Can J Emerg Med
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Our primary objective was to assess the agreement between urine pregnancy tests done in the emergency department (ED) and those done by the Calgary Laboratory Services (CLS). Our secondary objective was to compare turnaround times for tests done in the ED and those done in the laboratory. ⋯ ED nurses can perform urine pregnancy tests as accurately as laboratory technicians, and can provide results on which to base care much faster than the laboratory can. Point-of-care urine pregnancy testing may expedite the ED management of patients who require pregnancy tests.
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Food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis (FDEIA) is a specific variant of exercise-induced anaphylaxis that requires both vigorous physical activity and the ingestion of specific foods within the preceding several hours. When patients present to the emergency department (ED) with allergic reactions, careful history regarding these 2 factors is required to establish the correct diagnosis. Correct diagnosis of FDEIA will allow patients to take control of their lifestyles and avert repeated events and ED visits. Two cases of FDEIA are presented, and the diagnosis, pathophysiology and therapy of food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis are reviewed.
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We conducted a qualitative systematic review to evaluate the efficacy and safety of propofol for direct current cardioversion (DCC), rapid sequence intubation (RSI) and procedural sedation in adult emergency department (ED) patients. ⋯ The body of literature evaluating propofol for DCC and RSI in the ED is limited. There is evidence to support the use of propofol for DCC and RSI, but this evidence comes from stable patients in non-ED settings. Further ED-based randomized comparative trials should be conducted before propofol is adopted for widespread use in the ED.
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Canadian hospitals gather few emergency department (ED) data, and most cannot track their case mix, care processes, utilization or outcomes. A standard national ED data set would enhance clinical care, quality improvement and research at a local, regional and national level. The Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians, the National Emergency Nurses Affiliation and l'Association des médecins d'urgence du Québec established a joint working group whose objective was to develop a standard national ED data set that meets the information needs of Canadian EDs. ⋯ The working group identified 69 mandatory elements, 5 preferred elements and 29 optional elements representing demographic, process, clinical and utilization measures. The Canadian Emergency Department Information System data set is a feasible, relevant ED data set developed by emergency physicians and nurses and tailored to the needs of Canadian EDs. If widely adopted, it represents an important step toward a national ED information system that will enable regional, provincial and national comparisons and enhance clinical care, quality improvement and research applications in both rural and urban settings.