Annals of emergency medicine
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Comparative Study
Quality assurance in the emergency department: evaluation of the ECG review process.
To determine whether the review of emergency department ECGs by cardiologists contributes to the quality of patient care. ⋯ Review of ED ECGs by cardiologists did not affect patient care at our institution.
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To determine the frequency of, and patient population requiring involuntary treatment orders in the emergency department. ⋯ The frequent need for involuntary treatment orders for patients in an urban ED is reported. The patient population described, especially among restrained patients, differs significantly from those of studies performed in psychiatric settings. Legal doctrines pertinent to involuntary treatment are reviewed.
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Auricular pain, redness, and swelling are usually the result of infectious cellulitis. However, relapsing polychondritis is another cause of this symptom complex and is the result of an autoimmune phenomenon. ⋯ We present a case of relapsing polychondritis initially mistaken for auricular cellulitis. The clinical manifestations and course of relapsing polychondritis are reviewed, along with the emergency department management.
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To compare a new 22-lead ECG with the 12-lead ECG for diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). ⋯ When combined with clinical judgment, the 22-lead ECG could provide a 97.6% sensitivity for AMI diagnosis while reducing unnecessary admissions for "rule-out MI" by 69%.