Emergency medicine journal : EMJ
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Observational Study
Prehospital ABC (Age, Bystander and Cardiogram) scoring system to predict neurological outcomes of cardiopulmonary arrest on arrival: post hoc analysis of a multicentre prospective observational study.
There is currently limited evidence to guide prehospital identification of patients with cardiopulmonary arrest on arrival (CPAOA) to hospital who have potentially favourable neurological function. This study aimed to develop a simple scoring system that can be determined at the contact point with emergency medical services to predict neurological outcomes. ⋯ The ABC score showed good accuracy for predicting favourable neurological outcomes in patients with CPAOA. This simple scoring system could potentially be used to select patients for extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation and minimise low-flow time.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Non-sterile gloves and dressing versus sterile gloves, dressings and drapes for suturing of traumatic wounds in the emergency department: a non-inferiority multicentre randomised controlled trial.
Patients with traumatic wounds frequently present to the ED. Literature on whether to treat these wounds sterile or non-sterile is sparse. Non-sterile treatment has the advantage of saving resources and costs, and could be of value in health settings where sterile materials are not readily available. Our objective was to compare the rate of wound infection after suturing traumatic lacerations with non-sterile gloves and dressings versus sterile gloves, dressings and drapes in the ED. We hypothesised that non-sterile gloves and dressings would be non-inferior to sterile gloves, dressings and drapes. The non-inferiority margin was set at 2%. ⋯ Although recruitment ceased prior to reaching our planned sample size, the findings suggest that there is unlikely to be a large difference between the non-sterile gloves, dressings and sterile gloves, dressings and drapes for suturing of traumatic wounds in the ED.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Diagnostic accuracy of point-of-care ultrasound (PoCUS) for shoulder dislocations and reductions in the emergency department: a diagnostic randomised control trial (RCT).
Following blunt trauma, diagnosis of shoulder dislocation based on physical examination alone is difficult due to possible concurrent proximal humeral fractures. X-rays are therefore used to confirm diagnosis. Results from recent observational studies comparing diagnostic accuracy of point-of-care ultrasound (PoCUS) with X-rays for shoulder dislocation have been encouraging. The aim of this study was to determine whether PoCUS improves diagnostic accuracy when used with physical examination for the diagnosis of shoulder dislocation, proximal humeral fracture and ascertaining successful reduction in the ED. ⋯ The addition of PoCUS to a physical examination significantly improves diagnostic accuracy for dislocations, proximal humeral fractures and reduction confirmation.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Identifying low-risk chest pain in the emergency department without troponin testing: a validation study of the HE-MACS and HEAR risk scores.
Patients presenting to EDs with chest pain of possible cardiac origin represent a substantial and challenging cohort to risk stratify. Scores such as HE-MACS (History and Electrocardiogram-only Manchester Acute Coronary Syndromes decision aid) and HEAR (History, ECG, Age, Risk factors) have been developed to stratify risk without the need for troponin testing. Validation of these scores remains limited. ⋯ HEAR and HE-MACS show potential as rule out tools for acute myocardial infarction without the need for troponin testing. However, prospective studies are required to further validate these scores.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Commencing one-handed chest compressions while activating emergency medical system using a handheld mobile device in lone-rescuer basic life support: a randomised cross-over simulation study.
In conventional basic life support (c-BLS), a lone rescuer is recommended to start chest compressions (CCs) after activating the emergency medical system. To initiate earlier CCs in lone-rescuer BLS, we designed a modified BLS (m-BLS) sequence in which the lone rescuer commences one-handed CCs while calling for help using a handheld cellular phone with the other free hand. This study aimed to compare the quality of BLS between c-BLS and m-BLS. ⋯ In simulated lone-rescuer BLS, the m-BLS could deliver significantly earlier CCs than the c-BLS while maintaining high-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation.