Author: Jason Curtis

DRESS syndrome: an important differential for eosinophilia with systemic organ dysfunction (2020)

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Type of publication:
Journal article

Author(s):
*Whoasif Mukit, *Richard Cooper, *Harmesh Moudgil, *Nawaid Ahmad

Citation:
BMJ Case Reports, 2020 Vol. 13(5)

Abstract:
Drug rash occurring with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms syndrome is a potentially fatal adverse drug reaction that requires immediate action in order to minimise patient harm. Initially implicated with the use of anticonvulsants, it has also been shown to be caused by many other medications but less frequently with vancomycin. Patients typically present with fever, lymphadenopathy, eosinophilia and systemic organ dysfunction. Diagnosis is aided using probability calculators such as RegiSCAR (Registry of Severe Cutaneous Adverse Reaction), as well as clinical response on removing the responsible medication. Here, we present a case without any systemic organ dysfunction that improved with withdrawal of the offending drug vancomycin.

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Lessons of the month 1: A case of rhombencephalitis as a rare complication of acute COVID-19 infection (2020)

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Type of publication:
Journal article

Author(s):
*Po Fung Wong, *Sam Craik, *Piers Newman, *Annabel Makan, *Koottalai Srinivasan, *Emma Crawford, *Devapriya Dev, *Harmesh Moudgil and *Nawaid Ahmad

Citation:
Clinical Medicine 2020 Vol 20, No 3, p. 293-294

Abstract:
A 40-year-old man developed acute brainstem dysfunction 3 days after hospital admission with symptoms of the novel SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19). Magnetic resonance imaging showed changes in keeping with inflammation of the brainstem and the upper cervical cord, leading to a diagnosis of rhombencephalitis. No other cause explained the patient’s abnormal neurological findings. He was managed conservatively with rapid spontaneous improvement in some of his neurological signs and was discharged home with continued neurology follow up.

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Point-of-care lung ultrasound in patients with COVID-19 - a narrative review (2020)

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Type of publication:
Journal article

Author(s):
Smith, M J; Hayward, S A; Innes, S M; *Miller, A S C

Citation:
Anaesthesia; Aug 2020, vol. 75 (no. 8); p. 1096-1104

Abstract:
Ultrasound imaging of the lung and associated tissues may play an important role in the management of patients with COVID-19-associated lung injury. Compared with other monitoring modalities, such as auscultation or radiographic imaging, we argue lung ultrasound has high diagnostic accuracy, is ergonomically favourable and has fewer infection control implications. By informing the initiation, escalation, titration and weaning of respiratory support, lung ultrasound can be integrated into COVID-19 care pathways for patients with respiratory failure. Given the unprecedented pressure on healthcare services currently, supporting and educating clinicians is a key enabler of the wider implementation of lung ultrasound. This narrative review provides a summary of evidence and clinical guidance for the use and interpretation of lung ultrasound for patients with moderate, severe and critical COVID-19-associated lung injury. Mechanisms by which the potential lung ultrasound workforce can be deployed are explored, including a pragmatic approach to training, governance, imaging, interpretation of images and implementation of lung ultrasound into routine clinical practice.

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Adult cavernous haemangioma of the vocal cords with a unique presentation of acute respiratory distress: a case report (2020)

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Type of publication:
Journal article

Author(s):
*Rafie, A; Jolly, K; Darr, A; *Thompson, S

Citation:
Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England; Sep 2020; vol. 102 (no. 7); p. e152

Abstract:
Laryngeal haemangiomas can commonly be seen in children, and first-line treatment is usually propranolol. However, in adults, cavernous haemangioma of the vocal cord(s) is an extremely rare condition – with this being the only published adult case presenting with acute respiratory distress – the mainstay of treatment is surgical excision under microlaryngoscopy. Presentation in adults can be unpredictable, but primarily consists of hoarseness which can be associated with, dyspnoea, dysphagia, and haemoptysis – and in one documented case stenosis of the aero-digestive tract led to death. Due to these airway difficulties, surgery can often prove challenging. In this study, we explore the unusual case of a previously well 71-year-old gentleman presenting to the Emergency Department, with worsening shortness of breath as his primary complaint. Uniquely, in this case, an awake fibre-optic intubation was undertaken to manage the difficult airway and a microlaryngoscopy was performed. A 20x10x15 mm lesion was excised, which had characteristics in keeping with a cavernous haemangioma on microscopic examination.

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Comprehensive geriatric assessment in the emergency department (2020)

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Type of publication:
Journal article

Author(s):
*Harding, Siobhan

Citation:
Age & Ageing; Nov 2020; vol. 49 (no. 6); p. 936-938

Abstract:
Completing comprehensive geriatric assessments (CGA) for frail patients admitted to acute hospitals has well-established benefits and is advocated by national guidelines. There is high-quality evidence demonstrating an association between inpatient CGAs and the patient being alive and community-dwelling at 12-month follow-up. However, less well-known is the effectiveness of CGAs conducted within the emergency department (ED), with the primary purpose of facilitating admission avoidance, on reducing 30-day reattendance or readmission. This commentary provides an overview of five studies that measure the impact of conducting an ED-CGA on subsequent secondary care attendance. Two randomised-controlled trials, one case-matched cohort study and two quasi-experimental pre- and post-intervention studies were reviewed. The studies reported variable success in preventing subsequent secondary care use. No studies meeting the criteria had been conducted within the UK, affecting generalisability of the findings. There is no clear evidence that conducting a CGA within ED reduced reattendances or admissions 30 days post-discharge. The existing evidence base is methodologically and clinically heterogeneous and is vulnerable to multiple sources of bias. Further research is needed to understand whether screening to identify target populations or whether increased intensity of interventions delivered improves outcomes. ED-CGA may not have a beneficial effect on cost improvement or service delivery metrics, but it may have positive outcomes that are of high importance to the patients. This warrants further study.

No difference in strength and clinical outcome between early and late repair after Achilles tendon rupture (2020)

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Type of publication:
Journal article

Author(s):
*Carmont, Michael R; Zellers, Jennifer A; Brorsson, Annelie; Silbernagel, Karin Grävare; Karlsson, Jón; Nilsson-Helander, Katarina

Citation:
Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy : Official Journal of the ESSKA; May 2020; vol. 28 (no. 5); p. 1587-1594

Abstract:
PURPOSE This retrospective study aimed to determine the patient-reported and functional outcome of patients with delayed presentation, who had received no treatment until 14 days following injury of Achilles tendon rupture repaired with minimally invasive surgery and were compared with a group of sex- and age-matched patients presenting acutely. Based on the outcomes following delayed presentation reported in the literature, it was hypothesized that outcomes would be inferior for self-reported outcome, tendon elongation, heel-rise performance, ability to return to play, and complication rates than for acutely managed patients.
METHODS Repair was performed through an incision large enough to permit mobilisation of the tendon ends, core suture repair consisting of a modified Bunnell suture proximally and a Kessler suture distally and circumferential running suture augmentation.
RESULTS Nine patients presented 21.8 (14.9) days (range 14-42 days) after rupture. The rate of delayed presentation was estimated to be 1 in 10. At 12 months following repair, patients with delayed treatment had median (range) ATRS score of 90 (69-99) compared with 94 (75-100) in patients treated acutely presenting 0.66 (1.7) (0-5) days. There were no significant differences between groups: ATRA [mean (SD) delayed: – 6.9° (5.5), acute: – 6° (4.7)], heel-rise height index [delayed: 79% (20), acute: 74% (14)], or heel-rise repetition index [delayed: 77% (20), acute: 71% (20)]. In the delayed presentation group, two patients had wound infection and one iatrogenic sural nerve injury.
CONCLUSIONS Patients presenting more than 2 weeks after Achilles tendon rupture may be successfully treated with minimally invasive repair. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III.

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'You have got a foreign body in there': Renal transplantation, unexpected mild-to-moderate distress and patients' support needs: A qualitative study (2020)

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Type of publication:
Journal article

Author(s):
Jones J.; Damery S.; Combes G.; Allen K.; *Nicholas J. ; Baharani J.

Citation:
BMJ Open; Mar 2020; vol. 10 (no. 3)

Abstract:
Objective: To explore why transplant patients experience unexpected mild-to-moderate distress and what support they may need.
Design: Qualitative study using individual in-depth interviews. Setting Four National Health Service (NHS) Trusts in the Midlands, UK. Participants Fifteen renal transplant patients meeting the criteria for mild-to-moderate distress from their responses to emotion thermometers. Main outcome measures Identification of the reasons for distress and support options acceptable to renal transplant patients.
Results: Three themes were interpreted from the data: I am living with a "foreign body" inside me', why am I distressed?' and different patients want different support'. Following their transplant, participants felt that they should be happy and content, but this was often not the case. They described a range of feelings about their transplant, such as uncertainty about the lifespan of their new kidney, fear of transplant failure or fear of the donor having health conditions that may transfer to them. A few experienced survivors' guilt when others they had met at the dialysis unit had not received a transplant or because someone had died to enable them to receive the transplant. No longer having regular contact with the renal unit made participants feel isolated. Some participants did not initially attribute the source of their distress to their transplant. Participants' preferred support for their distress and their preferences about who should deliver it varied from peer support to seeing a psychologist.
Conclusions: Raising the issue of post-transplant mild-to-moderate distress with patients and encouraging them to think about and plan coping strategies pretransplant may prove beneficial for the patient and healthcare provider. Patients should be able to choose from a variety of support options.

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Improving our departmental reporting of thyroid cytology specimens against national guidelines: a two-cycle retrospective audit (2020)

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Type of publication:
Journal article

Author(s):
*Halliday E.; *Ahsan S.F.; *Harrison E.; *Harrison K.; *Sansom H.

Citation:
Cytopathology : official journal of the British Society for Clinical Cytology; November 2020, Volume31, Issue6, Pages 514-524

Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: In the United Kingdom, guidelines from the Royal College of Pathologists (RCPath) facilitate consistent and reproducible reporting and classification of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) thyroid specimens. The aim was to audit our department against RCPath guidelines to refine and improve our reporting process.
METHOD(S): Two-cycle retrospective observational audit of all patients undergoing thyroid FNAC over a two-year period (one year for each cycle). Final histology was correlated. The positive predictive value (PPV) for malignant neoplastic lesions was calculated; for Thy1, Thy1c, Thy2 and Thy2c all cases without final histology were assumed to be benign, while for Thy3a, Thy3f, Thy4 and Thy5 samples the PPV calculation was based only on those cytology samples with corresponding histology. 'False positive' and 'false negative' cases were reviewed.
RESULT(S): 288 cytology samples were included in the first cycle; 96 (33.3%) had corresponding histology. 287 samples were included in the second cycle; 119 (41.5%) had follow-up histology. The rate of non-diagnostic samples (Thy1/1c) decreased from 39.6% to 30.0%. The PPV for malignant neoplastic lesions was Thy1/1c 2.6%, Thy2/2c 0.0%, Thy3a 40.0%, Thy3f 19.4%, Thy4 75.0%, Thy5 100.0% (first cycle); Thy1/1c 4.7%, Thy2/2c 0.7%, Thy3a 13.3%, Thy3f, 7.7%, Thy4, 50.0%, Thy5 100.0% (second cycle).
CONCLUSION(S): Our department was able to reduce the rate of non-diagnostic FNAC samples and improve the diagnostic accuracy of FNAC. Auditing local outcomes helps refine and improve the reporting process. Review of 'false positive' and 'false negative' cases helps examine potential pitfalls of cytology.

Developing an intervention around referral and admissions to intensive care: a mixed-methods study (2019)

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Type of publication:
Journal article

Author(s):
Bassford C, Griffiths F, Svantesson M, Ryan M, Krucien N, Dale J, Rees S, Rees K, Ignatowicz A, Parsons H, Flowers N, Fritz Z, Perkins G, Quinton S, Symons S, White C, Huang H, Turner J, Brooke M, McCreedy A, Blake C & Slowther A.

Study involved patients at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust

Citation:
Health Services and Delivery Research 2019, Vol 7, Issue 39

Abstract:
Background: Intensive care treatment can be life-saving, but it is invasive and distressing for patients receiving it and it is not always successful. Deciding whether or not a patient will benefit from intensive care is a difficult clinical and ethical challenge.
Objectives: To explore the decision-making process for referral and admission to the intensive care unit and to develop and test an intervention to improve it.
Methods: A mixed-methods study comprising (1) two systematic reviews investigating the factors associated with decisions to admit patients to the intensive care unit and the experiences of clinicians, patients and families; (2) observation of decisions and interviews with intensive care unit doctors, referring doctors, and patients and families in six NHS trusts in the Midlands, UK; (3) a choice experiment survey distributed to UK intensive care unit consultants and critical care outreach nurses, eliciting their preferences for factors used in decision-making for intensive care unit admission; (4) development of a decision-support intervention informed by the previous work streams, including an ethical framework for decision-making and supporting referral and decision-support forms and patient and family information leaflets. Implementation feasibility was tested in three NHS trusts; (5) development and testing of a tool to evaluate the ethical quality of decision-making related to intensive care unit admission, based on the assessment of patient records. The tool was tested for inter-rater and intersite reliability in 120 patient records.
Results: Influences on decision-making identified in the systematic review and ethnographic study included age, presence of chronic illness, functional status, presence of a do not attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation order, referring specialty, referrer seniority and intensive care unit bed availability. Intensive care unit doctors used a gestalt assessment of the patient when making decisions. The choice experiment showed that age was the most important factor in consultants’ and critical care outreach nurses’ preferences for admission. The ethnographic study illuminated the complexity of the decision-making process, and the importance of interprofessional relationships and good communication between teams and with patients and families. Doctors found it difficult to articulate and balance the benefits and burdens of intensive care unit treatment for a patient. There was low uptake of the decision-support intervention, although doctors who used it noted that it improved articulation of reasons for decisions and communication with patients.
Limitations: Limitations existed in each of the component studies; for example, we had difficulty recruiting patients and families in our qualitative work. However, the project benefited from a mixed-method approach that mitigated the potential limitations of the component studies.
Conclusions: Decision-making surrounding referral and admission to the intensive care unit is complex. This study has provided evidence and resources to help clinicians and organisations aiming to improve the decision-making for and, ultimately, the care of critically ill patients.
Future work: Further research is needed into decision-making practices, particularly in how best to engage with patients and families during the decision process. The development and evaluation of training for clinicians involved in these decisions should be a priority for future work.
Study registration: The systematic reviews of this study are registered as PROSPERO CRD42016039054, CRD42015019711 and CRD42015019714.
Funding: The National Institute for Health Research Health Services and Delivery Research programme. The University of Aberdeen and the Chief Scientist Office of the Scottish Government Health and Social Care Directorates fund the Health Economics Research Unit.

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Age and Tightness of Repair Are Predictors of Heel-Rise Height After Achilles Tendon Rupture (2020)

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Type of publication:
Journal article

Author(s):
*Carmont, Michael R.; Zellers, Jennifer A.; Brorsson, Annelie; Nilsson-Helander, Katarina; Karlsson, Jón; Grävare Silbernagel, Karin

Citation:
Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine; Mar 2020; vol. 8 (no. 3); p. 1-8

Abstract:
Background: Achilles tendon rupture leads to weakness of ankle plantarflexion. Treatment of Achilles tendon rupture should aim to restore function while minimizing weakness and complications of management. Purpose: To determine the influence of factors (age, sex, body mass index [BMI], weight, time from injury to operative repair, and tightness of repair) in the initial surgical management of patients after an acute Achilles tendon rupture on 12-month functional outcome assessment after percutaneous and minimally invasive repair. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: From May 2012 to January 2018, patients sustaining an Achilles tendon rupture receiving operative repair were prospectively evaluated. Tightness of repair was quantified using the intraoperative Achilles tendon resting angle (ATRA). Heel-rise height index (HRHI) was used as the primary 12-month outcome variable. Secondary outcome measures included Achilles tendon total rupture score (ATRS) and Tegner score. Stepwise multiple regression was used to create a model to predict 12-month HRHI. Results: A total of 122 patients met the inclusion criteria for data analysis (mean ± SD age, 44.1 ± 10.8 years; 78% male; mean ± SD BMI, 28.1 ± 4.3 kg/m2). The elapsed time to surgery was 6.5 ± 4.0 days. At 12-month follow-up, patients had an HRHI of 82% ± 16% and performed 82% ± 17% of repetitions compared with the noninjured side. Participants had a mean ATRS of 87 ± 15 and a median Tegner score of 5 (range, 1-9), with a reduction in Tegner score of 2 from preinjury levels. The relative ATRA at 12 months was –4.8° ± 3.9°. Multiple regression identified younger age (B = ±0.006; P <.001) and greater intraoperative ATRA (B = 0.005; P =.053) as predictors of more symmetrical 12-month HRHI (R 2 = 0.19; P <.001; n = 120). Conclusion: Age was found to be the strongest predictor of outcome after Achilles tendon rupture. The most important modifiable risk factor was the tightness of repair. It is recommended that repair be performed as tight as possible to optimize heel-rise height 1 year after Achilles tendon rupture and possibly to reduce tendon elongation.

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