The American journal of emergency medicine
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Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a common cause of sudden death; the use of prehospital thrombolysis is currently a last-resort option and requires a prolonged cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Novel mechanical devices have recently been introduced that provides automatic mechanical chest compression (AMCC) according to the guidelines and continually without decrease efficiency throughout prolonged resuscitation. A 54 year-old woman with a history of breast cancer experienced sudden chest pain and severe dyspnea. ⋯ To our knowledge, this is the first case describing combined use of thrombolysis and AMCC in out-ofhospital cardiac arrest. However, for the time being, prehospital thrombolysis in CPR continues to be a measure that should only be performed on a case-by-case basis based on informed decision. Further studies are needed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of AMCC with thrombolysis and thus prolonged CPR.
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The aim of the study was to evaluate the risk of Friday the 13th on hospital admission rates and emergency department (ED) visits. ⋯ Although the fear of Friday the 13th may exist, there is no worry that an increase in volume occurs on Friday the 13th compared with the other days studies. Of 13 different conditions evaluated, only penetrating traumas were seen more often on Friday the 13th. For those providers who work in the ED, working on Friday the 13th should not be any different than any other day.