Severe acute kidney injury due to oxalate crystal induced severe interstitial nephritis: A case report.

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) due to interstitial nephritis is a known condition primarily attributed to various medications. While medication-induced interstitial nephritis is common, occurrences due to non-pharmacological factors are rare. This report presents a case of severe AKI triggered by intratubular oxalate crystal deposition, leading to interstitial nephritis.

Association between proactive esophageal cooling and increased lab throughput.

Introduction: Proactive esophageal cooling has been FDA cleared to reduce the likelihood of ablation-related esophageal injury resulting from radiofrequency (RF) cardiac ablation procedures. Data suggest that procedure times for RF pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) also decrease when proactive esophageal cooling is employed instead of luminal esophageal temperature (LET) monitoring. Reduced procedure times may allow increased electrophysiology (EP) lab throughput.

Daptomycin-induced hyperkalemia: A case report and brief description of mechanism.

Key Clinical Message: Daptomycin causes serious side effects like rhabdomyolysis at high doses. At lower doses it can cause isolated hyperkalemia without frank rhabdomyolysis. Checking BMP along with CK helps taking timely measures to prevent adverse consequences.

A Case of Ischemic Monomelic Neuropathy After Arteriovenous Fistula Placement.

Ischemic monomelic neuropathy (IMN) is a relatively uncommon and under-recognized complication of vascular access creation for arteriovenous (AV) fistula in hemodialysis patients. They usually develop distal muscle weakness, sensation loss, and severe acute pain without muscle necrosis soon after AV fistula creation. Physicians should be aware of this condition as prompt diagnosis and timely vascular interventions are necessary to save the limbs and prevent permanent functional disability.

Beyond Human Limits: Harnessing Artificial Intelligence to Optimize Immunosuppression in Kidney Transplantation.

The field of kidney transplantation is being revolutionized by the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) techniques. AI equips machines with human-like cognitive abilities, while ML enables computers to learn from data. Challenges in transplantation, such as organ allocation and prediction of allograft function or rejection, can be addressed through AI-powered algorithms.

Mirizzi Syndrome: A Case Report.

Mirizzi syndrome (MS) describes a rare complication of cholelithiasis resulting from extrinsic compression of the common hepatic duct by impacted gallstones in the cystic duct or Hartmann's pouch. MS is most commonly seen in adults and is more prevalent in the female population. Due to the pathophysiology of MS being similar to other causes of cholecystitis and biliary obstruction, the symptomatology is rather nonspecific.

Risk of New-Onset Diabetes Mellitus as a Post-COVID-19 Condition and Possible Mechanisms: A Scoping Review.

Long-term effects of COVID-19 are becoming more apparent even as the severity of acute infection is decreasing due to vaccinations and treatment. In this scoping review, we explored the current literature for the relationship between COVID-19 infection and new-onset diabetes mellitus four weeks after acute infection. We systematically searched the peer-reviewed literature published in English between 1 January 2020 and 31 August 2022 to study the risk of new-onset diabetes mellitus post-COVID-19 infection.

A Contrast Frugal Approach to Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement in Chronic Kidney Disease: A Pilot Study.

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is now regarded as a viable treatment option for all cases of severe aortic stenosis (AS). Acute kidney injury (AKI) is common and lowers the survival of patients after TAVR and iodine-based contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) plays a significant adverse role in AKI. Therefore, in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients requiring pre-operative evaluation for TAVR, the risk of CIN is of particular concern.

Induced Peritonitis in a Patient Undergoing Continuous Cycler Peritoneal Dialysis: Case Report and Literature Review.

is an extremely rare organism that can lead to peritonitis in End-stage renal disease patients of peritoneal dialysis. Out of only five overall species peritonitis reported worldwide, only two of them had subspecies peritonitis detected, with both needing peritoneal dialysis catheter removal and change in dialysis modality to hemodialysis. Our patient, an elderly 63-year-old Hispanic male, was on peritoneal dialysis at home and presented with features suggestive of peritonitis.

Navigating the Path to a Sustainable "PACU Pause" and Standardized Perioperative Handoff: A Quality Improvement Project.

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to develop and implement a pause and standardized perioperative handoff to improve the quality of the handoff and the satisfaction of the perioperative team in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) setting.

Design: The Iowa Model for Evidence-Based Practice guided this evidence-based practice-quality improvement project.

Methods: A team was formed of key nurses and other perioperative members to execute the project.

Thrombocytopenia: A Diagnostic Dilemma and Incidental Detection of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in a Middle-Aged Asian Male.

Systemic lupus erythematosus is a multisystem disorder much more common in females than males due to the effect of the hormone estrogen. There are also specific differences in clinical presentation in men and women. We present a unique case of a 54-year-old middle-aged Asian male presenting with only generalized weakness without other systemic features and with only incidental finding of thrombocytopenia.

Cocaine and Alcohol Co-Ingestion-Induced Severe Rhabdomyolysis With Acute Kidney Injury Culminating in Hemodialysis-Dependent End-Stage Renal Disease: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Cocaine toxicity is associated with several organ dysfunctions, including acute kidney injury (AKI). Rhabdomyolysis is the most likely mechanism that mediates AKI, and associated alcohol co-ingestion can amplify the situation. AKI, if severe, can result in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT).

Catheterization Laboratory Activation Time in Patients Transferred With ST-Segment-Elevation Myocardial Infarction: Insights From the Mission: Lifeline STEMI Accelerator-2 Project.

Background: Catheterization laboratory (cath lab) activation time is a newly available process measure for patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction requiring inter-hospital transfers for primary percutaneous coronary intervention that reflects inter-facility communication and urgent mobilization of interventional laboratory resources. Our aim was to determine whether faster activation is associated with improved reperfusion time and outcomes in the American Heart Association Mission: Lifeline Accelerator-2 Project.

Methods And Results: From April 2015 to March 2017, treatment times of 2063 patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction requiring inter-hospital transfer for primary percutaneous coronary intervention from 12 regions around the United States were stratified by cath lab activation time (first hospital arrival to cath lab activation within [timely] or beyond 20 minutes [delayed]).

Resource and Infrastructure-Appropriate Management of ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction in Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

The 143 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) of the world constitute 80% of the world's population or roughly 5.86 billion people with much variation in geography, culture, literacy, financial resources, access to health care, insurance penetration, and healthcare regulation. Unfortunately, their burden of cardiovascular disease in general and acute ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in particular is increasing at an unprecedented rate.

Acute Pancreatitis Due to Disseminated Varicella Zoster Infection in an Individual with Newly Diagnosed Human Immunodeficiency Virus.

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection is generally considered as a benign and self-limiting disease. However, individuals with VZV infection can have disseminated to various organs leading to serious complications, particularly in adults. This pattern is more prevalent in immunosuppressed individuals.

Benchmarking as a quality of care improvement tool for patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction: an NCDR ACTION Registry experience in Latin America.

Objective: We aim to examine the effect of benchmarking on quality-of-care metrics in patients presenting with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) through the implementation of the American College of Cardiology (ACC) National Cardiovascular Data Registry (NCDR) ACTION Registry.

Design: From January 2005 to December 2017, 712 patients underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention PCI-499 before NCDR ACTION Registry implementation (prior to 2013) and 213 after implementation.

Setting: STEMI.

An Elderly Man with Syncope, Hypoxia, and Confusion: A Case Report and Review of Literature.

Controversies exist regarding the treatment of acute massive pulmonary embolism (PE) with anticoagulation alone or with thrombolytic therapy. Paradoxical embolism in the presence of a patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a rare but well-known entity and should always be looked for in case of a PE associated with systemic thromboembolism. We report a case of acute sub-massive PE treated with thrombolytic therapy in an elderly gentleman who had a paradoxical embolism and ischemic stroke as a result of a clot traversing through a PFO.

Trigger finger: An overview of the treatment options.

Stenosing flexor tenosynovitis, more commonly known as trigger finger, is one of the most common causes of hand pain and dysfunction. Clinicians must be able to identify the disorder, know the broad range of treatment options, and counsel patients on the treatment best suited for their condition. Awareness of the economic burden each option entails is central to optimizing treatment outcomes and patient satisfaction.

Impact of Regionalization of ST-Segment-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Care on Treatment Times and Outcomes for Emergency Medical Services-Transported Patients Presenting to Hospitals With Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: Mission: Lifeline Accelerator-2.

Background: Regional variations in reperfusion times and mortality in patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction are influenced by differences in coordinating care between emergency medical services (EMS) and hospitals. Building on the Accelerator-1 Project, we hypothesized that time to reperfusion could be further reduced with enhanced regional efforts.

Methods: Between April 2015 and March 2017, we worked with 12 metropolitan regions across the United States with 132 percutaneous coronary intervention-capable hospitals and 946 EMS agencies.

Guideline for Reversal of Antithrombotics in Intracranial Hemorrhage: A Statement for Healthcare Professionals from the Neurocritical Care Society and Society of Critical Care Medicine.

Background: The use of antithrombotic agents, including anticoagulants, antiplatelet agents, and thrombolytics has increased over the last decade and is expected to continue to rise. Although antithrombotic-associated intracranial hemorrhage can be devastating, rapid reversal of coagulopathy may help limit hematoma expansion and improve outcomes.

Methods: The Neurocritical Care Society, in conjunction with the Society of Critical Care Medicine, organized an international, multi-institutional committee with expertise in neurocritical care, neurology, neurosurgery, stroke, hematology, hemato-pathology, emergency medicine, pharmacy, nursing, and guideline development to evaluate the literature and develop an evidence-based practice guideline.

Fast track program to prevent postoperative ileus.

A fast track program was implemented using best practices to prevent postoperative ileus. Patients receiving traditional care for bowel surgery were compared to patients on the fast track program. The incidence of ileus decreased 43%, and length of stay decreased 1.