Annals of emergency medicine
-
Case Reports
New-onset absence status epilepsy presenting as altered mental status in a pediatric patient.
Absence status epilepsy (ASE) is an uncommon seizure disorder in children. The primary presentation of new-onset ASE in a pediatric patient is an unusual cause of altered mental status in the emergency department. We describe a previously healthy 8-year-old child who presented with an acutely altered mental state. ⋯ Electroencephalographic testing revealed seizure activity consistent with ASE. Administration of intravenous diazepam caused cessation of seizure activity and a return to the patient's baseline mental function. Although rare, ASE should be considered in the differential diagnosis of altered mental status in children.
-
Comparative Study
Critical evaluation of a CLIA-waived streptococcal antigen detection test in the emergency department.
We compare the performance of a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA)-waived antigen detection test (ADT) analyzed in the emergency department and a CLIA moderately complex ADT performed in the hospital microbiology laboratory. ⋯ In this study, an ED CLIA-waived rapid streptococcal throat test performed as well as its equivalent CLIA-regulated laboratory test. Further, the ED test provided results more rapidly than the laboratory test. Our results also validate previous work that negative rapid throat test results in pediatric patients in the ED should be confirmed by standard throat culture.
-
Practice Guideline Guideline
Use of adjunctive devices in cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
-
Practice Guideline Guideline
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation and emergency cardiovascular care. Stroke.