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Background Telephones, internet-connected devices (phablets, personal computers), chat platforms, and mobile apps (eg, Skype, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp) can be exploited for telemedicine applications. WhatsApp and similar apps are also widely used to facilitate clinical communication between physicians. Moreover, WhatsApp is used by emergency department (ED) physicians and consulting physicians to exchange medical information during ED consultations. This platform is regarded as a useful app in the consultation of dermatological and orthopedic cases. Preventing overcrowding in the ED is key to reducing the risk of disease transmission, and teleconsulting practice is thought to be effective in the diagnosis, treatment, and reduction of transmission risk of disease, most notably during the COVID-19 pandemic. Video consultation is highly recommended in some countries on the grounds that it is likely to reduce the risk of transmission. WhatsApp-like apps are among the video consultation platforms that are assumed to reduce the risk of contamination by minimizing patient-physician contact. Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of WhatsApp video consultation on patient admission and discharge times in comparison to bedside consultation in the evaluation of potential patients with COVID-19 visiting a COVID-19 outpatient clinic during the pandemic. Methods Patients who presented to the ED COVID-19 outpatient clinic between March 11 and May 31, 2020, and for whom an infectious disease specialist was consulted (via WhatsApp or at bedside) were included in the study in accordance with the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Eventually, 54 patients whose consultations were performed via WhatsApp and 90 patients whose consultations were performed at bedside were included in our study. Results The median length of stay in the ED of discharged patients amounted to 103 minutes (IQR 85-147.75) in the WhatsApp group and 196 minutes (IQR 141-215) in the bedside group. In this regard, the length of stay in the ED was found to be significantly shorter in the WhatsApp group than in the bedside group (P<.001). Among the consulted and discharged patients, 1 patient in each group tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by polymerase chain reaction test and thus was readmitted and hospitalized (P=.62). The median length of stay of the inpatients in the ED was found to be 116.5 minutes (IQR 85.5-145.5) in the WhatsApp group and 132 minutes (IQR 102-168) in the bedside group. The statistical analysis of this time difference revealed that the length of stay in the ED was significantly shorter for patients in the WhatsApp group than in the bedside group (P=.04). Conclusions Consultation via WhatsApp reduces both contact time with patients with COVID-19 and the number of medical staff contacting the patients, which contributes greatly to reducing the risk of COVID-19 transmission. WhatsApp consultation may prove useful in clinical decision making as well as in shortening process times. Moreover, it does not result in a decreased accuracy rate. The shortened discharge and hospitalization timespans also decreased the length of stay in the ED, which can have an impact on minimizing ED crowding. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04645563; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04645563.

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Bu çalışmada 2016-2018 yılları arasında Kars ilindeki intihar olgularının yöntem, neden ve yaşama durumlarına göre değerlendirilmesi amaçlandı. Retrospektif desende yürütülen araştırmanın örneklemini 2016-2018 yılları arasında 22 intihar ve 146 intihar girişimi olmak üzere 168 intihar olgusu oluşturdu. Araştırma verileri Veri Toplama Formu aracılığı ile toplandı. İntihar ve intihar girişiminde bulunanların %62,5'i kadın (n=105), %37,5'i erkektir (n = 63). İntiharların 35 yaş ve üzeri (%50), ilkokulortaokul mezunu (%72,7) ve yaz mevsiminde olması (%40,9) dikkati çekmektedir. Olguların intihar nedeni ile eğitim durumu ve yaşama durumu arasında; intihar yöntemi ile cinsiyet, eğitim durumu ve yaşama durumu arasında; yaşama durumu ile yaş grubu ve eğitim durumu arasında istatistiksel açıdan anlamlı bir ilişki belirlendi. Sonuç olarak intihar, şiddet içeren yöntemlerle, bireysel nedenlerle, düşük eğitim düzeyi ve 35 ve üzeri yaş ile ilişkilidir. İntihar girişimi, şiddet içermeyen yöntemler ile ilişkilidir.

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SummaryObjectives: Methemoglobinemia (MetHb) is a rare condition that may have mortal consequences. Literature shows cases of methemoglobinemia due to the use of lidocaine and other local anesthetics. This is a cross-sectional study to determine the incidence of methemoglobinemia after the application of lidocaine. Methods: In this study, 88 patients admitted to the emergency department of a university hospital between May 2014 and May 2015 and needed lidocaine application for small surgical procedures were included. When compared before and after the administration of lidocaine <2 mg/kg and >2 mg/kg, there was not a significant difference in the level of methemoglobin, hemoglobin, or in the hematocrit (p=0.604, p=0.502, and p=0.367, respectively). Results: Mean age of the patients was 33.85 (±17.58) years, and 83% of the patients were male. Methemoglobin levels were not significantly different before and after the procedures (p>0.05). Conclusion:The results of our study were consistent with the literature; lidocaine-associated methemoglobinemia is a rare complication.Keywords: Local lidocaine application; methemoglobinemia; small surgical procedures. ÖzetAmaç: Methemoglobulinemi nadir görülen ancak ölümcül sonuçları olan acil bir durumdur. Literatürde lokal anestezikler ve bunlar içinde yer alan lidokaine bağlı methemoglobinemi oluşumuna ilişkin vakaların olduğu bildirilmiştir. Bu nedenle çalış-mamız lidokain kullanılan hastalarda methemoglobulinemi insidansını belirlemek amacıyla kesitsel olarak yapılmıştır. Gereç ve Yöntem: Bir üniversite hastanesinin acil servisine Mayıs 2014-Mayıs 2015 tarihleri arasında başvuran küçük cerrahi işlem nedeniyle lidokain uygulanması gereken 88 hasta çalışma kapsamına alınmıştır. İşlem öncesi ve sonrası methemoglobulin değerleri ölçülmüştür. Bulgular: Hastaların yaş ortalaması 33.85 (±17.58) olup hastaların %83'ü erkekti. İşlem öncesi ve işlem sonrası karşılaştırıl-dığında lidokainin 2 mg/kg kullanımına göre methemoglobin, hemoglobin ve hemotokrit değerlerinde anlamlı bir farklılık bulunamadı (p=0.604, p=0.502 and p=0.367). Sonuç: Çalışmamızın sonuçları literatürle uyumlu olup lidokaine bağlı methemoglobinemi nadir gelişebilmektedir.Anahtar sözcükler: Lokal lidokain uygulaması; methemoglobinemia; küçük cerrahi işlem.

ObjectiveThe aim of the study was to evaluate the diagnostic process and clinical course in adult patients who presented to the emergency department (ED) with acute abdominal pain (AAP) and were found to have intra-abdominal free fluid (FF) on ultrasonography (USG).MethodsThis prospective observational study was conducted in a training and research hospital adult emergency department between March 15, 2013, and April 15, 2013. The study included 252 patients aged above 18 years, who were admitted to the emergency room complaining of non-traumatic acute abdominal pain and provided consent for the study.ResultsThe most common diagnoses were acute, nonspecific abdominal pain (37.3%), acute appendicitis (19%), and urinary tract pathology (15.9%). Intra-abdominal free fluid was detected with ultrasonography in 42.5% of patients. Patients with intra-abdominal free fluid were younger than the other patients. The emergency department length of stay was longer in patients with intra-abdominal free fluid (p=0.011). Of the 252 patients enrolled in the study, 32.9% were admitted to the hospital, 21.4% of whom underwent surgery and 11.5% received medical therapy. Most of the patients (64.5%) who were discharged home had no intra-abdominal free fluid in the ultrasonography (p<0.001).ConclusionThe presence of intra-abdominal free fluid alone did not guide the clinical decision regarding the diagnostic evaluation of adult patients that presented to the emergency department complaining of non-traumatic acute abdominal pain.