Emergency medicine journal : EMJ
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Observational Study
Short-stay admissions at an inner city hospital: a cross-sectional analysis.
To investigate factors predictive of short hospital admissions and appropriate placement to inpatient versus clinical decision units (CDUs). ⋯ Only a few factors were independently predictive of short stays. Patients with ACSCs were more likely to have short stays, regardless of whether they were admitted to CDU or an inpatient ward. This may be a group of patients that could be targeted for dedicated outpatient management pathways or CDU if they need admission.
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Observational Study
Thirty-day hospital readmissions among mechanically ventilated emergency department patients.
Unplanned 30-day readmissions have a negative impact on patients and healthcare systems. Mechanically ventilated ED patients are at high risk for complications, but factors associated with readmission are unknown. ⋯ Almost one in four mechanically ventilated ED patients are readmitted within 30 days, and readmission is associated with patient-level and institutional-level factors. Strategies must be developed to identify, treat and coordinate care for the most at-risk patients.
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Review Meta Analysis
Do patients with blunt thoracic aortic injury present to hospital with unstable vital signs? A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Blunt thoracic aortic injury (BTAI) is an uncommon diagnosis, usually developing as a consequence of high-impact acceleration-deceleration mechanisms. Timely diagnosis may enable early resuscitation and reduction of shear forces, essential to prevent worsening of the injury prior to definitive management. Death is commonly due to haemorrhagic shock, but clinical features may be absent until sudden and massive haemorrhage. ⋯ Normal vital signs do not rule out aortic injury. A high degree of clinical suspicion and liberal use of imaging is necessary to prevent missed or delayed diagnoses.
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Patients with respiratory distress present a frequent and challenging dilemma for emergency physicians (EPs). The accurate diagnosis and treatment of the underlying pathology is vitally important in these sick patients to ensure the best outcome and minimise harm from unnecessary treatments. ⋯ However, despite advances in techniques and the evidence for the use of LU in the diagnosis of respiratory pathology, it remains poorly understood and rarely used by EPs. This clinical review article provides an overview of LU and its relevance as a diagnostic aid to the detection of respiratory pathology in the Emergency Department (ED).
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The starting point for evidence-based guidelines is the systematic review and critical appraisal of the relevant literature. This review highlights the risk of bias identified while critically appraising the evidence to inform the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence guideline on the assessment and initial management of major trauma.