Articles: emergency-services.
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Case Reports
Point-of-Care Ultrasound Diagnosis of Pyocele: A Rare Complication of Testicular Infection.
Epididymo-orchitis is one of the common causes of acute scrotal pain that requires an accurate diagnosis as delayed management can result in complications such as pyocele, abscess, or testicular infarction. Point-of-care ultrasound (PoCUS) has emerged as a valuable diagnostic tool in the management of testicular emergencies in the emergency department (ED) including testicular infections CASE REPORT: Here we report a case of an elderly man who presented to the ED with a complaint of right-sided testicular pain and swelling. ⋯ WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: This case underscores the important role of PoCUS in the timely and accurate diagnosis of pyocele. The prompt identification of pyocele enabled early referral to urology services, highlighting the significance of integrating PoCUS into the management of testicular emergencies in the ED.
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Point-of-care ultrasound (PoCUS) can be used as a non-invasive and radiation free adjunct in the triage of patients with clavicle injuries. However, the diagnostic accuracy of PoCUS performed by non-radiologists for this purpose is not yet sufficiently established. ⋯ PoCUS of the clavicle is a useful adjunct in the triage of patients with clavicle injuries and can help to distinguish which patients need further diagnostic workup.
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Emerg Med Australas · Feb 2025
A pilot trial exploring the use of music in the emergency department and its association with delirium and other clinical outcomes.
To assess potential feasibility of a targeted music intervention trial in older ED patients and association with clinical outcomes. ⋯ Self-selected use of a targeted music intervention was feasible in a cohort of older ED patients. While we were likely underpowered to detect associations between intervention and outcome, collection of selected outcome measures proved feasible; these may be helpful in larger scale studies. Exploration of barriers and facilitators to use, as well as preferred delivery methods, are likely to be helpful in wider investigations of music therapy in this high-risk cohort.
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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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Emerg Med Australas · Feb 2025
The use and impact of pathology tests in emergency department patients with mental health-related complaints: A cross sectional study.
To evaluate the use and impact of pathology tests in patients who present to the ED with mental health-related complaints. The primary objective is to measure the proportion of patients undergoing pathology tests and assess whether these tests trigger a change in management. ⋯ Pathology tests should be reserved for patients with high-risk features and based on clinical assessment. Strategic use of pathology tests could avoid unnecessary delays and costs, enhancing patient care in mental health-related ED presentations.