Background: We investigated potential predictive factors for mortality and disease severity from demographic and clinical data, comorbidities, and laboratory findings in patients with confirmed COVID-19 who were consecutively admitted to our tertiary hospital. Methods: In this retrospective, single-center, observational study, we enrolled consecutive 540 adult patients who had COVID-19 confirmed by a molecular method. Patients were categorized into three groups based on disease severity. Patients’ demographic and clinical characteristics, mortality rates, and mortality-associated factors were analyzed. Results: The overall mortality rate was 4.3% (23/540). Disease severity was mild in 40.9% (n = 221), severe in 53.7% (n = 290), and critical in 5.4% (n = 29) of the patients. There were significant differences among groups in terms of median white blood cell (WBC), hemoglobin, neutrophil, lymphocyte, and thrombocyte counts, as well as C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatinine, albumin, D-dimer, ferritin, troponin, and fibrinogen levels. Furthermore, there were significant differences between surviving and non-surviving patient groups in terms of median WBC, hemoglobin, neutrophil, and lymphocyte counts, as well as CRP, procalcitonin, LDH, creatinine, albumin, D-dimer, and ferritin levels. CRP level (odds ratio [OR]: 1.020, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.009– 1.032; p < 0.001), and CURB-65 score (OR: 4.004, 95% CI: 1,288– 12,447; p = 0.017) were independently associated with disease severity and mortality. Conclusion: On admission, WBC, neutrophil, lymphocyte, and platelet counts can be used to predict disease severity in patients with COVID-19. CRP, ferritin, LDH, creatinine, troponin, D-dimer, fibrinogen, and albumin levels can also be used to predict disease severity in these patients. Finally, elevated CRP level and high CURB-65 score were predictors of disease severity and mortality.

Objectives: The BIG score (base deficit + [2.5 × international normalized ratio] + [15 – Glasgow Coma Score]) was compared with the Pediatric Trauma Score (PTS) for predicting mortality in pediatric patients with multiple trauma. Methods: This retrospective, single-center study included 318 consecutive pediatric patients (aged 1–18 years) with multiple trauma who were admitted to the emergency department between January 1, 2021, and December 31, 2023. The demographic characteristics, clinical characteristics, and trauma scores (BIG score and PTS) were compared between survivors and nonsurvivors to identify factors associated with mortality. Results: A PTS of 7 had 100% sensitivity and 81.03% specificity for predicting mortality, with an area under the curve of 0.97 (95% confidence interval 0.9–0.99). Although the positive predictive value (PPV) was low (33.7%), the negative predictive value (NPV) was 100%. A BIG score of 13.7 was identified as the cutoff for mortality, with 92.86% sensitivity and 95.52% specificity (area under the curve 0.98, 95% confidence interval 0.96–0.99). The PPV was 66.7% and the NPV was 99.3%. Conclusions: Both the PTS and the BIG score were strong predictors of mortality in pediatric patients with multiple trauma. The BIG score had a higher specificity and PPV, whereas a PTS of 7 had 100% sensitivity and a higher NPV.

This case report describes a 32-year-old male who underwent ketamine procedural sedation and experienced a generalized tonic–clonic seizure. Despite its rapid onset and favorable tolerance profile, this case emphasizes the potential convulsive side effects of ketamine, which is commonly used for procedural sedation. While ketamine has shown promise in treating acute pain, refractory status epilepticus, and treatment-resistant depression and schizophrenia, it is associated with side effects such as hallucinations, visual disturbances, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. The patient in this case received a carefully titrated dose of 40 mg of ketamine intravenously and underwent successful shoulder reduction while under sedation. However, within 60 s of receiving the ketamine, the patient experienced a 60-s seizure that was stopped with the administration of 5 mg of diazepam intravenously. The patient was hospitalized for further evaluation, including an electroencephalography (EEG) that showed no abnormalities. This case highlights the need for health-care professionals to be aware of the potential convulsive side effects of ketamine and to carefully monitor patients who receive ketamine sedation.

The modified Valsalva maneuver (MVM) is recommended as first-line therapy for hemodynamically stable regular narrow-complex supraventricular tachycardia (S