The American journal of emergency medicine
-
The extent of intervention reporting in emergency medicine journals remains unclear. The primary objective is to assess overall completion of the Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR) checklist described in emergency medicine randomized clinical trials (RCTs). The secondary outcomes were to (1) compare reporting before and after TIDieR publication; (2) evaluate factors associated with intervention reporting. ⋯ The completeness of intervention reporting is suboptimal in emergency medicine journals, necessitating improvement. The current state of adherence could be improved through the combined efforts of journal editors, major editorial organizations, and authors.
-
Comparative Study
Comparison of two scores of short term serious outcome in COPD patients.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) related visits to the emergency department have increased substantially during the past decade. An important challenge facing emergency physicians when treating COPD patients is deciding on disposition. The aim of this study was to evaluate Integrated Pulmonary Index scoring to guide the disposition decisions of emergency physicians by comparing its compatibility with Ottawa COPD Risk Score. ⋯ Integrated Pulmonary Index was a potential candidate for evaluating respiratory status and prediction of short-term severe events in patients with acute COPD exacerbation in emergency departments.
-
Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is defined as Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) of 14 or 15. Despite good outcomes, patients are commonly transferred to trauma centers for observation and/or neurosurgical consultation. The aim of this study is to assess the value of redefining mTBI with novel radiographic criteria to determine the appropriateness of interhospital transfer for neurosurgical evaluation. ⋯ Defining mTBI with the described novel criteria clearly identifies patients who can be safely managed without transfer for neurosurgical consultation. These unnecessary transfers represent a substantial financial and resource burden to the trauma system and inconvenience to patients.
-
Cardiac arrest in pregnancy is high acuity, low occurrence event. It involves the coordination of multiple teams to take care of ultimately two patients. This is further compounded by physiology that is frequently unfamiliar to the providers taking care of the patient. ⋯ This case report will detail sudden onset eclampsia in a patient whose condition deteriorated rapidly into cardiac arrest. It will delve into the complexities of managing this complex disease process and how the multi-disciplinary team quickly integrated to manage both the mother and the baby. Why should the emergency physician be aware of this?: Cardiac arrest in pregnancy is an incredibly difficult situation due to both the physiological differences in the pregnant woman and the emotional factors on the treating providers (1). Due to its rarity, the pregnant cardiac arrest situation should be frequently reviewed to ensure appropriate care when the time arrives. The per-mortem c-section for a woman in cardiac arrest is a critical resuscitation technique that must be understood by providers who take care of critically ill patients ranging from emergency medicine to obstetrics and gynecology (Ob/Gyn) clinicians.
-
Opisthotonos, extreme involuntary neck and back extension, is rarely seen in modern emergency departments. Vaccines have prevented the most common causes of this clinical presentation. ⋯ Streptococcus pneumoniae accounts for the majority of otitis media infections, however, since the introduction of the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) and 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) otitis media and its complications have decreased significantly. The present case reports of a previously healthy and immunized child presenting to a pediatric emergency department (PED) with opisthotonos, and was found to have pneumococcal meningitis, bacteremia and mastoiditis arising from otitis media.