Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
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Comparative Study
Emergency medicine resident patient care documentation using a hand-held computerized device.
To determine whether emergency medicine (EM) resident documentation of procedures, patient encounters, and patient follow-ups improved after implementation of a personal digital assistant (PDA) hand-held recording system. ⋯ Use of a hand-held PDA was associated with an increase in first-year EM resident documentation in three of 20 procedures and a decrease in one procedure and the number of unstable surgical pediatric patient resuscitations. The overall time savings in constructing a resident procedure database, as well as the other uses of the PDAs, may make transition to a hand-held computer-based procedure log an attractive option for EM residencies.
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Critics of the use of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) in an emergency department (ED) setting believe that they are too cumbersome and time-consuming, but to the best of the authors' knowledge, potential barriers to CPG adherence in the ED have not been prospectively evaluated. ⋯ Clinical practice guidelines can be used successfully in the pediatric ED and provide a more efficient management and treatment approach to acute exacerbations of childhood asthma. With a systematic and concise CPG, barriers to adherence in a pediatric ED appear to be minimal, with the exception of using PEF in the routine ED assessment.
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Comparative Study
Incidence of pericardial effusion in patients presenting to the emergency department with unexplained dyspnea.
To evaluate the frequency of pericardial effusion in patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with unexplained, new onset dyspnea. ⋯ While limited by small numbers, these preliminary data suggest that patients with unexplained dyspnea should be checked for pericardial effusion when bedside ED ultrasound is available.
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Mental health aspects of emergency medical services for children: summary of a consensus conference.
To address the mental health needs of children involved in emergency medical services (EMS). ⋯ Ecological changes in emergency departments, such as linkages to mental health follow-up services, training of EMS providers and mental health professionals, and focused research that provides an empirical basis for practice, are necessary components for improving current standards of health care.
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Comparative Study
Neurotensin analog NT69L induces rapid and prolonged hypothermia after hypoxic ischemia.
To determine whether the neurotensin analog NT69L, administered systemically, could induce mild brain hypothermia after asphyxial cardiac arrest (ACA) in rats. ⋯ NT69L induced rapid and prolonged mild brain hypothermia after ACA in this rat model and reduced neurological deficits.