The American journal of emergency medicine
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This study aims to better understand the patterns and factors associated with the use of emergency department (ED) services on high-volume and intensive (defined by high volume and high-patient severity) days to improve resource allocation and reduce ED overcrowding. ⋯ These findings offer inputs for reallocating resources and altering staffing models to more efficiently provide high-quality ED services and prevent overcrowding.
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Case Reports
Lung ultrasound associated to capnography to verify correct endotracheal tube positioning in prehospital.
Endotracheal intubation is the “gold standard” of the control of airway patency but is associated with nonnegligible morbidity rates. A rapid detection of esophageal intubation is essential. Capnography is considered the reference technique for correct endotracheal tube (ETT) positioning confirmation. ⋯ During cardiopulmonary resuscitation, there was a sudden absence of end-tidal CO2 capnographic detection. Correct tube positioning could not be ascertained by auscultation because the environment had become extremely noisy. However, TM-mode (Time Motion--mode) lung ultrasound revealed bilateral pleural sliding during insufflation with the self-filling balloon, thus confirming correct ETT positioning.
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Symptoms are compared among patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) admitted to the emergency department with or without acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Sex and age are also assessed. ⋯ In patients with CAD, shortness of breath and dizziness are more common in non-ACS, whereas prior percutaneous coronary intervention and chest or arm pain are important factors to include during ACS triage.
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Brucellosis is a zoonotic infectious disease that is common around the world. Its clinical course demonstrates great diversity as it can affect all organs and systems. However, the central nervous system is rarely affected in the pediatric population. ⋯ In this article, we present the case of a 9-year-old girl who developed unilateral nerve paralysis as a secondary complication of neurobrucellosis and recovered without sequel after treatment. This case is notable because it is a very rare, the first within the pediatric population. Our article emphasizes that neurobrucellosis should be considered among the distinguishing diagnoses in every case that is admitted for nerve paralysis in regions where Brucella infection is endemic.
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Noninvasive technology may assist the emergency department (ED) physician in determining the hemodynamic status in critically ill patients. The objective of our study was to show that ED physicians can accurately measure cardiac index (CI) by performing a bedside focused cardiac ultrasound examination. ⋯ Emergency department ED physicians can accurately measure CI using standard bedside ultrasound. A focused ultrasound cardiac examination to derive CI has potential use in the management of critical ill patients in the ED.