Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
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While immediate diagnosis and irrigation is standard chemical eye burn practice, it is unknown to what extent specific pH measurements influence management, given the frequent clinical availability of narrow-spectrum nitrazine pH strips. We hypothesize that exclusive broad-spectrum pH strip implementation leads to more accurate measurement and expedited ophthalmologic consultation. ⋯ Exclusive non-obstetric implementation of broad-spectrum pH strips may allow greater accuracy and faster management of ocular chemical burns. Availability of narrow-spectrum pH strips may be dangerous clinically by falsely reassuring the examiner with inherent inaccuracy.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Tiny Cargo, Big Deal! Pilot trial of an Emergency Department-based intervention to promote child passenger safety best practices.
Despite demonstrated effectiveness of child restraint systems (CRSs), use remains suboptimal. In this randomized pilot trial, we sought to determine the feasibility, acceptability, and potential efficacy of "Tiny Cargo, Big Deal" an ED-based intervention to promote guideline-concordant size-appropriate CRS use. ⋯ Suboptimal CRS use can be identified and intervened upon during a child's ED visit. A combined approach with ED-based counseling and mailed tailored brochures shows promise to improve size-appropriate CRS use.
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The window for acute ischemic stroke treatment was previously limited to 4.5 hours for intravenous tissue plasminogen activator and to 6 hours for thrombectomy. Recent studies using advanced imaging selection expand this window for select patients up to 24 hours from last known well. ⋯ It analyzes the implications on prehospital protocols to identify and transfer large-vessel occlusion stroke patients, on issues of distributive justice, and on ED management to provide advanced imaging and access to thrombectomy centers. The creation of high-performing systems of care to manage acute ischemic stroke patients requires academic emergency physician leadership attentive to the rapidly changing science of stroke care.