The American journal of emergency medicine
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Overcrowding in hospitals, especially in EDs, is a serious problem in the United States, Europe, and Taiwan. However, the association between prolonged ED boarding stay and mortality in patients with necrotizing fasciitis remains underinvestigated. ⋯ Prolonged ED boarding stay was associated with increased mortality in patients with necrotizing fasciitis. Early operation (within 24 hours of ED arrival) was associated with decreased mortality.
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The objective of this study is to determine whether prearrest shock and respiratory insufficiency influence outcome in patients with emergency medical service-witnessed out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. ⋯ Shock and respiratory depression are common among patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest witnessed by the emergency medical service, and these patients have a high mortality when compared with patients without shock or respiratory failure.
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A variety of environmental factors have been identified as possible triggers for migraine and other headache syndromes. ⋯ Findings provide preliminary evidence of an association between air pollution and ED visits for migraine and nonspecific headache. Findings were most consistent for particulate matter.
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The aim of this study is to investigate the correlation between cardiac troponin I (cTnI) values and the pulmonary artery obstruction index assessed with spiral computed tomography (CT) scan in emergency department (ED) patients with pulmonary embolism (PE). ⋯ Measuring cTnI value might be considered in ED patients who are suspected of having PE. Elevated cTnI should raise the clinician's concern for the possibility of central pulmonary vascular obstruction.