Articles: emergency-department.
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Scand J Trauma Resus · Sep 2023
ReviewRisk stratification tools for patients with syncope in emergency medical services and emergency departments: a scoping review.
Patients with a syncope constitute a challenge for risk stratification in (prehospital) emergency care. Professionals in EMS and ED need to differentiate the high-risk from the low-risk syncope patient, with limited time and resources. Clinical decision rules (CDRs) are designed to support professionals in risk stratification and clinical decision-making. Current CDRs seem unable to meet the standards to be used in the chain of emergency care. However, the need for a structured approach for syncope patients remains. We aimed to generate a broad overview of the available risk stratification tools and identify key elements, scoring systems and measurement properties of these tools. ⋯ A total of 19 risk stratification tools for syncope patients were identified. They were primarily established in ED patient care; most are not validated properly. Key elements in the risk stratification related to a potential cardiac problem as cause for the syncope. These insights provide directions for the key elements of a risk stratification tool and for a more advanced process to validate risk stratification tools.
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Delirium is an acute neurological disorder that involves attention and cognition. It is associated with a high risk of morbidity and mortality among older people (>65 years old). In the context of the Emergency Department (ED), it is frequently experienced by patients but often not recognized. ⋯ We conducted a review of the literature, including randomized control trials, clinical and observational studies, and research studies published in recent years, confirming that most of the screening tools for delirium used in the intensive care unit (ICU) or the geriatric department have not been tested in the ED, and the ideal timing and form of the delirium assessment process for older adults have not been defined yet. The aim of our review is to summarize the updated evidence about the screening tools for delirium in the context of the ED, due to the fact that overcrowding of the ED and the stressful condition of emergency situations (that contribute to the onset of delirium) could expose older patients to a high risk of complications and mortality if delirium is not promptly recognized. In conclusion, we support the evidence that delirium is a current and real condition that emergency physicians have to face daily, and we are aware that more research is needed to explore this field in order to improve the overall outcomes of older patients admitted to the ED.
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Nausea and vomiting is a common ED chief complaint. However, randomised trials comparing antiemetic agents to placebo have not demonstrated superiority. This systematic review investigates the efficacy of inhaled isopropyl alcohol (IPA) compared with usual care or placebo in adults presenting to the ED with nausea and vomiting. ⋯ CRD42022299815.
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Pediatric emergency care · Sep 2023
Review Case ReportsPoint-of-Care Ultrasound for the Diagnosis of Pediatric Foreign Body Ingestion: A Narrative Review and Illustrative Case Report.
Foreign body ingestion (FBI) is a frequent concern in emergency departments. Clinical guidelines recommend performing plain x-rays as the primary modality of diagnosis. Although point-of-care ultrasound (PoCUS) has increasingly been integrated into the daily practice of emergency medicine, it has been poorly investigated in the diagnostic approach for FBI.This review aims to highlight the current state of PoCUS use for pediatric FBI.The following research question was considered in this narrative review: Is PoCUS useful for FBI management? ⋯ This review suggests that PoCUS might be a reliable modality for the initial management of FBI. PoCUS can locate, identify, and evaluate the size of the FB in a wide range of materials and gastrointestinal locations. Point-of-care ultrasound could eventually become the go-to modality in the case of radiolucent FB, thus avoiding the use of radiation. Further studies are nevertheless required to validate PoCUS use for FBI management.
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Many patients are initially diagnosed with a new suspected cancer through the emergency department (ED). The objective of this systematic review was to compare stage of cancer and survival of patients diagnosed with cancer through the ED to patients diagnosed elsewhere. ⋯ Patients with an ED diagnosis of cancer had more advanced/late stage of cancer at diagnosis and worse survival compared to patients diagnosed elsewhere. Future research examining patients diagnosed with cancer through the ED is required.