The American journal of emergency medicine
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Speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) is a novel technology that measures regional wall-motion abnormalities that may speed diagnosis and intervention of acute coronary occlusion in Emergency Department (ED) patients with non-ST elevation ACS (NSTE-ACS). STE provides an objective measurement of myocardial strain that is superior to visual assessment of wall motion when performed as part of a point-of-care (POC) echocardiogram. We determined the feasibility and preliminary accuracy of POC STE operated by emergency providers when compared to comprehensive echocardiography or final diagnosis of ACS. ⋯ STE is a potentially feasible adjunct to standard bedside echocardiography in ED patients with suspected ACS when operated by experienced ultrasound-trained physicians in the ED. This data shows STE performed by emergency providers is not yet sensitive enough alone to diagnose ACS, and has low accuracy when compared to comprehensive echocardiography. However, the PPV and specificity improve when performed by expert ultrasound-trained providers. STE should be considered for inclusion in the Emergency Ultrasound Fellowship curriculum.
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Diagnostic value of QRS and S wave variation in patients with suspicion of acute pulmonary embolism.
This study aimed to investigate the diagnostic value of QRS and S wave variation in patients admitted to the emergency department with suspicion of acute pulmonary embolism (APE). ⋯ The present study demonstrated that QRS and S wave variation could be useful electrocardiographic signs for the diagnosis of APE.
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Management of spontaneous soft-tissue hemorrhage secondary to anticoagulant therapy: A cohort study.
The optimal management of patients receiving heparin, warfarin or direct anti-coagulant therapy who experience spontaneous, severe, life-threatening soft-tissue hemorrhage (SSTH) is unclear. The purpose of this study is to investigate efficacy and safety of the interventional protocol implemented in our department. ⋯ A structured clinical pathway, including TE seems to be an effective and safe method to manage the patients with SSTH due to anticoagulant treatment.
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The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with absent hematuria in patients with symptomatic urinary stones. ⋯ In this large cohort of patients with renal colic, 6% had no microhematuria. Although some CT findings and elevated BUN were independently associated with hematuria absence, there was no difference in the demographics, time of presentation and degree and location of pain between the groups.
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Massive hemorrhage is often associated with unstable pelvic fractures with posterior ring injury. Initial pelvic radiography alone may not detect these posterior lesions. We examined whether the presence of an anterior pelvic fracture on initial pelvic radiography alone may identify patients who are at a high risk of major hemorrhage. ⋯ The results of the present study suggested that the presence of displaced anterior lesions of the pelvic ring on pelvic radiography alone, without the use of computed tomography during the initial treatment stage, may promptly identify patients at high risk of massive pelvic hemorrhage who require intervention for hemorrhage control.