Journal of emergency nursing : JEN : official publication of the Emergency Department Nurses Association
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Review Case Reports
Submandibular Sialolithiasis Mimicking Ludwig's Angina: A Case Report and Brief Clinical Review.
The "double tongue sign" is a characteristic finding in patients with Ludwig's angina, a potentially life-threatening infection due to airway compromise. Management primarily focuses on early airway protection and antibiotic administration. ⋯ Unlike Ludwig's angina, conservative treatment is usually the first-line approach for sialolithiasis. The importance of rapidly recognizing and distinguishing between the 2 conditions is emphasized through effective triage and risk stratification, particularly in rural areas where physicians are not readily available.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Does Mixing Activated Charcoal With Cola Improve Tolerability Without Affecting Pharmacokinetics? A Randomized Controlled Crossover Trial.
Activated charcoal is the most common form of gastrointestinal decontamination used for the poisoned patient. One limitation to its use is patient tolerability due to palatability. Some recommend mixing activated charcoal with cola to improve palatability. An important question is whether mixing activated charcoal with cola affects the ability of the activated charcoal to adsorb xenobiotic. ⋯ The absorption of acetaminophen in an overdose model is no different when participants received activated charcoal alone or a cola-activated charcoal mixture as suggested by area under the curve. In this small study, there was no difference in preference for activated charcoal alone or a cola-activated charcoal mixture across a range of palatability questions. On an individual level, some participants preferred the activated charcoal-cola mixture, and some preferred the activated charcoal alone.
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Human trafficking is a heinous crime and violation of human rights affecting between 25 and 27 million adults and children globally each year. Current immigration and refugee policy could exacerbate the human trafficking public health crisis. Health care providers working in emergency department and urgent care settings interact with human trafficking victims and provide life-changing care. Research identifies a significant need for coordinated, consistent, and standardized education on human trafficking. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of online educational training in human trafficking on the knowledge and self-confidence of registered nurses and nurse practitioners working in the emergency department and urgent care settings in New York. ⋯ Results in this study demonstrate the need for increased standardized education regarding HT for frontline health care workers.
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The Balance Eyes Face Arms Speech Time stroke screening tool may have limitations for Spanish-speaking individuals. The purpose of this study is to identify potential screen failure events during evaluation for intervenable acute ischemic stroke events among Spanish-speaking patients. ⋯ Over 1 year, with 796 patients triggered at triage by Balance Eyes Face Arms Speech Time for positive stroke screens, only 13% resulted in an acute ischemic stroke. Spanish-speaking patients were less likely to progress from screening to complete stroke evaluation, but the rate of acute ischemic stroke was not different by language.