The American journal of emergency medicine
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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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Differential diagnosis of seizure is critical in patients presented to emergency department (ED) with altered mental status or loss of consciousness. Although electroencephalogram is important for the diagnosis of seizures, its use in EDs is limited. The level of ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) increases in conditions of ischemic distress such as acute coronary syndrome, pulmonary embolism, and mesenteric ischemia. No studies exist in literature regarding the increase of IMA levels parallel to increased seizure activity in adults. The aim of the study was to investigate the diagnostic value of IMA in adult patients presented to ED with seizures. ⋯ Blood IMA level and IMA/albumin ratio significantly increase in adult patients who experienced seizures. Ischemia-modified albumin may be considered as a useful biomarker in the differential diagnosis of seizure.