The American journal of emergency medicine
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Emergency department-initiated physical therapy (ED PT) is an emerging resource in the United States, with the number of ED PT programs in the United States growing rapidly over the last decade. In this collaborative model of care, physical therapists are consulted by the treating ED physician to assist in the evaluation and treatment of a number of movement and functional disorders, such as low back pain, peripheral vertigo, and various gait disturbances. ⋯ Early data suggest that both physicians and patients view ED PT services favorably, and that ED PT is associated with improvement of several important clinical and operational outcomes. Hospital systems interested in building their own ED PT program may benefit from the key steps outlined in this review, as well as a summary of the typical clinical volumes and practice patterns encountered at existing programs around the country.
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Review Meta Analysis
The effect of aspirin in preventing the acute respiratory distress syndrome/acute lung injury: A meta-analysis.
The effects of aspirin in preventing the occurrence of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)/acute lung injury (ALI) among adult patients are controversial. We aimed to further determine the effectiveness of aspirin in reducing the rate of ARDS/ALI. ⋯ In patients with risk of ARDS/ALI, aspirin could provide protective effect on the rate of ARDS/ALI, but it could not reduce the mortality.
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Review Case Reports
Acute stent thrombosis: Should preventative measures start in the emergency department?
Stent thrombosis is a potentially life threatening condition caused by several factors or a combination factors, such as resistance to platelet agents and type of anticoagulation used as well as stent types. We report a case of acute thrombosis and discuss potential areas of intervention with literature review.
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Review Case Reports
Dual defibrillation in patients with refractory ventricular fibrillation.
In the setting of cardiac arrest, refractory ventricular fibrillation (VF) is difficult to manage, and mortality rates are high. Double sequential defibrillation (DSD) has been described in the literature as a successful means to terminate this malignant rhythm, after failure of traditional Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) measures. The authors herein present a case of refractory VF in a patient with cardiac arrest, on whom DSD was successful in reversion to sinus rhythm, and provide a thorough review of similar cases in the literature.
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The biphasic reaction is a feared complication of anaphylaxis management in the emergency department (ED). The traditional recommended ED observation time is 4-6 h after complete resolution of symptoms for every anaphylaxis patient. However, there has been great controversy regarding whether this standard of care is evidence-based. ⋯ There is a need for further research to identify true risk factors associated with biphasic anaphylaxis and to clearly define the role of corticosteroids in biphasic reactions. However, given the low incidence and rare mortality of biphasic reactions, patients who receive epinephrine within one hour of symptom onset and who respond to epinephrine with rapid and complete symptom resolution can probably be discharged from the ED with careful return precautions and education without the need for prolonged observation.