Annals of emergency medicine
-
To determine whether a fictitious manuscript into which purposeful errors were placed could be used as an instrument to evaluate peer reviewer performance. ⋯ These data suggest that the use of a preconceived manuscript into which purposeful errors are placed may be a viable approach to evaluate reviewer performance. Peer reviewers in this study failed to identify two thirds of the major errors in such a manuscript.
-
Comparative Study
Preliminary study of the capnogram waveform area to screen for pulmonary embolism.
Acute pulmonary embolism (PE) increases alveolar dead space, which can dilute carbon dioxide content in exhaled breath. This study was undertaken to determine whether the capnogram waveform area from patients with PE is decreased compared with that from patients without PE and to examine the potential role of the capnogram waveform area as a screening test for PE. ⋯ The capnogram waveform area may be useful in screening for PE in the ED.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Randomized clinical trial of melatonin after night-shift work: efficacy and neuropsychologic effects.
Melatonin has received considerable publicity for its sleep-promoting properties; however, there is little scientific evidence of its efficacy. The objective of this study is to determine whether there are measurable beneficial effects from exogenous melatonin in emergency physicians after intermittent night-shift duty. ⋯ We found no beneficial effect of melatonin on sleep quality, tiredness, or cognitive function in emergency physicians after night-shift duty. Our results suggest that exogenous melatonin is of limited value in recovery from night-shift work in emergency physicians.
-
This study investigated the hypothesis that modern computed tomographic (CT) imaging is sufficient to exclude subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in patients with severe headache. ⋯ Modern CT imaging is sufficient to exclude 97.5% of SAH in patients presenting to the ED with "worst headache" symptoms.