Annals of emergency medicine
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Comparative Study
Effects of prehospital care on outcome in patients with cardiac illness.
To compare outcomes of patients with acute cardiac illness transported by ambulance for whom prehospital care was provided by emergency medical technician-paramedics (EMT-Ps) or EMTs trained in defibrillation (EMT-Ds). ⋯ In an urban setting with short (less than 10 minutes) average transport times, the availability of prehospital paramedic care does not affect occurrence of MI, length of hospital stay, or mortality of patients presenting to the EMS system with cardiac illness.
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To determine indications for thoracolumbar radiography. ⋯ Blunt-trauma victims who cannot be evaluated clinically should undergo thoracolumbar radiography. Routine radiography may be unnecessary in asymptomatic patients who can be evaluated clinically and who do not have neurologic deficits or distracting injuries. Spinal fracture at any level mandates complete spinal radiography.
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To compare the value of ECG measurements from lead aVR with the QRS-interval duration in predicting seizures and ventricular arrhythmias due to acute tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) toxicity. ⋯ RaVR and R/SaVR were greater in patients in whom seizures or arrhythmias developed after an acute TCA overdose. RaVR of 3 mm or more was the only ECG variable that significantly predicted these adverse outcomes.
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Epinephrine has been used in cardiac arrest to increase the low blood flow generated by standard CPR methods. Reperfusion with high flow such as that obtained with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) may obviate the need for or alter the dose of epinephrine after cardiac arrest. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of high-flow reperfusion after cardiac arrest with and without epinephrine on coronary perfusion pressure, defibrillation energy, restoration of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), and 2-hour survival after prolonged cardiac arrest. ⋯ Restoration of high blood flow alone is insufficient to restore spontaneous circulation after prolonged cardiac arrest. Epinephrine, when administered early under high-flow conditions, increases coronary perfusion pressure, decreases defibrillation energy, and decreases time elapsed before ROSC. Higher doses of epinephrine under conditions of high-flow reperfusion do not improve 2-hour survival compared with standard-dose epinephrine.
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To evaluate the usefulness of the prehospital index (PHI) as a triage tool in a population of trauma patients. ⋯ PHI of 4 or more had limitations as a screening tool for triage in our study population because of the high number of patients it categorized as having minor trauma who required emergency surgery.