Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
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Review Meta Analysis
Triple Rule-out Computed Tomographic Angiography for Chest Pain: A Diagnostic Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
The objective was to compare the image quality, diagnostic accuracy, radiation exposure, and contrast volume of "triple rule-out" (TRO) computed tomography (CT) to other diagnostic modalities commonly used to evaluate patients with nontraumatic chest pain (dedicated coronary, pulmonary embolism [PE], and aortic dissection CT; invasive coronary angiography; and nuclear stress testing). ⋯ Triple rule-out CT is highly accurate for detecting coronary artery disease. Given the low (<1%) prevalence of PE and aortic dissection in the included studies, and the increased radiation and contrast exposure, there are insufficient data to recommend use of TRO CT in the diagnosis of these conditions.
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Studies examining the relationship between obesity and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) have been limited to patients with confirmed diagnoses. The authors sought to determine the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and 30-day cardiovascular events in emergency department (ED) patients with potential ACS. ⋯ Among patients who present to the ED with potential ACS, BMI is not associated with higher risk of cardiovascular outcomes at 30 days.
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The Institute of Medicine (IOM)'s "Future of Emergency Care" report recommended the categorization and regionalization of emergency care, but no uniform system to categorize hospital emergency care capabilities has been developed. The absence of such a system limits the ability to benchmark outcomes, to develop regional systems of care, and of patients to make informed decisions when seeking emergency care. The authors sought to pilot the deployment of an emergency care categorization system in two states. ⋯ Using this categorization system, fewer than half of all EDs provide advanced or comprehensive emergency care. While the majority of the population has access to advanced or comprehensive care within an hour, a significant portion (25%) does not. This article describes how an ED categorization scheme could be developed and deployed across the United States. There are implications for prehospital planning, patient decision-making, outcomes measurement, interfacility transfer coordination, and development of regional emergency care systems.
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Observational Study
Diagnostic Accuracy of Fingerstick β-Hydroxybutyrate for Ketonuria in Pregnant Women With Nausea and Vomiting.
The aim of this study was to determine whether a rapid, fingerstick β-hydroxybutyrate (β-OHB) test predicts ketonuria in pregnant women with nausea and vomiting. ⋯ Fingerstick β-OHB is a rapid and reliable diagnostic tool that correlates well with ketonuria and identifies ketonemia in pregnant women with nausea and vomiting. Fingerstick β-OHB testing has the potential to increase triage efficiency, shorten length-of-stay times, and positively affect patient outcomes in an ED setting.