J Emerg Med
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The number of osteopathic students choosing emergency medicine (EM) as a specialty is continuously increasing. However, EM remains a competitive specialty. Accordingly, in this article we guide osteopathic students interested in EM through the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX), the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE), third- and fourth-year rotations, and the match process. ⋯ Finally, we discuss the effect of the Single Accreditation System and the Memorandum of Understanding, an agreement to merge the allopathic and osteopathic graduate medical education systems into a single graduate medical education accreditation system. This is expected to be completed as of July 1, 2020. Therefore, we elucidate the expectations for osteopathic applicants (particularly with regards to the USMLE and COMLEX examinations).
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Hypertonic saline (HTS) and mannitol are frequently utilized in the emergency department (ED) to manage elevations in intracranial pressure (ICP). ⋯ There were no incidences of extravasation among patients given 3% HTS or mannitol. Clinicians should reconsider recommendations to restrict HTS or mannitol to central lines.
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Acute compartment syndrome (ACS) is a time-sensitive surgical emergency caused by increased pressure within a closed compartment. ACS can lead to significant morbidity and mortality if it is not rapidly identified and treated. ⋯ ACS is a dangerous medical condition requiring rapid diagnosis and management that can result in significant complications if not appropriately diagnosed and treated. Emergency clinician awareness and knowledge of this condition is vital to appropriate management.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
A Randomized Controlled Trial using iTClamp, Direct Pressure, and Balloon Catheter Tamponade to Control Neck Hemorrhage in a Perfused Human Cadaver Model.
Penetrating neck wounds are common in the civilian and military realms. Whether high or low velocity, they carry a substantial morbidity and mortality rate. ⋯ The iTClamp and BCT were associated with significantly less fluid loss than DMP in a perfused cadaver model. The iTClamp required significantly less time to apply than the BCT. Both the iTClamp and the BCT were more effective than simple DMP. The iTClamp offers an additional option for managing hard-to-control bleeding in the neck.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
The Impact of Head of Bed Elevation on Optic Nerve Sheath Diameter in Cervical Collar Applied Healthy Volunteers.
Guidelines recommend placing a cervical collar (c-collar) until spinal injury is excluded. Previous studies have shown that c-collar placement increases intracranial pressure (ICP), which can worsen outcomes for trauma patients who are at risk of increased ICP. Head of bed elevation (HBE) has been found to decrease ICP. However, there is no consensus in the literature for the optimal degree of HBE to decrease ICP. ⋯ Our results show that c-collar increases ONSD in healthy volunteers. Elevating the head of the bed 30 and 45° for 20 min decreased ONSD to baseline values.