Added diagnostic value of routinely measured hematology variables in diagnosing immune checkpoint inhibitor mediated toxicity in the emergency department.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) show remarkable results in cancer treatment, but at the cost of immune-related adverse events (irAE). irAE can be difficult to differentiate from infections or tumor progression, thereby challenging treatment, especially in the emergency department (ED) where time and clinical information are limited. As infections are traceable in blood, we were interested in the added diagnostic value of routinely measured hematological blood cell characteristics in addition to standard diagnostic practice in the ED to aid irAE assessment.

Shorter laboratory turnaround time is associated with shorter emergency department length of stay: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: A longer emergency department length of stay (EDLOS) is associated with poor outcomes. Shortening EDLOS is difficult, due to its multifactorial nature. A potential way to improve EDLOS is through shorter turnaround times for diagnostic testing.

Outcomes of second opinions in general internal medicine.

Background: To date, the outcomes of second opinions in internal medicine in terms of diagnostic yield and patient benefit have not been studied extensively. This retrospective study explores the outcomes of second opinions at a general internal medicine outpatient clinic in an academic hospital.

Methods: A register of all patients referred to the general internal medicine outpatient clinic of the University Medical Center in Utrecht for a second opinion, was kept.