that hyperoxemia is associated with poor neurological outcomes in patients treated by ECPR. METHODS: The Japanese Association for Acute Medicine OHCA Registry is a multicenter, prospective, observational registry of patients from 2014 to 2017. Adult (18 years or older) patients who had undergone ECPR after OHCA were included. Eligible patients were divided into two groups based on the partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood (PaO2) levels at 24 h after ECPR: the high-PaO2 group (n = 242) defined as PaO2 ≥ 157 mm Hg (median) and the low-PaO2 group (n = 211) defined as PaO2 60 to < 157 mm Hg. The primary outcome was the favorable neurological outcome, defined as a Cerebral Performance Categories Scale score of 1 to 2 at 30 days after OHCA. RESULTS: Of 34,754 patients with OHCA, 453 patients were included. The neurological outcome was significantly lower in the high-PaO2 group than in the low-PaO2 group (15.9 vs. 33.5%; p < 0.001). After adjusting for potential confounders, high PaO2 was negatively associated with favorable neurological outcomes (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.48; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.24-0.97; p = 0.040). In a multivariate analysis with multiple imputation, high PaO2 was also negatively associated with favorable neurological outcomes (aOR 0.63; 95% CI 0.49-0.81; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Hyperoxemia was associated with worse neurological outcomes in OHCA patients with ECPR.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the impact of hyperoxia that developed immediately after extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)-assisted cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) on patients' short-term neurological outcomes after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). METHODS: This study retrospectively analyzed data from the Japanese OHCA registry from June 2014 to December 2017. We analyzed adult patients (≥ 18 years) who had undergone ECPR. Eligible patients were divided into the following three groups based on their initial partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood (PaO2) levels after ECMO pump-on: normoxia group, PaO2 ≤ 200 mm Hg; moderate hyperoxia group, 200 mm Hg < PaO2 ≤ 400 mm Hg; and extreme hyperoxia group, PaO2 > 400 mm Hg. The primary and secondary outcomes were 30-day favorable neurological outcomes. Logistic regression statistical analysis model of 30-day favorable neurological outcomes was performed after adjusting for multiple propensity scores calculated using pre-ECPR covariates and for confounding factors post-ECPR. RESULTS: Of the 34,754 patients with OHCA enrolled in the registry, 847 were included. The median PaO2 level was 300 mm Hg (interquartile range: 148-427 mm Hg). Among the eligible patients, 277, 313, and 257 were categorized as normoxic, moderately hyperoxic, and extremely hyperoxic, respectively. Moderate hyperoxia was not significantly associated with 30-day neurologically favorable outcomes compared with normoxia as a reference (adjusted odds ratio, 0.86; 95% confidence interval: 0.55-1.35; p = 0.51). However, extreme hyperoxia was associated with less 30-day neurologically favorable outcomes when compared with normoxia (adjusted odds ratio, 0.48; 95% confidence interval: 0.29-0.82; p = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: For patients with OHCA who received ECPR, extreme hyperoxia (PaO2 > 400 mm Hg) was associated with 30-day poor neurological outcomes. Avoidance of extreme hyperoxia may improve neurological outcomes in patients with OHCA treated with ECPR.

AIM: Status epilepticus (SE) is a life-threatening neurological emergency. There is insufficient evidence regarding which antiepileptic therapy is most effective in patients with benzodiazepine-refractory convulsive SE. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate intravenous phenytoin (PHT) and other intravenous antiepileptic medications for SE. METHODS: We searched PubMed, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Igaku Chuo Zasshi for published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in humans up to August 2019. We compared outcomes between intravenous PHT and other intravenous medications. The important primary composite outcomes were the successful clinical cessation of seizures, mortality, and neurological outcomes at discharge. The reliability of the level of evidence for each outcome was compared using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach. RESULTS: A total of 1,103 studies were identified from the databases, and 10 RCTs were included in the analysis. The ratio of successful clinical seizure cessation was significantly lower (risk ratio [RR] 0.89; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.82-0.97) for patients treated with intravenous PHT than with other medications. When we compared mortality and neurological outcomes at discharge, we observed no significant differences between patients treated with PHT and those treated with other medications. The RRs were 1.07 (95% CI, 0.55-2.08) and 0.91 (95% CI, 0.72-1.15) for mortality and neurological outcomes at discharge, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings showed that intravenous PHT was significantly inferior to other medications in terms of the cessation of seizures. No significant differences were observed in mortality or neurological outcomes between PHT and other medications.

Surgical site infections (SSIs) and catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs) caused by bacteria from surfaces poorly disinfected with chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) and povidone-iodine (PVP-I) are increasing. Olanexidine gluconate (OLG) was developed in 2015 in Japan to prevent SSI and CRBSI caused by bacteria resistant to CHG and PVP-I. This scoping review aimed to identify the knowledge gap between what is known and what is not known about the disinfection efficacy of OLG. We searched MEDLINE through PubMed, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform search database, ClinicalTrials.gov, and the Web-based database of Japanese medical articles for works published to July 18, 2021. Manual reference searches were also carried out. A total of 131 studies were screened. Forty-seven studies were included in this review and classified into two major categories: studies on pharmacological effects and spectrum (n = 29) and studies on clinical and adverse effects (n = 18). Olanexidine gluconate showed bactericidal activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and vancomycin-resistant enterococci, in addition to common Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. In clinical settings, although there is limited evidence on SSI prevention, 1.5% OLG might be more effective than 10% PVP-I and 1% CHG in preventing SSI. However, the clinical usefulness of OLG is unclear due to the limited number of clinical studies. Also, clinical research is limited to studies targeting SSI prevention, and there are no clinical studies on CRBSI. Further clinical studies are needed on SSI and CRBSI prevention.

AIM: To assess heat stroke and heat exhaustion occurrence and response during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic in Japan. METHODS: This retrospective, multicenter, registry-based study describes and compares the characteristics of patients between the months of July and September in 2019 and 2020. Factors affecting heat stroke and heat exhaustion were statistically analyzed. Cramér's V was calculated to determine the effect size for group comparisons. We also investigated the prevalence of mask wearing and details of different cooling methods. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed between 2019 and 2020. In both years, in-hospital mortality rates just exceeded 8%. Individuals >65 years old comprised 50% of cases and non-exertional onset (office work and everyday life) comprised 60%-70%, respectively. The recommendations from the Working Group on Heat Stroke Medicine given during the coronavirus disease pandemic in 2019 had a significant impact on the choice of cooling methods. The percentage of cases, for which intravascular temperature management was performed and cooling blankets were used increased, whereas the percentage of cases in which evaporative plus convective cooling was performed decreased. A total of 49 cases of heat stroke in mask wearing were reported. CONCLUSION: Epidemiological assessments of heat stroke and heat exhaustion did not reveal significant changes between 2019 and 2020. The findings suggest that awareness campaigns regarding heat stroke prevention among the elderly in daily life should be continued in the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. In the future, it is also necessary to validate the recommendations of the Working Group on Heatstroke Medicine.

INTRODUCTION: Sudden cardiac arrest causes numerous deaths worldwide. High-quality chest compressions are important for good neurological recovery. Arterial pressure is considered useful to monitor the quality of chest compressions by the American Heart Association. However, arterial pressure catheter might be inconvenient during resuscitation. Conversely, cerebral regional oxygen saturation (rSO2) during resuscitation may be associated with a good neurological prognosis. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the correlation between mean arterial pressure and rSO2 during resuscitation to evaluate rSO2 as an indicator of the quality of chest compressions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was a single-center, prospective, observational study. Patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest who were transported to a tertiary care emergency center in Japan between October 2014 and March 2015 were included. The primary outcome was the regression coefficient between mean arterial pressure (MAP) and rSO2. MAP and rSO2 were measured during resuscitation (at hospital arrival [0 min], 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 min), and MAP was measured by using an arterial catheter inserted into the femoral artery. For analysis, we used the higher value of rSO2 obtained from the left and right forehead of the patient measured using a near-infrared spectrometer. Regression coefficients were calculated using the generalized estimating equation with MAP and systolic arterial pressure as response variables and rSO2 as an explanatory variable since MAP and rSO2 were repeatedly measured in the same patient. Since the confounding factors between MAP or systolic arterial pressure and rSO2 were not clear clinically or from previous studies, the generalized estimating equation was analyzed using a univariate analysis. RESULTS: In this study, 37 patients were analyzed. The rSO2 and MAP during resuscitation from hospital arrival to 15 min later were expressed as follows: (median [interquartile range, IQR]): rSO2, 29.5 (24.3-38.8)%, and MAP, 36.5 (26-46) mmHg. The regression coefficient (95% CI) of log-rSO2 and log-MAP was 0.42 (0.03-0.81) (p = 0.035). CONCLUSION: The values of rSO2 and MAP showed a mild but statistically significant association. rSO2 could be used to assess the quality of chest compressions during resuscitation as a non-invasive and simple method.

INTRODUCTION: The appropriate arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) in patients undergoing extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) remains unclear. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between hyperoxia and 30-day survival in patients who underwent ECPR. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This single-center retrospective cohort study was conducted between January 2010 and December 2018. OHCA patients who underwent ECPR were included in the study. Exclusion criteria were (1) age <18 years, (2) death within 24 h after admission, (3) return of spontaneous circulation at hospital arrival, and (4) hypoxia (PaO2 < 60 mmHg) 24 h after admission. Based on PaO2 at 24 h after admission, patients were classified into normoxia (60 mmHg ≤ PaO2 ≤ 100 mmHg), mild hyperoxia (100 mmHg < PaO2 ≤ 200 mmHg), and severe hyperoxia (PaO2 > 200 mmHg) groups. The primary outcome was 30-day survival after cardiac arrest, while the secondary outcome was 30-day favorable neurological outcome. Multivariate logistic regression analysis for 30-day survival or 30-day favorable neurological outcome was performed using multiple propensity scores as explanatory variables. To estimate the multiple propensity score, we fitted a multinomial logistic regression model using the patients' demographic, pre-hospital, and in-hospital characteristics. RESULTS: Of the patients who underwent ECPR in the study center, 110 were eligible for the study. The normoxia group included 29 cases, mild hyperoxia group included 46 cases, and severe hyperoxia group included 35 cases. Mild hyperoxia was not significantly associated with survival, compared with normoxia as the reference (adjusted odds ratio, 1.06; 95% confidence interval: 0.30-3.68; p = 0.93). Severe hyperoxia was also not significantly associated with survival compared to normoxia (adjusted odds ratio, 1.05; 95% confidence interval: 0.27-4.12; p = 0.94). Furthermore, no association was observed between oxygenation and 30-day favorable neurological outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant association between hyperoxia at 24 h after admission and 30-day survival in OHCA patients who underwent ECPR.

This report presents the case of a 51-year-old woman on an immunosuppressant drug and steroids, who presented with general fatigue and was admitted to the intensive care unit. Her serum procalcitonin, lactate, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase levels and white blood cell counts were elevated. Computed tomography revealed gas formation in her liver, and her culture results revealed Edwardsiella tarda and Escherichia coli infections. She underwent percutaneous transhepatic abscess drainage in addition to antimicrobial administration. She was discharged after 40 days. Cases of emphysematous liver abscess with Edwardsiella tarda infections are rarely reported in the literature and may present in patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes. The fatality rate associated with the condition is markedly high.

INTRODUCTION: Phlebitis is an important complication in patients with peripheral intravascular catheters (PIVCs). Although an association between body mass index (BMI) and phlebitis has been suggested, the risk of phlebitis according to BMI has not been well elucidated. Therefore, in this study, we analyzed the risk of phlebitis according to BMI in patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study undertook a secondary analysis of the data from a prospective multicenter observational study assessing the epidemiology of phlebitis at 23 ICUs in Japan. Patients admitted into the ICU aged ≥18 years with a new PIVC inserted after ICU admission were consecutively enrolled and stratified into the following groups based on BMI: Underweight (BMI < 18.5 kg/m2), normal weight (18.5 ≤ BMI < 25.0 kg/m2), and overweight/obese (BMI ≥ 25.0 kg/m2). The primary outcome was phlebitis. The risk factors for phlebitis in each BMI-based group were investigated using a marginal Cox regression model. In addition, hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated. RESULTS: A total of 1,357 patients and 3,425 PIVCs were included in the analysis. The mean BMI for all included patients was 22.8 (standard deviation 4.3) kg/m2. Among the eligible PIVCs, 455; 2,041; and 929 were categorized as underweight, normal weight, and overweight/obese, respectively. In the underweight group, catheter size ≥ 18 G and amiodarone administration were independently associated with the incidence of phlebitis. Drug administration standardization was associated with the reduction of phlebitis. In the normal weight group, elective surgery as a reason for ICU admission, and nicardipine, noradrenaline, and levetiracetam administration were independently associated with the incidence of phlebitis. Heparin administration was associated with the reduction of phlebitis. In the overweight/obese group, the Charlson comorbidity index, catheter size ≥ 18 G, and levetiracetam administration were independently associated with the incidence of phlebitis. Catheters made from PEU-Vialon (polyetherurethane without leachable additives) and tetrafluoroethylene were associated with the reduction of phlebitis. CONCLUSION: We investigated the risk factors for peripheral phlebitis according to BMI in ICU and observed different risk factors in groups stratified by BMI. For example, in underweight or overweight patients, large size PIVCs could be avoided. Focusing on the various risk factors for phlebitis according to patients' BMIs may aid the prevention of phlebitis.

INTRODUCTION: Peripheral intravascular catheters (PIVCs) are inserted in most patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Previous research has discussed various risk factors for phlebitis, which is one of the complications of PIVCs. However, previous studies have not investigated the risk factors based on the patient's severity of illness, such as the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score. Different treatments can be used based on the relationship of risk factors to the illness severity to avoid phlebitis. Therefore, in this study, we investigate whether the risk factors for phlebitis vary depending on the APACHE II score. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was a post hoc analysis of the AMOR-VENUS study involving 23 ICUs in Japan. We included patients with age ≥ 18 years and consecutive admissions to the ICU with PIVCs inserted during ICU admission. The primary outcome was phlebitis, and the objective was the identification of the risk factors evaluated by hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). The cut-off value of the APACHE II score was set as ≤15 (group 1), 16-25 (group 2), and ≥26 (group 3). Multivariable marginal Cox regression analysis was performed for each group using the presumed risk factors. RESULTS: A total of 1,251 patients and 3,267 PIVCs were analyzed. Multivariable marginal Cox regression analysis reveals that there were statistically significant differences among the following variables evaluated HR (95%CI): (i) in group 1, standardized drug administration measures (HR, 0.4 [0.17-0.9]; p = 0.03) and nicardipine administration (HR, 2.25 [1.35-3.75]; p < 0.01); (ii) in group 2, insertion in the upper arm using the forearm as a reference (HR, 0.41 [0.2-0.83]; p = 0.01), specified polyurethane catheter using polyurethane as a reference (HR, 0.56 [0.34-0.92]; p = 0.02), nicardipine (HR, 1.9 [1.16-3.12]; p = 0.01), and noradrenaline administration (HR, 3.0 [1.52-5.88]; p < 0.01); (iii) in group 3, noradrenaline administration (HR, 3.39 [1.14-10.1]; p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: We found that phlebitis risk factors varied according to illness severity. By considering these different risk factors, different treatments may be provided to avoid phlebitis based on the patient's severity of illness.

A cholinergic crisiss is a state characterized by excess acetylcholine owing to the ingestion of cholinesterase inhibitors or cholinergic agonists. We report the first case of a cholinergic crisis after the ingestion of a carpronium chloride solution, a topical solution used to treat alopecia, seborrhea sicca, and vitiligo. An 81-year-old woman with no prior medical history was transported to our emergency department because the patient had disturbance of consciousness after ingesting three bottles of FUROZIN® solution (90 mL, 4500 mg as carpronium chloride). A family member who found the patient called for emergency medical services (EMS) personnel, who contacted the patient ten minutes after ingestion. The patient's Glasgow Coma Scale score was 12 (E4V3M5), and vital signs were as follows: blood pressure, 80/40 mmHg; heart rate, 40 beats/min. The patient vomited repeatedly in the ambulance. On arrival to the ED, the patient's systolic blood pressure and heart rate temporarily decreased to 80 mmHg and 40 beats/min, respectively. Seventy-eight minutes after ingestion, gastric lavage was performed. The patient's symptoms, which included excess salivation, sweating, and hot flush, improved 24 h after ingestion, and the patient's vital signs stabilized without atropine or vasopressors. On the second day of admission, the patient was examined by a psychiatrist and discharged without suicidal ideation. Carpronium chloride has a chemical structure similar to that of acetylcholine; therefore, it exhibits both cholinergic and local vasodilatory activities. There is limited information on the pharmacokinetics of ingested carpronium chloride; therefore, physicians should be made aware that ingesting a carpronium chloride solution may cause a cholinergic crisis.

In most areas in Japan, patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) would be transferred to the secondary hospitals or tertiary hospitals according to the judgement of emergency medical service (EMS) staff members. We hypothesized that in-hospital outcomes would be worse in STEMI patients judged as tertiary emergency than in those judged as secondary emergency, which may support the judgement of the current EMS systems. The purpose of this study was to compare in-hospital outcomes of STEMI between patients judged as secondary emergency and those judged as tertiary emergency. We included 238 STEMI patients who were transferred to our institution using EMS hotline, and divided those into the secondary emergency group (n = 106) and the tertiary emergency group (n = 132). The primary endpoint was in-hospital death. The prevalence of shock was significantly higher in the tertiary emergency group than in the secondary emergency group (32.6% vs. 10.4%, p < 0.001). The GRACE score was significantly higher in the tertiary emergency group than the secondary emergency group [146 (118-188) vs. 134 (101-155), p < 0.001]. The incidence of in-hospital death was significantly higher in the tertiary emergency group than in the secondary emergency group (8.0% vs. 2.1%, p = 0.014). The multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the tertiary emergency was significantly associated with in-hospital death (OR 3.52, 95% CI 1.24-10.02, p = 0.018) after controlling age and gender. In conclusion, the tertiary emergency was significantly associated with in-hospital death. Our results might validate the judgement of levels of emergency by local EMS staff members.

BACKGROUND: Frailty has been associated with a risk of adverse outcomes, and mortality in patients with various conditions. However, there have been few studies on whether or not frailty is associated with mortality in patients with accidental hypothermia (AH). In this study, we aim to determine this association in patients with AH using Japan's nationwide registry data. METHODS: The data from the Hypothermia STUDY 2018&19, which included patients of ≥18 years of age with a body temperature of ≤35 °C, were obtained from a multicenter registry for AH conducted at 120 institutions throughout Japan, collected from December 2018 to February 2019 and December 2019 to February 2020. The clinical frailty scale (CFS) score was used to determine the presence and degree of frailty. The primary outcome was the comparison of mortality between the frail and non-frail patient groups. RESULTS: In total, 1363 patients were included in the study, of which 920 were eligible for the analysis. The 920 patients were divided into the frail patient group (N = 221) and non-frail patient group (N = 699). After 30-days of hospitalization, 32.6% of frail patients and 20.6% of non-frail patients had died (p < 0.001). Frail patients had a significantly higher risk of 90-day mortality (Hazard ratio [HR], 1.64; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.25-2.17; p < 0.001). Based on the Cox proportional hazards analysis using multiple imputation, after adjustment for age, potassium level, lactate level, pH value, sex, CPK level, heart rate, platelet count, location of hypothermia incidence, and rate of tracheal intubation, the HR was 1.69 (95% CI, 1.25-2.29; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that frailty was associated with mortality in patients with AH. Preventive interventions for frailty may help to avoid death caused by AH.