Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
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To determine the incidence of alcohol use in subcritically injured patients presenting to the ED, by using a saliva alcohol test (SAT) at ED triage during the ED initial assessment; to compare the incidence of alcohol use revealed by the SAT with documentation of alcohol use by ED nurses and emergency physicians (EPs) blinded to the SAT results; and to describe the demographics of the SAT-positive, subcritically injured population. ⋯ While the SAT identified 21% of the subcritically injured patient population as alcohol-positive, ED nurse and EP documentation did not identify half of these alcohol-positive patients. Many of these patients may be at risk for additional injuries related to their drinking behavior.
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To assess the risk of hemolysis, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), or fat embolism syndrome (FES) with pressurized intraosseous (IO) blood transfusion following hemorrhage. ⋯ In this model, pressurized IO blood transfusion appears to be hematologically safe, i.e., without risk of appreciable hemolysis, DIC, or FES.
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To describe the use of a noninvasive bi-level positive airway pressure (PAP) support system for ED patients with acute congestive heart failure (CHF). ⋯ Noninvasive pressure support ventilation with a bi-level PAP support system may avert ETI in acute CHF patients. This device can be effectively used by ED personnel.
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To assess the feasibility of a brief comprehensive case-finding program for detecting functional, cognitive, and social impairments among elderly ED patients and to estimate the prevalence of unknown, undetected, or untreated impairments elderly patients may have. ⋯ A brief comprehensive case-finding program for functional, cognitive, and social impairment among elderly ED patients is feasible. The screening uncovered a significant amount of morbidity among older patients visiting EDs.
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Biography Historical Article
Jerry Mandell, leukocyte watcher, searching for the role of cytokines in infection.