The Burch-Wartofsky Point Scale (BWPS) is a clinical scoring system used to diagnose thyroid storm, a severe and potentially life-threatening complication of hyperthyroidism. This calculator is applicable to patients presenting with symptoms suggestive of a thyroid storm, such as fever, tachycardia, altered mental status, and gastrointestinal symptoms.
The BWPS assesses the likelihood of a thyroid storm based on the presence and severity of various clinical manifestations, including thermoregulatory dysfunction, central nervous system effects, gastrointestinal-hepatic dysfunction, cardiovascular dysfunction, and precipitating events.
The clinical utility of the BWPS is to aid in the early recognition and treatment of thyroid storm, thereby reducing associated morbidity and mortality. It can also help guide the intensity of treatment and need for hospitalization.
There are no specific exclusion criteria for the use of the BWPS. However, it should be noted that this scale is not definitive and should be used in conjunction with other clinical findings and laboratory tests. It may not be as useful in patients with atypical presentations or those with concurrent illnesses that can mimic the symptoms of a thyroid storm.
Reference
Alessandro Bacuzzi, Gianlorenzo Dionigi, Luca Guzzetti et al. Predictive features associated with thyrotoxic storm and management. Gland Surg. 2017 Oct; 6(5): 546–551.
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