Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
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Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a diagnosis often considered in patients presenting to the ED with acute sudden headaches, but with normal physical examinations. Standard of care today is for these patients to be investigated by noncontrast CT scan followed by lumbar puncture (LP) for negative CTs. ⋯ Given reasonable assumptions, for every 100 patients investigated, the "LP-first" model would result in 79 to 83 fewer CT scans and only seven to 11 additional LPs, as compared with traditional strategies. Among ED headache patients meeting LASH criteria, the authors believe use of this model could result in more efficient use of resources, minimal additional morbidity, and equal diagnostic accuracy for SAH.
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The optimal dose of i.m. ketamine for ED procedural sedation in children is not known. The authors wished to quantify the dose-response of ketamine with respect to sedation adequacy, time to discharge, and adverse effects in order to identify an optimal dose. ⋯ Ketamine doses of 4 to 5 mg/kg i.m. produced adequate sedation in 93%-100% of children, suggesting that this dosing range may be optimal for ED procedural sedation. No difference in time to discharge or adverse effects was observed for lower or higher doses.
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Comparative Study
Inappropriate use of emergency medical services transport: comparison of provider and patient perspectives.
To determine the extent of inappropriate ambulance use from the perspectives of both emergency medical services (EMS) providers and patients utilizing EMS transport, assess level of agreement, and identify variables associated with inappropriate ambulance use. ⋯ Inappropriate ambulance use is a significant problem from both EMS provider and patient perspectives. Certain patient characteristics are associated with a higher probability of appropriate and inappropriate uses of EMS transport. A large number of patients transported by ambulance have alternative means of transportation but elect not to use them.
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Rapid-sequence intubation (RSI) is an active airway intervention used frequently in emergency medicine (EM). The authors hypothesized that RSI can be performed safely in the setting of an EM training program at a tertiary care center. ⋯ In the setting of an EM residency at a tertiary care ED, RSI can be performed successfully with few major immediate adverse events.