Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
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Review Case Reports
Systematic review: emergency department bedside ultrasonography for diagnosing suspected abdominal aortic aneurysm.
The use of ultrasound (US) to diagnose an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) has been well studied in the radiology literature, but has yet to be rigorously reviewed in the emergency medicine arena. ⋯ Seven high-quality studies of the operating characteristics of ED bedside US in diagnosing AAA were identified. All showed excellent diagnostic performance for emergency bedside US to detect the presence of AAA in symptomatic patients.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Randomized clinical trial of efficacy and safety of a single 2-mg intravenous dose of hydromorphone versus usual care in the management of acute pain.
The objective was to test the efficacy and safety of 2 mg of intravenous (IV) hydromorphone (Dilaudid) against "usual care" in emergency department (ED) patients with acute severe pain. ⋯ Using a simple dichotomous patient-centered endpoint in which a difference of 10% in proportion obtaining adequate analgesia was considered clinically significant, 2 mg of hydromorphone in a single IV dose is clinically and statistically more efficacious when compared to usual care for acute pain management in the ED.
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Atrial fibrillation is common in the emergency department (ED). Mortality rates at 30, 90, and 365 days for ED patients with a main diagnosis of atrial fibrillation are 4, 6, and 11%, respectively; there are no data on the characteristics and outcomes of ED patients with atrial fibrillation who have alternative primary ED diagnoses. ⋯ Patients seen in the ED with atrial fibrillation and different primary ED diagnoses are older and have high short- and long-term mortality rates: mortality was three times higher than in patients with primary ED diagnoses of atrial fibrillation. Future studies of atrial fibrillation in the ED should distinguish between these two populations and the potential contribution of atrial fibrillation to mortality in the setting of other primary ED diagnoses.
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The objective was to assess the effect of an emergency department (ED)-based computer screening and referral intervention on the safety-seeking behaviors of female intimate partner violence (IPV) victims at differing stages of change. The study also aimed to determine which personal and behavioral characteristics were associated with a positive change in safety-seeking behavior. The hypothesis was that women who were in contemplation or action stages of change would be more likely to endorse safety behaviors during follow-up. ⋯ Emergency department-based kiosk screening and health information delivery is a feasible method of health information dissemination for women experiencing IPV and was associated with a high proportion of study participants taking protective action. Stage of change was not associated with actual IPV protective measures.
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Intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) after acute stroke thrombolysis is associated with poor outcomes. Previous investigations of the relationship between preexisting antiplatelet use and the safety of intravenous (IV) thrombolysis have been limited by low event rates. The objective of this study was to determine whether preexisting antiplatelet therapy increased the risk of ICH following acute stroke thrombolysis. The primary hypothesis was that antiplatelet use would not be associated with radiographic evidence of ICH after controlling for relevant confounders. ⋯ The authors did not find that preexisting antiplatelet use was associated with postthrombolysis ICH or sICH in this cohort of community treated patients. Preexisting tobacco use, younger age, and lower severity were associated with lower odds of sICH. The meta-analyses demonstrated small, but statistically significant increases in the absolute risk of radiographic ICH and sICH, along with increased odds of sICH in patients with preexisting antiplatelet use.