The American journal of emergency medicine
-
Review Case Reports
Emergency department approach to gastric tube complications: A case report and review of the literature.
Nasogastric and orogastric tubes (NGT/OGT) are commonly used in emergency and critical care settings, with indications including medicinal administration, gastric decompression, and enteral feeding. Previous studies have highlighted a variety of complications associated with tube placement. These range from minor occurrences such as nose bleeds and sinusitis, to more severe cases highlighting tracheobronchial perforation, tube knotting, asphyxia, pulmonary aspiration, pneumothorax, and even intracranial insertion. ⋯ Here we present a case involving a 60-year-old male who was brought to the ED and suffered a right sided pneumothorax (PTX) following improper OGT placement. In this case, air insufflation was utilized, but was ineffective in detecting the properly placed tube; leakage of an endotracheal tube cuff served as a lead for misplacement while imaging was conducted. The purpose of this study is not only to highlight the numerous complications that are possible with NGT and OGT placement, but also to propose the use of multiple bedside tests (pH testing, CO2 detection, POCUS) as an alternative to radiographic imaging to increase sensitivity and specificity for detection of improperly placed tubes.
-
Observational Study
Choosing wisely in emergency medicine: Early results and insights from the ACEP emergency quality network (E-QUAL).
To characterize performance among ED sites participating in the Emergency Quality Network (E-QUAL) Avoidable Imaging Initiative for clinical targets on the American College of Emergency Physicians Choosing Wisely list. ⋯ Early data from the E-QUAL Avoidable Imaging Initiative suggests QI interventions could potentially improve imaging stewardship and reduce low-value care. Further efforts to translate the Choosing Wisely recommendations into practice should promote data-driven benchmarking and learning collaboratives to achieve sustained practice improvement.
-
Multicenter Study
Noninvasive ventilation for acute hypoxemic respiratory failure in patients with COVID-19.
Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) is known to reduce intubation in patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure (AHRF). We aimed to assess the outcomes of NIV application in COVID-19 patients with AHRF. ⋯ NIV is feasible in patients with COVID-19 and AHRF outside the intensive care unit, and it can be considered as a valuable option for the management of AHRF in these patients.
-
Since December 2019, COVID-19, the clinical syndrome associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection, has infected more than 6.2 million people and brought the function of the global community to a halt. As the number of patients recovered from COVID-19 rises and the world transitions toward reopening, the question of acquired immunity versus the possibility of reinfection are critical to anticipating future viral spread. ⋯ We review this case in the context of the evolving discussion and theories surrounding dynamic RT-PCR results, prolonged viral shedding, and the possibility of developed immunity. Understanding how to interpret dynamic and late-positive SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR results after primary infection will be critical for understanding disease prevalence and spread among communities worldwide.
-
We sought quantify racial disparities in use of analgesia amongst patients seen in Emergency Departments for renal colic. ⋯ Black and Hispanic patients in American Emergency Departments with acute renal colic receive less opioid medication than White patients; Black patients are also less likely to receive ketorolac.