Annals of emergency medicine
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We describe the epidemiology of emergency department (ED) visits for attempted suicide and self-inflicted injury. ⋯ ED visits for attempted suicide and self-inflicted injury are relatively common, serious, and most frequent among adolescents and young adults. Self-poisoning is the most common method. The high prevalence of psychiatric and substance abuse disorders in this population suggests these issues should be considered during management and disposition.
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Comparative Study
Concordance between capnography and arterial blood gas measurements of carbon dioxide in acute asthma.
We examine the concordance between end-tidal partial pressure of CO2 (PetCO2) measured by capnography and arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2) obtained by arterial blood gas in acute asthmatic patients presenting to the emergency department. ⋯ In adult asthmatic patients with acute exacerbations, concordance between PetCO2 measured by capnography and PaCO2 measured by arterial blood gas was high. These findings must be validated before capnography replacement of arterial blood gas as an accurate means of assessing alveolar ventilation in acute asthma is recommended.
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Comparative Study
Influence of positive end-expiratory pressure ventilation on survival during severe hemorrhagic shock.
Although a moderate positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) level is widely recommended, it is unknown whether moderate PEEP during mechanical ventilation has adverse effects during severe hemorrhagic shock. Therefore, the purpose of our study was to evaluate the effects of 0 cm H2O PEEP versus 5 cm H2O PEEP versus 10 cm H2O PEEP on short-term survival in a porcine model of severe hemorrhagic shock. Secondary study endpoints were hemodynamic variables and blood gases. ⋯ When compared with pigs ventilated with either 5 or 10 cm H2O PEEP, those ventilated with 0 cm H2O PEEP during untreated, severe hemorrhagic shock had significantly improved short-term survival.