Can J Emerg Med
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Various medications and devices are available for facilitation of emergent endotracheal intubations (EETIs). The objective of this study was to survey which medications and devices are being utilized for intubation by Canadian physicians. ⋯ Most EM and ICU physicians utilize direct laryngoscopy with a Macintosh blade as a primary device for EETI and an extraglottic device as a backup strategy. This survey highlights variation in Canadian practice patterns for some aspects of intubation in critically ill patients.
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Transient ischemic attacks (TIA) are a common presentation to the emergency department (ED) and are associated with an estimated 9% risk of stroke within 90 days. 1 We report the case of a 72-year-old female who presented with orthostatic symptoms of facial weakness and dysarthria; that is, the patient's symptoms were present when she was standing and resolved when supine. Neurological deficits present only when standing should alert the clinician to the importance of advanced neuroimaging to evaluate for acute arterial occlusion.
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We surveyed Canadian emergency physicians to determine how skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) are managed and which risk factors were felt to be important in predicting failure with oral antibiotics. ⋯ The survey demonstrates significant variability regarding physician management of SSTIs, and we have identified several perceived risk factors for treatment failure with oral antibiotics that should be assessed in future studies.
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Optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) measured on a head computed tomography (CT) has been suggested as a potential prognostic factor for poor neurological outcome after cardiac arrest. We performed a single centre retrospective cohort analysis to further investigate this relationship. ⋯ There was no observed difference in ONSD between those with a good neurological outcome and those with a poor outcome. ONSD was not an independent predictor of poor neurological outcome.