Annals of emergency medicine
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Comparative Study
A comparison of the C-MAC video laryngoscope to the Macintosh direct laryngoscope for intubation in the emergency department.
We determine the proportion of successful intubations with the C-MAC video laryngoscope (C-MAC) compared with the direct laryngoscope in emergency department (ED) intubations. ⋯ When used for emergency intubations in the ED, the C-MAC was associated with a greater proportion of successful intubations and a greater proportion of Cormack-Lehane grade I or II views compared with a direct laryngoscope.
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In 2005, England implemented a controversial target limiting patient stays in the emergency department (ED) to 4 hours. We determine the effect of the "4-hour target" on quality of care and resource use. ⋯ England's 4-hour target did not appear to have a negative effect on quality or safety of ED care and had little effect on test use.
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This study examines whether symptoms reported by patients presenting with possible acute coronary syndrome vary across different ethnic backgrounds. We also assess the predictive value of individual symptoms according to ethnic background. ⋯ There are cross-cultural differences in symptoms reported by patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome. Such differences are not likely to be clinically relevant because the majority of symptoms display limited diagnostic value for acute coronary syndrome.
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Atrial fibrillation is the most common dysrhythmia observed in the emergency department (ED), yet there is little research describing long-term outcomes after ED management. Our objective is to describe ED treatment approach, conversion success rates, ED adverse events, and 30-day and 1-year outcomes for a cohort of ED patients with atrial fibrillation and no acute underlying medical cause. ⋯ In this large cohort of ED patients with atrial fibrillation and no acute underlying medical cause, the 30-day rate for stroke or death was less than 1%. Nearly 85% of patients-regardless of treatment approach or conversion to sinus rhythm-were discharged at the index ED visit, and none of these patients had a stroke or died at 30 days.