The American journal of emergency medicine
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We examined the impact of primary stroke center (PSC) certification on emergency department (ED) use and outcomes within an integrated delivery system in which EDs underwent staggered certification. ⋯ Stroke center certification was associated with significant changes in ED admission and radiographic utilization patterns, without measurable improvements in survival.
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The objectives of this study are to validate a set of clinical variables to identify patients with pelvic fractures and to determine the sensitivity of anteroposterior (AP) pelvic radiographs in patients with pelvic fractures. ⋯ Previously identified high-risk variables for pelvic fracture identify most but not all patients with pelvic fractures. However, these high-risk variables identify all patients undergoing surgery and may be implemented as screening criteria for pelvic radiography. Anteroposterior pelvic radiographs fail to demonstrate a fracture in a substantial number of patients with pelvic fracture including patients who undergo surgery.
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The incidence of ceftriaxone-related hypersensitivity skin reactions is between 1% and 3%, whereas anaphylaxis is rare. To the best of our knowledge, the following case is the first report of asystole after the administration of single-dose ceftriaxone. A 55-year-old man was admitted to our emergency department because of high fever, abdominal pain, dysuria, and weakness. ⋯ The time of onset was suggestive of ceftriaxone-induced anaphylaxis. The patient was discharged in good clinical condition on the 10th day of admission. Emergency physicians should be mindful of the possibility of anaphylaxis and asystole that could occur with the first dose of ceftriaxone and should also make sure to offer receiving detailed informed patient consent, too.
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Peptic ulcer bleeding is thought to be a major cause of bleeding in patients with end-stage renal disease and is more complicated in uremic patients. We described a 41-year-old man with end-stage renal disease who underwent hemodialysis with refractory ulcer bleeding, failure to all traditional peptic ulcer treatments, and correction of uremic component, who has been successfully treated by using recombinant factor VIIa. There have been few case reports in dealing refractory upper gastrointestinal bleeding in uremic patients in the literature; and in this case report, we demonstrates that recombinant factor VIIa could be used as a rescue therapy in these high–surgical risk patients when medical therapy fails.