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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Observational Study
Cardiology consultation reduces provocative testing rates in an ED observation unit.
In evaluating patients with chest pain, emergency department observation units (EDOUs) may use a staffing model in which emergency physicians determine patient testing (EP model) or a model similar to a chest pain unit (CPU) in which cardiologists determine provocative testing (CPU model). ⋯ An EDOU model that used mandatory cardiology consultation resulted in decreased provocative testing, particularly among low-risk chest pain patients. Future research should explore the cost-effectiveness of this model.
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Time has shown to be a relevant factor in the prognosis for a multitude of clinical conditions. The current analysis aimed to establish whether delayed admission to specialized care is a risk factor for increased mortality in case of high-grade aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. ⋯ Delayed admission to specialized care is associated with a higher mortality rate in patients with high-grade aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. Accompanying non-neurosurgical, mainly cardiac complications might be a significant factor leading to delayed admission. The emergency physician should be aware that cardiovascular abnormalities are a relevant complication and sometimes the first identified clinical feature of high-grade subarachnoid hemorrhage.
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Observational Study
The impact of preinjury antithrombotic medication on hemostatic interventions in trauma patients: an observational study in Japan.
The purpose of this study was to determine whether preinjury medication with antithrombotic agents was related to an increase in hemostatic interventions in patients with severe trauma without traumatic brain injury. ⋯ Preinjury antithrombotic medication in severe trauma patients without traumatic brain injury may be associated with a higher risk of hemostatic interventions.
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To examine clinical characteristics associated with bacteremia in febrile nonneutropenic pediatric oncology patients with central venous catheters (CVCs) in the emergency department (ED). ⋯ The absence of URI symptoms, presence of an externalized CVC, neuroblastoma or other cancer diagnosis, and receiving at least 20 mL/kg IV NS in the ED are associated with increased risk of bacteremia in nonneutropenic pediatric oncology patients with a CVC.