Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
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Computed tomography (CT) imaging is frequently obtained for recurrent abdominal pain after a prior emergency department (ED) evaluation. We evaluate the utility of repeat CT imaging following an indeterminate index CT in low-risk abdominal pain adult ED patients. ⋯ Due to the absence of direct evidence our scoping review is unable to provide high-quality evidence-based recommendations upon which to confidently base an imaging practice guideline. There is no evidence to support or refute performing a CT for low-risk recurrent abdominal pain.
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Existing evidence suggest the emergence of palliative care (PC) services in the emergency department (ED). To gain insight into the nature of these services and provide direction to future actions, there is a need for a comprehensive review that ascertains the components of these services, integration models, and outcomes. ⋯ PC implementation in the ED may potentially improve patient and family outcomes. More studies are needed, however, to standardize trigger or screening tools. More prospective studies are also needed to test PC interventions in the ED.
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This systematic review identified and assessed psychometric properties of the available screening tools to identify patients with unmet palliative care (PC) needs in the emergency department (ED). ⋯ This review identified 14 unique screening tools used to identify adult patients with unmet PC needs in the ED. One screening tool, the SQ, was found to have moderate sensitivity and specificity to accurately predict future patient mortality. Additional research is needed to better understand the clinical value of this and the other available tools prior to their widespread implementation.
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Multicenter Study
Clinical factors associated with significant coronary lesions following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.
Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) afflicts >350,000 people annually in the United States. While postarrest coronary angiography (CAG) with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has been associated with improved survival in observational cohorts, substantial uncertainty exists regarding patient selection for postarrest CAG. We tested the hypothesis that symptoms consistent with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), including chest discomfort, prior to OHCAs are associated with significant coronary lesions identified on postarrest CAG. ⋯ Among survivors of OHCA receiving CAG, history of prearrest chest discomfort was significantly and independently associated with significant coronary artery lesions on postarrest CAG. This suggests that we may be able to use prearrest symptoms to better risk stratify patients following OHCA to decide who will benefit from invasive angiography.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Fentanyl versus placebo with ketamine and rocuronium for patients undergoing rapid sequence intubation in the emergency department: the FAKT study - a randomized clinical trial.
The objective was to determine whether the use of fentanyl with ketamine for emergency department (ED) rapid sequence intubation (RSI) results in fewer patients with systolic blood pressure (SBP) measurements outside the pre-specified target range of 100-150 mm Hg following the induction of anesthesia. Methods This study was conducted in the ED of five Australian hospitals. A total of 290 participants were randomized to receive either fentanyl or 0.9% saline (placebo) in combination with ketamine and rocuronium, according to a weight-based dosing schedule. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients in each group with at least one SBP measurement outside the prespecified range of 100-150 mm Hg (with adjustment for baseline abnormality). Secondary outcomes included first-pass intubation success, hypotension, hypertension and hypoxia, mortality, and ventilator-free days 30 days following enrollment. ⋯ There was no difference in the primary outcome between groups, although lower blood pressures were more common with fentanyl. Clinicians should consider baseline hemodynamics and postinduction targets when deciding whether to use fentanyl as a coinduction agent with ketamine.