Annals of emergency medicine
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
High-dose hydrocortisone hemisuccinate in scorpion envenomation.
Scorpion envenomation is a common life-threatening hazard in tropical and subtropical countries. Standard treatment is not clearly defined. Many therapies, such as steroids, are prescribed without experimental justification. We sought to assess the efficacy of systematic administration of intravenous hydrocortisone hemisuccinate (50 mg/kg) in scorpion envenomation. ⋯ Our findings do not support the use of intravenous high-dose steroids in scorpion-envenomated patients. The discontinuation of this practice would reduce costs substantially.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Description and evaluation of the vallecula sign: a new radiologic sign in the diagnosis of adult epiglottitis.
To describe and prospectively evaluate a new radiologic sign with the potential to increase the diagnostic accuracy of soft-tissue radiography of the neck in the identification of adult epiglottitis. ⋯ We have described a new radiographic sign that improves the diagnostic accuracy of soft-tissue radiography of the neck. If reproduced in prospective studies, the absence of the vallecula sign on radiography might obviate the need for routine use of direct visualization as an initial screen.