JUST THE FACTS IN EMERGENCY MEDICINE - PART 3 ppt

102 SECTION 6 • CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES obesity, burns, malignancy, estrogen use and other hypercoagulable states, surgery in the last 3 months, or lower extremity trauma. PATHOPHYSIOLOGY • The pathophysiologic effects are caused by both mechanical obstruction of the pulmonary artery system and the release of vaso- and bronchoactive mediators. These mediators—prostaglandins, cat- echolamines, serotonin, and histamine—cause bronchoconstriction as well as vasoconstriction of the pulmonary artery. • Vasoconstriction is the predominant pathophysio- logic effect, leading to a ventilation/perfusion mis- match. • PE tends to be multiple and bilateral, with the right lower lobe of the lung being the most com- monly involved lung segment. CLINICAL FEATURES • Common symptoms, in decreasing order of fre- quency, include dyspnea, pleuritic chest pain, anxi- ety, cough, hemoptysis, sweats, nonpleuritic chest pain, and syncope. 4,5 • Common signs, in decreasing order of frequency, include respirations Ͼ16/min, rales, pulse Ͼ100/ min, temperature Ͼ37.8ЊC (100.4ЊF), phlebitis or DVT, cardiac gallop, diaphoresis, edema, and cya- nosis. 4 Pleural friction rub and wheezes are infre- quent signs of PE. • The presence or absence of any symptom or sign does not confirm or exclude the diagnosis of pul- monary embolism. Chest pain (usually pleuritic) and dyspnea are the most common symptoms, and tachypnea (respirations Ͼ16/min) is the most common sign in the diagnosis of PE. • Clinical evidence of DVT occurs in less than 50 percent of patients. However, up to 80 percent of patients with PE have positive venography. 2 • Massive PE (5 percent of cases) presents with hypotension and hypoxia. DIAGNOSIS AND DIFFERENTIAL • The diagnosis can be excluded or confirmed only with more sophisticated tests, such as a ventilation/perfusion (V ˙ /Q ˙ ) lung scan or pulmo- nary angiography. • Hypoxia occurs in about 90 percent of patients with PE, but the Pa O 2 may be normal. While a Pa O 2 of 80 to 90 mmHg is 90 to 95 percent sensitive in identifying patients with PE, it is only 50 per- cent specific. 4 • The presence of an increased alveolar-arterial (A-a) gradient has been reported to be more sensi- tive for PE but is normal in up to 25 percent of cases. 6 It is calculated with the following formula: A-a gradient ϭ (150 Ϫ 1.2 [P CO 2 ]) Ϫ Pa O 2 • Compare the above value with the expected nor- mal A-a gradient calculated with the formula A-a gradient ϭ patient age/4) Ϫ 4. The A-a gradi- ent is less reliable in the elderly. 7 Patients with an increased A-a gradient or hypoxia require further testing to confirm or reject the diagnosis of PE. A recent meta-analysis suggests that A-a gradient is unreliable as a screening test for PE. 8 • A D -dimer level less than 500 U/mL has a negative predictive value of 87 to 97 percent for PE, de- pending on the assay method. 8 Clinicians should seek out second-generation tests. However, the D - dimer assay has a high incidence of false positives, up to 80 percent. • The most common electrocardiographic (ECG) finding is nonspecific ST-T-wave changes. The classic S 1 Q 3 T 3 pattern on the ECG is highly sugges- tive of PE but is present in only 12 percent of pa- tients. • The chest x-ray may be normal in up to one-third of patients. 5 Infiltrate or atelectasis will appear in nearly 50 percent of patients. An elevated dome of one diaphragm is seen in 40 percent of patients, often with pleural effusion. 5 Hampton hump, a pleura-based, wedged-shaped infiltrate, is un- common. • The Westermark sign, relative oligemia distal to engorged pulmonary arteries, may be seen in pa- tients with massive PE. • A normal chest x-ray in the setting of dyspnea and hypoxemia without evidence of reactive airway disease is strongly suggestive of PE. 9 • The V ˙ /Q ˙ scan is 98 percent sensitive for PE but only 10 percent specific. 10 A high-probability scan is only 80 percent accurate in diagnosing PE, while a low-probability scan is only 20 percent accurate in excluding the disorder. The combination of a low-probability scan with a low clinical suspicion has a 96 percent predictive value of exclusion of PE, while a high-probability scan in the setting of high clinical suspicion has a 96 percent positive predictive value. 10 • Pulmonary angiography is the ‘‘gold standard’’ for diagnosing PE and is a much more specific test than the V ˙ /Q ˙ scan. 5 Angiography exposes pa- CHAPTER 28 • PULMONARY EMBOLISM 103 tients—especially the elderly—to more potential complications. • Disorders in the differential diagnosis include re- spiratory disorders, such as asthma, COPD, pneu- monia, spontaneous pneumothorax, and pleurisy. Cardiac disorders that may mimic PE include MI and pericarditis. Musculoskeletal disorders that may mimic PE include muscle strain, rib fracture, costochondritis, and herpes zoster. Intraabdomi- nal disorders that irritate the diaphragm or stimu- late breathing may also present similarly to PE. Finally, hyperventilation syndrome may mimic PE; however, this is a diagnosis of exclusion. • Spiral computed tomography (CT) scanning is an excellent confirmation test (experience may vary at different medical centers). Spiral CT is 93 to 98 percent specific for pulmonary embolism. 8,11 EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT CARE AND DISPOSITION • The treatment of PE consists of initial stabiliza- tion, anticoagulation with heparin, and thrombo- lytic therapy in emergent cases. • Administer oxygen. • Crystalloid IV fluids should be given initially for hypotension. • For hypotension in the absence of hypovolemia, dopamine can be started at 2 to 5 Ȑg/kg/min and titrated to maintain a systolic blood pressure of 90 mmHg. • Start heparin with an IV bolus of 10,000 to 20,000 U, followed by a continuous drip of 1000 U/h to be adjusted using the partial thromboplastin time, aiming for an international normalized ratio (INR) of two to three times normal. Contraindica- tions to anticoagulation include active internal bleeding, uncontrolled severe hypertension, re- cent trauma, recent surgery, recent stroke, and intracranial or intraspinal neoplasm. Heparin can be used safely in the nonbleeding pregnant patient but must be discontinued prior to delivery. Hepa- rin does not prevent the embolization of ex- isting clots. • Low-molecular-weight heparin has been shown to be safe and effective in the treatment of DVT and PE. Examples include enoxaparin 1 mg/kg SQ as the initial dose. • For persistent hypotension despite medical man- agement with the above measures, consider thrombolytic therapy. Tissue plasminogen activa- tor (tPA), 50 to 100 mg IV over 2 to 6 h, has been recommended. Streptokinase can be given in a dose of 250,000 U IV over 30 min followed by a continuous IV infusion of 100,000 U/h for the next 12 to 24 h. Ideally, consultation with an intensivist should occur prior to starting thrombolytic therapy. • For patients with contraindications to anticoagula- tion or thrombolytic therapy, a Greenfield filter is recommended. • Further embolization and shock most commonly occur within4hofinitial symptoms. R EFERENCES 1. Morgenthaler TI, Ryu JH: Clinical characteristics of fatal pulmonary embolism in a referral hospital. Mayo Clin Proc 70:417, 1995. 2. Hirsch J: Diagnosis of venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Am J Cardiol 65:45C, 1990. 3. Stein PD, Terrin ML, Hales CA, et al: Clinical, labora- tory, roentgenographic and electrocardiographic finding in patients with acute pulmonary embolism and no pre- existing cardiac or pulmonary disease. Chest 100:598, 1991. 4. Bell WR, Simon TL, DeMets DL: The clinical features of submassive and massive pulmonary emboli. Am J Med 62:355, 1977. 5. Leeper KV Jr, Popovich J Jr, Adams D, et al: Clinical manifestations of acute pulmonary embolism: Henry Ford Hospital experience,a five-year review. Henry Ford Hosp Med J 36:29, 1988. 6. Stein PD, Goldhaber SZ, Henry JW: Alveolar-arterial oxygen gradients in elderly patients with suspected pul- monary embolism. Ann Emerg Med 22:1177, 1993. 7. Jones JS, VanDeelen N, White L, et al: Alveolar-arterial oxygen gradients in the assessment of acute pulmonary embolism. Chest 107:139, 1995. 8. Kline JA, Johns KL, Colucciello SA, et al: New diagnos- tic tests for pulmonary embolism. Ann Emerg Med 35:168, 2000. 9. Stein PD, Alavi A, Gottschalk A, et al: Usefulness of noninvasive diagnostic tools for diagnosis of acute pul- monary embolism in patients with a normal chest radio- graph. Am J Cardiol 67:1117, 1991. 10. PIOPED: Value of the ventilation/perfusion scan in acute pulmonary embolism: Results of the Prospective Investigation of Pulmonary Embolism Diagnosis (PIO- PED). JAMA 263:2753, 1990. 11. Gallagher EJ: Clots in the lung. Ann Emerg Med 35:181, 2000. For further reading in Emergency Medicine: A Comprehensive Study Guide, 5th ed., see Chap. 52, ‘‘Pulmonary Embolism,’’ by Charles N. Schoenfeld. 104 SECTION 6 • CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES 29 HYPERTENSIVE EMERGENCIES Jonathan A. Maisel EPIDEMIOLOGY • Hypertension is the fourth most prevalent chronic medical condition in the United States, affecting up to 24 percent of the general adult population. 1,2 • The risk of developing serious cardiovascular, re- nal, or cerebrovascular disease increases with poorly controlled blood pressure. • Nearly 75 percent of adult Americans with known hypertension have inadequate control of their blood pressure, and only one-half are compliant with prescribed medications. 2,3 PATHOPHYSIOLOGY • At the cellular level, postsynaptic Ͱ 1 and Ͱ 2 recep- tors are stimulated by norepinephrine released from presynaptic sympathetic nerve endings, lead- ing to the release of intracellular calcium. Free calcium activates actin and myosin, resulting in smooth muscle contraction, increased peripheral vascular resistance, and an increase in blood pres- sure. Presynaptic Ͱ 2 receptors help limit this re- sponse via a negative-feedback loop. • Hypertension develops: (a) as a result of alter- ations in the contractile properties of smooth mus- cle in arterial walls, or (b) as a response to failure of normal autoregulatory mechanisms within vas- cular beds of vital organs (i.e., heart, kidney, and brain). • Long-standing, poorly controlled hypertension may damage target organs by injuring vascular beds. Endothelial injury leads to deposition of fibrin within vessel walls, and activation of media- tors of coagulation and cell proliferation. 4 A recur- rent cycle of vascular reactivity develops which leads to platelet aggregation and myointimal pro- liferation, and subsequent progressive narrowing of arterioles. • Hypertension is associated with major cardiovas- cular risk factors such as smoking, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, age Ͼ60, gender (men and post- menopausal women), obesity, and a family history of cardiovascular disease. 3 Although no single cause of hypertension has been identified, a com- bination of factors such as these are believed to contribute to ‘‘essential’’ hypertension. Several specific causes do exist, with intrinsic renal and renovascular disease being the most prevalent of the known causes. • Hypertensive emergencies in childhood, defined as systolic or diastolic blood pressure Ն95th per- centile for age and sex, are most commonly caused by intrinsic renal or renovascular disease. CLINICAL FEATURES • Essential historical features include a prior history of hypertension; noncompliance with anti-hyper- tension medication; overall medication use, in- cluding over-the-counter and illicit drugs; and diet (especially products with sodium or tyramine). • Any past medical history of cardiovascular, cereb- rovascular, or renal disease; diabetes; hyperlipid- emia; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; or asthma; or a family history of hypertension or premature heart disease should be elicited. 3 • Precipitating causes such as pregnancy, illicit drug use (i.e., cocaine and methamphetamine), mono- amine oxidase inhibitors, and decongestants should be considered. • Patients should be asked about central nervous system (CNS) symptoms (headache, visual changes, confusion, paresis, seizures), cardiovas- cular symptoms (chest pain, dyspnea, palpitations, pedal edema, tearing pain radiating to the back or abdomen), and renal symptoms (anuria, hema- turia, edema). • Blood pressure should be measured with an ap- propriately sized cuff (false elevations with small cuffs), at least twice if elevated, and in both arms and legs if substantially elevated. • The physical exam should focus on target organ injury and its acuity, including mental status changes, focal neurologic deficits, funduscopic changes (hemorrhages, cotton-wool exudates, disk edema), and cardiovascular findings (carotid bruits, heart murmurs and gallops, asymmetric pulses—coarctation versus dissection, pulmonary rales, and pulsatile abdominal masses). 3 • In the pregnant or postpartum patient, assessment should be made for hyperreflexia and peripheral edema, suggesting preeclampsia. • Children present with nonspecific complaints such as a throbbing frontal headache or blurred vision. Physical findings are similar to those seen in adults. • Pheochromocytoma is another common etiology in childhood, presenting with nervousness, palpi- tations, sweating, blurry vision, and skin flushing. CHAPTER 29 • HYPERTENSIVE EMERGENCIES 105 DIAGNOSIS AND DIFFERENTIAL • Renal impairment may present as hematuria, pro- teinuria, red blood cell casts, or elevations in blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, and potassium levels. • An electrocardiogram may reveal ST-T wave changes consistent with coronary ischemia, elec- trolyte abnormalities, strain, or left ventricular hy- pertrophy. • A chest x-ray may help identify congestive heart failure, aortic dissection, or coarctation. • In patients with neurologic compromise, a com- puted tomography scan of the head may reveal ischemic changes, edema, or blood. • A urine or serum drug screen may identify illicit drug use. • A pregnancy test should be done on all hyperten- sive women of childbearing age. EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT CARE AND DISPOSITION • Though hypertension is defined as either a systolic blood pressure Ͼ140 mmHg or a diastolic blood pressure Ͼ90 mmHg, management depends more on the patient’s clinical condition rather than ab- solute systolic or diastolic values. • Classification of hypertension into four categories facilitates management: a. Hypertensive emergency: Elevated blood pressure associated with target organ (CNS, cardiac, renal) dysfunction. Requires imme- diate recognition and treatment. b. Hypertensive urgency: Elevated blood pres- sure associated with risk for imminent target organ dysfunction. c. Acute hypertensive episode: Systolic blood pressure Ͼ180 and diastolic blood pressure Ͼ110 without evolving or impending target organ dysfunction. d. Transient hypertension: Elevated blood pressure associated with another condition (e.g., anxiety, alcohol withdrawal, and co- caine abuse). Patients usually become nor- motensive once the precipitating event re- solves. • Patients with hypertensive emergencies require O 2 supplementation, cardiac monitoring, and intrave- nous access. Following attention to the ABCs of resuscitation, the treatment goal is to reduce the mean arterial pressure [diastolic blood pressure ϩ 1/3 (systolic blood pressure Ϫ diastolic blood pres- sure)] by 20 to 25 percent over 30 to 60 min. • For hypertensive encephalopathy, sodium nitro- prusside should be used, beginning at 0.5 Ȑg/kg/ min and titrating to a maximum of 10 Ȑg/kg/min. Rapid correction of blood pressure should be avoided to prevent cerebral ischemia secondary to hypoperfusion. Nitroprusside is a potent arteriolar and vasodilator, with an onset of action in seconds. An arterial line should be placed in order to closely monitor the blood pressure, and the solu- tion and tubing should be wrapped in aluminum foil to prevent degradation by light. Hypotension is the most common complication of nitroprusside infusions. Cyanide toxicity is seen rarely after pro- longed infusions. • Labetalol is useful as a second line agent for hyper- tensive encephalopathy, providing a steady, con- sistent drop in blood pressure without diminishing cerebral blood flow or producing a reflex tachycar- dia. It is a competitive, selective Ͱ 1 blocker, and a competitive, nonselective ͱ blocker, with the ͱ- blocking action 4 to 8 times more potent than the Ͱ-blocking action. It has an onset of action in 5 to 10 min, and a duration of action of 8 h. Its use should be avoided in patients with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive heart failure, and heart block. The treatment should begin with incremental boluses of 20 to 40 mg intravenous (IV) and repeated every 10 min until the target blood pressure is achieved or a total dose of 300 mg is reached. Alternatively, after an initial bolus, a continuous infusion of 1 to 2 mg/ min may be used, terminating the infusion when the target blood pressure has been achieved. La- betalol is also ideal for use in syndromes associ- ated with excessive catecholamine stimulation. • Hypertension associated with stroke is often a physiologic response to the stroke itself (to main- tain adequate cerebral perfusion) and not its im- mediate cause. When the diastolic blood pressure is Ͼ140 mmHg, it may be slowly reduced by up to 20 percent using 5 mg increments of IV labeta- lol. The acute management of hypertension associ- ated with intracranial hemorrhage is controversial. • For hypertension associated with pulmonary edema, IV nitroglycerine or nitroprusside may be used. Nitroglycerine is both an arteriolar and ve- nous dilator, with greater effect on the venous system, and an onset of action within minutes. Initial infusion should be at a rate of 5 to 20 Ȑg/ min, with 5 Ȑg/min incremental increases every 5 min until symptoms improve or side effects (head- ache, hypotension, tachycardia) ensue. • For hypertension associated with myocardial isch- emia, IV nitroglycerine is first-line therapy. Be- cause it is a better vasodilator of the coronary 106 SECTION 6 • CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES vessels than nitroprusside, it is the drug of choice for severe hypertension complicating acute coro- nary ischemia or pulmonary edema. • For hypertension associated with aortic dissection, reducing the blood pressure and ventricular ejec- tion force may limit the extent of the dissection. Either labetalol alone, or a combination of nitro- prusside and a beta blocker can be used. Esmolol, an ultra-short-acting ͱ 1 -selective adrenergic blocker, is very effective, achieving 90 percent of beta blockade within 5 min of an IV bolus of 0.5 mg/kg, followed by an infusion of 0.05 to 0.3 mg/ kg/min. Propranolol and metoprolol are alterna- tives. Esmolol, as well as other beta blockers, should be avoided in patients with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cocaine- induced cardiovascular complications (because of unopposed Ͱ-adrenergic effects). • Worsening renal function in the setting of elevated blood pressure, manifested by elevation of BUN and creatinine levels, proteinuria, or the presence of red blood cells or red blood cell casts in the urine, is considered a hypertensive emergency. Ni- troprusside is the preferred agent. Dialysis-depen- dent patients presenting with volume overload may require emergent dialysis if they present with uncontrolled hypertension and other evidence of end-organ dysfunction. • Renovascular hypertension in children can be treated with diazoxide 1 to 3 mg/kg IV q5 to 15 min, labetalol 0.3 to 1 mg/kg IV q10 min, or capto- pril 0.5 to 1 mg/kg per 24 h PO in 3 to 4 di- vided doses. • Treatment of pheochromocytoma requires surgi- cal excision, managing the elevated blood pressure with an Ͱ-adrenergic blocker such as phentol- amine. • The treatment goal in hypertensive urgencies is the gradual reduction of blood pressure within 24 to 48 h by using oral antihypertensive agents. Useful agents include the following: a. Labetalol 200 to 400 mg PO, repeated every 2 to 3 h. Oral labetalol has an onset of action in 30 min and a duration of action of 6 to 12 h. b. Captopril, an angiotensin-converting en- zyme inhibitor, has an onset of action in 15 to 30 min, a peak effect at 50 to 90 min, and a duration of effect of 4 to 6 h. A 25 mg oral dose is effective in refractory congestive heart failure and renovascular hypertension. Common side effects include rash, cough, and loss of taste, and rarely, life-threatening angioneurotic edema. c. Sublingual nitroglycerine in the form of spray, or 0.3 to 0.6 mg tablets, are the agents of choice for patients with angina or conges- tive heart failure. The hypotensive effect be- gins in minutes and can last several hours. d. Clonidine is a centrally acting, Ͱ 2 -adrenergic agonist that decreases central sympathomi- metic activity, lowering plasma catechola- mine levels. Its onset of action is 30 to 60 min, with peak effect in 2 to 4 h. It is given as a dose of 0.1 mg hourly until the target blood pressure is reached, or a total of 0.7 mg has been given. A patient treated with clonidine in the emergency department (ED) does not need to be discharged on this drug. Because an adequate response may take up to 6 h, it is not a first-line agent. e. Nifedipine, a dihydropyridine Ca ϩ -channel antagonist, had been used commonly for hy- pertensive urgencies via oral and sublingual routes. Serious adverse reactions, such as acute coronary events and stroke, preclude recommending it for the urgent treatment of hypertension. 5 • For nonemergent, nonurgent hypertension, there is no evidence of a beneficial effect of acute blood pressure reduction on long-term control or on the chronic effects of hypertension. These patients do not require acute intervention, but should be re- ferred for timely follow-up. Should an oral agent be started in the ED, the choice should be based on coexisting conditions, if any. Diuretics, such as hydrochlorothiazide 25 mg/day, are first-line agents in the elderly, as well as for patients with renal disease and congestive heart failure. (Con- sider potassium supplementation.) Beta blockers, such as metoprolol 50 mg bid are first-line agents for patients with angina, or those postmyocardial infarction. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibi- tors, such as captopril 25 mg two to three times a day, can be used in patients with congestive heart failure or diabetes. • For a discussion of hypertension associated with pregnancy, see Chap. 61. R EFERENCES 1. US Department of Health and Human Services: Preva- lence of selected chronic conditions: United States, 1986– 1988. Vital Health Stat 182:10, 1993. 2. Burt VL, Whelton P, Roccella EJ, et al: Prevalence of hypertension in the U.S. adult population: Results from CHAPTER 30 • AORTIC DISSECTION AND ANEURYSMS 107 the Third Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988–1991. Hypertension 25:305, 1995. 3. Joint National Committee (JNC) on Prevention, Detec- tion, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure: The sixth report of the Joint National Committee on Pre- vention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure. Arch Intern Med 157:2413, 1997. 4. Kitiyakara C: Malignant hypertension and hypertensive emergencies. J Am Soc Nephrol 9:133, 1998. 5. McCarthy M: US NIH issues warning on nifedipine. Lan- cet 346:689, 1995. For further reading in Emergency Medicine: A Com- prehensive Study Guide, 5th ed., see Chap. 53, ‘‘Hypertension,’’ by Melissa M. Wu and Arjun Chanmugam. 30 AORTIC DISSECTION AND ANEURYSMS Suzanne M. Bertollo ABDOMINAL AORTIC ANEURYSMS EPIDEMIOLOGY • Incidence of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) increases with age; most patients are older than 60. • Males are at increased risk. • Other risk factors include connective tissue dis- ease, Marfan syndrome, atherosclerotic risk fac- tors (smoking, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes) and a family history of aneurysm. PATHOPHYSIOLOGY • Destruction of the media of the aorta is a promi- nent feature in aneurysm pathogenesis with a re- duction of elastin and collagen. Histologic exami- nation reveals a thinned media and an intima that is infiltrated with atherosclerosis. • Laplace’s law [wall tension ϭ (pressure x radius)/ tensile force] dictates that as the aorta dilates, the force on the aortic wall increases, causing further aortic dilation. Rate of aneurysmal dilation is vari- able with larger aneurysms expanding more quickly. An average rate may be .25 to 0.5 cm per year. 1 CLINICAL FEATURES • Four clinical scenarios exist: acute rupture, aor- toenteric fistula, chronic contained rupture, and AAA as an incidental finding. • Acute leakage or rupture is rapidly fatal without intervention. Classic presentation is an older male with severe back or abdominal pain who presents with syncope or hypotension. On exam, such pa- tients classically have a tender pulsatile abdominal mass, but this finding may be obscured by obesity. Femoral pulsations are typically normal. 2 • Patients usually exhibit a variation of the classic presentation. 3 They may complain of unilateral flank or groin pain, hip pain, or abdominal pain localized to a specific quadrant. Abdominal ten- derness may or may not be present. There may be signs of retroperitoneal hemorrhage such as periumbilical or flank ecchymosis or scrotal he- matoma. • Aortoenteric fistula presents as gastrointestinal bleeding. This is classically seen in a patient who has undergone prior aortic grafting. 4 These pa- tients may present with a deceptively minor ‘‘sen- tinel’’ bleed or massive gastrointestinal hemor- rhage. • Chronic-contained rupture is uncommon but is seen when an AAA ruptures retroperitoneally with significant fibrosis that limits blood loss. 5 These patients may have pain for an extended time period and appear well. • Asymptomatic AAAs may be found on physical exam or during unrelated radiologic evaluation. Those greater than 5 cm are at high risk of rupture. DIAGNOSIS AND DIFFERENTIAL • Variable presentations of aortic aneurysm present a diagnostic challenge. Diagnoses that might be considered are renal colic, musculoskeletal back pain, pancreatic disease or other intraabdominal processes (diverticulitis, cholecystitis, mesenteric ischemia, etc.), scrotal or testicular disorders, and disorders that cause gastrointestinal bleeding (var- ices, ulcers, tumors, etc.). • Diagnostic studies are needed when the diagnosis of AAA is unclear. Though not the study of choice, plain films may reveal a calcified aorta in 65 percent of those with aneurysmal disease. 6 In the unstable patient, bedside abdominal ultra- sound is very sensitive, reliably measuring aortic diameter and identifying an aneurysm 7 without the hazards of transporting a patient away from the emergency department. Computed tomogra- 108 SECTION 6 • CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES phy scanning, however, is preferred in the stable patient as it better delineates the anatomic details of the aneurysm and any associated rupture. EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT CARE AND DISPOSITION • The patient should be stabilized with supplemen- tal oxygen, volume resuscitation with isotonic flu- ids, and/or blood transfusion via multiple large bore intravenous lines. • For suspected rupturing AAA or aortoenteric fis- tula, immediate surgical consultation is warranted. No diagnostic testing should delay surgical repair. • A vascular surgeon should be consulted for urgent repair of chronically contained ruptured AAAs. Admission to the intensive care unit should be sought. • For incidentally discovered AAA, the patient can potentially be discharged home depending on an- eurysm size and comorbid features. Consultation with a vascular surgeon for admission or close outpatient follow-up is usually adequate. AORTIC DISSECTION EPIDEMIOLOGY • Most patients are over the age of 50 years with a history of hypertension. • A second group of patients are younger than 50 years and have identifiable risk factors such as congenital heart disease, connective tissue disease, and pregnancy. Twenty-five to 30 percent of pa- tients with Marfan syndrome develop dissection. Dissection may also be iatrogenic from cardiac catheterization or surgery. PATHOGENESIS • Aortic dissection occurs when the intima is vio- lated, allowing blood to enter the media and dis- sect between the intimal and adventitial layers. Common sites for tear include the ascending aorta and the region of the ligamentum arteriosum. • Dissections may extend proximally, distally, or both and are classified by two separate systems. The Stanford classification system considers any involvement of the ascending aorta a type A dis- section and one restricted to the descending aorta a type B dissection. The DeBakey system classifies type I dissections as those that involve the as- cending aorta, the arch, and the descending aorta. Type II involves only the ascending aorta and type III only the descending aorta. CLINICAL FEATURES • More than 90 percent of patients have abrupt on- set of severe tearing chest or upper back pain. Accompanying nausea, vomiting, and diaphoresis are common. • Clinical presentation depends on the location of the dissection with pain patterns often changing as the anatomic injury migrates. 8 Presentations in- clude aortic valve insufficiency with or without pericardial tamponade, coronary artery occlusion with myocardial infarction, stroke symptoms with carotid involvement, or paraplegia with occlusion of vertebral blood supply. The dissection may progress distally causing abdominal or flank pain or limb ischemia. • Physical exam findings also depend on location and progression of the dissection. A diastolic murmur or aortic insufficiency may be heard. Fifty percent of patients have decreased radial, femoral, or carotid pulses. 8 Hypertension and tachycardia are common, but hypotension may also be present. DIAGNOSIS AND DIFFERENTIAL • Ischemic end organ manifestations associated with dissections may confuse the differential diagnosis, which includes myocardial infarction, pericardial disease, pulmonary disorders, spinal cord injuries, and intraabdominal disorders. Rupture of the dis- section back through the intima into the true lu- men may cause a cessation of symptoms leading to false reassurance. • Chest x-ray shows an abnormal aortic contour 90 percent of the time. The ‘‘calcium sign’’ may be present, with intimal calcium seen distant from the edge of the aortic contour. • Computed tomography, angiography, and trans- esophageal echocardiography are all quite sensi- tive and specific. Their use varies by institution 9 and should be based on availability and patient stability, in conjunction with a vascular or tho- racic surgeon. CHAPTER 31 • NONTRAUMATIC PERIPHERAL VASCULAR DISORDERS 109 EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT CARE AND DISPOSITION • Patients with suspected aortic dissection require prompt radiographic confirmation of the diag- nosis. • Stabilization of the patient requires large-bore in- travenous access, supplemental oxygen, and cor- rection of hypotension with judicious fluid and/or blood product resuscitation. • More commonly patients with dissection require antihypertensive treatment along with control of tachycardia to reduce shear force on the intimal flap of the aorta. This is generally accomplished with negative inotropes (esmolol, metoprolol, or propranolol) in conjunction with a vasodilator such as nitroprusside. • Rapid consultation with a surgeon is mandatory. Dissection of the ascending aorta requires prompt surgical repair. Indications for repair of dissections involving only the descending aorta are contro- versial. 9 R EFERENCES 1. Faggioli GL, Stella A, Gargiulo M, et al: Morphology of small aneurysms: Definition and impact on risk of rupture. Am J Surg 168:131, 1994. 2. Satta J, Laara E, Immonen K, et al: The rupture type determines the outcome for ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm patients. Ann Chirurg Gynaecol 86:24, 1997. 3. Henney AM, Adiseshiah M, et al: Abdominal aortic aneu- rysm: Report of a meeting of physicians and scientists, University College London Medical School. Lancet 341:215, 1993. 4. Batounis E, Georgopoulos S: The validity of current vas- cular imaging methods in the evaluation of aortic anasto- motic aneurysms developing after abdominal aortic aneu- rysm repair. Ann Vasc Surg 10:537, 1996. 5. Jones CS, Reilly MK, Dalsing MC, Glover JL: Chronic contained rupture of abdominal aortic aneurysms. Arch Surg 121:542, 1986. 6. Crawford ED, Hess KR: Abdominal aortic aneurysm. N Engl J Med 321:1040, 1989. 7. Graham M, Chan A: Ultrasound screening for clinically occult abdominal aortic aneurysm. Can Med Assoc 138: 627, 1988. 8. Larson EW, Edwards WD: Risk factors for aortic dissec- tion: A necropsy study of 161 cases. Am J Cardiol 53:849, 1984. 9. Cigarroa JE, Isselbacher EM, DeSanctis RW, et al: Medi- cal progress: Diagnostic imaging in the evaluation of sus- pected aortic dissection—old standards and new direc- tions. N Engl J Med 328:35, 1993. For further reading in Emergency Medicine: A Com- prehensive Study Guide, 5th ed., see Chap. 54, ‘‘Aortic Dissection and Aneurysms,’’ by Gary A. Johnson. 31 NONTRAUMATIC PERIPHERAL VASCULAR DISORDERS David M. Cline DEEP VENOUS THROMBOSIS • Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) is a common po- tentially life-threatening condition with an esti- mated annual incidence of 5 to 20 million cases in the United States. PATHOPHYSIOLOGY • The formation of venous clots is related to at least one of Virchow’s triad of factors: venous stasis, injury to the vessel wall, and a hypercoagulable state. Table 31-1 outlines the clinical risk factors predisposing to DVT, which can be remembered by the mnemonic thrombosis. • Thrombi most commonly form at the venous cusps of deep veins in the lower extremities, where al- tered or static blood flow initiates clot formation. CLINICAL FEATURES • The classic features of DVT include swelling of the lower extremity, tenderness, pain, redness, in- TABLE 31-1 Clinical Risk Factors for Deep Venous Thrombosis T Trauma H Hypercoagulable, hormone replacement R Recreational drugs (IV drugs) O Old (age Ͼ40) M Malignancy B Birth control pill, blood group A O Obesity/obstetrics S Surgery, smoking I Immobilization S Sickness 110 SECTION 6 • CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES creased local warmth, and possibly low-grade fever. • The clinical examination is unreliable for the de- tection or exclusion of DVT. Assessment of risk factors (Table 31-1) may be a stronger predictor whenever the diagnosis is entertained. • One study showed that a single risk factor is associ- ated with DVT in 24 percent of patients, while those with four or more risk factors are virtually certain to have the diagnosis established. 1 • The constellation of pain, redness, swelling, warmth, and tenderness is present in less than one-half of patients with confirmed DVT. Swelling and tenderness in the involved extremity are the most common findings, occurring in 80 and 75 percent, respectively, of patients with DVT. • Pain in the calf with forced dorsiflexion of the ankle and the leg straight (Hormans’ sign) is not reliable for DVT. • Symptomatic DVT will be in the popliteal or more proximal veins in more than 80 percent of cases. • An isolated calf DVT will extend proximally only 20 percent of the time, usually within a week of presentation. 2 Unlike proximal DVT, nonex- tending calf DVT will rarely cause a pulmonary embolism. • Uncommon presentations of DVT include phlegmasia cerulea dolens (painful blue inflam- mation) and phlegmasia alba dolens (‘‘milk leg’’). • In phlegmasia cerulea dolens the patient presents with an extensively swollen, cyanotic leg from ve- nous engorgement due to massive iliofemoral thrombosis. This high-grade obstruction can com- promise perfusion to the foot from high compart- ment pressures and lead to venous gangrene. Pete- chiae and bullae may be present on the skin. • Phlegmasia alba dolens is also due to massive ilio- femoral thrombosis, but the patient’s leg is pale or white secondary to associated arterial spasm. DIAGNOSIS AND DIFFERENTIAL • Less than one-third of patients with clinically sus- pected DVT are found to have the disease follow- ing objective investigation. 2 • Venography has represented the historical ‘‘gold standard’’ for the detection of DVT. When con- trast is seen throughout the deep venous system (not possible in 5 to 10 percent of tests), a veno- gram reliably excludes DVT. • The most common test used to identify a DVT in North America is ultrasonography. • A duplex scan with or without color flow is highly sensitive and specific for a proximal DVT (clot proximal to the popliteal veins). The positive pre- dictive value of ultrasound is higher than imped- ance plethysmography (IPG) for DVTs (94 versus 83 percent, respectively). • D -dimer fragments can be measured as an indica- tor of the presence or absence of DVT or pulmo- nary embolism. 3,4 Infections, surgery, trauma, car- diovascular disease, and cancer can elevate a D - dimer level. Despite a sensitivity less than 250 ng/ mL of over 80 to 90 percent, a D -dimer level is useful only when it is low. 3 • The combination of a normal IPG or ultrasound and low D -dimer level has a negative predictive value of about 99 percent for proximal DVT. 2 • The primary objective in treating DVT is the pre- vention of pulmonary embolism. The mainstay of therapy is anticoagulation. • In the setting of ultrasound-documented proximal DVT with other complications, hospital admission is appropriate. EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT CARE AND DISPOSITION • Either low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) or unfractionated heparin (with weight-based dosing of a bolus of 80 U/kg followed by an infusion of 18 U/kg/h) may be used. 5 The available LMWHs include dalteparin, enoxaparin, or tinzaparin. 6 An example treatment regimen would be enoxaparin 1 mg/kg of lean body weight subcutaneously twice daily. When using unfractionated heparin, the goal is a PTT of 1.8 to 2.8 times normal. • If anticoagulation is contraindicated, if a clot is extending proximally in spite of medical treat- ment, or if there is significant bleeding with the anticoagulants, consultation should be obtained for the placement of a Greenfield filter in the inferior vena cava. • In the setting of ultrasound-documented proximal DVT, discharge to home on LMWH can be con- sidered. 6 The patient should have few or no comor- bid illnesses, be able to ambulate unassisted, have good social support at home, have a physician familiar with the use of LMWH who can follow up with the patient within 24 h, be able and willing to self-administer injections at home, and have no other reason for admission to the hospital. Warfa- rin therapy would then be initiated by the follow- up physician. • In the setting of unilateral leg swelling and an ultrasound negative for venous thrombosis proxi- mal to the popliteal fossa (presumed calf DVT), discharge with a follow-up ultrasound in 5 to 7 days is recommended. 7 Generally, no anticoagula- tion needs to be started except in very high risk CHAPTER 31 • NONTRAUMATIC PERIPHERAL VASCULAR DISORDERS 111 groups including those with previous proximal DVT or pulmonary embolus, poor ambulation, a known hypercoagulable state, or extensive cardio- vascular comorbidity. With a known or presumed calf DVT, the risk of pulmonary embolus within 7 days after an initial negative ultrasound is near 0, even without anticoagulation. 2 OCCLUSIVE ARTERIAL DISEASE EPIDEMIOLOGY • Intermittent claudication has a prevalence of be- tween 1 and 7 percent for men above age 50, with symptomless disease existing in up to 25 percent of men scanned with noninvasive testing in this age group. 8 • Symptoms of peripheral arterial disease increase with age and are two to four times more common in men than in women. The vast majority of these patients have a history of prolonged smoking. • Given that atherosclerosis is the usual pathology in ischemic limb pain, it is not surprising that at least one-half of these patients have coronary or cerebrovascular disease. 8 PATHOPHYSIOLOGY • Acute limb ischemia results from a blood supply that is inadequate to meet tissue oxygen and nutri- ent requirements. • Peripheral nerves and skeletal muscle are very sensitive to ischemia; in them, irreversible changes occur within4hofanoxia at room temperature. • Nonembolic limb ischemia is secondary to athero- sclerosis in the vast majority of patients. 9 • An embolus is the commonest cause of an acute arterial occlusion in the limb and originates from the heart in 80 to 90 percent of cases of embolism. Atrial fibrillation and recent myocardial infarction are the two primary causes of mural thrombus within the heart. • Other causes include thrombosis, inflammatory condition, low flow states, and arterial dissection. CLINICAL FEATURES • Patients with acute limb ischemia will exhibit one or more of the ‘‘six Ps’’: pain, pallor, polar (for cold), pulselessness, paraesthesias, and paralysis. A lack of one or more of these findings, however, does not exclude ischemia. • Pain alone may be the earliest symptom. • Complete arterial obstruction results in visible skin changes, with initial pallor that may be fol- lowed by blotchy, mottled areas of cyanosis and associated petechiae and blisters. Severe, steady pain in the involved extremity associated with de- creased skin temperature is expected. • Hypoesthesia or hyperesthesia due to ischemic neuropathy is typically an early finding, as is mus- cle weakness. • An absent distal pulse is only so helpful. It may be an abrupt new sign of an occlusive clot or a long-standing finding of chronic vascular disease. • Despite the generally held belief that limb salvage is possible with reperfusion within 4 to 6 h, tissue loss can occur with significantly shorter occlu- sion times. • Disability and tissue loss are inevitable after 6 h of occlusion anoxic injury. • Chronic peripheral arterial insufficiency is charac- terized by intermittent claudication, which may progress to intermittent ischemic pain at rest. • Pain at rest typically localizes to the foot and is aggravated with leg elevation, improves with standing, and is poorly controlled with analgesics. 8 Shiny, hyperpigmented skin with hair loss and ul- ceration, thickened nails, muscle atrophy, vascular bruits, and poor pulses is a hallmark of chronic vascular disease. DIAGNOSIS AND DIFFERENTIAL • A thorough clinical evaluation is the most useful diagnostic tool for the assessment of occlusive ar- terial disease. A history of an abruptly ischemic limb in a patient with atrial fibrillation or recent myocardial infarction is highly suggestive of an embolus. Acute ischemia in the limb of a patient known to have advanced peripheral vascular dis- ease is more likely due to thrombosis or a low cardiac output state. • A hand-held Doppler can document the ampli- tude of flow or its absence when held over the dorsalis pedis, posterior tibial, popliteal, or femo- ral arteries in the lower limb and over the radial, ulnar, brachia, or axillary arteries in the arm. • In consultation with a vascular surgeon and during the period of preoperative and/or medical man- agement, an arteriogram can be done to confirm the diagnosis, define the vascular anatomy and perfusion, and guide aggressive management. EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT CARE AND DISPOSITION • When the diagnosis of acute limb ischemia is known or suspected, immediate intravenous hepa- [...]... mycobacteria in saliva or sputum are the most infectious .3 • Survival of this organism is favored in areas of high oxygen content or blood flow, such as the apical and posterior segments of the upper lobe and the superior segment of the lower lobe of the lung, the renal cortex, the meninges, the epiphyses of long bones, and the vertebrae .3 CLINICAL FEATURES For further reading in Emergency Medicine: A Comprehensive... produce pain in the epigastric region; midgut organs (most of the small bowel, appendix, and cecum) cause periumbilical pain; and hindgut organs (most of the colon, including the sigmoid) as well as the intraperitoneal portions of the genitourinary system tend to cause pain initially in the suprapubic or hypogastric area • Visceral pain is usually felt at the midline • Parietal or somatic abdominal pain is... irritation of fibers that innervate the parietal peri- toneum, usually the portion covering the anterior abdominal wall • In contrast to visceral pain, parietal pain can be localized to the dermatome directly above the site of the painful stimulus As the underlying disease process evolves, the symptoms of visceral pain give way to the signs of parietal pain, with tenderness and guarding As localized peritonitis... abdominal wall syndrome 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT CARE AND DISPOSITION • The management of abdominal emergencies is discussed in the diagnosis-specific chapters that follow • The management of mesenteric ischemia is timely identification and aggressive surgical intervention Survival is 30 percent or less.16 15 16 • GASTROINTESTINAL BLEEDING 133 reliable test in the diagnosis of intra-abdominal... MMWR 43( RR- 13) :1, 1994 6 CDC: Anergy skin testing and preventive therapy for HIV-infected persons: Revised recommendations MMWR 46(RR-15):1, 1997 7 CDC: Initial therapy for tuberculosis in the era of multidrug resistance: Recommendations of the Advisory Council for the Elimination of Tuberculosis MMWR 42(RR7):1, 19 93 8 Behman AJ, Shofer FS: Tuberculosis exposure and control in an urban emergency department... and the use of PARs would have been reduced by 80 percent.12 • It is clear that diagnostic error in adults with abdominal pain increases in proportion to age, ranging from a low of 20 percent if only young adults are considered to a high of 70 percent in the very elderly.9, 13 • The most common causes of abdominal pain are listed in Table 3 8-1 • Causes of abdominal pain stratified by age are listed in. .. to diagnose abdominal wall pain is the situp test, also known as Carnett’s test Following identification of the site of maximum abdominal tenderness, the patient is asked to fold his or her arms across the chest and sit up halfway The examiner maintains a finger on the tender area, and if palpation in the semisitting position produces the same or increased tenderness (Carnett’s sign), the test is said... and Sorabh Khandelwal This page intentionally left blank Section 8 GASTROINTESTINAL EMERGENCIES 38 ACUTE ABDOMINAL PAIN David M Cline EPIDEMIOLOGY • Data from the U.S National Center for Health Statistics indicate that abdominal pain was the single ‘‘most frequently mentioned’’ reason offered by patients for visiting the emergency department (ED) in 1996 (annual incidence is approximately 57 of 1000... medications, including beta agonists and/or anticholinergic agents • Steroids are also used in the acute setting to reduce airway in ammation, but they are of no help in the acute setting Other agents, but of unproven significance in the acute setting, include methylxanthine agents, magnesium, and parenteral beta agonists • Admission is required for those who have an oxygen requirement or have the potential... polycythemia; a chest x-ray, an electrocardiogram, and tests for abnormal hemoglobin if clinically indicated See Table 3 2-4 for differential diagnosis • Methemoglobinemia and carbon monoxide poisoning, although rare, must always be kept in mind in cases of cyanosis, since they will artificially alter peripheral pulse oximetry secondary to pigment formation in the blood EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT CARE AND DISPOSITION . Medi- cal progress: Diagnostic imaging in the evaluation of sus- pected aortic dissection—old standards and new direc- tions. N Engl J Med 32 8 :35 , 19 93. For further reading in Emergency Medicine: . with the patient within 24 h, be able and willing to self-administer injections at home, and have no other reason for admission to the hospital. Warfa- rin therapy would then be initiated by the. suc- tioning, and the pH of the aspirate should be ascer- tained. Bronchoscopy is indicated for the removal of large particles and further clearing of the air- ways. Patients who require intubation