Annals of emergency medicine
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To determine the test performance characteristics of serum cardiac troponin T (cTnT) measurement for diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and to determine the ability of cTnT to stratify emergency department patients with chest pain into high- and low-risk groups for cardiac complications. ⋯ Measurement of cTnT will accurately identify myocardial necrosis in patients presenting to the ED with possible AICS. Elevated cTnT values identify patients at increased risk of cardiac complications.
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Distal placement of the endotracheal tube tip in the glottic opening is rarely discussed in most emergency medicine, surgery, and prehospital medicine texts. We report three cases of glottic intubation recognized after the patients were thought to have been successfully intubated. ⋯ Recognition of this complication is aided by the use of radiographic findings, inappropriate endotracheal tube depth, and the presence of inadequate ventilatory volumes. Potential complications of glottic intubation include dislodgement of the endotracheal tube, kinking of the tube, and inadequate protection of the airway.
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To determine whether condensation on the inner surface of the endotracheal tube (vapor trail) is a reliable indicator of intratracheal placement. ⋯ In this model, condensation on the inner surface of the endotracheal tube was common after placement within the esophagus. If these results are confirmed in human studies, the presence of a vapor trial should not be used as a clinical indicator of correct endotracheal tube placement.