The American journal of emergency medicine
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effectiveness of granisetron in controlling pediatric gastroenteritis-related vomiting after discharge from the ED.
The objective of the study is to determine the efficacy of oral granisetron (a long-acting 5-HT3 receptor antagonist) in stopping vomiting subsequent to discharge from emergency department (ED), in 6-month-old to 8-year-old patients with gastroenteritis-related vomiting and dehydration, who had failed an initial trial of oral rehydration (ORT). ⋯ Granisetron was not effective in controlling gastroenteritis-related vomiting subsequent to discharge from ED. It did not change the expected course of the illness.
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Early recognition and treatment of sepsis improves outcomes. We determined the effects of bedside point-of-care (POC) lactate measurement on test turnaround time, time to administration of IV fluids and antibiotics, mortality, and ICU admissions in adult ED patients with suspected sepsis. We hypothesized that bedside lactate POC testing would reduce time to IV fluids and antibiotics. ⋯ Implementation of bedside POC lactate measurement in adult ED patients with suspected sepsis reduces time to test results and time to administration of IV fluids but not antibiotics. A significant reduction in mortality and ICU admissions was also demonstrated, which is likely due, at least in part, to POC testing.
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Observational Study
Prospective, 10-year evaluation of the impact of Hispanic ethnicity on pain management practices in the ED.
Hispanic ethnicity has been reported as an independent risk factor for oligoanalgesia in the emergency department (ED). ⋯ White and Hispanic patients were similar in rates of initial morphine administration for pain-related complaints. These findings contrast with previous studies reporting lower rates of initial analgesia administration among Hispanic patients in the ED.
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Approximately 14 000 pediatric out-of-hospital arrests occur annually. With this significant number and the diversity in the training backgrounds of medical providers, correct choice and placement of defibrillator pads are imperative to ensure maximum efficacy. ⋯ Pediatric emergency providers have poor understanding of pad choice and placement. Emergency medical care providers for children who are educated about the correct defibrillator pad choices and placement have improved knowledge and can retain that knowledge for at least 6months.
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Law enforcement restraint-related death is frequently associated with excited delirium syndrome (ExDS). Because such deaths are rare, the pathophysiology underlying ExDS deaths remains unknown, making identification of high-risk situations challenging. This study describes the medical conditions and situations surrounding restraint of individuals identified by law enforcement to be experiencing ExDS. ⋯ Officer-identified cases of ExDS infrequently involved individuals requiring extensive restraint or with medical conditions that objectively placed them at high risk for sudden death. The low specificity of this syndrome in predicting risk of sudden death may present a challenge to law enforcement and emergency physicians.