The American journal of emergency medicine
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The prevalence and impact of prehospital neurologic deterioration (PhND) in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) have not been investigated. We aimed to determine the prevalence of PhND during emergency medical service (EMS) transportation among patients with TBI and its impact on patient's outcome. ⋯ Prehospital neurologic deterioration occurs in 9% of patients with TBI. It is more prevalent in men and associated with lower EMS GCS level and higher ED ISS. Prehospital neurologic deterioration is an independent predictor of worse hospital outcome and higher resource use in patients with TBI.
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The aim of this study was to investigate the role of serum heart-type fatty acid-binding protein (H-FABP) in the evaluation of patients with carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. ⋯ Heart-type fatty acid-binding protein may be a promising novel biomarker in the evaluation of clinical severity and in the selection of patients for HBO therapy in acute CO poisoning.
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Rapid diagnosis (dx) of acutely decompensated heart failure (ADHF) may be challenging in the emergency department (ED). Point-of-care ultrasonography (US) allows rapid determination of cardiac function, intravascular volume status, and presence of pulmonary edema. We test the diagnostic test characteristics of these 3 parameters in making the dx of ADHF among acutely dyspneic patients in the ED. ⋯ In this study, US was 100% specific for the dx of ADHF.
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The purpose of this study was to evaluate contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) as a modality for diagnosing perforation of the gallbladder (GB) and pericholecystic hepatic abscess. ⋯ Contrast-enhanced US clearly visualized defects in the GB wall and pericholecystic abscesses in patients with GB perforation. The results indicate that CEUS is a useful modality for the diagnosis of GB perforation.
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The aim of this study was to evaluate the necessity of chest x-ray (CXR) in detecting the endotracheal tube (ETT) misplacement after the intubation. ⋯ Although ED intubations have high success rate, the complications of inappropriate intubations are highly remarkable that postintubation CXR remains a necessary step to minimize the misplacement of the tube.