Articles: emergency-department.
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Clinical Trial
Direct ultrasound methods: a confirmatory technique for proper endotracheal intubation in the emergency department.
Early confirmation of incorrect endotracheal tube (ETT) placement is of vital importance when performing emergency airway management. No ideal confirmation technique has been proposed under all circumstances. Recently, ultrasonography was suggested as a useful tool for confirmation of correct positioning of the ETT. The aim of this study is to assess the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonography for detection of proper ETT placement. ⋯ In this study, we found acceptable sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for prediction of tracheal ETT placement with the use of dynamic and static ultrasonography.
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There is no consensus on whether mechanical ventilation should be initiated for advanced age with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). This study investigated the effects of age on the outcomes of mechanical ventilation in the emergency department (ED) for advanced age with CAP. ⋯ Age, in itself, may not be a factor limiting the initiation of mechanical ventilation in the ED in advanced age with CAP. Further studies should determine appropriate indications for mechanical ventilation in the ED for these patients.
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Patients presenting with acute scrotal pain to the emergency department require a timely diagnosis. Although the differential diagnosis can be extensive and varies with age, there are a few conditions that are considered true surgical emergencies. These include torsion of the spermatic cord, incarcerated hernia with strangulation, testicular trauma leading to rupture or organ-threatening hematomas, and Fournier's gangrene. ⋯ Other causes such as epididymitis or orchitis need to be distinguished, and although not requiring emergency surgery, still require urgent diagnosis and treatment. Diagnostic ultrasound can accurately diagnose many acute conditions of the scrotum, and emergency physicians have come to utilize it to advance their diagnostic acumen. This educational review article discusses the current literature and the use of emergency ultrasound in patients presenting with scrotal pain as well as scanning approaches and common sonographic findings.
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Emerg Med Australas · Feb 2015
Can a barcode scanner for blood collection improve patient identification integrity in the emergency department? A prospective before-and-after study.
To describe the effect of interventions designed to improve patient identification (PI) during pathology collection in the ED. ⋯ ED staff had poor behaviours for identifying patients and labelling pathology specimens before intervention. These safety behaviours were considered an assumed skill. Education alone improved critical KBs markedly that was further augmented by the armband scanner. The cost to adopt education alone is relatively low compared to the addition of armband scanner technology.