The American journal of emergency medicine
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To describe time delay during surf rescue and compare the quality of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) before and after exertion in surf lifeguards. ⋯ In a simulated drowning, 100 m from shore, it took twice as long to bring the patient back to shore as to reach him; and men were significantly faster. Half the participants delivered continuous chest compressions of more than 38 mm during 10 minutes of single-rescuer CPR. The quality was identical before and after surf rescue.
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The objective of the study was to describe the utility of emergency department (ED)/outpatient management after enema reduction for childhood intussusception. ⋯ Outpatient management is used for the majority of patients with intussusception at our institution after enema reduction. The early recurrence rate is low, and patients with recurrence after discharge do well without adverse outcomes. Emergency department observation of patients after enema reduction appears to be safe and should be routine for uncomplicated cases of intussusception.
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The purpose of this study was to prospectively evaluate electrocardiograms (ECGs) before and after running a half marathon to characterize the changes that occur after exertion. Echocardiograms were also done postrace on selected runners. ⋯ Our study suggests that ECG abnormalities and changes can occur in distance runners, but their significance is unclear.
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The aim of this study was to estimate the yield of emergency department (ED) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in detecting spinal epidural abscess (SEA) and to identify clinical factors predicting positive MRI results. ⋯ Emergency department MRI for suspected SEA has a low yield. Clinical guidelines are needed to improve efficiency.
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Emergency physicians must frequently perform painful procedures on an urgent basis. These are most commonly performed using procedural sedation techniques involving parenteral sedatives and/or analgesics. Popliteal block of the sciatic nerve is a proven and safe technique used extensively in anesthesiology practice for distal lower extremity analgesia. This technique offers the advantage of relative cardiopulmonary safety, dense and prolonged analgesia, and maintenance of normal airway reflexes in patients with increased aspiration risks. The objective of this study was to explore the usefulness of sciatic nerve block in the popliteal fossa in the emergency department (ED) setting. ⋯ Although limited by small numbers and its retrospective nature, this review of popliteal nerve block for painful lower extremity procedures in the ED suggests that this technique may be an attractive alternative in selected cases to parenteral procedural sedation.