Annals of emergency medicine
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Review Meta Analysis
The Diagnostic Accuracy of Bedside Ocular Ultrasonography for the Diagnosis of Retinal Detachment: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
The diagnostic accuracy of emergency department (ED) ocular ultrasonography may be sufficient for diagnosing retinal detachment. We systematically reviewed the literature to determine the diagnostic accuracy of ED ocular ultrasonography for the diagnosis of retinal detachment. This review conformed to the recommendations from the Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology statement. ⋯ The results of the bedside ocular ultrasonography were compared with the reference standard of an ophthalmologic evaluation; one trial also included orbital computed tomography findings suggestive of retinal detachment. Bedside ocular ultrasonography has a high degree of accuracy in identifying retinal detachment, according to 3 small prospective investigations. Larger prospective validation of these findings would be valuable.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Ecallantide for the Acute Treatment of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitor-Induced Angioedema: A Multicenter, Randomized, Controlled Trial.
We compare the safety and efficacy of ecallantide with placebo in subjects undergoing assessment for acute angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor-induced angioedema (ACEIA) in an emergency department (ED). ⋯ The addition of ecallantide to standard therapy does not appear to improve angioedema compared with placebo in ED patients with ACEIA. Our data suggest that most ED patients presenting with mild to moderate ACEIA are likely to meet our discharge eligibility criteria within 6 hours of treatment, regardless of intervention. Further studies to assess the utility of ecallantide in patients with more severe angioedema may be useful. No new safety signals related to ecallantide administration were identified.
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Observational Study
Patients' Comprehension of Their Emergency Department Encounter: A Pilot Study Using Physician Observers.
The current study examines patients' comprehension of their emergency department (ED) encounter, using physician observers to document both physician communication and details of the encounter. ⋯ The findings of the current study indicate physicians could improve communication with patients, particularly in regard to care received in the ED. This study also indicates that a large percentage of patients fail to understand information about their ED encounter even when physicians provide it. A primary limitation of the current study is the relatively homogenous physician sample.