The American journal of emergency medicine
-
Comparative Study
Ultrasound availability in the evaluation of ectopic pregnancy in the ED: comparison of quality and cost-effectiveness with different approaches.
The liberal use of ultrasonography has been advocated in patients with first trimester cramping or bleeding to avoid misdiagnosis of ectopic pregnancy in the emergency department (ED). The cost-effectiveness of different approaches to ultrasound availability has not been previously reported. In this study, we investigated measures of quality and cost-effectiveness in detecting ectopic pregnancy in the ED over a 6-year period, divided into three approximately equal epochs with three distinct approaches to ultrasound availability. ⋯ The specificity of ED Sono in ruling in an IUP was 100% (95% CI 98.3 to 100%), but analysis of secondary quality indicators reflecting times from first ED visit to treatment in Epoch 3 raised the possibility that an adnexal mass or signs of tubal rupture may have been missed on some ED Sonos. We conclude that increased availability of ultrasonography leads to improved quality in the detection of ectopic pregnancy in the ED, but at the expense of a disproportionate increase in the number of ultrasound studies done per ectopic pregnancy detected. Our study suggests that the most cost-effective strategy is for emergency physicians to screen all patients with first trimester cramping and bleeding with ED Sonos, and to obtain MI Sonos at the time of the initial ED visit in all cases in which the ED Sono is indeterminate or shows no IUP.
-
Alteration of mental status secondary to medical illness may occasionally be incorrectly attributed to a psychiatric problem. The cases of 64 patients with unrecognized medical emergencies inappropriately admitted to psychiatric units from emergency departments were reviewed to determine the cause of the misdiagnoses. ⋯ Other common causes of misdiagnosis included inadequate physical examination (43.8%), failure to obtain indicated laboratory studies (34.4%), and failure to obtain available history (34.4%). A systematic approach is required for patients with altered mental status, including those with psychiatric presentations.
-
Although hypophosphatemia is relatively uncommon, it may be seen in anywhere from 20% to 80% of patients who present to the ED with alcoholic emergencies, diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), and sepsis. Severe hypophosphatemia, as defined by a serum level below 1.0 mg/dL, may cause acute respiratory failure, myocardial depression, or seizures. ⋯ Administering K2PO4 at a rate of 1 mL per hour is almost always a very safe and appropriate treatment for hypophosphatemia. This article provides guidelines for phosphate therapy in hypophosphatemic ED patients including those in DKA, those presenting with alcohol-related complaints including alcoholic ketoacidosis and patients with acute exacerbation of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
-
The purpose of this study was to examine the emergency department (ED) management of hypothermic cardiac arrest and its outcome. The medical records of all patients with hypothermic cardiac arrest treated in the ED from January 1, 1988 to January 31, 1999 were retrospectively reviewed. Data collected included initial body temperature, serum potassium, methods of rewarming, return of perfusing rhythm, and morbidity and mortality. ⋯ In two of these patients a perfusing rhythm had been established after thoracotomy in the ED and before transport to the operating room for cardiac bypass. Only one of seven (14.3%) patients who arrested prehospital survived versus four of four (100%) who arrested in the ED. ED thoracotomy with internal cardiac massage and mediastinal irrigation rewarming is effective in the management of hypothermic cardiac arrest.
-
The objective of this retrospective study was to identify factors affecting the accuracy of pulse oximetry in the ED. Over a 3-year period, 664 consecutive emergency department (ED) patients had simultaneous arterial blood gas (ABG) and pulse oximeter readings taken. Pulse oximeter saturations (SpO2) were compared with ABG CO-oximeter saturations (SaO2) for accuracy. ⋯ If COHb is > or =2%, sensitivity is 0.74 and specificity is 0.84. For patients likely to have a COHb < 2, pulse oximetry is an effective screening tool for detecting hypoxia. However, more caution must be exercised when using pulse oximetry in patients likely to have a COHb > or = 2%.