Emergency medicine journal : EMJ
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Clinical decision aids and computed tomography coronary angiography in patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome.
The HEART score, the T-MACS model and the GRACE score support early decision-making for acute chest pain, which could be complemented by CT coronary angiography (CTCA). However, their performance has not been directly compared. ⋯ In intermediate-risk patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome, the T-MACS model combined with CTCA improved discrimination of the index hospital diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome and prediction of 30-day coronary revascularisation.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Intervention to increase colorectal cancer screening among emergency department patients: results from a randomised pilot study.
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Emergency departments (ED) represent a promising setting to address preventive health measures like CRC screening. ⋯ The piloted text message intervention through the ED shows potential promise for catalysing CRC screening. Subsequent replication in a fully powered trial is needed.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Pharmacists in Trauma: a randomised controlled trial of emergency medicine pharmacists in trauma response teams.
Analgesia is an important component for patient well-being, but commonly delayed during trauma resuscitation. The Pharmacists in Trauma trial assessed the effects of integrating pharmacists into trauma response teams to improve analgesia delivery and medication management. ⋯ Addition of the EM pharmacist in trauma response teams improved time to analgesia. Involvement of an EM pharmacist in trauma reception and resuscitation may assist by optimising medication management, with members of the team more available to focus on other life-saving interventions.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Balanced crystalloids (RInger's lactate) versus normal Saline in adults with diabetic Ketoacidosis in the Emergency Department (BRISK-ED): a pilot randomised controlled trial.
Current diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) treatment guidelines recommend using normal saline (NS); however, NS may delay DKA resolution by causing more hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis compared with balanced crystalloids. This study's objective was to determine the feasibility of a future multicentred randomised controlled trial (RCT) comparing intravenous Ringer's lactate (RL) with NS in managing ED patients with DKA. ⋯ This pilot trial demonstrated our protocol's feasibility by exceeding our target recruitment rate. Our results may be used to inform future multicentre trials to compare the safety and efficacy of RL and NS in managing DKA in the ED.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
High-dose versus low-dose intravenous nitroglycerine for sympathetic crashing acute pulmonary edema: a randomised controlled trial.
Sympathetic crashing acute pulmonary edema (SCAPE) is a subset of heart failure with a dramatic presentation. The unique physiology of this condition requires a different management strategy from the conventional practice. The trial objective was to compare the efficacy of high-dose and low-dose GTN in patients with SCAPE. ⋯ In SCAPE, patients receiving high-dose GTN (>100 mcg/min) had earlier symptom resolution compared with the conventional 'low dose' GTN without any significant adverse effects.