Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
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Comparative Study
Effects of biphasic vs monophasic defibrillation on the scaling exponent in a swine model of prolonged ventricular fibrillation.
Mathematical analyses of ventricular fibrillation (VF) have resulted in the derivation of a measure termed the scaling exponent (ScE) that characterizes the duration of VF and probability of defibrillation success. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of biphasic defibrillation waveform (BDW) and monophasic defibrillation waveform (MDW) rescue shocks on ScE in a swine model of prolonged VF. ⋯ Mode of defibrillation waveform (BDW vs MDW) does not appear to impact ScE trends. Additional studies must be performed to better evaluate the clinical implications of this finding.
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This article, the last in a series on research methodology prepared by the Research Committee of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM), describes the process of journal selection, manuscript preparation, manuscript submission, and responding to editorial and reviewer comments. Methods for completing each step of this process are described. Following these methods will increase the chance of publishing one's work in the highest-quality and most appropriate journal.
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Case Reports
Initial experience of emergency physicians using the intubating laryngeal mask airway: a case series.
Although the intubating laryngeal mask airway (ILMA) is widely available, its use by emergency physicians (EPs) has not been reported. The authors report the initial experience of EPs using the ILMA. A review of their experience and the relevant anesthesia literature provides a basis for EPs to use the ILMA more confidently and effectively. ⋯ In this case series, the ILMA was easy to use in acute resuscitations, and proved to be invaluable in cases of failed RSI.
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Recent changes by the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) have resulted in decreased Medicare support for emergency medicine (EM) residencies. ⋯ Nearly all EM programs are fully supported by their institutions, including the fourth postgraduate year. Most programs take residents with previous training. Although few programs have reduced their size, many are discussing this. Many programs have had difficulty with funding off-service rotations and many have had decreased numbers of off-service residents in their EDs. Recent GME funding changes have had adverse effects on EM residency programs.