Effects of the delivery of physiotherapy on the treatment course of elderly fallers presenting to the emergency department: Protocol for a randomized clinical trial

The use of physiotherapy (PT) in the hospital emergency department (ED) has shown positive results including improvements in patient waiting time, treatment initiation, discharge type, patient outcomes, safety and acceptability of the intervention by medical staffs. These findings originate from studies that primarily focus on musculoskeletal and orthopaedic conditions. Despite a significant number of people visiting the ED, there is a shortage of literature evaluating PT in the ED for elderly populations. The objective of this study is the evaluate the effect of delivering PT in the ED (versus no delivery) in patients aged 75 and over with 'falls' complaints. The main objective is the evaluate the effect on the discharge disposition (discharge home, hospitalization). Secondarily, we will evaluate the effect delivering PT on patient-length of stay, the number of falls at 7 days after admission to the ED, changes between the initial and final medical decision regarding patient orientation, and medical staff satisfaction. This study will follow a prospective longitudinal design involving participants aged 75 years and over. We plan to recruit a total n = 336 patients admitted to the ED with a 'fall' chief complaint. After consent, participants will be randomized into either the 'PT-group' (receiving a prescription and execution of PT within the ED), or to the 'no-PT group' (no delivery of PT within the ED). The PT intervention will involve a standardized assessment of motor capacities using validated clinical examinations, and the delivery of rehabilitative exercises based on individual needs. Outcomes will be recorded from the patient's medical record, and a phone call at 7 days. A questionnaire will be sent to medical staff. The results of this study will help to determine whether PT might be beneficial for the management of this increasing proportion of individuals who come to the ED. Trial registration: (Trial registration number: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05753319). https://classic.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05753319.

Impact of Different Training Methods on Daily Use of Point-of-Care Ultrasound: Survey on 515 Physicians

ABSTRACT

Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) curriculum varies among countries. However, the length of training required for physicians is still under debate. We investigated the impact of different training methods: short hands-on courses (STS), long academic training sessions (LTS), or both (mixed training [MTS]), for POCUS daily use and self-reported confidence overall and specific to specific clinical situations. This was a descriptive study conducted over a 3-month period through a Web-based survey designed to assess the influence of different methods of POCUS training among physicians and residents on their daily practice. The survey was sent to 1212 emergency physicians with prior POCUS training; 515 answers (42%) could be analyzed. Participants in the STS group performed POCUS less frequently than physicians in the LTS or MTS group. Daily use in the STS group was 51% versus 82% in the LTS group and 83% in the MTS group ( P < 0.01). The overall self-reported confidence in POCUS was lower in the STS group ( P < 0.01) in all studied clinical situations. There was no significant difference between LTS and MTS groups ( P > 0.05). Method of POCUS training significantly influenced POCUS daily use. Physicians who underwent long training sessions used POCUS more frequently in their routine practice and were significantly more confident in their ability to perform and interpret a POCUS examination.

Impact of emergency physician performed ultrasound in the evaluation of adult patients with acute abdominal pain: a prospective randomized bicentric trial

BACKGROUND

Abdominal pain is common in patients visiting the emergency department (ED). The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic contribution of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) in patients presenting to the ED with acute abdominal pain.

METHODS

We designed an interventional randomized, controlled, open label, parallel-group, trial in two French EDs. We included adult patients presenting to the ED with acute abdominal pain. Exclusion criteria were a documented end-of-life, an immediate need of life-support therapy and pregnant or breast-feeding women. Patients were randomized in the experimental group (i.e., workup including POCUS) or control group (usual care). The primary objective of the study was to assess the added value of POCUS on diagnostic pathway in the ED, according to the diagnostic established a posteriori by an adjudication committee. The primary endpoint was the proportion of exact preliminary diagnosis between the 2 groups. The preliminary diagnosis made after clinical examination and biological results with POCUS (intervention arm) or without POCUS (usual care) was considered exact if it was similar to the adjudication committee diagnosis.

RESULTS

Between June 2021 11th and June 2022 23th, 256 patients were randomized, but five were not included in the primary analysis, leaving 125 patients in the POCUS group and 126 patients in the usual care group (130 women and 121 men, median [Q1-Q3] age: 42 [30;57]). There was no difference for exact diagnosis between the two groups (POCUS 70/125, 56% versus control 78/126 (62%), RD 1.23 [95% CI 0.74-2.04]). There was no difference in the accuracy for the diagnosis of non-specific abdominal pain nor number of biological or radiological exams. Diagnostic delays and length of stay in the ED were also similar.

CONCLUSIONS

In this trial, systematic POCUS did not improve the rate of diagnostic accuracy in unselected patients presenting to the ED with acute abdominal pain. However, as it was a safe procedure, further research should focus on patients with suspected etiologies where POCUS is particularly useful.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

 This trial was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov on 2022/07/20 ( https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04912206?id=NCT04912206&rank=1 ) (NCT04912206).

Impact of an enhanced focused cardiac ultrasound on treatment changes in a population of internal medicine patients

BACKGROUND

Hospitalized patients with acute shortness of breath (SOB) could benefit from an enhanced focused cardiac ultrasound (eFoCUS) with Doppler measurements to reassess treatment and diagnosis.

METHODS

This was a retrospective observational study performed in a medical ward. Included patients were those hospitalized for acute SOB. The objectives were to assess therapeutic and diagnosis changes associated with eFoCUS. The primary endpoint of the analysis was a composite of introduction or discontinuation of diuretics, antibiotics or anticoagulation following eFoCUS.

RESULTS

Between January 2018 and July 2021, 119 patients were included, 67 women and 52 men, mean age 84 ± 11 years old. The eFoCUS was performed within a median time of 55 h (1st-3rd IQ: 21-107) following hospital admission. Overall, eFoCUS was associated with a change in diagnostic in 40 patients (34% [CI 95%: 25%-43%], p < 10-4 ) and a change in treatment in 53 patients (45% [CI 95%: 35%-54%], p < 10-4 ). Diuretics were prescribed in 94 patients before eFoCUS and in 56 after (p = 10-4 ), antibiotics in 34 before and 27 after and anticoagulation in 30 before and 40 after.

CONCLUSION

eFoCUS was associated with both therapeutic and diagnostic changes in patients with SOB. Such results should be confirmed in multicentric prospective studies.

Is a Positive Prehospital FAST Associated with Severe Bleeding? A Multicenter Retrospective Study

INTRODUCTION

Severe hemorrhage is the leading cause of early preventable death in severe trauma patients. Delayed diagnosis is a poor prognostic factor, and severe hemorrhage prediction is essential. The aim of our study was to investigate if there was an association between the detection of peritoneal or pleural fluid on prehospital sonography for trauma and posttraumatic severe hemorrhage.

METHODS

We retrospectively studied data from records of thoracic or abdominal trauma patients managed in mobile intensive care units from January 2017 to December 2021 in four centers in France. Severe hemorrhage was defined as a condition necessitating transfusion of at least four packed red blood cells or surgical intervention/radioembolization for hemostasis within the first 24 h. Using a multivariate analysis, we investigated the predictive performance of focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST) alone or in combination with the five Red Flags criteria validated by Hamada et al.

RESULTS

Among the 527 patients analyzed, 371 (71%) were men, the mean age was 41 ± 19 years, and the Injury Severity Score was 11 (Interquartile range = [5; 22]). Seventy-three (14%) patients had severe hemorrhage - of whom 28 (38%) had a positive FAST, compared to 61 (13%) without severe hemorrhage (p < 0.01). For severe hemorrhage prediction, FAST had a sensitivity of 38% (95%CI = [27%; 50%]) and a specificity of 87% (95%CI = [83%; 90%]) (AUC = 0.62, 95%CI = [0.57; 0.68]). The comparison of the other outcomes between positive and negative FAST was: hemostatic procedure, 22 (25%) vs 28 (6%), p < 0.01; intensive care unit admission 71 (80%) vs 190 (43%), p < 0.01; mean length of hospital stay 11 [4; 27] vs 4 [0; 14] days, p = 0.02; 30-day mortality 13 (15%) vs 22 (5%), p < 0.01.

CONCLUSION

A positive FAST performed in the prehospital setting is associated with severe hemorrhage and all prognostic criteria we studied.

Guidelines for the management of urgent obstetric situations in emergency medicine, 2022

OBJECTIVE

To provide recommendations on the management of urgent obstetrical emergencies outside the maternity ward.

DESIGN

A group of 24 experts from the French Society of Emergency Medicine (SFMU), the French Society of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine (SFAR) and the French College of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians (CNGOF) was convened. Potential conflicts of interest were formally declared at the outset of the guideline development process, which was conducted independently of industry funding. The authors followed the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) method to assess the level of evidence in the literature. The potential drawbacks of strong recommendations in the presence of low-level evidence were highlighted. Some recommendations with an insufficient level of evidence were not graded.

METHODS

Eight areas were defined: imminent delivery, postpartum haemorrhage (prevention and management), threat of premature delivery, hypertensive disorders in pregnancy, trauma, imaging, cardiopulmonary arrest, and emergency obstetric training. For each field, the expert panel formulated questions according to the PICO model (population, intervention, comparison, outcomes) and an extensive literature search was conducted. Analysis of the literature and formulation of recommendations were conducted according to the GRADE method.

RESULTS

Fifteen recommendations on the management of obstetrical emergencies were issued by the SFMU/SFAR/CNGOF panel of experts, and 4 recommendations from formalised expert recommendations (RFE) established by the same societies were taken up to answer 4 PICO questions dealing with the pre-hospital context. After two rounds of voting and several amendments, strong agreement was reached for all the recommendations. For two questions (cardiopulmonary arrest and inter-hospital transfer), no recommendation could be made.

CONCLUSIONS

There was significant agreement among the experts on strong recommendations to improve practice in the management of urgent obstetric complications in emergency medicine.

Impact of emergency physician-performed ultrasound for the evaluation of patients with acute abdominal pain, prospective randomized dual Centre study: study protocol for a diagnostic trial

Background

Abdominal pain is frequent in patients consulting in emergency departments. The aim of this study is to determine the diagnosis efficacy of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) in patients consulting in the ED for acute abdominal pain by comparing the rate of exact diagnostic between the two arms (with or without POCUS), according to the index diagnostic established by an adjudication committee.

Methods

It is a randomized, controlled, open and interventional study in two emergency departments. The included patients will be adults admitted for acute abdominal pain. Exclusion criteria will be a documented end-of-life, an immediate need of life-support therapy and pregnant or breast-feeding women. Patients will be randomized in intervention (POCUS) or control groups. POCUS will only be performed by trained physicians and will be added to the diagnosis procedure in the intervention group. In the control group, the diagnosis will be established after clinical examination and reception of biological analysis results. In the interventional group, the diagnosis will be established after a clinical exam, biological analysis reception and POCUS. An adjudication committee will review all data from case report forms and will determine the index diagnosis which will be used for the analysis.

The primary endpoint will be the comparison of the rate of exact diagnostic between the two arms according to the adjudication committee diagnostic. Secondary endpoints will be the comparison between the two groups for diagnostic delay, duration of ED stay, diagnostic performances for non-specific abdominal pain and hospitalization rate. The primary endpoint will be compared between the two groups using a mixed model taking into account the recruiting centre. Delays will be compared by a mixed linear generalized model. Diagnostic performances will be estimated with their 95% confidence intervals. For a correct diagnostic rate of 57% in the control group and 74% in the intervention group with a 0.05 alpha risk and a 80% power, 244 patients will be required.

Discussion

POCUS diagnostic abilities have been mainly demonstrated in monocentric studies but the level of evidence of its diagnostic efficacy remains controversial in particular in Europe. The aim of this study is to address this question with a rigorous methodology.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04912206. Registered on June 3, 2021.

Guidelines for the choice of intravenous fluids for vascular filling in critically ill patients, 2021

PURPOSE

To provide recommendations for the appropriate choice of fluid therapy for resuscitation of critically ill patients.

DESIGN

A consensus committee of 24 experts from the French Society of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine (Société française d'anesthésie et de réanimation, SFAR) and the French Society of Emergency Medicine (Société française de médecine d'urgence, SFMU) was convened. A formal conflict-of-interest policy was developed at the onset of the process and enforced throughout. The entire guideline elaboration process was conducted independently of any industry funding. The authors were advised to follow the principles of the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system to guide their assessment of quality of evidence. The potential drawbacks of making strong recommendations in the presence of low-quality evidence were emphasised. Some recommendations were left ungraded.

METHODS

Four fields were defined: patients with sepsis or septic shock, patients with haemorrhagic shock, patients with acute brain failure, and patients during the peripartum period. For each field, the panel focused on two questions: (1) Does the use of colloids, as compared to crystalloids, reduce morbidity and mortality, and (2) Does the use of some specific crystalloids effectively reduce morbidity and mortality. Population, intervention, comparison, and outcomes (PICO) questions were reviewed and updated as needed, and evidence profiles were generated. The analysis of the literature and the recommendations were then conducted according to the GRADE methodology.

RESULTS

The SFAR/SFMU guideline panel provided nine statements on the appropriate choice of fluid therapy for resuscitation of critically ill patients. After two rounds of rating and various amendments, strong agreement was reached for 100% of the recommendations. Out of these recommendations, two have a high level of evidence (Grade 1 +/-), six have a moderate level of evidence (Grade 2 +/-), and one is based on expert opinion. Finally, no recommendation was formulated for two questions.

CONCLUSIONS

Substantial agreement among experts has been obtained to provide a sizable number of recommendations aimed at optimising the choice of fluid therapy for resuscitation of critically ill patients.

Contribution of lung ultrasound in diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia in the emergency department: a prospective multicentre study

Lung ultrasound (LUS) can help clinicians make a timely diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).

OBJECTIVES

To assess if LUS can improve diagnosis and antibiotic initiation in emergency department (ED) patients with suspected CAP.

DESIGN

A prospective observational study.

SETTINGS

Four EDs.

PARTICIPANTS

The study included 150 patients older than 18 years with a clinical suspicion of CAP, of which 2 were subsequently excluded (incorrect identification), leaving 148 patients (70 women and 78 men, average age 72±18 years). Exclusion criteria included a life-threatening condition with do-not-resuscitate-order or patient requiring immediate intensive care.

INTERVENTIONS

After routine diagnostic procedure (clinical, radiological and laboratory tests), the attending emergency physician established a clinical CAP probability according to a four-level Likert scale (definite, probable, possible and excluded). An LUS was then performed, and another CAP probability was established based on the ultrasound result. An adjudication committee composed of three independent experts established the final CAP probability at hospital discharge.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

Primary objective was to assess concordance rate of CAP diagnostic probabilities between routine diagnosis procedure or LUS and the final probability of the adjudication committee. Secondary objectives were to assess changes in CAP probability induced by LUS, and changes in antibiotic treatment initiation.

RESULTS

Overall, 27% (95% CI 20 to 35) of the routine procedure CAP classifications and 77% (95% CI 71 to 84) of the LUS CAP classifications were concordant with the adjudication committee classifications. Cohen's kappa coefficients between routine diagnosis procedure and LUS, according to adjudication committee, were 0.07 (95% CI 0.04 to 0.11) and 0.61 (95% CI 0.55 to 0.66), respectively. The modified probabilities for the diagnosis of CAP after LUS resulted in changes in antibiotic prescriptions in 32% (95% CI 25 to 40) of the cases.

CONCLUSION

In our study, LUS was a powerful tool to improve CAP diagnosis in the ED, reducing diagnostic uncertainty from 73% to 14%.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT03411824.

[Reception of a patient suspected of having a psychiatric condition in an emergency department]

Many emergency patients have pre-existing psychiatric conditions. They may also present a symptomatology likely to evoke this type of psychiatric pathology. The way in which these patients are received and managed is of prime importance, as it determines the subsequent treatment. It is therefore essential that the emergency services organise a specific pathway for these patients.

Effect of chest ultrasound on diagnostic workup in elderly patients with acute respiratory failure in the emergency department: a prospective study

METHODS

We carried out a prospective study performed in our ED, included patients older than 75 years presenting with acute respiratory failure. Noninclusion criteria were documented palliative care or the need for immediate intensive care. After informed consent approval and routine diagnostic procedure (clinical, radiological and laboratory tests), the ED physician established the first diagnosis. Chest ultrasound was then performed, and a second diagnosis was established. An adjudication committee also established a diagnosis. The unweighted Cohen's kappa (κ) coefficient was used to measure the strength of agreement between routine diagnostic approach, chest ultrasound and adjudication committee diagnosis.

RESULTS

A total of 89 patients were included, mean age 86 ± 5 years old. Concordance was very good (κ = 0.82) between chest ultrasound and adjudication committee diagnostic and moderate (κ = 0.52) between routine diagnostic approach and adjudication committee diagnostic. Cardiogenic pulmonary edema and community-acquired pneumonia were the most frequent diagnoses (48.5 and 27%, respectively). Chest ultrasound had higher sensitivity and specificity for both diagnoses.

CONCLUSION

In our study, chest ultrasound add-on investigation to standard approach improved diagnosis performance in elderly patients presenting to the ED with acute respiratory failure. Further multicenter randomized trials are warranted to confirm this finding.

Evaluation of short training session for venous limited compression ultrasonography: prospective multicenter study

Background

Venous limited compression ultrasonography (VLCU) is recommended in case of suspicion of deep venous thrombosis (DVT). Current training pathways are rather long and include experiential phase. This aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of a short training session for VLCU without experiential phase. The training session was applied in residents without previous ultrasound skills. Program included operation of ultrasound device and interpretation of venous images. Included patients were older than 18 years and had a suspicion of DVT. After realization of VLCU using usual technique, residents reported the dynamic compressibility of the femoral and popliteal veins, the presence or not of a visible thrombus, self-reported difficulty and duration. Patients then underwent a whole leg ultrasonography (WLCU) in the local laboratory which was blinded to VLCU results. The main criterion was the negative-predictive value (NPV) of VLCU for the absence of proximal DVT diagnosed with WLCU. Secondary criteria were VLCU diagnostic performances, rate of inability to conclude, difficulty and duration. For a NPV of 95 ± 6%, the needed number of patients was 96. This study was approved by the ethical committee.

Results

102 patients were analyzed. 46 residents were trained. A DVT was diagnosed by WLCU in 18 patients (prevalence of 17.6% [95% CI 11–26%]). VLCU detected 15 DVT (NPV of 96% [95% CI 89–99%]). The positive likelihood ratio was 9.9, the negative likelihood ratio 0.19 and Cohen’s Kappa 0.62 [95% CI 0.52–0.71]. The sensitivity was 83% [CI 95% 60–94%] and specificity 88% [CI 95% 79–93%]. The mean number of VLCU by residents was 2.3 ± 2.1, median 2 (minimum 1, maximum 8). Mean duration was 3.4 min, difficulty was 3.7 ± 2.

Conclusion

The principal objective, NPV 96% [95% CI 89–99%], was achieved. However, this short training session was inadequate to allow ruling-out a DVT with sufficient security. Thus, the experiential phase seems to be essential.

Management of pharmaceutical and recreational drug poisoning

BACKGROUND

Poisoning is one of the leading causes of admission to the emergency department and intensive care unit. A large number of epidemiological changes have occurred over the last years such as the exponential growth of new synthetic psychoactive substances. Major progress has also been made in analytical screening and assays, enabling the clinicians to rapidly obtain a definite diagnosis.

METHODS

A committee composed of 30 experts from five scientific societies, the Société de Réanimation de Langue Française (SRLF), the Société Française de Médecine d'Urgence (SFMU), the Société de Toxicologie Clinique (STC), the Société Française de Toxicologie Analytique (SFTA) and the Groupe Francophone de Réanimation et d'Urgences Pédiatriques (GFRUP) evaluated eight fields: (1) severity assessment and initial triage; (2) diagnostic approach and role of toxicological analyses; (3) supportive care; (4) decontamination; (5) elimination enhancement; (6) place of antidotes; (7) specificities related to recreational drug poisoning; and (8) characteristics of cardiotoxicant poisoning. Population, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcome (PICO) questions were reviewed and updated as needed, and evidence profiles were generated. Analysis of the literature and formulation of recommendations were then conducted according to the GRADE® methodology.

RESULTS

The SRLF-SFMU guideline panel provided 41 statements concerning the management of pharmaceutical and recreational drug poisoning. Ethanol and chemical poisoning were excluded from the scope of these recommendations. After two rounds of discussion and various amendments, a strong consensus was reached for all recommendations. Six of these recommendations had a high level of evidence (GRADE 1±) and six had a low level of evidence (GRADE 2±). Twenty-nine recommendations were in the form of expert opinion recommendations due to the low evidences in the literature.

CONCLUSIONS

The experts reached a substantial consensus for several strong recommendations for optimal management of pharmaceutical and recreational drug poisoning, mainly regarding the conditions and effectiveness of naloxone and N-acetylcystein as antidotes to treat opioid and acetaminophen poisoning, respectively.

Prise en charge de l’exacerbation sévère d’asthme

Contexte : La Société Française de Médecine d’Urgence, la Société de Réanimation de Langue Française et le GroupeFrancophone de Réanimation et d’Urgences Pédiatriques ont émis des recommandations sur la prise en charge del’exacerbation sévère d’asthme (ESA) chez l’enfant et l’adulte.Résultats : Les recommandations ont concerné 5 champs : diagnostic, traitement pharmacologique, modalités d’oxygénothérapie et de ventilation, orientation du patient, spécifi cités de la femme enceinte. L’analyse de la littérature et laformulation des recommandations ont été conduites selon la méthode GRADE (Grade of Recommendation Assessment,Development and Evaluation). Une recherche bibliographique portant sur les publications indexées dans les bases dedonnées PubMed™ et Cochrane™ a été réalisée.Sur les 21 recommandations formalisées obtenues, 4 avaient un niveau de preuve élevé (GRADE 1+/-) et 7 un niveaude preuve faible (GRADE 2 +/-). Pour 10 recommandations, la méthode GRADE n’a pas pu être appliquée, résultanten un avis d’experts. Un accord fort a été obtenu pour toutes les recommandations.Conclusion : Le travail conjoint de 36 experts issus de 3 sociétés savantes a permis d’obtenir 21 recommandations formalisées pour aider à la prise en charge aux urgences et en soins intensifs des patients adultes et pédiatriques avec une ESA.

Maximum Value of End-Tidal Carbon Dioxide Concentrations during Resuscitation as an Indicator of Return of Spontaneous Circulation in out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest

Background: The end-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO₂) concentration during resuscitation (CPR) of an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) has an increasingly well-known prognostic value. Nevertheless, few studies have investigated its maximum value in different etiologies. Methods: It was a retrospective, observational, multicentre study from the French OHCA Registry. All adult OHCA with a known maximum value of ETCO₂ during CPR were included. The primary end-point was to determine the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of the maximum value of ETCO₂ during resuscitation for the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). Results: Of the 53,048 eligible subjects from 2011 to 2018, ETCO₂ was known in 32,249 subjects (61%). Among them, there were 9.2% of traumatic OHCA, 37.7% of suspected cardiac etiology and 16.4% of suspected respiratory etiology. The AUROC of maximum value of ETCO₂ during CPR to achieve ROSC was 0.887 95CI [0.875-0.898] in traumatic OHCA, 0.772 95CI [0.765-0.780] in suspected cardiac etiology and 0.802 95CI [0.791-0.812] in suspected respiratory etiology. The threshold with no survivors at d-30 was <10 mmHg for traumatic etiologies and <6 mmHg for suspected cardiac and respiratory causes. The probability of ROSC increased with the value of ETCO₂ in the 3 etiologies studied. Conclusions: The maximum value of ETCO₂ during OHCA resuscitation was strongly associated with ROSC, especially in the case of a traumatic cause. This suggests that a single elevated ETCO₂ value, regardless of time, could help to predict the outcome.

Management of severe asthma exacerbation: guidelines from the Société Française de Médecine d'Urgence, the Société de Réanimation de Langue Française and the French Group for Pediatric Intensive Care and Emergencies

BACKGROUND

The French Emergency Medicine Society, the French Intensive Care Society and the Pediatric Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine French-Speaking Group edited guidelines on severe asthma exacerbation (SAE) in adult and pediatric patients.

RESULTS

The guidelines were related to 5 areas: diagnosis, pharmacological treatment, oxygen therapy and ventilation, patients triage, specific considerations regarding pregnant women. The literature analysis and formulation of the guidelines were conducted according to the Grade of Recommendation Assessment, Development and Evaluation methodology. An extensive literature research was conducted based on publications indexed in PubMed™ and Cochrane™ databases. Of the 21 formalized guidelines, 4 had a high level of evidence (GRADE 1+/-) and 7 a low level of evidence (GRADE 2+/-). The GRADE method was inapplicable to 10 guidelines, which resulted in expert opinions. A strong agreement was reached for all guidelines.

CONCLUSION

The conjunct work of 36 experts from 3 scientific societies resulted in 21 formalized recommendations to help improving the emergency and intensive care management of adult and pediatric patients with SAE.

Early point-of-care focused echocardiographic asystole as a predictive factor for absence of return of spontaneous circulatory in out-of-hospital cardiac arrests: a study protocol for a prospective, multicentre observational study

INTRODUCTION

Management of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCAs) in France is performed by a particular prehospital system based on medicalisation of mobile intensive care units composed of an emergency physician and a nurse with all the required devices for advanced care. It follows the European recommendations which advocate for the use of early point-of-care focused echocardiography (EPOCE) in the prehospital setting. An ability of EPOCE may be to predict the absence of return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) in cases of absence of cardiac motion. We thus intended to investigate this predictive value with a prospective multicentre study. This paper describes the study protocol, while the first patients were recruited in December 2018.

METHODS

ACE is a prospective multicentre (n=8) prognostic study. Briefly, as soon as OHCA is diagnosed and advanced life support (ALS) is initiated, EPOCE will be performed during the automated external defibrillator' analysis period. The physician will assess detectable motion within the heart and reversible causes of OHCA. However, as the prognostic value of absence of cardiac motion is not currently validated, the results of EPOCE will not be used to withdraw ALS, and the decision to withdraw life support will be done following the European Resuscitation Council recommendations during our study.

ANALYSIS

The primary endpoint is the positive predictive value of absence of cardiac motion for the absence of final ROSC. The secondary endpoints are predictive characteristics of EPOCE asystole on morbimortality 30 days after OHCA, description of reversible cause and analysis of the EPOCE technique.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

ACE was approved by an ethical committee (2018-AO1491-54). While ACE is adapted to the French prehospital system, its results will be translatable to other organisations if inter-rater variability is not found.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT03494153.

Is severe hypocalcemia immediately life-threatening?

Objective

Severe hypocalcemia (Ca <1.9 mmol/L) is often considered an emergency because of a potential risk of cardiac arrest or seizures. However, there is little evidence to support this. The aim of our study was to assess whether severe hypocalcemia was associated with immediately life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias or neurological complications.

Methods

A retrospective observational study was carried out over a 2 years period in the Adult Emergency Department (ED) of Nantes University Hospital. All patients who had a protein-corrected calcium concentration measure were eligible for inclusion. Patients with multiple myeloma were excluded. The primary outcome was the number of life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias and/or neurological complications during the stay in the ED.

Results

A total of 41,823 patients had protein-corrected calcium (pcCa) concentrations measured, 155 had severe hypocalcaemia, 22 were excluded because of myeloma leaving 133 for analysis. Median pcCa concentration was 1.73 mmol/L [1.57-1.84]. Seventeen (12.8%) patients presented a life threatening condition, 14 (10.5%) neurological and 3 (2.2%) cardiac during ED stay. However these complications could be explained by the presence of underlying co-morbidities and or electrolyte disturbances other than hypocalcaemia. Overall 24 (18%) patients died in hospital. Vitamin D deficiency, chronic kidney disease and hypoparathyroidism were the most frequently found causes of hypocalcemia.

Conclusion

13% of patients with severe hypocalcaemia presented a life-threatening cardiac or neurological complication on the ED. However a perfectly valid alternative cause could account for these complications. Further research is warranted to define the precise role of hypocalcaemia.

Acute fissuration of a giant splenic artery aneurysm detected by point-of-care ultrasound: case report

Background

Epigastric pain is frequent in Emergency Medicine and remains a challenging situation. Besides benign etiologies such as gastritis or uncomplicated cholelithiasis, it could reveal myocardial infarction or vascular disease. Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) could be performed in such situation.

Case presentation

A healthy 66-year-old man with no previous medical history was admitted to the Emergency Department for a rapid onset epigastric pain. He reported taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatories for 1 week prior to admission. His pain had rapidly subsided and the physical examination was inconclusive. ECG and blood samples were normal. POCUS revealed a vascular mass located between the spleen and the left kidney measuring 80 * 74 mm associated with small amounts of free peritoneal fluid. Computed tomography diagnosed a fissurated giant aneurysm of the splenic artery. The aneurysm was managed emergently by endovascular exclusion by selective splenic artery embolization. The post-intervention course was uneventful and the patient was discharged home 3 days later. The patient has remained free from any complications of the embolization 6 months after the procedure.

Conclusion

Spontaneously regressive epigastric pain with a normal physical and biology/ECG should not necessarily reassure the physician, in particular if patients have cardiovascular risk factors. A POCUS should be considered for these patients.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s13089-018-0086-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Recognition and treatment of severe sepsis in the emergency department: retrospective study in two French teaching hospitals

BACKGROUND

Sepsis management in the Emergency Department remains a daily challenge. The Surviving Sepsis Campaign (SSC) has released three-hour bundle. The implementation of these bundles in European Emergency Departments remains poorly described. The main objective was to assess the compliance with the Severe Sepsis Campaign 3-h bundle (blood culture, lactate dosage, first dose of antibiotics and 30 ml/kg fluid challenge). Secondary objectives were the analysis of the delay of severe sepsis recognition and description of the population.

METHODS

In accordance with STROBE statement, we performed a retrospective study in two French University Hospital Emergency Departments from February to August 2015. Patients admitted during the study period were screened using the electronic files of the hospital databases. Patient's files were reviewed and included in the study if they met severe sepsis criteria. Demographics, comorbities, treatments were recorded. Delays from admission to severe sepsis diagnosis, fluid loading onset and antibiotics administration were calculated.

RESULTS

One hundred thirty patients were included (76 men, mean age 71 ± 14 years). Blood culture, lactate dosage, antibiotics and 30 ml/kg fluid loading were performed within 3 hours in % [95% confidence interval] 100% [96-100%], 62% [54-70%], 49% [41-58%] and 19% [13-27%], respectively. 25 patients out of 130 (19% [13-27%]) fulfilled each criteria of the 3-h bundle. The mean fluid loading volume was 18 ± 11 ml/kg. Mean delay between presentation and severe sepsis diagnosis was 200 ± 263 min, from diagnosis to fluid challenge and first antibiotic dose, 10 ± 27 min and 20 ± 55 min, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Compliance with SSC 3-h bundle and delay between admission and sepsis recognition have to be improved. If confirmed by other studies, an improvement program might be deployed.

Results of an outpatient transient ischemic attack evaluation: a 90-day follow-up study

BACKGROUND

Transient ischemic attack (TIA) is common and precedes 15% of strokes. TIA should be managed as a time-sensitive illness to prevent a subsequent stroke. However, management of TIA is heterogeneous, with little consensus about its optimal assessment.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to determine the outcome of patients with TIA evaluated in the Emergency Department (ED) and managed as outpatients within a 90-day period after discharge.

METHODS

All patients with symptoms of TIA admitted to the ED were eligible for inclusion. Patients were evaluated by an Emergency Physician who followed a decision algorithm used in the selection of patients for discharge. The main outcome variable was the occurrence of stroke during the 90 days after discharge from the ED.

RESULTS

During a 1-year period, a total of 118 patients were evaluated for TIA in the ED, representing 1.4% of ED medical admissions: 56 (47.5%) were hospitalized and 62 (52.5%) were discharged and enrolled in the outpatient TIA management. Two (3.2%) of the discharged patients could not be contacted for follow-up. Among the patients managed as outpatients, one (1.7%) presented with an ischemic stroke and 3 (5%) experienced a subsequent TIA within a period of 90 days after discharge from the ED. The rate of stroke predicted from the ABCD2 score was 9.7% at 90 days.

CONCLUSION

The results of our study suggest that outpatient management of TIA, as described in our institution's guidelines, may be a safe and effective strategy, but further confirmatory studies should be performed.

Predictive factors of successful telephone-assisted cardiopulmonary resuscitation

BACKGROUND

Our emergency medical service developed a telephone (phone)-assisted cardiopulmonary resuscitation (PACPR) procedure.

OBJECTIVES

To describe this procedure and study the factors modulating its implementation.

METHODS

We conducted a single-center prospective study of telephone calls to our emergency medical communication center for cardiac arrest, for which PACPR was initiated.

RESULTS

Thirty-eight patients were included in the study. In six cases, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) had been started before the call. When PACPR was initiated, CPR was performed until the rescue team arrived in 27 cases. One-third (n = 9) of the bystanders in these cases knew first-aid interventions, and all of these bystanders continued CPR until the rescue team arrived. The absence of a familial relationship between bystander and patient facilitated the continuation of CPR (100% vs. 37% with family ties, p = 0.01). CPR was continued more often if the bystander immediately agreed to PACPR than when he or she did not agree at first (88% vs. 45%, respectively, p = 0.01). When an obstacle to performing CPR was encountered, CPR was then performed in 57% of cases vs. 100% of cases with no obstacle (p = 0.003). These obstacles were associated with either the bystander (panic, apprehension, feelings of inadequacy, physical inability, indirect witness, tiredness) or the victim (morphotype, physical position). The presence of an obstacle, compared to no obstacle, associated with the bystander lowered the CPR performance rate (58% vs. 94%, respectively, p = 0.01). The presence of an obstacle, compared to no obstacle, associated with the victim also lowered CPR performance rate (50% vs. 85%, respectively, p = 0.04).

CONCLUSION

Our study demonstrates the feasibility of PACPR. The results may lead to a better understanding of facilitating factors and obstacles to telephone-assisted CPR, with the goal of improving its implementation. Good command of communication tools, identification of an appropriate bystander, and appropriate victim positioning are three fundamental factors of success.

Palliative care for patients who died in emergency departments: analysis of a multicentre cross-sectional survey

OBJECTIVES

A growing number of patients die each year in hospital emergency departments (EDs). Decisions to withhold or to withdraw life-support therapies occur in 80% of patients as described in a multicentre cross-sectional survey including 2420 patients. Palliative care has not been explored in patients dying in this setting. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of palliative care and to describe this population.

METHODS

The authors conducted a post-hoc analysis on a cohort of 2420 patients who died in 174 French and Belgian EDs. The authors identified patients who benefited from palliative care and described this population and the palliative care.

RESULTS

Palliative therapies were administered to 1373 patients (56.7%). These therapies included administration of analgesics, sedation, mouth care, repositioning for comfort (as appropriate) and provision of emotional support to the patient and his/her relatives. These palliative measures were provided more frequently in the observation unit of the ED (n=908, 66.2%) than in an examination room (n=465, 33.8%). Median time interval between ED admission and death was longer in patients who received palliative care (n=1373) (median, 15 h; first quartile, 6 h; third quartile, 34 h) than in those who did not (n=1047) (median, 4 h; first quartile, 1 h; third quartile, 10 h) (p<10(-4)).

CONCLUSIONS

Palliative care is administered to about half of the patients who die in EDs. This is insufficient as the majority of the patients who died in EDs actually died after a decision to withhold or withdraw life-support therapies. End-of-life management must be improved in EDs.

Base excess is an accurate predictor of elevated lactate in ED septic patients

BACKGROUND

Prior studies showed that lactate is a useful marker in sepsis. However, lactate is often not routinely drawn or rapidly available in the emergency department (ED).

OBJECTIVE

The study aimed to determine if base excess (BE), widely and rapidly available in the ED, could be used as a surrogate marker for elevated lactate in ED septic patients.

METHODS

This was a prospective and observational cohort study. From March 2009 to March 2010, consecutive patients 18 years or older who presented to the ED with a suspected severe sepsis were enrolled in the study. Lactate and BE measurements were performed. We defined, a priori, a clinically significant lactate to be greater than 3 mmol/L and BE less than -4 mmol/L.

RESULTS

A total of 224 patients were enrolled in the study. The average BE was -4.5 mmol/L (SD, 4.9) and the average lactate was 3.5 mmol/L (SD, 2.9). The sensitivity of a BE less than -4 mmol/L in predicting elevated lactate greater than 3 mmol/L was 91.1% (95% confidence interval, 85.5%-96.6%) and the specificity was 88.6% (95% confidence interval, 83.0%-94.2%). The area under the curve was 0.95.

CONCLUSION

Base excess is an accurate marker for the prediction of elevated lactate in the ED. The measurement of BE, obtained in a few minutes in the ED, provides a secure and quick method, similar to the electrocardiogram at triage for patients with chest pain, to determine the patients with sepsis who need an early aggressive resuscitation.

Death in emergency departments: a multicenter cross-sectional survey with analysis of withholding and withdrawing life support

PURPOSE

To describe the characteristics of patients who die in emergency departments and the decisions to withhold or withdraw life support.

METHODS

We undertook a 4-month prospective survey in 174 emergency departments in France and Belgium to describe patients who died and the decisions to limit life-support therapies.

RESULTS

Of 2,512 patients enrolled, 92 (3.7%) were excluded prior to analysis because of missing data; 1,196 were men and 1,224 were women (mean age 77.3 +/- 15 years). Of patients, 1,970 (81.4%) had chronic underlying diseases, and 1,114 (46%) had a previous functional limitation. Principal acute presenting disorders were cardiovascular, neurological, and respiratory. Life-support therapy was initiated in 1,781 patients (73.6%). Palliative care was undertaken for 1,373 patients (56.7%). A decision to withhold or withdraw life-sustaining treatments was taken for 1,907 patients (78.8%) and mostly concerned patients over 80 years old, with underlying metastatic cancer or previous functional limitation. Decisions were discussed with family or relatives in 58.4% of cases. The decision was made by a single ED physician in 379 cases (19.9%), and by at least two ED physicians in 1,528 cases (80.1%).

CONCLUSIONS

Death occurring in emergency departments mainly concerned elderly patients with multiple chronic diseases and was frequently preceded by a decision to withdraw and/or withhold life-support therapies. Training of future ED physicians must be aimed at improving the level of care of dying patients, with particular emphasis on collegial decision-taking and institution of palliative care.

[Improving organization of care could reduce referrals of cancer patients to the emergency department. Prospective analysis of 123 patients]

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this prospective study was to analyze the profile of cancer patients admitted to an emergency department.

METHODS

The study included all cancer patients admitted to the emergency department of our tertiary care hospital during a 47-day period in 2004 and analyzed their demographic and medical data.

RESULTS

Patients were predominantly male (65%) with an average age of 62 years: 90% already knew their diagnosis. Most presented with immunodepression and severe deterioration of their general condition, in an advanced palliative stage (67%). They were referred mainly by their general practitioners (55%) and came from home (92%). In all, 81.3% were hospitalized. Follow-up at 3 months found 68.5% had died.

DISCUSSION

Reasons for admissions were varied. The primary reasons were the unavailability of beds in specialized cancer units and limited home care due to poor hospital-community coordination and to a lack of social and psychological assistance. Management through the emergency care system proved satisfactory but earlier preadmission care could be improved by developing supportive care and providing education for general practitioners about pain control and palliative care.

[Heat stroke in hospital patients during the summer 2003 heat wave: a nosocomial disease]

OBJECTIVE

We investigated patients who died in our institution during the August 2003 heat wave, to determine whether some in hospital patients actually died of heat stroke.

METHODS

Records of all patients who died in our tertiary care hospital between 6-15 August 2003 were analyzed retrospectively. Heat stroke was considered the cause of death when the following criteria were met: body temperature higher than 40.5 degrees C, except if there was documented evidence of cooling before the first temperature measurement, central nervous system abnormalities, and a reliable history of exposure to high temperatures in a hospital ward. The number of patients who died in the hospital during the heat wave was compared with data from the previous year.

RESULTS

Seventeen patients died from hospital-acquired heat stroke (19% of all hospital deaths). This condition accounted for a 25% increase in hospital mortality over the same period during 2002.

COMMENT

Hospital-acquired heat stroke appears to be a nosocomial disease that was responsible for an overall increase in hospital mortality during the 2003 heat wave.

Trough serum concentrations of β-lactam antibiotics in cancer patients: inappropriateness of conventional schedules to pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic properties of β-lactams

Serum concentrations of beta-lactams that continuously exceed the minimum inhibitory concentration may improve therapeutic outcomes for immunosuppressed patients. The trough serum levels of ceftazidime (CAZ), cefepime (FEP) or imipenem (IMP) were prospectively determined on days 1 and 3 of treatment in cancer patients. Seventy-eight episodes of suspected infection were analysed. Trough serum levels were higher than 4 mg/L in 62%, 24% and 0% of cases in the CAZ, FEP and IMP groups, respectively, and were higher than 20 mg/L in 24% of cases in the CAZ group compared with 0% both in the FEP and IMP groups. For suspected infectious episodes in cancer patients, the traditional intermittent regimen of beta-lactams does not appear to be appropriate for the pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic properties of these antibiotics.

[Emergency room deaths: 3-month retrospective analysis]

OBJECTIVES

Determine the characteristics of patients who died in the emergency unit and assess the number for whom care was limited or withdrawn.

METHODS

A 3-month single-center retrospective study of all the patients who died in the emergency room. Bivariate analysis was used to compare the clinical characteristics of patients who died despite maximum care (MC) with those for whom care was limited (LC).

RESULTS

84 patients died during the study period: 48 men and 36 women (mean age: 73 +/- 18 years). Half had normal mobility (43 patients, 50%), and 35 (40%) lived at home. Nearly all (72 patients, 72%) had a severe chronic disease. In descending order, death was ascribed to neurological (n = 22, 24%), cardiac (n = 14, 15%), septic (n = 13, 14%) and respiratory (n = 9, 10%) causes. The decision was made to limit or stop active care for 73 patients (84%) and recorded in 48 case files (55%). The principal differences between patients receiving MC and LC were respectively C and D Knaus classification and their age.

CONCLUSION

Death is frequent in emergency units and often strikes elderly patients with impaired mobility and severe chronic diseases. The decisions to limit or stop active care are the predominant direct cause, but their modalities warrant further exploration in a prospective study.

[Emergency room deaths.]

3-MONTH RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS: OBJECTIVES: Determine the characteristics of patients who died in the emergency unit and assess the number for whom care was limited or withdrawn. METHODS: A 3-month single-center retrospective study of all the patients who died in the emergency room. Bivariate analysis was used to compare the clinical characteristics of patients who died despite maximum care (MC) with those for whom care was limited (LC). RESULTS: 84 patients died during the study period: 48 men and 36 women (mean age: 73 +/- 18 years). Half had normal mobility (43 patients, 50%), and 35 (40%) lived at home. Nearly all (72 patients, 72%) had a severe chronic disease. In descending order, death was ascribed to neurological (n=22, 24%), cardiac (n=14, 15%), septic (n=13, 14%) and respiratory (n=9, 10%) causes. The decision was made to limit or stop active care for 73 patients (84%) and recorded in 48 case files (55%). The principal differences between patients receiving MC and LC were respectively C and D Knaus classification and their age. CONCLUSION: Death is frequent in emergency units and often strikes elderly patients with impaired mobility and severe chronic diseases. The decisions to limit or stop active care are the predominant direct cause, but their modalities warrant further exploration in a prospective study.

Withholding and withdrawing life-support therapy in an Emergency Department: prospective survey

OBJECTIVES

Few studies have focused on decisions to withdraw or withhold life-support therapies in the emergency department. Our objectives were to identify clinical situations where life-support was withheld or withdrawn, the criteria used by physicians to justify their decisions, the modalities necessary to implement these decisions, patient disposition, and outcome.

DESIGN AND SETTING

Prospective unicenter survey in an Emergency Department of a tertiary care teaching hospital.

PATIENTS

All non-trauma patients (n=119) for whom a decision to withhold or withdraw life-sustaining treatments was taken between January and September 1998.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Choice of criteria justifying the decision to withhold or withdraw life-sustaining treatments, time interval from ED admission to the decision; type of decision implemented, outcome.

RESULTS

Fourteen thousand eight hundred and seventy-five non-trauma patients were admitted during the study period, 119 were included, mean age 75+/-13 years. Resuscitation procedures were instituted for 96 (80%) patients before a subsequent decision was taken. Physicians chose on average 6+/-2 items to justify their decision; the principal acute medical disorder and futility of care were the two criteria most often used. Median time interval to reach the decision was 187 min. Withdrawal involved 37% of patients and withholding 63% of patients. The family was involved in the decision-making process in 72% of patients. The median time interval from the decision to death was 16 h (5 min to 140 days).

CONCLUSION

Withdrawing and withholding life-support therapy involved elderly patients with underlying chronic cardiopulmonary disease or metastatic cancer or patients with acute non-treatable illness.

Noninvasive continuous positive airway pressure in elderly cardiogenic pulmonary edema patients

OBJECTIVE

To compare the physiological effects and the clinical efficacy of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) vs standard medical treatment in elderly patients (> or =75 years) with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure related to cardiogenic pulmonary edema.

DESIGN

A prospective, randomized, concealed, and unblinded study of 89 consecutive patients who were admitted to the emergency departments of one general, and three teaching, hospitals.

INTERVENTION

Patients were randomly assigned to receive standard medical treatment alone ( n=46) or standard medical treatment plus CPAP ( n=43).

MEASUREMENTS

Improvement in PaO(2)/FIO(2) ratio, complications, length of hospital stay, early 48-h and overall mortality, compared between the CPAP and standard treatment groups.

RESULTS

Study groups were comparable with regard to baseline physiological and clinical characteristics (age, sex ratio, autonomy, medical history, cause of pulmonary edema). Within 1 h, noninvasive continuous positive airway pressure led to decreased respiratory rate (respiratory rate, 27+/-7 vs 35+/-6 breaths/min; p=0.009), and improved oxygenation (PaO(2)/F(I)O(2), 306+/-104 vs 157+/-71; p=0.004) compared with baseline, whereas no differences were observed within the standard treatment group. Severe complications occurred in 17 patients in the standard treatment group, vs 4 patients in the noninvasive continuous positive airway pressure group ( p=0.002). Early 48-h mortality was 7% in the noninvasive continuous positive airway pressure group, compared with 24% in the standard treatment group ( p=0.017); however, no sustained benefits were observed during the overall hospital stay.

CONCLUSION

Noninvasive continuous positive airway pressure promotes early clinical improvement in elderly patients attending emergency departments for a severe pulmonary edema, but only reduces early 48-h mortality.

Méningites à examen bactériologique direct négatif

OBJECTIVE

Elaboration of a decision-making tree for differential diagnosis of bacterial and viral meningitis, when initial Gram's staining is negative. Method One-Year prospective study in an adult emergency department. Comparison with the immediately-preceding period.

RESULTS

56 patients were included. Only 4 bacterial meningitis, but none misdiagnosed. 86% sensitivity and 83% specificity for viral meningitis (n=40). Rate of patients hospitalised more than 24 hours decreasing from 62.5 to 41% (p=0.05). Antibiotic chemotherapy decreasing from 55 to 16% (p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

This decision-making tree safely allows emergency differentiation between bacterial and viral meningitis, when initial Gram's staining is negative. It consequently leads to decreased rates of useless hospitalisations and antibiotic treatments. We believe that this method can be helpful during outbreaks of viral meningitis.

Efficacy of alteplase thrombolysis for ED treatment of pulmonary embolism with shock

Our objective was to assess efficacy and tolerance of thrombolysis using 0.6 mg/kg of Alteplase in patients with massive pulmonary embolism defined as the association of a pulmonary embolism with shock. We retrospectively included 21 patients presenting with a massive pulmonary embolism confirmed by either scintigraphy or spiral computed tomography. Patients were treated on the basis of a standard rationale followed by thrombolysis with 0.6 mg/kg Alteplase over a period of 15 minutes. Hospital mortality, vital signs before and 2 hours after thrombolysis, and incidence of hemorrhagic events were recorded. Five patients (23.8%) died, 4 of these deaths occurred during the first 4 hours after hospital admission. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure (Sp02) were significantly improved 2 hours after the beginning of thrombolysis. Five minor hemorrhagic events occurred. This study demonstrates that for patients with pulmonary embolism and shock, a bolus treatment with Alteplase is potentially effective and well tolerated.

[Critical serum concentration of antibiotics. A therapeutic tool and means of comparative evaluation]

It is difficult to predict the clinical activity of antibiotics solely on the basis of in vitro data. Experimental models measuring the relationship between serum concentration and in vivo activity are essential for comparing the activity of different compounds currently available. The critical serum concentration can be used to compare the intrinsic activity of antibiotics on a given bacterial strain. When compared with the minimal inhibiting concentration measured in vitro, "activity loss" can be determined for each antibiotic placed in contact with bacteria in an infected tissue. The relevance of this therapeutic tool in comparison with other methods is discussed.