A Rare Cause of Headache and an Unorthodox Transfer: A Case Report
Introduction: Emergency department (ED) crowding and hospital diversion times are increasing nationwide, with negative effects on patient safety and an association with increased mortality. Crowding in referral centers makes transfer of complex or critical patients by rural emergency physicians (EP)...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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eScholarship Publishing, University of California
2023-02-01
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| Series: | Clinical Practice and Cases in Emergency Medicine |
| Online Access: | https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1f9402n2 |
| _version_ | 1811161970044305408 |
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| author | Samuel L. Burleson Joe Butler Gabrielle Gostigian Matthew S. Parr Matthew P. Kelly |
| author_facet | Samuel L. Burleson Joe Butler Gabrielle Gostigian Matthew S. Parr Matthew P. Kelly |
| author_sort | Samuel L. Burleson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction: Emergency department (ED) crowding and hospital diversion times are increasing nationwide, with negative effects on patient safety and an association with increased mortality. Crowding in referral centers makes transfer of complex or critical patients by rural emergency physicians (EP) more complicated and difficult. We present a case requiring an unorthodox transfer method to navigate extensive hospital diversion and obtain life-saving neurosurgical care. Case Report: We present the case of a previously healthy 21-year-old male with two hours of headache and rapid neurologic decompensation en route to and at the ED. Computed tomography revealed obstructive hydrocephalus recognized by the EP, who medically managed the increased intracranial pressure (ICP) and began the transfer process for neurosurgical evaluation and management. After refusal by six referral centers in multiple states, all of which were on diversion, the EP initiated an unorthodox transfer procedure to the institution at which he trained, ultimately transferring the patient by air. Bilateral external ventricular drains were placed in the receiving ED, and the patient ultimately underwent neurosurgical resection of an obstructive colloid cyst. Conclusion: First, our case illustrates the difficulties faced by rural EPs when attempting to transfer critical patients when large referral centers are refusing transfers and the need for improvements in facilitating timely transfers of critically ill, time-sensitive patients. Second, EPs should be aware of colloid cysts as a rare but potentially catastrophic cause of rapid neurologic decline due to increased ICP, and the ED management thereof, which we review. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T06:22:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-194949f78f4b447bbeb80c416543ebe2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2474-252X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T06:22:25Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | eScholarship Publishing, University of California |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Clinical Practice and Cases in Emergency Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-194949f78f4b447bbeb80c416543ebe22023-03-02T02:16:42ZengeScholarship Publishing, University of CaliforniaClinical Practice and Cases in Emergency Medicine2474-252X2023-02-017110.5811/cpcem.2022.10.57491cpcem-07-024A Rare Cause of Headache and an Unorthodox Transfer: A Case ReportSamuel L. Burleson0Joe Butler1Gabrielle Gostigian2Matthew S. Parr3Matthew P. Kelly4University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Emergency Medicine, Birmingham, AlabamaBaptist Memorial Hospital – Golden Triangle, Department of Emergency Medicine, Columbus, MississippiUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Emergency Medicine, Birmingham, AlabamaUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Neurosurgery, Birmingham, AlabamaUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Emergency Medicine, Birmingham, AlabamaIntroduction: Emergency department (ED) crowding and hospital diversion times are increasing nationwide, with negative effects on patient safety and an association with increased mortality. Crowding in referral centers makes transfer of complex or critical patients by rural emergency physicians (EP) more complicated and difficult. We present a case requiring an unorthodox transfer method to navigate extensive hospital diversion and obtain life-saving neurosurgical care. Case Report: We present the case of a previously healthy 21-year-old male with two hours of headache and rapid neurologic decompensation en route to and at the ED. Computed tomography revealed obstructive hydrocephalus recognized by the EP, who medically managed the increased intracranial pressure (ICP) and began the transfer process for neurosurgical evaluation and management. After refusal by six referral centers in multiple states, all of which were on diversion, the EP initiated an unorthodox transfer procedure to the institution at which he trained, ultimately transferring the patient by air. Bilateral external ventricular drains were placed in the receiving ED, and the patient ultimately underwent neurosurgical resection of an obstructive colloid cyst. Conclusion: First, our case illustrates the difficulties faced by rural EPs when attempting to transfer critical patients when large referral centers are refusing transfers and the need for improvements in facilitating timely transfers of critically ill, time-sensitive patients. Second, EPs should be aware of colloid cysts as a rare but potentially catastrophic cause of rapid neurologic decline due to increased ICP, and the ED management thereof, which we review.https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1f9402n2 |
| spellingShingle | Samuel L. Burleson Joe Butler Gabrielle Gostigian Matthew S. Parr Matthew P. Kelly A Rare Cause of Headache and an Unorthodox Transfer: A Case Report Clinical Practice and Cases in Emergency Medicine |
| title | A Rare Cause of Headache and an Unorthodox Transfer: A Case Report |
| title_full | A Rare Cause of Headache and an Unorthodox Transfer: A Case Report |
| title_fullStr | A Rare Cause of Headache and an Unorthodox Transfer: A Case Report |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Rare Cause of Headache and an Unorthodox Transfer: A Case Report |
| title_short | A Rare Cause of Headache and an Unorthodox Transfer: A Case Report |
| title_sort | rare cause of headache and an unorthodox transfer a case report |
| url | https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1f9402n2 |
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