The American journal of emergency medicine
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Could we use the comfort score instead of the numeric rating pain score? A proof of concept pilot study.
Asking patients about pain in the Emergency Department (ED) when deriving a pain score may aggravate perception of pain due to the nocebo-effect. A strategy for diminishing this nocebo-effect is cognitive reframing. Cognitive reframing of the frequently used pain score (PS) in the ED could theoretically be obtained by using the comfort score (CS). The aim of this study was to evaluate whether or not the CS and PS are interchangeable and therefore, whether or not the CS could safely be used in ED patients. ⋯ This proof of concept study suggest interchangeability of the PS and the ICS in patients with pain in the ED. However, while not statistically significant, 33% of the patients had a possible clinical significant difference in score outcome, potentially over- or underestimating the patients pain. Whether or not this can be used as a tool for cognitive reframing to reduce perception of pain and medication consumption has yet to be studied.
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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.
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Though a circulation-airway-breathing (CAB) resuscitation sequence is now widely accepted in administering CPR over the airway-breathing-circulation (ABC) sequence following cardiac arrest, current evidence and guidelines vary considerably for complex polytraumas, with some prioritizing management of the airway and others advocating for initial treatment of hemorrhage. This review aims to evaluate existing literature comparing ABC and CAB resuscitation sequences in adult trauma patients in-hospital to direct future research and guide evidence-based recommendations for management. ⋯ This study found that hypotensive trauma patients, especially those with active hemorrhage, may benefit more from a CAB approach to resuscitation, as early intubation may increase mortality secondary to PIH. However, patients with critical hypoxia or airway injury may still benefit more from the ABC sequence and prioritization of the airway. Future prospective studies are needed to understand the benefits of CAB with trauma patients and identify which patient subgroups are most affected by prioritizing circulation before airway management.
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Complicated UTIs (cUTIs) are defined by a heterogenous group of risk factors that place the patient at increased risk of treatment failure in whom urine cultures are recommended. We evaluated the ordering practices for urine cultures for cUTI patients and patient outcomes in an academic hospital setting. ⋯ Over a quarter of cUTI patients in this study did not receive a urine culture. Further studies are needed to assess if improving adherence to urine culturing practices for cUTIs will impact clinical outcomes.