J Emerg Med
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Multicenter Study
Validation of the O3DY French Version (O3DY-F) for the Screening of Cognitive Impairment in Community Seniors in the Emergency Department.
It is recommended that older patients undergo systematic mental status screening when presenting to the emergency department (ED). However, the tools available are not necessarily adapted to the ED environment, therefore, quicker and easier tools are needed. ⋯ The O3DY-F is a useful and effective tool to screen for delirium and undetected cognitive impairment among a French-speaking cohort in the ED.
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When intravenous access cannot be established using traditional methods of inspection/palpation, advanced methods are often required, leading to substantial delays in care. Knowing the likelihood of intravenous access failure can improve emergency department (ED) efficiency. ⋯ Patients with a prior need for advanced techniques were 14% more likely to have failure of intravenous access by traditional methods than those without prior difficulty.
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Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) requires effective chest compressions and ventilations to circulate and oxygenate blood. It has been established that a 2-handed mask seal is superior when providing bag-valve-mask (BVM) ventilations. However a 1-handed technique remains the standard with which health care providers are trained to perform 2-rescuer CPR. ⋯ Two-rescuer CPR incorporating a 2-handed face mask seal can be performed effectively without impacting chest compression quality during simulated cardiac arrest.
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A spontaneous cervical epidural hematoma (SCEH) is a rare occurrence, with < 500 cases reported to date. Clinically, it usually presents with quadriparesis, but in extremely rare cases it can present with hemiparesis or hemiplegia, and can easily be misdiagnosed as stroke. The cervical epidural hematoma by itself is an urgent condition that requires a quick and accurate diagnosis and a prompt surgical treatment. ⋯ We present a case where an SCEH mimicked the much more frequent condition of a stroke, and discuss the importance of diagnostics procedures that help differentiate SCEH from acute cerebral infarction. The patient's history of neck pain and spondylosis render this case more challenging. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Considering that the emergency tissue plasminogen activator treatment for acute cerebral infarction can worsen the state of an SCEH patient, or even lead to permanent damage or death, it is of great importance to rapidly and accurately differentiate these two conditions.
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Case Reports
4-Factor Prothrombin Complex Concentrate Administration via Intraosseous Access for Urgent Reversal of Warfarin.
Vitamin K antagonist (VKA) reversal in patients with acute major bleeding and coagulopathy is an example of an urgent intervention in the emergency department. Intravenous (IV) prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC) may reverse VKA-induced coagulopathy in <30 min. In patients lacking IV access, effective PCC administration becomes problematic. No previous case reports have documented PCC infusion via intraosseous (IO) or alternative routes in this setting. ⋯ A 74-year-old man presented to the emergency department (ED) after a head injury, with sudden onset of left-sided facial droop, weakness, hypertension, and dizziness. Initial vital signs include blood pressure of 221/102 mm Hg, a heart rate of 75 beats/min, and oxygen saturation of 96% on room air. Warfarin 3 mg once daily was among his medications. His international normalized ratio (INR) was 3.9 with a computed tomography scan showing intraparenchymal hemorrhage in the right temporal lobe. Multiple attempts for IV access at various sites were unsuccessful. Therefore, IO access was established. Because of his prolonged prothrombin time, elevated INR, and intraparenchymal hemorrhage, the decision was made to use 4-factor PCC to reverse the supratherapeutic INR. The INR normalized as an emergent right parietal hematoma evacuation was performed. After an inpatient course, the patient was eventually discharged. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: VKAs, like warfarin, are commonly prescribed medications. When life-threatening hemorrhage is present, rapid reversal of a VKA-induced coagulopathy may be a life-saving therapy. In the event that IV access has not been established, we have demonstrated that IO access is a viable alternative route for PCC administration.