The American journal of emergency medicine
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Emergency department (ED) overcrowding is a worldwide problem associated with adverse outcomes. This study was performed to investigate the association between ED overcrowding and the outcomes and quality of cardiopulmonary resuscitation for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). ⋯ Emergency department overcrowding was not associated with the outcomes of OHCA or resuscitation quality.
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Increasing the value of health care delivery is a national priority, and providers face growing pressure to reduce cost while improving quality. Ample opportunity exists to increase efficiency and quality simultaneously through the application of systems engineering science. ⋯ In this study, Lean-based reorganization of laboratory process flow significantly increased process efficiency. Broader application of systems engineering science might further improve health care quality and capacity while reducing waste and cost.
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Emergency endotracheal intubation-related cardiac arrest (CA) is not well documented. This study compares the clinical features and outcomes of intubation-related CA and other causes of inhospital CA. ⋯ Endotracheal intubation-related CA occurred higher than commonly recognized, and patient outcomes were not better than other causes of CA. These data highlight the importance of efforts to prevent intubation-related CA. However, further prospective larger study will be required to generalize this result.
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The inferior vena cava (IVC) parameters, including its diameter and collapsibility index have been evaluated for fluid status for over 30 years, but little is known about the impacts of patient characteristics on IVC parameters. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships between individual patient characteristics and IVC parameters in healthy Chinese adult volunteers. ⋯ The percentage collapse of IVC and the IVCmax are not substantially influenced by patient characteristics. In contrast, the IVC/Ao index is more susceptible to patient characteristics than IVC.