Background: The prevalence of acute pulmonary embolism (PE) among patients hospitalized with pneumonia and its association with adverse outcomes remain uncertain. Methods: Data from the US National Inpatient Sample between 2016 to 2020 was used to determine the proportion of patients with chief diagnosis of pneumonia that had concomitant PE and to examine the relationship between PE and in-hospital outcomes such as mortality, mechanical ventilation, thrombolysis, length of stay (LoS), and inpatient costs. Results: A total of 13,956,485 patients with a diagnosis of pneumonia were included and 2.6% had a concomitant diagnosis of PE. The median LoS for patients with PE was 7 days, compared to 5 days for those without PE. The median hospitalization cost was higher for patients with a diagnosis of PE compared to those without PE ($16,917 vs. $10,656). The strongest factors associated with a diagnosis of PE were other venous thromboembolism (Odds Ratio (OR) 11.65, 95%CI 11.42-11.88, p<0.001), arterial thrombosis (OR 2.64, 95%CI 2.40-2.89, p<0.001), previous venous thromboembolism (OR 1.72, 95%CI 1.68-1.77, p<0.001), cardiac arrest (OR 1.69, 95%CI 1.62-1.77, p<0.001) and cancer (OR 1.45, 95%CI 1.42-1.48, p<0.001). Co-diagnosis of PE was associated with greater in-hospital mortality (OR 1.50, 95%CI 1.46-1.54), mechanical ventilation (OR 1.12, 95%CI 1.10-1.15), thrombolysis use (OR 6.69, 95%CI 6.31-7.09), and major bleeding (OR 1.48, 95%CI 1.39-1.57). Conclusions: A diagnosis of PE occurs in 2.6% of patients hospitalized with a principal diagnosis of pneumonia. Having concomitant PE was associated with greater risks of in-hospital mortality, increased use of mechanical ventilation and thrombolysis, extended hospital stay, and higher inpatient costs.

Point of care ultrasound (POCUS) is increasing in use and popularity as the technology advances and understanding deepens. For many specialities such as Acute Internal Medicine and Emergency Medicine, POCUS is now mandated in the curriculum. The benefits of POCUS have been identified in multiple settings however currently there is little literature focusing on POCUS in the acute community setting as seen in Hospital at Home (HaH) and there is no formal framework for POCUS in HaH. As a result, the development and safety of this modality is at potential risk. Through adaptation of established protocols and accreditation pathways this could easily be addressed benefiting the patients care foremost, the clinician and the National Health Service as a whole.

Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases are a substantial burden on healthcare systems, contributing significantly to avoidable hospital admissions. We propose a Cardiology Ambulatory Care Pathway. Methods: Conducted a 1 month study redirecting admission streams from primary and emergency care, into a Cardiology Ambulatory Care Hub providing triage in Hot Clinic, and access to a Multi-Modal Testing Platform. Results: 98 patients were referred to the Ambulatory Care Hub, 91 of which avoided admission. 52 patients received care in the cardiology hub, 38 of which required further testing. Conclusion: We successfully streamlined various service streams, reducing admissions, and improving patient outcomes. Outpatient CTCA, ambulatory ECG, and echocardiography proved instrumental. We project a cost saving of £53,379 per month in bed days (£640,556 annual saving).

Cardio-Renal-Metabolic (CaReMe) diseases, in the form of heart failure, chronic kidney disease and diabetes mellitus, justify prescription of multiple prognostically beneficial medications, specifically renin-angiotensin system inhibitors, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, and sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors. Use of these medications is complicated by association with adverse effects, particularly acute kidney injury and hyperkalaemia. Balancing risk and benefit is a common dilemma in acute medicine, with increasingly frequent and complex treatment decisions. Physicians should contemplate adjustments to medications within the context of not just acute illness but also long-term benefit. In the setting of hyperkalaemia, potassium-binding medications can be utilised. At hospital discharge optimisation of therapy can be achieved through clear safety netting advice, scheduled biochemical follow-up, and planned clinical review.

This article presents the case of a 25-year-old Moroccan male who contracted Orf disease (Ecthyma contagiosum), a common zoonotic viral infection in sheep and goats. The disease, caused by a parapoxvirus, can be transmitted to humans through contact with infected animals. The patient developed painful lesions on his fingers after interacting with a sheep during the Feast of Sacrifice. Diagnosis was clinically established considering exposure history and lesion characteristics. Treatment involved local antiseptics and 2% fusidic acid cream. The lesions resolved spontaneously over a few weeks without functional impairment.

We present the case of an 83-year-old female patient with left-side hemichorea and hemiballism associated with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus. Hyperintensity in the right basal ganglia was evident in T1-weighted brain magnetic resonance. Clinical and radiological findings were consistent with diabetic striatopathy.

Emergency department (ED) crowding is a worldwide problem and one of the main causes internationally is an increase in presentations by older patients with complex and chronic care needs. Although there has been a 4,3% reduction in total ED visits from 2016-2019 in the Netherlands, the EDs still experience crowding. National crowding research has not focused on the older group in detail, hence their possible role remains ill defined. The primary aim of this study was to map the trend in ED visits by older patients in the Netherlands. The secondary aim was to identify healthcare utilization 30 days before/after ED visit. We conducted a nationwide retrospective cohort study, using longitudinal health insurance claims data (2016-2019). The data encompasses all Dutch patients of 70 years or older who visited the ED. The number of older patients who visited the ED followed by admission, increased from 231,223 patients (2016), to 234,817 (2019). The number without admission also increased from 244,814 patients, to 274,984. There were 696,005 total visits by older patients (2016) increasing to 730,358 visits (2019). The slight rise in older patients at the ED is consistent with overall population growth of older people in the Netherlands. These results indicate that Dutch ED crowding cannot be explained by mere numbers of older patients. More research is needed with data on patient level, to study other contributing factors, such as complexity of care needs within the ageing population.

Clinical ethics is a core part of the decision-making process. Whilst often reduced to the four principles approach, the situation is more complex. Teaching of ethics frequently focuses on quandary issues, such as assisted-suicide, but there is an ethical component to every clinical encounter. Where differences of opinion arise it is important to understand one's own perspective and that of others. Compassion is an important starting point.

A 48 year old lady presented with a 7-week history of progressive generalised myalgia and muscle weakness resulting in recurrent falls. Her past medical history included bipolar affective disorder and a previous stroke. Her medications included clopidogrel 75mg, atorvastatin 80mg, and quetiapine 400mg twice daily.