Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
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Comparative Study
The effects of octylcyanoacrylate on scarring after burns.
To compare the effects of octylcyanoacrylate (OCA), silver sulfadiazine (SSD), polyurethane film (PU), and dry gauze (G) on scarring three months after partial-thickness burns. ⋯ The effects of OCA spray, SSD, PU, and dry gauze on scarring three months after burns in pigs are similar.
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To develop a multivariable model predicting the level of care required by pediatric patients for use as a risk-adjustment tool in the evaluation of emergency medical services for children. ⋯ A model based on easily and routinely measured variables can accurately predict the level of care rendered in the PED. The predicted probabilities from such a model correlate well with other outcomes of care and may be useful in adjusting for differences in risk when evaluating quality of care.
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To define a quality assurance instrument to evaluate errors in diagnostic processes made by physicians in the emergency department (ED). ⋯ A two-tiered evaluation of ED records selected by inconsistent initial and final diagnoses can be used reliably to screen for errors in the diagnostic process made by emergency physicians (EPs). The rate of physician error contributing to a misdiagnosis is very low, suggesting that EPs are delivering quality patient care.
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Patients with a low risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) presenting to the emergency department (ED) with chest pain pose a diagnostic dilemma because a small percentage will suffer an acute myocardial infarction (MI) and sudden death. The authors conducted this study to determine whether exercise stress echocardiography (ESE) could be used to further support the safe discharge of these low-risk patients. ⋯ Exercise stress echocardiography can be used to evaluate low-risk chest pain patients in the ED. Patients with a normal ESE may be considered for discharge with minimal risk of sequelae.
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To determine whether patient clinical and socioeconomic characteristics predict patient delay in coming to the emergency department (ED). ⋯ A patient's decision to delay coming to the ED often reflects a belief that his or her illness is either self-limited or not serious. The decision to delay correlates with patient characteristics and access to a regular physician. The correlates of delay in seeking ED care may depend on the delay measure used. Better understanding of patients at risk for delaying care may influence interventions to reduce delay.