The American journal of emergency medicine
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Comparative Study
Amplitude screening improves performance of AMSA method for predicting success of defibrillation in swine model.
A novel amplitude screening method, termed Optimal Amplitude Spectrum Area (Opt-AMSA) with the aim of improving the performance of the Amplitude Spectrum Area (AMSA) method, was proposed to optimize the timing of defibrillation. We investigated the effects of the Opt-AMSA method on the prediction of successful defibrillation when compared with AMSA in a porcine model of ventricular fibrillation (VF). ⋯ Both the Opt-AMSA and AMSA methods showed high potential to predict the success of defibrillation. Moreover, the Opt-AMSA method improved the performance of the AMSA method, and may be a promising tool to optimize the timing of defibrillation.
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Comparative Study
A comparison of analgesic prescribing among ED back and neck pain visits receiving physical therapy versus usual care.
Physical therapy (PT) is commonly cited as a non-opioid pain strategy, and previous studies indicate PT reduces opioid utilization in outpatients with back pain. No study has yet examined whether PT is associated with lower analgesic prescribing in the ED setting. ⋯ In this single center study, ED back and neck pain visits receiving PT were no less likely to receive an opioid prescription and were more likely to receive a benzodiazepine than visits receiving usual care. Although prior studies demonstrate that PT may reduce opioid utilization in the subsequent year, these results indicate that analgesic prescribing is not reduced at the initial ED encounter.
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study Observational Study
Derivation of a screen to identify severe sepsis and septic shock in the ED-BOMBARD vs. SIRS and qSOFA.
To predict severe sepsis/septic shock in ED patients. ⋯ BOMBARD was more accurate than SIRS and qSOFA at predicting severe sepsis/septic shock and sepsis mortality.
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Comparative Study Observational Study
Comparison of critically ill patients from three freestanding ED's compared to a tertiary care hospital based ED.
Freestanding emergency departments (FEDs) care for all patients, including critically ill, 24/7/365. We characterized patients from three FEDs transferred to intensive care units (ICU) at a tertiary care hospital, and compared hospital length of stay(LOS) between patients admitted to ICUs from FEDs versus a hospital-based ED (HBED). ⋯ Patients transferred from FEDs to an ICU were similar in age and gender, but more likely to be white with a higher Charlson Comorbidity Index score. FED patients experienced shorter hospital length of stay compared to patients admitted from a HBED.