Annals of emergency medicine
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See editorial Objective: Patients with lacerations are most concerned about the ultimate cosmetic appearance of their wound. We evaluated methods to assess the long-term cosmetic appearance by telephone survey.
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To compare the efficacy of the Valsalva maneuver with that of carotid sinus massage (CSM) in terminating paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) in the ED. ⋯ Vagal maneuvers are efficacious in terminating about one quarter of spontaneous SVT cases. There is no detectable difference in efficacy between the Valsalva maneuver and CSM. [Lim SH, Anantharaman V, Teo WS, Goh PP, Tan ATH: Comparison of treatment of supraventricular tachycardia by Valsalva maneuver and carotid sinus massage. Ann Emerg Med January 1998;31:30-35.].
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Comparative Study
Long-term evaluation of cosmetic appearance of repaired lacerations: validation of telephone assessment. The Stony Brook Wound Registry Study Group.
Patients with lacerations are most concerned about the ultimate cosmetic appearance of their wound. We evaluated methods to assess the long-term cosmetic appearance by telephone survey. ⋯ The long-term cosmetic appearance of lacerations repaired in the ED can be assessed by asking patients to grade their lacerations from 0 to 100 over the telephone. By contrast, categorical assessment over the telephone is not concordant with physician assessment in the ED. This information may allow easier assessment of injuries and their long-term consequences.
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Comparative Study
Use of troponin T and creatine kinase-MB subunit levels for risk stratification of emergency department patients with possible myocardial ischemia.
To evaluate and compare the utility of measurement of troponin T and the creatine kinase MB subunit (CK-MB) for risk stratification of ED patients with possible myocardial ischemia. ⋯ A positive test result for either troponin T or CK-MB in the ED successfully identified patients at significantly higher risk of adverse events during the 2 weeks following their ED visit. The two markers may complement each other in that each appears to have prognostic ability among a unique patient subgroup. ED marker measurement can provide useful prognostic information for patients with a broad spectrum of presentations consistent with possible myocardial ischemia.
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The Pediatric Education Task Force has developed a list of major topics and skills for inclusion in pediatric curricula for EMS providers Areas of controversy in the management of pediatric patients in the prehospital setting are outlined, and helpful learning tools are identified.