Emergency medicine journal : EMJ
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Initial focused assessment with sonography in trauma versus initial CT for patients with haemodynamically stable torso trauma.
Focused assessment with sonography in trauma (FAST) examination is a widely known initial evaluation for patients with trauma. However, it remains unclear whether FAST contributes to patient survival in patients with haemodynamically stable trauma. In this study, we compared in-hospital mortality and length of stay between patients undergoing initial FAST vs initial CT for haemodynamically stable torso trauma. ⋯ In-hospital mortality was not significantly different between the initial FAST and initial CT groups for patients with haemodynamically stable torso trauma. Initial CT should be considered in patients with haemodynamically stable torso trauma.
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Comparative Study
No rest for the weary: a cross-sectional study comparing patients' sleep in the emergency department to those on the ward.
Boarding in emergency departments (EDs) is a persistent problem worldwide. We hypothesised that patients sleeping while being boarded in EDs have worse self-rated sleep than those admitted from EDs who sleep on the ward. ⋯ We found those who sleep boarded in EDs have worse self-rated sleep than those who sleep on the ward.
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Clinical introductionA 68-year-old man, with known spasticity and a total left hip arthroplasty (THA) performed 6 years ago, was brought to our ED after falling down the stairs. Laying on the stretcher, his left leg was internally rotated and in hyperflexion. An X-ray of the left hip was performed. ⋯ A dual-mobility cup is used and the liner is not in place anymore. Revision surgery is required. For answer see page 2.
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A short cut review was carried out to establish whether inhaled tranexamic acid is more effective than placebo at controlling bleeding in patients with haemoptysis. Thirty-four papers were found using the reported searches, of which one presented the best available evidence to answer the clinical question. The author, date and country of publication, patient group studied, study type, relevant outcomes, results and study weaknesses of this paper is tabulated. It is concluded that in patients with non-massive haemoptysis, management with nebulised TXA leads to fast resolution.
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-An 83-year-old woman with a history of hypertension, diabetes and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation anticoagulated with acenocoumarol was brought to the emergency department due to dyspnoea. At admission, the patient reported a 1-week history of malaise, shortness of breath and non-productive cough. She denied fever but reported pain on the left flank. ⋯ Point-of-care ultrasound was performed using a low-frequency curved transducer (2-5 MHz). The probe was placed in the left posterior axillary showing a pulmonary consolidation, but also a hypoechoic lesion in the spleen was found (figure 1).emermed;37/1/30/F1F1F1Figure 1Ultrasound image of the spleen in longitudinal section demonstrating a large, hypoechoic, wedge-shaped lesion. QUESTION: What is the most likely diagnosis?Splenic abscessSubcapsular splenic haematomaSplenic infarctionSplenic hydatid cyst For answer see page 2.