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Biomedical subjects

T R Wolfe

Publications and source records attributed to T R Wolfe.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

Atomized lidocaine as topical anesthesia for nasogastric tube placement: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of topical atomized 4% lidocaine in reducing the pain associated with nasogastric tube (NGT) placement. METHODS: This prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted in the emergency department of a university teaching hospital. Study participants were alert, hemodynamically stable adult patients requiring NGT placement for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. Atomized 4% lidocaine or normal saline solution was administered in the nasopharynx and oropharynx before NGT placement. All patients also received topical 2% lidocaine jelly intranasally after atomization. The pain of NGT placement was measured using a standard 100-mm visual analog scale. RESULTS: A total of 40 patients were enrolled in the study, with 20 in the lidocaine group and 20 in the placebo group. Mean pain scores were 37.4 mm (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.4 to 49.4) for atomized lidocaine and 64.5 mm (95% CI 51.8 to 77.1) for placebo with a mean difference of 27.1 mm (95% CI 14.8 to 39.4), achieving both clinical and statistical significance. CONCLUSION: Atomized nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal 4% lidocaine results in clinically and statistically significant reductions in pain during NGT placement.

Adolescent↗

Ruptured renal angiomyolipoma presenting as renal colic.

The case of a patient with acute onset of flank pain and hematuria is presented. Initial therapy was directed toward relief of pain believed to be caused by renal colic. It was not until the patient developed atypical features that the true diagnosis, ruptured renal angiomyolipoma, was discovered. The case and discussion emphasize the need to carefully consider a complete differential diagnosis when evaluating patients with flank pain and hematuria who have atypical clinical features or an atypical course.

Adult↗

Massive dextromethorphan ingestion and abuse.

The case of a 23-year-old man who was acutely intoxicated on dextromethorphan and who was chronically addicted to the drug is described. He consumed the highest daily dose for the longest duration yet reported in the world's English-language medical literature. Toxicity, abuse potential, and therapy of dextromethorphan intoxication are discussed.

Adult↗

Terminal 40-ms frontal plane QRS axis as a marker for tricyclic antidepressant overdose.

Tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) poisoning has been reported to cause a right-axis deviation of 130 degrees to 270 degrees in the terminal 40-ms frontal plane QRS axis (T40-ms axis) of the ECG. This retrospective cohort study was designed to determine if the T40-ms axis could discriminate TCA-toxic patients from other overdose patients and whether a correlation exists between TCA plasma concentration and T40-ms axis rotation. Only symptomatic overdose patients with plasma and urine drug screens and an ECG obtained within two hours of each other were included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups: TCA overdose patients (TCA OD, n = 48) and nonTCA overdose patients (nonTCA OD, n = 30). The mean T40-ms axis was significantly more rightward in the TCA OD group compared with the nonTCA OD group (179 +/- 74 vs 86 +/- 87, P less than .001). A TCA OD patient was 8.6 times more likely to have a T40-ms axis of more than 120 degrees than was a nonTCA OD patient (odds ratio, 8.6; 95% confidence interval, 2.7 to 29.1). Eight of the TCA poisoned patients (17%) did not demonstrate a T40-ms axis between 120 degrees and 270 degrees. Receiver operating characteristics demonstrated that the T40-ms axis was a better indicator of TCA toxicity than the QRS interval (P less than .05). A T40-ms axis of 120 degrees or more was 83% sensitive and 63% specific for TCA overdose. A correlation between plasma TCA concentration and T40-ms axis deviation was not found (r = .04).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

Syncope as an emergency department presentation of pulmonary embolism.

Pulmonary embolism presenting as an isolated syncopal spell can be a difficult clinical correlation to make. We present three cases of pulmonary embolism-induced syncope and review the pathophysiology and diagnostic considerations in this setting. Pulmonary embolism should be considered in the differential diagnosis of every syncopal event that presents to the emergency department, even in the face of cardiac dysrhythmias and normal pulse oximetry values.

Adult↗