Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
The role of betamethasone in the treatment of acute exudative pharyngitis.
To compare betamethasone with placebo as an adjuvant to antibiotic therapy in the treatment of acute exudative pharyngitis. ⋯ Pain relief was greater and more rapid in patients treated with betamethasone as an adjuvant therapy in acute exudative pharyngitis.
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To assess whether contact with a health care provider or gatekeeper increases the use of an ambulance for patients with acute chest pain. ⋯ Of patients presenting to an ED for evaluation of chest pain, those who made contact with a health care provider were less likely to arrive via ambulance.
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To determine whether the provision of advanced life support (ALS) field care has any impact on patient outcome in the urban Canadian environment. ⋯ There was no beneficial impact on the measured patient outcomes found in association with the provision of ALS vs BLS field care in Metropolitan Toronto for patients who were brought to a nontrauma center.
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To compare 2 clinical wound scales and to determine a minimal clinically important difference (MCID) on the visual analog cosmesis scale. ⋯ An MCID on the VAS cosmesis scale is 15 mm. Studies should be designed to have a sample size and power to detect this difference.
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End-tidal carbon dioxide (PetCO2) monitoring is becoming more common in both the ED and the out-of-hospital setting. Its main use has been as an aid when confirming endotracheal intubation. ⋯ In addition, future uses may include using PetCO2 as an adjunct when monitoring the status of asthma treatment, when making the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism, and when measuring cardiac output noninvasively. This article reviews these specific uses of PetCO2 monitoring in emergency medicine.