Articles: emergency-department.
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Early recognition of sepsis is essential for timely initiation of adequate care. However, this is challenging as signs and symptoms may be absent or nonspecific. The cascade of events leading to organ failure in sepsis is characterized by immune-metabolic alterations. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are metabolic byproducts released in expired air. We hypothesize that measuring the VOC profile using electronic nose technology (eNose) could improve early recognition of sepsis. ⋯ The study is embedded in the Acutelines data-biobank (www.acutelines.nl), registered in Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04615065).
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The diagnostic accuracy of focused cardiac ultrasound (FoCUS) performed in patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with chest pain is currently unknown. ⋯ In ED patients with chest pain and no ST elevation, the detection of regional wall motion abnormalities was a predictor of NSTE-ACS. Despite a high specificity, which indicated a possible role of FoCUS in the rule-in of NSTE-ACS, sensitivity was too low to allow a safe rule-out using FoCUS results alone.
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Modern emergency medicine (EM) is a complex, demanding, and occasionally stressful field of work. Working conditions, provider well-being, and associated health and performance outcomes are key factors influencing the establishment of a sustainable emergency department (ED) working environment. ⋯ Work system conditions exert positive and negative effects on the work life of ED providers across Europe. Although most European countries have varying health care systems, the expert-based survey results presented herein strongly suggest that improvement strategies should focus on system-related external stressors common in various countries. Our findings lay the scientific groundwork for future intervention studies at the local and systemic levels to improve ED provider work life.
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Case Reports
A Novel Use of Terbutaline: Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder in the Emergency Department.
Persistent genital arousal disorder/genito-pelvic dysesthesia (PGAD/GPD) is a highly distressing, multifactorial disorder characterized by persistent unwanted physiologic genital arousal in the absence of sexual desire. This poorly understood disorder is thought to be derived from a complex dysregulation of biopsychosocial factors with common underlying neurological dysfunction that has yet to be adequately studied. With frequently evolving diagnostic criteria, lack of a standardized treatment algorithm, and few evidence-based treatment options, this disease is largely unrecognized and difficult to treat once identified. ⋯ A 25-year-old woman presented to the Emergency Department (ED) with persistent and refractory symptoms of genital arousal not responsive to previously documented treatments, and the novel use of a β-adrenergic agent, terbutaline, leading to cessation of symptoms. With her initial presentation, lorazepam, haloperidol, and viscous lidocaine intravaginally provided relief for approximately 24 h until the patient returned. At her subsequent presentation, the patient received additional doses of lorazepam and intravaginal lidocaine, as well as consults with Urology and Obstetrics and Gynecology. Her symptoms eventually ceased by administration of terbutaline. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Although presentation of PGAD to the ED is rare, emergency physicians should be prepared with treatment options to assist patients with this distressing diagnosis. This case highlights the novel use of terbutaline, a β-agonist, in cessation of PGAD symptoms when first-line benzodiazepines and antipsychotics fail.
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Pediatric emergency care · Feb 2025
Observational StudyDevelopment of a Scoring Model to Predict Severe Dengue in Children at Admission in the Emergency Care: An Observational Study.
Dengue has emerged as the most widely spread mosquito-borne disease, hyperendemic in India. Although severe dengue occurs only in a small proportion of cases, delays in the recognition and management can result in significant morbidity and mortality. Risk stratification of children in the emergency care and identifying those at risk for worsening during hospital stay facilitates optimum utilization of health care resources. The objective of our study was to develop and validate a scoring model to predict the development of severe dengue in hospitalized children by identifying risk factors present in them at the time of admission to the emergency department. ⋯ The dengue severity scoring model was found to have reasonable diagnostic accuracy in predicting severe disease prior to hospitalization. However, more studies are required to validate the score in different emergency care settings with varied pediatric populations.