Emergency medicine journal : EMJ
-
Aeromedical retrieval services face the difficult problem of appropriate levels of sedation for transport of acutely agitated patients to definitive care. This paper describes a technique using ketamine, which is titratable and avoids problems associated with airway management. ⋯ Ketamine sedation is effective and safe in agitated patients with a psychiatric illness in the aeromedical setting and does not lead to worsening agitation in the subsequent 72-h period.
-
A short-cut review was carried out to establish whether lignocaine, epinephrine, tetracaine gel is more effective than tetracaine, epinephrine, cocaine gel as a topical anaesthetic agent in minor skin lacerations that still need suturing. Three studies were directly relevant to the question. The author, date and country of publication, patient group studied, study type, relevant outcomes, results and study weaknesses of these papers are tabulated. The clinical bottom line is that lignocaine, epinephrine, tetracaine gel is as effective and is without the inherent disadvantages associated with cocaine.
-
A short-cut review was carried out to establish whether Bell's palsy is best treated with a combination of prednisolone and an antiviral agent or prednisolone alone. Four systematic reviews and two small studies were directly relevant to the question. The author, date and country of publication, patient group studied, study type, relevant outcomes, results and study weaknesses of these papers are tabulated. The clinical bottom line is that there is insufficient evidence to recommend an antiviral agent in addition to prednisolone in the treatment of Bell's palsy.
-
Multicenter Study
Atrial fibrillation in emergency department: prevalence of sinus rhythm 1 week after discharge.
Current guidelines do not provide definitive indications about the treatment in emergency departments (ED) of patients with recent-onset atrial fibrillation (AF). ⋯ According to the study results, rhythm at the time of ED discharge is a poor indicator of the short-term evolution of AF.