The American journal of emergency medicine
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The aim of the present study was to determine whether quick diagnosis units (QDUs) can safely and efficiently avoid emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations. ⋯ An increasing number of PC and ED patients were referred to the QDU. Hospitalizations might have been avoided in at least 84% of patients. Although QDU and hospitalization are similarly effective in reaching a diagnosis, the QDU model incurs fewer costs.
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Comparative Study
Comparison of risk scoring systems in predicting clinical outcome at upper gastrointestinal bleeding patients in an emergency unit.
Admission Rockall score (RS), full RS, and Glasgow-Blatchford Bleeding Score (GBS) can all be used to stratify the risk in patients presenting with upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) in the emergency department (ED). The aim of our study was to compare both admission and full RS and GBS in predicting outcomes at UGIB patients in a Romanian ED. ⋯ The GBS can be used to predict need for intervention and transfusion in patients with UGIB in our ED, whereas full RS can be successfully used to stratify the mortality risk in these patients.
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The objective of this study was to determine factors that impact emergency department (ED) utilization among the most frequent ED users. ⋯ The top 1% of frequent users usually had adequate health insurance and primary care access but were burdened by chronic conditions and frequent hospital admissions. Such patients may require more extensive coordinated medical management to decrease ED utilization.
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The most frequent cardiac pathologies caused by electric shock are arrhythmias with a wide clinical picture ranging from sinus tachycardia to asystole. Cardiac mechanical complications secondary to electric shock have rarely been reported. ⋯ In this study, we have presented the rupture in the secondary chordae of the mitral anterior leaflet caused by low-voltage electrical trauma. To our knowledge, this is the first cardiac mechanical complication reported as a consequence of low-tension electrical trauma.
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Bradykinin-mediated angioedema (AE) is characterized by periodic subcutaneous or submucosal swelling, with the absence of urticaria and itching. It affects the face and extremities. Attacks of abdominal pain and obstruction of the upper airways are the hallmarks of disease severity. The aim of this study was to determine the factors prompting patients to turn up at the hospital emergency department (ED) in the event of an attack. ⋯ First attack of bradykinin AE and swelling of the larynx were significantly associated with visits to the ED.