The American journal of emergency medicine
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Multicenter Study
The impact of computed tomography head scans on emergency department management and length of stay in bizarre behavior patients.
A 5-year retrospective chart review was conducted at 3 EDs. Inclusion criteria were patients ≥18years old triaged as "mental health - bizarre behavior" (deviation from normal cognitive behaviour with no obvious cause) with a CT head scan ordered in the ED. Exclusion criteria were focal neurologic deficits on exam, alternative medical etiology (i.e. delirium, trauma) and/or pre-existing CNS disease. Clinical, demographic and administrative data were extracted with 10% of charts independently reviewed by an Emergency Physician for inter-rater reliability. ⋯ CT head results prolonged ED LOS, delayed patient disposition and did not change the patient's clinical management. A prospective trial for ordering CT head scans in these patients is warranted.
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Emergency departments (ED) are sites of prevalent imaging overuse; however, determinants that drive imaging in this setting are not well-characterized. We systematically reviewed the literature to summarize the determinants of imaging overuse in the ED. ⋯ The literature is heterogeneous with surprisingly few studies of determinants of imaging in minor head injury or of spine imaging. Older patient age and higher ISS were the most consistently associated with ED imaging overuse. This review highlights the need for precise definitions of overuse of imaging in the ED.
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Current triage methods for chest pain patients typically utilize symptoms, electrocardiogram (ECG), and vital sign data, requiring interpretation by dedicated triage clinicians. In contrast, we aimed to create a quickly obtainable model integrating the objective parameters of heart rate variability (HRV), troponin, ECG, and vital signs to improve accuracy and efficiency of triage for chest pain patients in the emergency department (ED). ⋯ The CPT model may improve current clinical triage protocols for chest pain patients in the ED.
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The neurological prognosis is poor for patients suffering from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), in the absence of bystander cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and showing asystole as the initial waveform. However, such patients have the potential of resuming social activity if cerebral tissue oxygen saturation can be preserved. ⋯ Improved neurological prognoses can be expected if OHCA patients with the potential for social activity resumption are identified, using NIRS, and effective cardiopulmonary and cerebral resuscitation is performed while visually checking CPR quality.
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Multicenter Study
The impact of intravenous alteplase on long-term patient survival: The Georgia Coverdell acute stroke registry's experience.
Intravenous alteplase reduces disability and improves functionality among acute ischemic stroke patients. Two decades after its approval, only a small fraction of patients get the treatment, and demonstrating its impact on mortality may make a strong case for its wider use. This study assessed the impact of thrombolytic treatment by alteplase on 1-year mortality and readmission among acute ischemic stroke patients. ⋯ After accounting for patient differences and missing value, intravenous alteplase is associated with reduction in long-term mortality. The results of this study suggest that patients who are identified as eligible for intravenous alteplase need to be offered the treatment.