The American journal of emergency medicine
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Drones reduce the treatment-free interval in search and rescue operations with telemedical support - A randomized controlled trial.
Response to medical incidents in mountainous areas is delayed due to the remote and challenging terrain. Drones could assist in a quicker search for patients and can facilitate earlier treatment through delivery of medical equipment. We aim to assess the effects of using drones in search and rescue (SAR) operations in challenging terrain. We hypothesize that drones can reduce the search time and treatment-free interval of patients by delivering an emergency kit and telemedical support. ⋯ The successful use of drones in SAR operations leads to a reduction in search time and treatment-free interval of patients in challenging terrain, which could improve outcomes in patients suffering from traumatic injuries, the most commonly occurring incident requiring mountain rescue operations.
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Testicular torsion is a serious condition that carries with it a high rate of morbidity. ⋯ An understanding of testicular torsion can assist emergency clinicians in diagnosing and managing this disease.
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Multicenter Study Observational Study
Gestalt clinical severity score (GCSS) as a predictor of patient severity of illness or injury.
To determine if clinical judgement is accurate to predict the severity of injury or illness, and can be used at patient arrival when other formal scoring systems are not yet available. ⋯ Physicians can make accurate predictions of severity of injury and illness using a gestalt method and the scoring system we have developed as patient disposition correlates well with GCSS score. GCSS is most accurate with the 18-44 age group.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
A novel cardiac arrest severity score for the early prediction of hypoxic-ischemic brain injury and in-hospital death.
Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) outcomes are unsatisfactory despite postcardiac arrest care. Early prediction of prognoses might help stratify patients and provide tailored therapy. In this study, we derived and validated a novel scoring system to predict hypoxic-ischemic brain injury (HIBI) and in-hospital death (IHD). ⋯ We presented a novel approach for assessing illness severity after OHCA. Although external prospective studies are warranted, risk stratification for HIBI and IHD could help provide OHCA patients with appropriate treatment.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Evaluation of pharmacist guided intervention using procalcitonin and respiratory virus testing.
Acute respiratory infections make up a sizable percentage of emergency department (ED) visits and many result in antibiotics being prescribed. Procalcitonin (PCT) has been found to reduce antibiotic use in both outpatient and critical care settings, yet remains underused in the ED. This study aimed to evaluate whether point of care molecular influenza and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) testing, PCT, and a pharmacist driven educational intervention in aggregate optimizes antibiotic and antiviral prescribing in the ED setting. ⋯ PCT can be used in both adult and pediatric populations to help guide the decision of whether to treat with antibiotics in the ED setting. Pharmacist guided education may not be a driving factor.