The American journal of emergency medicine
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Review Meta Analysis
The effect of team-based cardiopulmonary resuscitation on outcomes in out of hospital cardiac arrest patients: A meta-analysis.
The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine the effects of team cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on outcomes of patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). ⋯ In this meta-analysis, team CPR improved the outcomes of OHCA patients, consistently increasing their odds of survival to discharge and neurologic recovery.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
An exploratory study of IV metoclopramide+diphenhydramine for acute post-traumatic headache.
Headache is a frequent complaint among the 1.4 million patients who present to US emergency departments (ED) annually following trauma to the head. There are no evidence-based treatments of acute post-traumatic headache. ⋯ IV metoclopramide 20mg+diphenhydramine 25mg is an effective and well-tolerated medication regimen for patients presenting to the ED with acute post-traumatic headache, though 1/3 of patients report headache relapse after ED discharge and 1/4 of patients report persistent headaches one week later.
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Multicenter Study Observational Study
High rate of isolated right ventricular dysfunction in patients with non-significant computed tomographic pulmonary angiography.
Right ventricular (RV) dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension (PH) are commonly unrecognized in the emergency department (ED), but are associated with poor outcomes. Prior research has found a 30% prevalence of isolated RV dysfunction in ED patients after non-significant computed tomographic pulmonary angiography (CTPA). We aimed to prospectively define the prevalence of RV dysfunction and/or PH in short of breath ED patients, and assess outcomes. ⋯ In a prospective cohort of ED patients, we found a high prevalence of isolated RV dysfunction and/or PH after a non-significant CTPA. These patients had high rates of recidivism and hospital readmission. This data supports a continued need for ED based screening and specialty referral.
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Multicenter Study
The impact of computed tomography head scans on emergency department management and length of stay in bizarre behavior patients.
A 5-year retrospective chart review was conducted at 3 EDs. Inclusion criteria were patients ≥18years old triaged as "mental health - bizarre behavior" (deviation from normal cognitive behaviour with no obvious cause) with a CT head scan ordered in the ED. Exclusion criteria were focal neurologic deficits on exam, alternative medical etiology (i.e. delirium, trauma) and/or pre-existing CNS disease. Clinical, demographic and administrative data were extracted with 10% of charts independently reviewed by an Emergency Physician for inter-rater reliability. ⋯ CT head results prolonged ED LOS, delayed patient disposition and did not change the patient's clinical management. A prospective trial for ordering CT head scans in these patients is warranted.