Annals of emergency medicine
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External aortic compression has been investigated as a treatment for non-compressible truncal haemorrhage in trauma patients. We sought to systematically gather and tabulate the available evidence around external aortic compression. We were specifically interested in its ability to achieve hemostasis and aid in resuscitation of traumatic arrest and severe shock and to consider physiological changes and adverse effects. ⋯ Application for more than 60 minutes appears to cause increasingly problematic complications. In conclusion we find that the role of external aortic compression warrants further research. The intervention may have a role as a bridge to definitive treatment of noncompressible truncal haemorrahge.
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Nonfatal emergency department (ED) visits for opioid overdose are important opportunities to prescribe naloxone and buprenorphine, both of which can prevent future overdose-related mortality. We assessed the rate of this prescribing using national data from August 2019 to April 2021, a period during which US opioid overdose deaths reached record levels. ⋯ Between August 4, 2019, and April 3, 2021, naloxone and buprenorphine were only prescribed after 1 in 13 and 1 in 12 ED visits for opioid overdose, respectively. Findings suggest that clinicians are missing critical opportunities to prevent opioid overdose-related mortality.
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A better understanding of differences in traumatic brain injury incidence by geography may help inform resource needs for local communities. This paper presents estimates on traumatic brain injury-related hospitalizations and deaths by urban and rural county of residence. ⋯ Urban residents had a higher rate of traumatic brain injury-related hospitalizations, whereas rural residents had a higher rate of traumatic brain injury-related deaths. This disparity deserves further study using additional databases that assess differences in mechanisms of injury and strategies to improve access to emergency care among rural residents.