Purpose: SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) has continued to be a public health emergency, affecting almost 450 million people worldwide, with a disproportionate significant disease burden in the elderly community. Our main purpose of this study was to provide population specific prognostic markers upon description of demographic factors, clinical characteristics, diagnostic variables, treatment characteristics and outcome variables in critically ill geriatric patients with acute hypoxic respiratory failure due to COVID-19 infection. Methods: This is a retrospective chart review of 165 patients admitted to a single institution’s medical and cardiovascular intensive care unit between the dates of March 01, 2020 and December 31, 2020. Inclusion criteria was patients age greater than or equal to 65 years, documented positive COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction test result and a diagnosis of acute hypoxic respiratory failure. Our primary end point evaluated the rate of mortality in relation to multiple variables during intensive care unit admission. Results: Of 165 patients, 45 patients were excluded. Of the remaining 120 patients, 41 were females and 79 were males. Four independent risk factors are significantly associated with higher odds of mortality for the concerned population: presence of solid tumor (AOR: 0.002, 95% CI: <0.001, 0.31), maximum value of PaCO2 (AOR: 1.094, 95% CI: 1.029, 1.163), Charlson comorbidity index (AOR: 2.962, 95% CI: 1.59, 5.52), and use of diuretics (AOR: 0.015, 95% CI: <0.001, 0.49). Conclusion: Certain factors were found to be poor prognostic markers during intensive care unit admission, which may predict a higher rate of mortality in those patient populations.
Recreational drug use is common worldwide and a common presentation in the ED. More recently there have been reports of methemoglobinemia related to recreational drug use. Methemoglobinemia can cause severe tissue hypoxia leading to life-threatening conditions or death. We present a case of methemoglobinemia secondary to ingestion of "Super Rush" also known as isobutyl nitrite.CASE PRESENTATION: A 30-year-old male with a history of polysubstance abuse disorder presented to the ED via EMS after ingestion of unknown methamphetamines, an energy drink, and some unknown sexual enhancing drug "Super Rush". Upon EMS arrival he was dusky blue in color and lethargic, the ED he was severely obtunded, cyanotic, and hypoxic with SpO2 in the 80s and was subsequently intubated. The blood gas revealed a pH of 7.32, PaCO2 of 25, PaO2 of 238, and methemoglobinemia of 67%. Poison control was called, and the patient received 2 doses of methylene blue after which his status improved quickly, and he became agitated and self-extubated. His oxygenation improved and he was kept overnight and hydrated and eventually discharged home once his acute kidney injury resolved.
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