The American journal of emergency medicine
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Space travel is expected to grow in the near future, which could lead to a higher burden of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in astronauts. Current methods to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation in microgravity perform below earth-based standards in terms of depth achieved and the ability to sustain chest compressions (CC). We hypothesised that an automated chest compression device (ACCD) delivers high-quality CC during simulated micro- and hypergravity conditions. ⋯ The use of an ACCD allows continuous delivery of high-quality CC in micro- and hypergravity as experienced in parabolic flight. The decision to bring extra load for a high impact and low likelihood event should be based on specifics of its crew's mission and health status, and the establishment of standard operating procedures.
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Procedural analgesia with opioids is often needed during incision and drainage (I/D) of pilonidal or large abscesses in the pediatric emergency department (PED). In response to the ongoing opioid misuse pandemic, the Joint Commission has mandated that nonpharmacologic therapies be offered to patients for pain first. ⋯ BFA for painful procedures in the PED has not been reported. We describe 4 cases where BFA was utilized in a PED for pain during I/D of abscesses.
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Triage plays an essential role in emergency medical care. It is crucial to adopt appropriate triage in a mass casualty incident (MCI) when resources are limited. The simple triage and rapid treatment (START) protocol is commonly used worldwide; however, the effectiveness of the START protocol for emergency department (ED) triage is unclear. This study aimed to examine the accuracy of START for the ED triage of victims following a MCI. ⋯ This study demonstrated poor agreement between START categories, as determined in the ED, and the consensus-based standard categories. However, the START protocol was acceptable in terms of identifying emergent patients (100% sensitivity for the immediate and deceased categories) and predicting ED disposition (surgery, admission, and ICU/ED mortality). Although START is not perfect, our findings suggest that it could be used for the ED triage of trauma-related MCI victims.
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The Emergency Department (ED) plays a key role in linkage to and engagement in care for people with HIV (PWH) in the United States, particularly for individuals without a routine source or schedule for care. Assessing patterns of ED resource utilization by PWH can help elucidate the role of EDs across the HIV care continuum. The aim of this study was to use visit-level data to characterize resource utilization patterns for HIV-related ED visit diagnoses compared to those of other ED visit types. ⋯ Hospitals should be prepared to meet the unique needs of PWH presenting for ED services. Continued surveillance of resource utilization patterns among PWH in EDs is important to plan successful HIV care engagement interventions in these settings.
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Case Reports
Propylene glycol toxicity from compulsive corn starch ingestion: A case report and review.
Propylene glycol (PG) is usually considered safe, however, toxicity can develop with high doses or when used for prolonged periods of time. PG can be found in some medications as well as some food products. We report a case of likely PG toxicity that occurred after compulsive daily ingestion of large amounts of corn starch. ⋯ PG causes toxicity through metabolism to lactic acid. While there are small amounts in food products and medications, under the right circumstances, PG can accumulate and lead to significant toxicity.