Annals of emergency medicine
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We evaluate results from amino-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) testing with or without those of clinical judgment for the evaluation of dyspneic patients with previous chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or asthma. ⋯ NT-proBNP may be a useful adjunct to standard clinical evaluation of dyspneic patients with previous obstructive airway disease.
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We identify frequent users of the emergency department (ED) and determine the characteristics of these patients. ⋯ The majority of adults who use the ED frequently have insurance and a usual source of care but are more likely than less frequent users to be in poor health and require medical attention. Additional support systems and better access to alternative sites of care would have the benefit of improving the health of these individuals and may help to reduce ED use.
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We describe the epidemiology of frequent users of emergency departments (EDs), using a statewide dataset derived from linked ED, observation stay, and inpatient hospital discharge databases. ⋯ Uninsured individuals are no more likely than publicly insured individuals to be ED frequent users and compose only 15% of them. Frequent users tend to be sicker than infrequent users, but most use the ED at high rates temporarily and visit the ED less frequently or not at all the following year.
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Comment Letter Case Reports
Exploratory buprenorphine ingestion in an infant.