European journal of emergency medicine : official journal of the European Society for Emergency Medicine
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Although adenosine is the recommended first-line therapy for patients with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), it may fail to restore normal sinus rhythm. The factors associated with this failure remain unclear. ⋯ The findings of this retrospective study suggested that the use of adenosine restored normal sinus rhythm in 86% of patients with paroxysmal SVT. Furthermore, a history of paroxysmal SVT and older age were associated with an increased chance of adenosine success.
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Recommended indications for emergency computed tomography (CT) brain scans are not only complex and evolving, but it is also unknown whether they are being followed in emergency departments (EDs). ⋯ In this international study, there was a high variation (28.9-46.6%) in CT utilization and diagnostic yield (5.4-11.2%) across broad geographic regions. Europe had the highest utilization and the lowest yield. The study findings provide a foundation to address variation in neuroimaging in ED headache presentations.
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Background and importance There is limited knowledge about the nationwide impact of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic in Japan on out-of -hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) outcomes. Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic on OHCA outcomes and bystander resuscitation efforts in Japan. Design Retrospective analysis of a nationwide population-based registry of OHCA cases. ⋯ Subgroup analysis showed that the incidence of neurologically favourable outcome increased in 2020 for OHCA cases that occurred on nonstate of emergency days, in unaffected prefectures, with noncardiac cause, nonshockable initial rhythm, and during daytime hours. Conclusions During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic in Japan, survival with neurologically favourable outcome of OHCA patients and bystander CPR rate did not negatively change, despite the decrement in PAD incidence. However, these effects varied with the state of emergency, region, and characteristics of OHCA, suggesting an imbalance between medical demand and supply, and raising concerns about the pandemic.
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Chest pain is a frequent cause of patient admissions in emergency departments (EDs). Clinical scores can help in the management of chest pain patients with an undefined impact on the appropriateness of hospitalization or discharge when compared to usual care. ⋯ In ED patients with chest pain, a low HEART score is associated with a very low risk of MACE at 6 months.