Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
-
To the best of the authors' knowledge, no previous study has compared the prevalences of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) or Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) cervical infection among pregnant and non-pregnant patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with vaginal bleeding. ⋯ The prevalence of CT or NG cervical infection in pregnant patients presenting to the ED with vaginal bleeding is 16%. Pregnant and non-pregnant patients with vaginal bleeding are at similar risks for having CT or NG cervical infection. Cervical swab specimens should be obtained in all patients with vaginal bleeding.
-
Administration of intravenous (IV) dextrose to hypoglycemic patients is delegated to advanced care paramedics in Ontario. Following a quality assurance review, which revealed that 47% of patients refused transport after receiving IV dextrose, the authors studied whether such patients seek additional medical care in the three days following the initial refusal. ⋯ The practice of treating patients for symptomatic hypoglycemia and leaving them at the scene appears to be safe. Further study is required to confirm this.
-
The use of ocular ultrasonography for the evaluation of emergency patients has recently been described in the emergency medicine (EM) literature. There are a number of potential uses that may greatly aid the emergency physician (EP) and avoid lengthy consultation or other diagnostic tests. ⋯ Emergency bedside ultrasound is highly accurate for ruling out and diagnosing ocular pathology in patients presenting to the emergency department. Further, it accurately differentiates between pathology that needs immediate ophthalmologic consultation and that which can be followed up on an outpatient basis.
-
Although bedside ultrasound is listed in the Model of the Clinical Practice of Emergency Medicine as an integral diagnostic procedure, the manner in which the didactic, hands-on, and experiential components of emergency ultrasound are taught is not specifically prescribed by the Residency Review Committee for Emergency Medicine (RRC-EM) or any single sponsoring group. Seven professional organizations [the American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM), the American College of Emergency Medicine (ACEP), the Council of Emergency Medicine Residency Directors (CORD), the Emergency Medicine Residents Association (EMRA), the National Association of EMS Physicians (NAEMSP), the RRC-EM, and the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM)] developed the Scope of Training Task Force, with the goal of identifying emerging areas of clinical importance to the specialty of emergency medicine, including emergency department (ED) ultrasound. The Task Force then identified a group of recognized authorities to thoughtfully address the issue of ED ultrasound training. This report represents a consensus of these identified experts on how emergency ultrasound training should be incorporated into emergency medicine residency programs.