The American journal of emergency medicine
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Randomized Controlled Trial
The potential use of unmanned aircraft systems (drones) in mountain search and rescue operations.
This study explores the potential use of drones in searching for and locating victims and of motorized transportation of search and rescue providers in a mountain environment using a simulation model. ⋯ In conclusion, a wider area can be searched faster by drone using DST compared to the classical technique, and the victim can be located faster and reached earlier with rescuers transported by snowmobile.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Kinect-based real-time audiovisual feedback device improves cardiopulmonary resuscitation quality of lower-body-weight rescuers.
Chest compression (CC) quality is associated with rescuer posture and body weight. We designed a Kinect module-based real-time audiovisual feedback (AVF) device to investigate the relationship between rescuer posture, body weight, and CC quality. ⋯ The Kinect-based AVF device can significantly improve CC quality in manikin training in rescuers with their body weight<71kg.
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Is pulseless electrical activity a reason to refuse cardiopulmonary resuscitation with ECMO support?
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation with ECMO support (ECPR) has shown to improve outcome in patients after cardiac arrest under resuscitation. Most current recommendations for ECPR do not include patients with a non-shockable rhythm such as PEA and asystole. ⋯ Survival to discharge in patients with PEA as initial rhythm at the time of decision for ECPR is 23.8% while no patients with asystole as initial rhythm survived discharge. Patients with PEA should be carefully considered for ECPR.
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Historical Article
Ultrasound assisted evaluation of chest pain in the emergency department.
Chest pain is a commonly encountered emergency department complaint, with a broad differential including several life-threatening possible conditions. Ultrasound-assisted evaluation can potentially be used to rapidly and accurately arrive at the correct diagnosis. ⋯ Information is kept on a checklist. We hypothesize that this will result in a quicker, more accurate evaluation of chest pain in the ED leading to timely treatment and disposition of the patient, less provider anxiety, a reduction in the number of diagnostic errors, and the removal of false assumptions from the diagnostic process.
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Cirrhosis is a significant cause of death in the U.S. and has a variety of causes, most commonly Hepatitis C and alcohol. Liver fibrosis and nodule formation result in significant complications due to portal system hypertension. There are several deadly complications emergency physicians must consider. ⋯ Decompensating cirrhotics may require extensive resuscitation, and knowledge of the evaluation and management of complications associated with cirrhosis can improve care for patients with severe liver disease.