The American journal of emergency medicine
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Rising health care costs demands justifying prolonged hospitalization for syncope, yet predictors of shorter length of stay (LOS) have not been identified. ⋯ Patients with less than 1 predictor of prolonged stay, who present to the ED with syncope, are unlikely to require hospitalization of more than 1 day. A set of predictors may help define which patients are appropriate for 24-hour observation rather than full hospitalization.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Child endotracheal intubation with a Clarus Levitan fiberoptic stylet vs Macintosh laryngoscope during resuscitation performed by paramedics: a randomized crossover manikin trial.
The main cause of cardiac arrest in pediatric patients is respiratory failure. ⋯ This study suggested that the FPS could be used as an option for airway management even for paramedics with little experience. Future studies should explore the efficacy of FPS in pediatric clinical emergency settings.
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Observational Study
Lack of adverse effects from flumazenil administration: an ED observational study.
Flumazenil is an effective benzodiazepine (BZD) antagonist. Empiric use of flumazenil in the emergency department (ED) is not widely recommended due to concerns of seizures, which are commonly associated with coingestants and BZD withdrawal. ⋯ A majority of patients had improved mental status after the administration of flumazenil. No patient experienced seizures. Additional studies that clarify the role of flumazenil for ED patients with suspected BZD toxicity are warranted.
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The objectives of this study are to describe an emergency department (ED) adult population with the chief complaint of mental and behavioral disorders due to psychoactive substance use and to investigate sex- and age-related differences. ⋯ Mental and behavioral disorders due to psychoactive substance use account for 1.3% of ED visits. Older people should be screened for chronic alcohol consumption. Our findings underscore the opportunity provided by the ED for screening and brief intervention in drug- and alcohol-related problems.