Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
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Multicenter Study Observational Study
Evaluating Current Patterns of Assessment for Self-harm in Emergency Departments: A Multicenter Study.
The objective was to describe self-harm assessment practices in U.S. emergency departments (EDs) and to identify predictors of being assessed. ⋯ Emergency department assessment of self-harm was highly variable among institutions. Presence of specific assessment policies was associated with higher assessment rates. Assessment varied based upon patient characteristics. The identification of self-harm in 2.7% of ED patients indicates that a substantial proportion of current risk of self-harm may go unidentified, particularly in certain patient groups.
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Multicenter Study
Computed Tomography With Intravenous Contrast Alone: The Role of Intra-abdominal Fat on the Ability to Visualize the Normal Appendix in Children.
Computed tomography (CT) with enteric contrast is frequently used to evaluate children with suspected appendicitis. The use of CT with intravenous (IV) contrast alone (CT IV) may be sufficient, however, particularly in patients with adequate intra-abdominal fat (IAF). ⋯ Protocols using CT with IV contrast alone to visualize the appendix can reasonably include weight, age, or both as considerations for determining when this approach is appropriate. However, although IAF will more frequently be adequate in older, heavier patients, highly accurate prediction of IAF adequacy appears challenging solely based on age and weight.