The American journal of emergency medicine
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Randomized Controlled Trial
A randomized controlled trial of adding intravenous pantoprazole to conventional treatment for the immediate relief of dyspeptic pain.
Acute, severe dyspeptic pain is a common condition in the emergency department. Despite the traditional "GI cocktail" (GI indicates gastrointestinal), an intravenous (IV) proton pump inhibitor (PPI), a novel acid-lowering drug, has recently been used to treat this condition. The aim of this study was to evaluate the immediate effect of IV pantoprazole in addition to the conventional GI cocktail in the relief of severe dyspeptic pain. ⋯ Intravenous PPI provides no additional benefit over the conventional GI cocktail in the relief of acute, severe dyspeptic pain. Because of its neutral effect and higher cost, the use of IV PPI to treat such conditions should be discouraged in general clinical practice.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Efficacy of high-flow oxygen therapy in all types of headache: a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.
We aimed to assess the efficacy of oxygen inhalation therapy in emergency department (ED) patients presenting with all types of headache. ⋯ In addition to its role in the treatment of cluster headache, high-flow oxygen therapy may provide an effective treatment of all types of headaches in the ED setting.
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Case Reports
Jejunojejunum intussusception as the single initial manifestation of Henoch-Schönlein purpura in a teenager.
We described a 14-year-old boy with initial presentation of recurrent intermittent abdominal pain, with subsequent development of jejunojejunum intussusception. The characteristic purpuric skin rash of Henoch-Schönlein purpura appeared later after the surgical manual reduction. When abdominal pain is the single initial manifestation in patients with undiagnosed Henoch-Schönlein purpura, emergency physicians should evaluate if the patient required early surgical intervention such as intussusception or perforation and always keep Henoch-Schönlein purpura as a possibility in mind.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Intravenous contrast alone vs intravenous and oral contrast computed tomography for the diagnosis of appendicitis in adult ED patients.
When the diagnosis of appendicitis is uncertain, computerized tomography (CT) scans are frequently ordered. Oral contrast is often used but is time consuming and of questionable benefit. This study compared CT with intravenous contrast alone (IV) to CT with IV and oral contrast (IVO) in adult patients with suspected appendicitis. ⋯ Computerized tomography scans with intravenous contrast alone have comparable diagnostic performance to IVO scans for appendicitis in adults. Patients receiving IV scans are discharged from the ED faster than those receiving IVO scans.
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This study was performed to evaluate whether heart-type fatty acid-binding protein (H-FABP) could predict 28-day mortality in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock. ⋯ The H-FABP was an independent prognostic factor and could be a useful biomarker for 28-day mortality in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock.