Archives of academic emergency medicine
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Arch Acad Emerg Med · Jan 2020
ReviewAntiviral therapy in management of COVID-19: a systematic review on current evidence.
The purpose of the current systematic review is to evaluate the efficacy of antiviral therapies in treatment of COVID-19. In addition, clinical trials on the efficacy of antiviral therapies in the management of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (SARS-Cov) or Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) have also been reviewed, in order to identify potential treatment options for COVID-19. ⋯ The current evidence impede researchers from proposing an appropriate antiviral therapy against COVID-19, making the current situation a serious concern for international organizations such as World Health Organization (WHO). In the time of the current pandemic and future epidemics, organizations such as WHO should pursue more proactive actions and plan well-designed clinical trials so that their results can be used in managing future epidemics.
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Arch Acad Emerg Med · Jan 2020
Laboratory Parameters in Detection of COVID-19 Patients with Positive RT-PCR; a Diagnostic Accuracy Study.
The role of laboratory parameters in screening of COVID-19 cases has not been definitely established. This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of laboratory parameters in predicting cases with positive RT-PCR for COVID-19. ⋯ Our findings suggest that level of LDH, CRP, ALT and NEU can be used to predict the result of COVID-19 test. They can help in detection of COVID-19 patients.
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Arch Acad Emerg Med · Jan 2020
ReviewRisks of Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) in Pregnancy; a Narrative Review.
The outbreak of the new Coronavirus in China in December 2019 and subsequently in various countries around the world has raised concerns about the possibility of vertical transmission of the virus from mother to fetus. The present study aimed to review published literature in this regard. ⋯ Overall, due to lack of appropriate data about the effect of COVID-19 on pregnancy, it is necessary to monitor suspected pregnant women before and after delivery. For confirmed cases both the mother and the newborn child should be followed up comprehensively.
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Arch Acad Emerg Med · Jan 2020
ReviewThe Evolving Role of Esmolol in Management of Pre-Hospital Refractory Ventricular Fibrillation; a Scoping Review.
Few studies have described their experience using esmolol, an ultra-short acting β-adrenergic antagonist, in the emergency department (ED) as a feasible adjuvant therapy for the treatment of refractory ventricular fibrillation/pulseless ventricular tachycardia (VF/pVT) out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. However, there is currently insufficient evidence to support the widespread implementation of this therapy. The aim of this scoping review was to summarize the current available evidence on the use of esmolol as an adjuvant therapy for refractory VF/pVT out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, as well as to identify gaps within the literature that may require further research. ⋯ To date, it is difficult to conclude the real benefit of esmolol as an adjuvant therapy for refractory VF/pVT out-of-hospital cardiac arrest based on the available evidence. The findings of this scoping review suggest that there is a paucity of research and limited evidence to support this therapy.
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Arch Acad Emerg Med · Jan 2020
Case ReportsPulmonary Thromboembolism and Infarction Mimicking COVID-19 Symptoms; Report of three Cases.
Since the novel coronavirus emerged in late December, 2019 in Wuhan, China, millions of people have been infected and thousands of patients have died. Fever and dyspnea are the most common symptoms of infection with SARS-CoV-2. However, these symptoms are neither specific nor diagnostic for COVID-19. ⋯ Since COVID-19 emerged and spread worldwide, many clinicians are focused on diagnosis and treatment of this novel viral infection. Hence, other diseases presenting with the same symptoms as COVID-19 may remain underdiagnosed. Here, we report three cases of PTE and pulmonary infarction presenting with fever and respiratory symptoms mimicking COVID-19.