The American journal of emergency medicine
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With recent advances in radiologic diagnostic procedures, the use of diagnostic peritoneal lavage (DPL) has markedly declined. In this study, we reviewed data to reevaluate the role of DPL in the diagnosis of hollow organ perforation in patients with blunt abdominal trauma. ⋯ For patients with blunt abdominal trauma and hemoperitoneum who plan to receive nonoperative management, DPL is still a useful tool to exclude hollow organ perforation that is undetected by CT.
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This study aims to quantify the relation between elder self-neglect and rate of emergency department utilization in a community-dwelling population. ⋯ Elder self-neglect was associated with increased rates of emergency department utilization in this community population. Greater self-neglect severity was associated with a greater increase in the rate of emergency department utilization.
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Myocardial injury is common among patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). However, it is challenging for emergency physicians to recognize acute myocardial injury in this population, as electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities are common in this setting. Our objective is to examine whether ischemic-appearing ECG changes predict subsequent myocardial injury in the context of ICH. ⋯ In conclusion, although a range of ECG abnormalities can occur after ICH, the finding of ischemic-appearing changes in an anatomical distribution can help predict which patients are having true myocardial injury.