Iron deficiency anemia is a common clinical concern in women of reproductive age. It presents as microcytic anemia and can be due to a limited number of causes including bleeding, malabsorption, intravascular hemolysis, or a mechanical heart valve. Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is an inherited autosomal dominant disorder due to mutation in the adenomatous polyposis coli (
APC
) gene that can cause iron deficiency anemia due to GI malignancy, most notably colon cancer. Variation of mutations within the
APC
gene can cause different forms of FAP, such as Gardner syndrome. This syndrome presents with epidermoid cysts typically in unconventional locations such as the face, scalp, and extremities, as seen in our patient.
We report a presentation of FAP in a 33-year-old Caucasian female who initially presented with iron deficiency anemia, hematochezia, and weight loss. Colonoscopy revealed hundreds of polyps within the colon, with two that were biopsied and reported as tubulovillous adenoma. The patient underwent a robotically assisted laparoscopic total proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis, as well as a diverting loop ileostomy, and was given pain medication. She was referred to genetic counseling for her daughters and herself, which revealed a pathogenic variance in the
APC
gene.
Up to 22% of patients survive to hospital admission following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Post cardiac arrest is complex and requires a multidisciplinary approach. Our aim is to assess trainee’s performance in managing post-cardiac arrest care using a high-fidelity manikin-based simulation. We also sought to obtain evidence regarding the validity of our findings.
Methods:
In this prospective, observational, simulation based study, participants ranging from sub interns to attending physicians evaluated and managed a post cardiac arrest patient, complicated by refractory status epilepticus. Critical actions were developed by a modified Delphi approach based on relevant American Heart Association guidelines and the Neurocritical Care Society’s Emergency Neurological Life Support protocols. The primary outcome measure was the critical action item sum score. We sought validity evidence to support our findings by comparing trainees’ performance across four levels of training.
Results:
Forty-nine participants completed the simulation. The mean sum of critical actions completed by participants was 10/21(49%). Eleven(22%) participants verbalized a differential diagnosis for the arrest. Thirty-two(65%) recognized the abnormal electrocardiography, and consulted cardiology. Forty trainees(81%) independently decided to start target temperature management (TTM), but only 20(41%) insisted on TTM when asked to reconsider. There was an effect of level of training on critical action checklist sum scores (novice mean score [standard deviation (SD)] = 4.8 (1.8) vs. intermediate mean score (SD) = 10.4 (2.1) vs. advanced mean score (SD) = 11.6 (3.0) vs. expert mean score (SD) = 14.7 (2.2)
Conclusions:
High-fidelity manikin-based simulation holds promise as an assessment tool in the performance of post-cardiac arrest care. Areas for further educational initiatives to improve performance include diagnostic work-up of OHCA and implementation of TTM.
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