The American journal of emergency medicine
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Comparison of intravascular access methods applied by nurses wearing personal protective equipment in simulated COVID-19 resuscitation: A randomized crossover simulation trial.
Prehospital emergency care of children is challenging. In the era of the COVID-19 pandemic, when medical personnel should use personal protective equipment against aerosol-generating procedures, the efficiency of medical procedures may decrease. The study objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of different intravascular access methods applied by nurses wearing biosafety Level-2 suits in simulated paediatric COVID-19 resuscitation. ⋯ The study provides evidence that nurses wearing biosafety Level-2 suits were able to obtain intraosseous access faster and more effectively as compared with IV access during simulated COVID-19 paediatric resuscitation. The most effective method of intravascular access was the NIO-P intraosseous device. Further clinical trials are necessary to confirm the results.
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High flow nasal cannula (HFNC) is a noninvasive ventilation (NIV) system that has demonstrated promise in the emergency department (ED) setting. ⋯ HFNC demonstrates promise in several conditions requiring respiratory support. Further randomized trials are needed in the ED setting.
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Meta Analysis
Cardiac markers of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) in COVID-19 patients: A meta-analysis.
A meta-analysis of laboratory cardiac markers for multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) was performed in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). ⋯ The key cardiac marker that showed differences between patients with MIS-C/non-severe COVID-19 and between patients with severe/non-severe MIS-C was BNP. Other markers, such as troponin and AST, did not exhibit notable differences in indicating cardiac injury between patients with MIS-C and COVID-19.
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Prolongation of the QTc interval is associated with an increased risk of malignant ventricular dysrhythmias, such as ventricular tachycardia (VT), and sudden cardiac death. The quantifiable risk rates of adverse dysrhythmic outcome in relation to specific QTc interval length are not known. We conducted a literature review on the topic of QT interval prolongation in adult patients and the associated risk of malignant dysrhythmic event. ⋯ From this literature, we were unable to answer the question in a quantifiable manner and only noted that the risk of malignant dysrhythmic event increases with progressively longer QTc interval. The current literature on this topic is inadequate to answer this important question due to heterogenous study methodology, patient populations, endpoints, and periods of observation. Additional prospective research is required on this topic, aimed at addressing the important issue of specific, quantifiable risk and its relation to degree of prolongation of the QTc interval.
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The year 2020 was not easy for Emergency Medicine (EM) clinicians with the burden of tackling a pandemic. A large focus, rightfully so, was placed on the evolving diagnosis and management of patients with COVID-19 and, as such, the ability of clinicians to remain up to date on key EM pharmacotherapy literature may have been compromised. ⋯ A total of fifteen articles, eleven trials and four meta-analyses, were identified. This review provides a summary of each study, along with a commentary on the impact to the EM literature and EM clinician.