The American journal of emergency medicine
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Chest radiography is the initial choice for thoracic imaging. However, the wide availability of computed tomography (CT) has led to a substantial increase in its use in the emergency department (ED). We evaluated the utility of chest CT after a chest X-ray in patients presenting to the ED with non-traumatic thoracic emergencies, and determined if the diagnosis and management decision changed after CT. ⋯ Chest CT may be an appropriate imaging choice in patients presenting to the ED for non-traumatic reasons, particularly for elderly patients and when the radiograph is taken with the AP technique in a supine position.
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Brugada syndrome (BrS) is a genetic heart disorder due to alteration of the ion channels function that causes an impaired in the cardiac conduction system. It is characterized by an abnormal electrocardiogram pattern and may be complicated by malignant ventricular arrhythmias. Pericarditis is an inflammation of the pericardium and 90% of isolated cases of acute pericarditis are idiopathic or viral. Acute pericarditis may appears with chest pain, fever, pericardial friction rub, and cardiac tamponade. Moreover, widespread ST segment changes occur due to involvement of the underlying epicardium. ⋯ Our case report shows that the pericarditis may mimic BrS. Moreover, it is important to underline that a Brugada ECG pattern should only be considered as a sign of electrical heart disease but detailed diagnostic tests are anyway needed.
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Clinicians still face significant challenge in predicting intra-abdominal injuries in patients admitted to an emergency department for blunt abdominal trauma. This study was thus designed to investigate the value of dipstick urinalysis in patients with blunt abdominal trauma. ⋯ Dipstick urinalysis was neither adequately specific nor sensitive for predicting abdominal injury and should thus not be used as a key assessment component in patients suffering from blunt abdominal trauma, with physical exam and vital sign assessment the preferred choice.
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Objective The lack of a sensitive, practical bedside test for hypovolemia has rekindled interest in the shock index (heart rate divided by systolic blood pressure). Here, we compare the effect of blood donation on standing shock index values with its effect on values for the supine shock index and orthostatic change in shock indicies (OCSI).