J Emerg Med
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There is a lack of knowledge about the real incidence of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in patients with COVID-19, their clinical characteristics, and their prognoses. ⋯ The incidence of ACS in patients with COVID-19 attending the emergency department was low, around 1.48%, but could be increased in some circumstances. Patients with COVID-19 with ACS had a worse prognosis than control subjects with higher in-hospital mortality.
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Low back pain (LBP) causes 2.6 million visits to U.S. emergency departments (EDs) annually. These patients are often treated with skeletal muscle relaxants (SMRs). ⋯ Among patients in the ED with acute LBP treated with a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, SMRs do not improve outcomes more than placebo. Neither age, sex, nor baseline impairment impacts these results.
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Emergency Medical Services (EMS) provide patients with out-of-hospital care, but not all patients are transported to the hospital. Non-transport represents an often undefined yet potentially significant risk for poor clinical outcomes. Few North American studies have quantified this risk. ⋯ This study provides an estimate of prevalence of non-transports and 48-h adverse event in a provincial mixed rural-urban EMS system. The results of this study describe the scope of non-transport and present several characteristics associated with non-transport. Future study should examine the appropriateness of EMS responses and methods to mitigate risk of adverse event after non-transport.
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Pediatric musculoskeletal (pMSK) radiograph interpretations are common, but the specific radiograph features at risk of incorrect diagnosis are relatively unknown. ⋯ We identified actionable learning opportunities in pMSK radiograph interpretation for EPs.
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Various commercially available and do-it-yourself (DIY) models are used to teach emergency medicine (EM) residents and medical students ultrasound (US)-guided i.v. insertion. Expensive commercial models degrade over time, but DIY models are inexpensive, easily prepared, and readily discarded. ⋯ Inexpensive homemade alternatives to commercial simulators can be realistic and effective surrogates for learning US-guided peripheral i.v.