European journal of emergency medicine : official journal of the European Society for Emergency Medicine
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Various biases can impact decision-making and judgment of case quality in the Emergency Department (ED). Outcome and hindsight bias can lead to wrong retrospective judgment of care quality, and implicit bias can result in unjust treatment differences in the ED based on irrelevant patient characteristics. ⋯ Outcome, hindsight, and implicit bias significantly influence decision-making and care quality assessment by Dutch EPs and GPs.
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Dyspnea is a frequent symptom in adults' emergency departments (EDs). Misdiagnosis at initial clinical examination is common, leading to early inappropriate treatment and increased in-hospital mortality. Risk factors of inappropriate treatment assessable at early examination remain undescribed herein. ⋯ Over-treatment nonsignificantly increased in-hospital mortality (OR, 1.43; 95% CI, 0.99-2.06). Inappropriate treatment is frequent in patients admitted to ED for dyspnea. Patients older than 75 years, with comorbidities (heart or lung disease), hypoxemia (SpO2 <90%) or abnormal pulmonary auscultation (especially wheezing) are at risk of inappropriate treatment.
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Whether high-flow nasal oxygen can improve clinical signs of acute respiratory failure in acute heart failure (AHF) is uncertain. ⋯ In this pilot study, we did not observe a statistically significant difference in changes in respiratory rate among patients with acute respiratory failure due to AHF and managed with high-flow oxygen or NIV. However, the point estimate and its large confidence interval may suggest a benefit of high-flow oxygen.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effect of early ultrasound-guided femoral nerve block on preoperative opioid consumption in emergency patients with hip fracture: a randomized trial.
Ultrasound-guided femoral nerve block (FNB) could be used as part of a multimodal preoperative pain management for patients with hip fracture. Evidence of the effects of its early implementation in the emergency room as an immediate alternative to intravenous morphine titration is sparse. ⋯ Early ultrasound-guided FNB resulted in reducing preoperative opioid consumption, without delaying time to pain relief.
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The rates of hidden infection and late diagnosis of HIV still remain high in Western countries. Missed diagnostic opportunities represent the key point in changing the course of the epidemic. ⋯ Implementation of a strategy to test for HIV in selective clinical situations in the ED is feasible and may lead to a substantial increase in HIV testing and diagnoses.