The American journal of emergency medicine
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The novel coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The impact of thrombotic complications has been increasingly recognized as an important component of this disease. ⋯ It is important for Emergency Medicine clinicians to be aware of the thrombotic complications of COVID-19. Knowledge of these components are essential to rapidly recognize and treat to reduce morbidity and mortality in these patients.
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Observational Study
Choosing wisely in emergency medicine: Early results and insights from the ACEP emergency quality network (E-QUAL).
To characterize performance among ED sites participating in the Emergency Quality Network (E-QUAL) Avoidable Imaging Initiative for clinical targets on the American College of Emergency Physicians Choosing Wisely list. ⋯ Early data from the E-QUAL Avoidable Imaging Initiative suggests QI interventions could potentially improve imaging stewardship and reduce low-value care. Further efforts to translate the Choosing Wisely recommendations into practice should promote data-driven benchmarking and learning collaboratives to achieve sustained practice improvement.
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An emergency physician (EP) is often the first health care provider to evaluate, resuscitate, and manage a critically ill patient. In recent years, the annual hours of critical care delivered in emergency departments across the United States has steadily increased. From 2006 to 2014, emergency department (ED) visits for critically ill patients increased approximately 80%. ⋯ This review summarizes important articles published in 2019 pertaining to the resuscitation and care of select critically ill patients. We chose these articles based on our opinion of the importance of the study findings and their application to emergency medicine. The following topics are covered: sepsis, rapid sequence intubation, mechanical ventilation, neurocritical care, post-cardiac arrest care, and ED-based ICUs.
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Comparative Study
Change in T/QRS ratio can be a supplementary diagnostic tool in predicting coronary artery disease in patients with NSTEMI.
Changes in the electrocardiographic findings, namely the ratio T sum to QRS sum (T/QRS ratio), between the initial electrocardiogram (ECG) and the baseline ECG have rarely been investigated in patients with non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). Thus, we aimed to determine whether changes in various parameters on ECG, including T/QRS ratio, can assist in distinguishing between coronary artery disease (CAD) and NSTEMI without CAD with low to moderate risk. ⋯ Change in the most deviated T/QRS ratio in the regional leads on initial ECG from the T/QRS ratio in the same lead on remote ECG can assist in predicting CAD risk between patients with CAD and patients with no CAD in NSTEMI.
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Early diagnosis of blunt cerebrovascular injury (BCVI) is among the most difficult challenges in trauma treatment. This study aimed to determine the optimal timing of computed tomographic angiography (CTA) screening for suspicious BCVI in patients with polytrauma. ⋯ For patients with polytrauma, performing brain CTA for BCVI screening in the first 24-h or after may not affect clinical outcome. Initial motor response is the sole indicator for outcome. Delaying the study for to the next 24-hour can be considered in such patients, when regarding hemodynamic stability, the dose of contrast medium, and the radiation exposure.