The American journal of emergency medicine
-
During a novel virus pandemic, predicting emergency department (ED) volume is crucial for arranging the limited medical resources of hospitals for balancing the daily patient- and epidemic-related tasks in EDs. The goal of the current study was to detect specific patterns of change in ED volume and severity during a pandemic which would help to arrange medical staff and utilize facilities and resources in EDs in advance in the event of a future pandemic. ⋯ A significant reduction in ED volume during the COVID-19 pandemic was noted and a predictable pattern was found. This specific change in pattern in the ED volume may be useful for performing adjustments in EDs in the future during a novel virus pandemic. The severity of patients visiting the ED during epidemic periods was inconclusive.
-
Case reports of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) overlap syndrome of myasthenia gravis, myositis and myocarditis, are increasing in the published literature. This is a potentially fatal adverse event of ICIs and emergency physicians need to be familiar with this triad when patients present to the emergency department (ED). ⋯ Emergency physicians should be aware of this potentially lethal triad in cancer patients receiving ICIs. The life-saving interventions in the ED include recognizing the triad, airway support, administration of high-dose glucocorticoids, and early involvement of a multidisciplinary team.
-
Observational Study
QT interval prolongation and the rate of malignant ventricular dysrhythmia and cardiac arrest in adult poisoned patients.
Prolongation of QTc interval, a common electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormality encountered in the toxicology patient, is reportedly associated with an increased risk of malignant ventricular dysrhythmias (MVD), such as ventricular tachycardia (VT, with and without a pulse), ventricular fibrillation (VF), and/or cardiac arrest. Quantifiable cardiac arrest risk in relation to specific QTc interval length is not known in this population. ⋯ The risk of malignant ventricular dysrhythmia, including cardiac arrest, is low in this poisoned patient population with an overall rate of 1.1%. Two-thirds of cardiac arrest cases occurred in patients with normal QTc intervals. When considering patients with prolonged QTc intervals, the rate of cardiac arrest remains very low at 0.8%. Considering QTc greater than 500 ms, the rate of cardiac arrest is 1.7%. Further prospective studies are required to quantify the risk of malignant ventricular dysrhythmias, including cardiac arrest, and its relation to the degree of QTc interval in poisoned patients.
-
Letter Multicenter Study
Predicting emergency department volumes: A multicenter prospective study.
-
Research suggests nonoccupational post exposure prophylaxis (nPEP) is under prescribed for people seeking treatment within 72 h of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) exposures in the emergency department (ED). This study is an assessment of ED prescribers' knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding administration of HIV nPEP. ⋯ This study identified perceived barriers to administration of nPEP and missed opportunities for HIV prevention in the ED. Although most ED prescribers were willing to prescribe nPEP and felt it is their responsibility to do so, the majority of prescribers were not confident in prescribing it. The most commonly cited barriers to prescribing nPEP were time and access to follow-up care.