The American journal of emergency medicine
-
Review
Association between advanced care planning and emergency department visits: A systematic review.
Advance care planning can help provide optimal medical care according to a patient's wishes as a part of patient-centered discussions on end-of-life care. This can prevent undesired transfers to emergency departments. However, the effects of advance care planning on emergency department visits and ambulance calls in various settings or specific conditions remain unclear. ⋯ Advanced care planning may lead to reduced emergency department visits and ambulance calls among nursing home residents and patients with depression or dementia. Further research is warranted to identify the effectiveness of advanced care planning in specific settings and diseases.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
High or mid-flow oxygen therapy for primary headache disorders: A randomized controlled study.
Headache is one of the most common causes of emergency department (ED) visits. High-flow oxygen therapy is becoming more attractive as a treatment option because it is safe, effective, and cheap. We aimed to compare the effectiveness of high and medium-flow oxygen therapies with placebo for treating primary headache disorders among middle-aged patients. ⋯ Oxygen therapy could be a beneficial treatment option for middle-aged patients with primary headache disorders. Based on the results obtained from high and mid-flow oxygen therapies, it may be more appropriate to begin treatment with mid-flow oxygen.
-
Intussusception is one of the most common acute abdominal diseases in children. Enema reduction is the first-line treatment for intussusception in good condition. Clinically, a history of disease over 48 h is usually listed as a contraindication for enema reduction. However, with the development of clinical experience and therapy, an increasing number of cases have shown that the prolongation of the clinical course of intussusception in children is not an absolute contraindication for enema treatment. This study aimed to analyze the safety and efficacy of enema reduction in children with a history of disease longer than 48 h. ⋯ Ultrasound-guided hydrostatic enema reduction is safe and effective for pediatric idiopathic intussusception with a history of ≧48 h.