The American journal of emergency medicine
-
Multicenter Study Observational Study
Targeted temperature management on outcome of older adult patients after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.
Targeted temperature management (TTM) can potentially improve the prognosis of patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). However, the effectiveness of TTM in older adults remains unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the outcomes of older adult patients with OHCA who underwent TTM. ⋯ In this retrospective nationwide observational study in Japan, neurological outcomes worsened as age increased in patients with OHCA who underwent TTM.
-
The current war in Ukraine and the subsequent deployment of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) from around the world has highlighted the many potential dangers faced by humanitarian aid workers operating in conflict zones. Humanitarian aid workers may face both direct and indirect threats and aggression while on deployment, and given the rising number of global conflicts, the authors postulate a need to incorporate threat awareness training as part of pre-deployment training. ⋯ With the rising number of conflicts and disasters around the world, humanitarian aid workers are increasingly exposed to hostile environments and there is a compelling need for NGOs to ensure staff are adequately trained and prepared to handle any dangers and threats they may face. In this study, all 6 of the studied NGOs which deployed staff to the conflict zone confirmed some type of security or threat awareness training ranging from in-house security briefs to extensive, multi-day, commercially run courses such as Hostile Environment Awareness Training course.
-
Multicenter Study
Risk factors, management, and outcomes in isolated parafalcine or tentorial subdural hematomas.
Indications for hospitalization in patients with parafalcine or tentorial subdural hematomas (SDH) remain unclear. This study derived and validated a clinical decision rule to identify patients at low risk for complications such that hospitalization can be avoided. ⋯ Retrospective Cohort Study.
-
Observational Study
Association of delirium with increased short-term mortality among older emergency department patients: A cohort study.
To evaluate the association between delirium and subsequent short-term mortality in geriatric patients presenting to the emergency department (ED). ⋯ Delirium is an important prognostic factor that ED clinicians and nurses must be aware of to optimize delirium prevention, management, disposition, and communication with patients and families.
-
Severe hyperkalemia is a common and life-threatening problem presenting to the emergency department. Rapid correction of the electrolyte abnormality is essential but doing so can be detrimental in circumstances under which delaying treatment for confirmation is required. Our case exemplifies one of those scenarios: pseudohyperkalemia in the setting of severe leukocytosis. ⋯ Pseudohyperkalemia can occur in the setting of severe leukocytosis. It is important for emergency physicians to recognize this phenomenon and avoid iatrogenic hypokalemia. The pathophysiology behind this phenomenon and the methods for correct analysis are presented here.