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Background In 2017, Idlib, Syria, was exposed to a chemical attack with sarin gas. Many patients of the attack were presented to the Al Rahman Charity Hospital in northern Syria. The aim of this study is to describe the clinical manifestations of sarin gas exposure, as well as the management and outcome of these manifestations in areas with poor healthcare infrastructure. Methods In a case series study design, medical records of suspected sarin exposed patients were reviewed in terms of age, gender, initial clinical presentation, management, and outcome. Results Seventeen patients with signs of sarin gas exposure had detailed medical records. The mean age was 29.1 years with a range of 4-70 years. Six patients were male (35.3%), and four (23.5%) were children under 18 years. At initial presentation, all victims suffered from respiratory distress because of severe airway inflammation, chest pain, and ophthalmological symptoms. All patients featured varying degrees of intestinal, neurologic, and dermatological signs and symptoms. Acute symptom management consisted of oxygen (100% of patients), atropine (100%), bronchodilators (82.4%), dexamethasone (82.4%), anti-emetics (82.4%), paracetamol (47.1%), and ranitidine (41.2%). Rapid symptomatic recovery was observed in 13 patients (76.5%) who stayed in the hospital for less than 24 hours, but four patients (23.5%) had to be admitted for more than 24 hours. The median length of stay was 22.2 hours (with a range of eight to 48 hours). Two patients required intensive care. Of the studied sample, all patients survived. Interpretation This study demonstrates that even in austere healthcare settings, survival rate and prognosis of sarin gas contaminated patients are fair if basic measures and symptomatic treatment are performed. The study provides insight into the clinical presentation, management, and hospital course likely to result from future sarin gas releases.
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Background In 2014, Hama Governorate was exposed twice to chlorine gas, with 15 patients presenting to Kafr Zita Hospital in Northwest Syria. This study aimed to describe clinical manifestations of chlorine gas exposure to identify factors leading to facility admission and the need for ICU/intubation in conflict-affected areas with limited healthcare infrastructure. Methods We conducted a case-series study, using medical records of suspected chlorine-exposed patients presenting at Kafr Zita Hospital on either 11 April or 22 May 2014. Data on age, sex, initial clinical presentation, therapeutic management, and outcome were compared by hospital admission/non-admission and attack date. All patients provided verbal informed consent. Results Fifteen patients with signs of chlorine gas exposure had detailed medical records. The mean age was 25.7 years (range 2-59), eight were male (53%), and three (20%) were under age 16. At initial presentation, all experienced respiratory distress, due to severe airway inflammation confirmed by nonspecific pulmonary infiltrates on chest x-ray, and similar intestinal, neurological, dermatological, ophthalmological, and psychological signs and symptoms. Acute management consisted of oxygen and bronchodilators for all patients, hydrocortisone (93%), antiemetics (80%), and dexamethasone (13%). Seven (47%) made a rapid symptomatic recovery and were discharged the same day and eight (53%) were admitted for a median of two days (range 1-6 days), one of whom required intubation and later died. The only significant associations found were higher mean pulse rate (i.e. 138 versus 124; p=0.043) and body temperature (37.0 versus 36.5; p=0.019) among admitted patients compared to non-admitted. Conclusion Our results demonstrated that even in low-resource humanitarian settings the survival rate for chlorine gas exposed patients is fair. Despite the small sample, this study provides insight into the clinical presentation, management, and outcomes of weaponized chlorine gas exposure, though further research is required to understand any chronic consequences.
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Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among hospitalized patients. Studies have reported an incidence of deep venous thrombosis to be as high as 50%, especially after craniotomy. Several factors are involved in the alteration of the specificity and sensitivity of D-dimer testing. These include symptom duration, the extent of fibrinolytic and thrombosis activity, anticoagulant therapy, comorbidity associated with medical or surgical illness, cancer, inflammatory diseases, old age, postpartum, and pregnancy period, as well as previous VTE. Several studies have shown the high sensitivity of the D-dimer test (>95%) in pulmonary embolism or acute deep venous thrombosis. The cut-off value is usually within the 500 µg FEU/L range, ruling out acute VTE, especially in patients with low or intermediate clinical probability. Patients who present with a high D-dimer level may necessitate an intense diagnostic approach, the pretest probability notwithstanding. Herein, we present a case of a 52-year-old male patient who presented with a normal D-dimer level in deep venous thrombosis.
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A tracheostomy tube (TT) is usually taken out in a well-planned and coordinated manner after the underlying condition that necessitated the procedure is resolved. The inadvertent removal or dislodgement of the TT from the stroma is known as accidental extubation or decannulation. This event may prove fatal in a stable patient. Like other respiratory procedures, tracheostomy with the long-term placement of tracheal tube comes with several risks, including scarring of the trachea, pneumothorax, tracheal rupture, and tracheoesophageal fistula. Other complications may include pneumomediastinum (PM) or the escape of air into the surrounding tissue. This may be attributed to several reasons, including mispositioning of the tracheal tube, barotrauma, or tracheal rupture. In some cases, PM presents with free air into cavities such as the thorax, peritoneum, or subcutaneous tissue. Although not fatal, it may require complex treatments such as ventilator management, high-flow oxygen, or, in some cases, surgical intervention. In this article, we describe a rare case of PM and generalized surgical emphysema due to mispositioning of the tracheal tube.
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The State of Qatar experienced a sandstorm on the night of April 1, 2015, lasting approximately 12 hours, with winds of more than 100 km/h and average particulate matter of approximately 10 µm in diameter. The emergency department (ED) of the main tertiary hospital in Qatar managed 62% of the total emergency calls and those of higher triage order. The peak load of patients during the event manifested approximately 6 hours after the onset. The Major Emergency Command Centre of the hospital ensured the department was maximally organized in terms of disaster management, and established protocols were brought into action. Multiple timely meetings were convened in efforts to effectively execute plans that included rapid emergency medical services handover time, resourcing staff, maximizing bed space, preventing dust entry in the ED, bypassing certain administrative processes, canceling day-surgeries that did not affect inpatient morbidity, and procuring additional respiratory equipment. Patients arrived mainly with exacerbations of asthma and respiratory distress, ophthalmic emergencies, and vehicular trauma; surprisingly, the incidence of pedestrian injuries did not vary. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2017;11:227-238).