The American journal of emergency medicine
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Violence and aggressive behaviors among youth are a leading cause of Emergency Department (ED) mental health (MH) encounters. A consistent method is needed for public health research, to identify ED encounters associated with aggression. The aim of this study was to develop such a screening procedure. ⋯ This paper presents a screening method for identifying ED encounters related to aggression. A replication study will be necessary to validate the method prior to applying to large claims data. If validated, it will support future research on this important population.
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Foreign body in the eye is a relatively common emergency department (ED) chief complaint which does not usually lead to ophthalmologic intervention. We report a case of a 35-year-old male with a history of developmental delay who presented to our ED for evaluation of ocular foreign body. His reported foreign body was removed, and subsequently identified as an Ahmed Valve, a device used in the management of glaucoma. ⋯ Even patient presentations for seemingly simple, straightforward chief complaints deserve critical appraisal by emergency clinicians. When suspicions are raised or there is any doubt, specialty consultation should be obtained to ensure patients receive appropriate care and necessary follow up. This is especially true when history and exam are limited by other factors such as developmental delay, incomplete medical history, or altered mental status.
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The introduction of scooter-share programs across the United States has led to an increased incidence of electronic scooter (e-scooter) injuries presenting to emergency departments (EDs). As legislation begins to push scooters from the sidewalk to the street, injuries resulting from collisions between e-scooters and motor vehicles are an important, but poorly characterized consideration. This study leverages data from a national injury surveillance system to characterize e-scooter versus motor vehicle collisions resulting in ED presentation. ⋯ Electric scooter injuries involving a motor vehicle differed from those that did not across several key categories. As e-scooters and motor vehicles start to share the road more frequently, greater consideration should be made regarding how these two modes of transportation interact with each other. The promotion of thoughtful e-scooter legislation and infrastructure changes could help promote safer travel.
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Observational Study
A prospective observational study evaluating the use of remote patient monitoring in ED discharged COVID-19 patients in NYC.
We investigated whether continuous remote patient monitoring (RPM) could significantly reduce return Emergency Department (ED) revisits among coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients discharged from the emergency Department. ⋯ Our study explored the impact of continuous monitoring versus intermittent monitoring for reducing ED revisits in a largely underrepresented population of the Bronx. Our study demonstrated that continuous remote patient monitoring showed no significant difference in preventing ED revisits compared to non-standardized intermittent monitoring. However, potential other acute care settings where RPM may be useful for identifying high-risk patients for early interventions warrant further study.
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Observational Study
Risk of tizanidine-induced adverse events after concomitant exposure to ciprofloxacin: A cohort study in the U.S.
Tizanidine's potent muscle relaxant properties and short onset of action makes it desirable for pain management. However, concomitant use of tizanidine with ciprofloxacin, a strong inhibitor of the P450-CYP1A2 cytochrome metabolic pathway of tizanidine, can result in increased tizanidine plasma levels and associated adverse outcomes, particularly hypotension. The aim of this study was to assess the risk of hypotension with coadministration of tizanidine and ciprofloxacin. ⋯ Our findings suggest that the concomitant use of tizanidine and ciprofloxacin is associated with an elevated risk of hypotension. The prevalence of co-administration of drugs with a documented interaction highlights the need for continuous education across providers to avoid the incidence of DDI related adverse events and further complications and to improve patient outcomes.