Can J Emerg Med
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To estimate the level of knowledge that Canadian emergency physicians have of the costs of common diagnostic tests and interventions in the emergency department (ED). ⋯ Emergency physicians have a limited knowledge of the costs of the tests and interventions they use on a daily basis. They tend to overestimate lab and pharmaceutical costs but underestimate imaging costs. Cost-awareness programs for emergency physicians are most likely to be beneficial if they focus on imaging modalities.
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To determine the prevalence of influenza vaccination in patients who present to the emergency department (ED) who meet current guidelines for its use. To evaluate the feasibility of an ED-based program to provide influenza vaccine to at-risk patients. ⋯ Up to 50% of patients eligible for influenza vaccine are not adequately immunized. Administering influenza vaccine in the ED is acceptable to patients and should reduce influenza rates in at-risk populations. There is a role for administering influenza vaccine in the ED.
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Intravenous (IV) opioid titration is an accepted method of relieving acute renal colic. Studies have shown that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are also effective in this setting. Our objective was to compare single-dose ketorolac and titrated meperidine, both administered intravenously, with respect to speed and degree of analgesia, adverse effects and functional status. Our primary hypothesis was that these agents provide equivalent analgesia within 60 minutes. Our secondary hypotheses were that ketorolac-treated patients would experience fewer adverse effects and would be better able to resume usual activity. ⋯ In the doses studied, single-dose IV ketorolac is as effective as titrated IV meperidine for the relief of acute renal colic and causes less functional impairment.