The American journal of emergency medicine
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Patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with altered mental status and alcohol intoxication can clinically resemble patients with an intracranial hemorrhage. Although intracranial hemorrhage is quickly excluded with a head computed tomographic (CT) scan, it is common practice to defer imaging and allow the patient to metabolize to spare ED resources and minimize radiation exposure to the patient. Although this reduces unnecessary scans, it may delay treatment in patients with occult intracranial hemorrhage, which some fear may increase morbidity and mortality. We sought to evaluate the safety of deferred CT imaging in these patients by evaluating whether time to scan significantly affects the rate of neurosurgical intervention. ⋯ Routine CT scanning of alcohol-intoxicated patients with altered mental status is of low clinical value. Deferring CT imaging while monitoring improving clinical status appears to be a safe practice.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Shenfu injection for improving cellular immunity and clinical outcome in patients with sepsis or septic shock.
To assess the efficacy of Shenfu injection (SFI) for enhancing cellular immunity and improving the clinical outcomes of patients with septic shock. ⋯ These findings suggest that SFI can enhance the cellular immunity of patients with septic shock and could be a promising adjunctive treatment for patients with septic shock.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation using the lifeline ARM mechanical chest compression device: a randomized, crossover, manikin trial.
European Resuscitation Council as well as American Heart Association guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) stress the importance of uninterrupted and effective chest compressions (CCs). Manual CPR decreases in quality of CCs over time because of fatigue which impacts outcome. We report the first study with the Lifeline ARM automated CC device for providing uninterrupted CCs. ⋯ Mechanical CCs in our study adhere more closely to current guidelines than manual CCs. The Lifeline ARM provides more effective CCs, more ventilation time and minute volume, less hands-off time, and less decrease in effective CCs over time compared with manual Basic Life Support and might therefore impact outcome.
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Bacteremia is an uncommon complication of urinary tract infection (UTI). The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for bacteremic UTI in pediatric patients. ⋯ High creatinine at presentation is a risk factor that might aid in early identification of pediatric patients with high risk for bacteremia and its complications.