The American journal of emergency medicine
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Review Meta Analysis
Utilization of ultrasound for the evaluation of small bowel obstruction: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Small bowel obstruction (SBO) is a common presentation to the Emergency Department (ED). While computed tomography (CT) is frequently utilized to confirm the diagnosis, this modality is expensive, exposes patients to radiation, may lead to time delays, and is not universally available. This study aimed to determine the test characteristics of ultrasound for the diagnosis of SBO. ⋯ The existing literature suggests that ultrasound is a valuable tool in the diagnosis of SBO with a sensitivity and specificity comparable to that of CT. Ultrasound may save time and radiation exposure, while also allowing for serial examinations of patients to assess for resolution of the SBO. It may be particularly valuable in settings with limited or no access to CT. Future studies should include more studies in the Emergency Department setting, comparison of probe choices, and inclusion of more pediatric patients.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
An exploratory study of IV metoclopramide+diphenhydramine for acute post-traumatic headache.
Headache is a frequent complaint among the 1.4 million patients who present to US emergency departments (ED) annually following trauma to the head. There are no evidence-based treatments of acute post-traumatic headache. ⋯ IV metoclopramide 20mg+diphenhydramine 25mg is an effective and well-tolerated medication regimen for patients presenting to the ED with acute post-traumatic headache, though 1/3 of patients report headache relapse after ED discharge and 1/4 of patients report persistent headaches one week later.
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Case Reports
Metformin intoxication: Vasopressin's key role in the management of severe lactic acidosis.
Vasopressin is a potent vasopressor used for improving organ perfusion during cardiac arrest, septic and catecholamine-resistant shock; with reference to this, it is useful for the treatment of vasoplegic shock because, restoring organ perfusion pressure by contraction of vascular smooth muscle through a non-catecholamine receptor pathway, it can be employed when catecholamines are ineffective. A 49-yr-old woman was admitted to the Emergency Department after having intentionally taken 95.2g of metformin, 1.6g of pioglitazone and 40 UI of insulin glargine in a suicide attempt. Despite fluid resuscitation, CVVHDF (continuous veno-venous hemodiafiltration) treatment, norepinephrine and epinephrine infusion, she developed a severe lactic acidosis and a catecholamines-refractive vasodilatory shock. Only the vasopressin infusion, in association with catecholamines, gradually stabilized the patient's hemodynamic status.
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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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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.