The American journal of emergency medicine
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Review Meta Analysis
The accuracy of total body weight estimation in adults - A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Weight estimation is required in adult patients when weight-based medication must be administered during emergency care, as measuring weight is often impossible. Inaccurate estimations may lead to inaccurate drug doses, which may cause patient harm. Little is known about the relative accuracy of different methods of weight estimation that could be used during resuscitative care. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance and suitability of existing weight estimation methods for use in adult emergency care. ⋯ Patient self-estimations of weight were generally very accurate and should be the method of choice during emergency care, when possible. However, since alternative estimation methods must be available when confused, or otherwise incapacitated, patients are unable to provide an estimate, alternative strategies of weight estimation should also be available.
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Meta Analysis
Sodium bicarbonate Ringer's solution for hemorrhagic shock: A meta-analysis comparing crystalloid solutions.
The choice of fluid resuscitation in Traumatic Hemorrhagic shock (THS) remains a critical aspect of patient management. Bicarbonated Ringers solution (BRS) has shown promise due to its composition resembling human Extracellular Fluid and its potential benefits on hemodynamics. ⋯ BRS demonstrated a significant reduction in complications, including adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), Multiple Organ Dysfunction (MODS), and Total Adverse Effects, when compared to other solutions in the treatment of THS. Additionally, THS patients resuscitated with BRS experienced a notable decrease in heart rate. The findings suggest BRS may contribute to organ stability and potential survival improvement due to its similarity to human Extracellular Fluid and minimal impact on the liver.
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The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidelines recommend that children ≤12-years-old with height < 145 cm should use safety/booster seats. However, national adherence and clinical outcomes for eligible children involved in motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) are unknown. We hypothesized that children recommended to use safety/booster seats involved in MVCs have a lower rate of serious injuries if a safety/booster seat is used, compared to children without safety/booster seat. ⋯ Despite AAP guidelines, less than half of recommended children in our study population presenting to a trauma center after MVC used safety/booster seats. Pediatric patients involved in a high-risk MVC suffered more serious injuries and were more likely to require surgical intervention without a safety/booster seat. A public health program to increase adherence to safety/booster seat use within this population appears warranted.
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The 2021 Surviving Sepsis Campaign Guidelines recommend administration of antimicrobials within the first hour of recognition of sepsis. Over the last decade, several studies have demonstrated improved time-to-antibiotic administration and antibiotic appropriateness when a pharmacist was involved in the care of patients with sepsis. To our knowledge, no studies evaluating the appropriate use of antibiotics in sepsis driven entirely by an Emergency Medicine (EM) Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner (CPP) have been published. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of an EM CPP-driven protocol on antimicrobial interventions in patients with sepsis in the emergency department (ED). ⋯ In this small, single-center study, an EM Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner-driven protocol for patients with sepsis in the emergency department improved the rate of appropriate empiric antimicrobial selection and time-to-antibiotic administration.
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Observational Study
Prothrombin complex concentrate administration timing in warfarin-associated intracranial hemorrhage.
Guidelines recommend "rapid" and "urgent" reversal of anticoagulation for warfarin-associated intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) treatment; however, they do not specify goals for time-to-administration. There are limited studies evaluating time to reversal, or international normalized ratio (INR) correction, on hematoma expansion and outcomes in intervals of <4 h. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association of 4-factor prothrombin concentrate (4F-PCC) time-to-administration on rates of achieving effective hemostasis, determined by hematoma expansion, for treatment of warfarin-associated ICH. ⋯ There was no association with time-to-administration of 4F-PCC on rates of hemostasis achievement, defined as hematoma expansion of ≤20%, identified in this study.