The American journal of emergency medicine
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Chest compression quality comparing 1-min vs 2-min rotation of rescuers wearing N95 masks.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) performed by rescuers wearing well-sealed respirators such as N95 masks, was associated with significant reduction in the chest compression rate and depth. This was attributed to fatigue during the standard 2-min rescuer rotations. We hypothesized that in such situations, rotating rescuers every one minute, instead of the standard two minutes would improve CPR quality. ⋯ During CPR performed by rescuers wearing N95 masks, the quality of CPR appears to be superior with rescuers rotating at 1-min instead of 2-min intervals. More frequent rotation was also associated with less rescuer fatigue.
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The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidelines recommend that children ≤12-years-old with height < 145 cm should use safety/booster seats. However, national adherence and clinical outcomes for eligible children involved in motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) are unknown. We hypothesized that children recommended to use safety/booster seats involved in MVCs have a lower rate of serious injuries if a safety/booster seat is used, compared to children without safety/booster seat. ⋯ Despite AAP guidelines, less than half of recommended children in our study population presenting to a trauma center after MVC used safety/booster seats. Pediatric patients involved in a high-risk MVC suffered more serious injuries and were more likely to require surgical intervention without a safety/booster seat. A public health program to increase adherence to safety/booster seat use within this population appears warranted.
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Observational Study
Inequities among patient placement in emergency department hallway treatment spaces.
Limited capacity in the emergency department (ED) secondary to boarding and crowding has resulted in patients receiving care in hallways to provide access to timely evaluation and treatment. However, there are concerns raised by physicians and patients regarding a decrease in patient centered care and quality resulting from hallway care. We sought to explore social risk factors associated with hallway placement and operational outcomes. ⋯ While hallway usage is ad hoc, we find consistent differences in care delivery with those insured by Medicaid and self-pay or male sex being placed in hallway beds. Further work should examine how new front-end processes such as provider in triage or split flow may be associated with inequities in patient access to emergency and hospital care.
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The development of acidosis in critically ill patients is considered to be a negative prognostic factor, and when extreme, even incompatible with life. We aimed to test the prognosis of patients with a pH lower than 6.9 on emergency department admission. ⋯ A small but significant portion of patients with extreme acidosis on emergency department admission survive at least to 24 h and until hospital discharge. The clinical decision making should be based on other prognostic factors rather than pH value by itself.
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There is limited evidence on sex, racial, and ethnic disparities in Emergency Department (ED) triage across diverse settings. We evaluated differences in the assignment of Emergency Severity Index (ESI) by patient sex and race/ethnicity, accounting for age, clinical factors, and ED operating conditions. ⋯ This retrospective study of adult ED patients revealed sex and race/ethnicity-based differences in ESI assignment, after accounting for age, clinical factors, and ED operating conditions. These disparities persisted across three different large EDs, highlighting the need for ongoing research to address inequities in ED triage decision-making and associated patient-centered outcomes.