The American journal of emergency medicine
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The presence of the sonographic sliding lung sign (SLS) is a sensitive indicator for the absence of a pneumothorax. The addition of M-mode ultrasound (US) can be a useful adjunct in detecting the SLS. ⋯ M-mode US may be used successfully to detect the SLS during helicopter transport.
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Limited recommendations address empiric versus delayed treatment of pediatric patients for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). This study investigates how frequently empiric STI treatment correlated with subsequent positive test results in an urban, high-risk pediatric emergency department (PED). ⋯ Providers in high-risk pediatric populations with unreliable patient follow-up should consider having a low threshold for empiric treatment. Development of clinical decision rules and/or strategies to improve patient follow-up may help optimize empiric STI treatment decisions in the PED.
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Editorial Comment
Assessing prognosis of sepsis in the ED: do we have a magic ball?
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Hypovolemic shock is an important cause of death in the emergency department (ED). We sought to conduct a meta-analysis to quantify existing evidence on sonographic measurement of inferior vena cava (IVC) diameter in assessing of volume status adult ED patients. ⋯ Moderate level of evidence suggests that the IVC diameter is consistently low in hypovolemic status when compared with euvolemic. Further blinded studies are needed before it could be used in the ED with confidence.