Annals of emergency medicine
-
Although the management and outcomes of emergency department (ED) patients with atrial fibrillation or flutter have been explored, such studies have typically excluded patients with acute underlying medical illnesses. We seek to describe the ED treatment and outcomes of these complex patients with atrial fibrillation or flutter. ⋯ In ED patients with complex atrial fibrillation or flutter, attempts at rate and rhythm control are associated with a nearly 6-fold higher adverse event rate than that for patients who are not managed with rate or rhythm control. Success rates of rate or rhythm control attempts appear low.
-
Acute pain complaints are commonly treated in the emergency department (ED). Short courses of opioids are presumed to be safe for acute pain; however, the risk of recurrent opioid use after receipt of an ED opioid prescription is unknown. We describe the risk of recurrent opioid use in patients receiving an opioid prescription from the ED for an acute painful condition. ⋯ Opioid-naive ED patients prescribed opioids for acute pain are at increased risk for additional opioid use at 1 year.
-
Editorial Comment
Do Mechanical Devices Improve Return of Spontaneous Circulation Over Manual Chest Compressions in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest?
Data are inadequate to determine whether recent devices (either load-distributing band or piston-driven) confer benefit or harm, though early trial data suggest they do not.