The American journal of emergency medicine
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The primary objective of this study was to compare Emergency Department patients with first-time versus recurrent acute pancreatitis. ⋯ ED patients with recurrent acute pancreatitis demonstrated more significant findings on CT compared to patients with first-time acute pancreatitis but were less likely to require ICU admission.
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Interest in ultrasonography in emergency medicine has increased in recent years, as reflected by a marked increase in publications on the topic. The aim of this study was to 1) describe and evaluate methodological characteristics of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating an ultrasound intervention in emergency department and 2) estimate whether the reports adequately described the intervention to allow replication. ⋯ The quality of these trials raises questions. In our sample, the authors did not correctly report blinding of participants and assessors or allocation concealment.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Intravenous subdissociative-dose ketamine versus morphine for acute geriatric pain in the Emergency Department: A randomized controlled trial.
We compare the analgesic efficacy and safety of subdissociative intravenous-dose ketamine (SDK) versus morphine in geriatric Emergency Department (ED) patients. ⋯ SDK administered at 0.3 mg/kg over 15 min provides analgesic efficacy comparable to morphine for short-term treatment of acute pain in the geriatric ED patients but results in higher rates of psychoperceptual adverse effects. ClinicalTrials.gov Registration #: NCT02673372.
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FIB-4, a non-invasive serum fibrosis index (which includes age, ALT, AST, and platelet count), is frequently available during ED visits. Our objective was to define 1-year HCV-related care outcomes of ED patients with known HCV, for the overall group, and both those with and without advanced fibrosis. ⋯ Over one-third of HCV-infected ED patients have advanced liver fibrosis, incomplete LTC, and higher mortality, suggesting this readily-available FIB-4 might be used to prioritize LTC services for those with advanced fibrosis.
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Review
Tenecteplase utility in acute ischemic stroke patients: A clinical review of current evidence.
Acute ischemic stroke is a leading cause of disability in the United States. Treatment is aimed at reducing impact of cerebral clot burden and life-long disability. Traditional fibrinolytic treatment with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) has shown to be effective but at high risk of major bleeding. Multiple studies have evaluated tenecteplase as an alternative to tPA. ⋯ Recent emerging literature and limited recommendation guidance from governing medical societies leave many emergency medicine providers to weigh benefit versus risk of fibrinolytic therapy and tenecteplase's place in therapy. This review evaluates the available literature regarding tenecteplase and its utility in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke patients.