The American journal of emergency medicine
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Point-of-care ultrasound (PoCUS) is expanding as a diagnostic tool in pediatric emergency medicine. Pediatricians are apprehensive to take on the risk of malpractice from incorrect interpretation of PoCUS imaging, therefore limiting its use. Although current studies provide reassurance to this concern, none look directly at the risk for pediatric emergency medicine physicians. Our study aims to evaluate the current medicolegal risk landscape posed by PoCUS in pediatric emergency medicine. ⋯ PoCUS does not appear to pose a significant risk of malpractice litigation in pediatric emergency medicine.
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Frequent interruptions, critically ill patients, and high patient turnover can make Emergency Department (ED) physician transitions of care (TOCs) challenging. Currently, there is no strict format for TOC in the ED. We structured a formatted ED TOC and evaluated the comparative effects from traditional TOC practice on the perceived quality of sign-out among physicians working in the ED. ⋯ Resident physicians saw improvement in several h-CEX categories with a formatted TOC. Consistent with prior studies, a formatted TOC for emergency medicine should be strongly considered, especially among learners.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Kinesiotaping in the emergency department: The effect of kinesiotaping on acute pain due to uncomplicated traumatic injury of the shoulder or chest wall. A pilot study.
Traumatic injuries of the shoulder or chest wall are commonly treated in the Emergency Department (ED). A complementary treatment is kinesiotaping, an elastic tape often used to treat musculoskeletal dysfunction and pain. However, the added pain-reducing effect of kinesiotape in comparison to standard conservative treatment is unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of kinesiotaping on pain relief compared to standard treatment with pain medication and immobilization in patients with uncomplicated traumatic injury of the shoulder or chest wall in the ED. ⋯ Compared to standard treatment alone, kinesiotaping combined with standard care appears to be more effective in terms of acute pain reduction in patients with uncomplicated traumatic injury of the shoulder or chest wall. Further research is recommended.
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Central nervous system (CNS) infections are often suspected in adult patients with fever-associated seizures. However, it is unclear whether lumbar puncture (LP) is routinely required in patients with fever-associated seizures. This study aimed to examine the prevalence of meningitis and encephalitis in adult patients with fever-associated seizures and to evaluate whether LP is routinely required. ⋯ The prevalence of meningitis or encephalitis is relatively low in adult patients with fever-associated seizures. Lumbar puncture is considered unnecessary to be performed routinely, but its indication should be carefully considered with reference to the clinical course, comorbidities, and blood tests. Further validation studies with larger sample sizes are needed to confirm the findings of this study.
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Procedural sedation for electrical cardioversion is a common practice in the emergency department (ED). Ideal sedative properties for this procedure are a short half-life and minimal hemodynamic effects. There is limited literature examining methohexital for this use. ⋯ Methohexital was found to have a similar efficacy and safety profile when compared to propofol and etomidate when used as procedural sedation for cardioversions in the ED.