The American journal of emergency medicine
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The aim of this study was to investigate whether emergency department (ED) patients who were newly diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (AF) displayed risk factors for incident AF on prior ED visits. ⋯ Nearly 40% of patients diagnosed with new AF had previous ED visits and displayed validated risk factors for incident AF. The ED provides an opportunity to identify and educate these patients as well as refer them for primary prevention interventions.
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The objective of this study is to determine the number of primary stroke centers (PSCs) that exist concurrently (synergic relationship) with designated higher level trauma centers (level I or level II trauma centers) and associated characteristics. ⋯ Despite evidence of higher capability among institutions with coexisting PSC-trauma centers, two thirds of PSCs are in hospitals without advanced trauma systems. These findings have implications for establishing stroke systems in the United States.
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Emergent cricothyroidotomy remains an uncommon, but life-saving, core procedural training requirement for emergency medicine (EM) physician training. We hypothesized that although most cricothyroidotomies for trauma occur in the emergency department (ED), they are usually performed by surgeons. ⋯ (1) Prehospital cricothyroidotomy results in serious complications. (2) Despite the ubiquitous presence of EM physicians in the ED, all cricothyroidotomies were performed by a surgeon, which may present opportunities for training improvement.
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Laryngopyocoeles are rare entities that present as airway obstruction or as neck masses. We present a unique case of a laryngopyocoele in a young patient with a sore throat. A 22-year-old man presented to the emergency department with a sore throat of 1-week duration. ⋯ The patient was admitted to the intensive care unit for airway monitoring and treated conservatively with intravenous antibiotics. The collection did not resolve by day 4, and the patient was taken to the operating room for incision and drainage of the laryngopyocoele. The patient made an uneventful recovery.
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The objective of this study is to examine the nature and circumstances surrounding pediatric fall-related injuries for specific age groups and their implications for age-appropriate injury prevention efforts. ⋯ The high incidence of pediatric fall injuries warrants dedicated injury prevention education. Injury prevention efforts need to be age appropriate in terms of focus, target audience, and setting. Recommendations for injury prevention are discussed.