Articles: emergency-department.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Comparison of Short-term Infusion Regimens of N-Acetylcysteine Plus Intravenous Fluids, Sodium Bicarbonate Plus Intravenous Fluids, and Intravenous Fluids Alone for Prevention of Contrast-induced Nephropathy in the Emergency Department.
There is no evidence regarding the several short-term prophylaxis protocols for contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) that may be most feasibly convenient in emergency settings. ⋯ None of the short-term protocols with normal saline, NAC, or sodium bicarbonate was superior in ED patients requiring contrast-enhanced CT who had a moderate or high risk of CIN.
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Multicenter Study
Association of Traumatic Brain Injuries With Vomiting in Children With Blunt Head Trauma.
We aimed to determine the prevalence of traumatic brain injuries in children who vomit after minor blunt head trauma, particularly when the vomiting occurs without other findings suggestive of traumatic brain injury (ie, isolated vomiting). We also aimed to determine the relationship between the timing and degree of vomiting and traumatic brain injury prevalence. ⋯ Traumatic brain injury on CT is uncommon and clinically important traumatic brain injury is very uncommon in children with minor blunt head trauma when vomiting is their only sign or symptom. Observation in the emergency department before determining the need for CT appears appropriate for many of these children.
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Review Case Reports
Ophthalmic Presentation in the Emergency Department: A Case Report of a Girl With "Shimmering Eyes"
Ophthalmic complaints are commonplace in the emergency department (ED) and are often initial presentations of a systemic illness. We present a 2-year-old girl presenting to the ED with ataxia and "shimmering" eyes. ⋯ The patient was diagnosed with opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome (OMS) involving involuntary, multi-vectorial (mostly horizontal), conjugate fast eye movements without intersaccadic intervals. The ophthalmic presentation led to a paraneoplastic work-up, which revealed an abdominal mass measuring 5.3 × 3.3 × 4.3 cm, suggestive of neuroblastoma. The patient's opsoclonus improved after a 5-day course of dexamethasone and intravenous immunoglobulin. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: This case illustrates the importance of recognizing pathognomonic ophthalmic complaints in the ED. We present an overview of classic ophthalmic presentations associated with systemic illnesses.
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Pediatric emergency care · Jun 2014
Treating Psychiatric Emergencies in Incarcerated Minors in the Emergency Department: What Is the Cost and What Is Their Disposition?
Although mental health disorders are common among incarcerated minors, psychiatric urgencies and emergencies often cannot be treated in juvenile detention facilities, necessitating emergency department (ED) transfers. The cost of this ED care has not been well studied. ⋯ We describe the magnitude and cost associated with addressing psychiatric emergencies in a juvenile correctional system relying on transport of patients to an ED for acute psychiatric evaluation and treatment. Further research is needed to determine if costs could be decreased by increasing psychiatric resources in juvenile detention centers.
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With rising patient volumes and increasingly complex cases, the specialty of emergency medicine faces a growing array of challenges. Efforts have been made to improve patient throughput, yet little attention has been directed to the increasing amount of primary care delivered in emergency departments (EDs) for chronic disease states such as hypertension and diabetes. ⋯ As a result, vulnerable patients are often forced to navigate exceedingly complex and fragmented systems of care with little guidance, which often leads to inadequate treatment and exposure to increased risk for development of potentially avoidable complications. As evidenced by our experience with hypertension in an under resourced community, there is a crucial need for emergency physicians to espouse their role as providers of healthcare across the acuity spectrum and lead the way in defining regionally relevant solutions to better manage patients with chronic medical problems.