J Emerg Med
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Randomized Controlled Trial
The Effect of Ketamine Versus Etomidate for Rapid Sequence Intubation on Maximum Sequential Organ Failure Assessment Score: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
The use of induction agents for rapid sequence intubation (RSI) has been associated with hypotension in critically ill patients. Choice of induction agent may be important and the most commonly used agents are etomidate and ketamine. ⋯ There were no significant differences in maximum SOFA score or post-intubation hypotension between critically ill adults receiving ketamine vs. etomidate for RSI.
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Sepsis is a leading cause of death worldwide. However, little has been known concerning the status of discharge against medical advice (DAMA) in sepsis patients. ⋯ DAMA occurs in nearly 3.88% of sepsis patients and is linked to higher readmission and mortality. Those at high risk of DAMA should be early identified to motivate intervention to avoid premature discharges and associated adverse outcomes.
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Observational Study
First-Time Seizure Patients have High Rate of Abnormalities on Emergency Department Performed Brain Computed Tomography: A Prospective Study.
First-time seizures comprise 15% to 35% of all seizure-related complaints in the emergency department (ED). Emergent neuroimaging of first-time seizure patients is recommended by both the American Academy of Neurology and American College of Emergency Physicians. However, most of these studies are over 10 years old and included both adults and children. ⋯ This study demonstrated that 11.9% of first-time seizure patients presenting to the ED had abnormal findings on neuroimaging. Our findings support current recommendations to obtain emergent neuroimaging for adult patients with first-time seizures.
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Tick-borne illnesses and methemoglobinemia have not been known to occur together in humans. Few cases have been documented in various animals of methemoglobinemia secondary to tick-borne infections. ⋯ A 49-year-old man with no significant medical history presented to the emergency department from an urgent care with hypoxia saturating in the mid 80s. He also reported a pruritic rash on his back and right shoulder as well as both of his lower extremities. The rash had been present for 4 days. The patient was tachycardic and hypoxic at 90% but denied shortness of breath. He had cyanosis of the lips and fingertips and multiple erythematous, raised, ovoid lesions on the right shoulder and left lower extremity. Methemoglobin levels were elevated at 26%. He was treated with methylene blue, supplemental oxygen, and empiric doxycycline with improvement in his oxygenation. A tick-borne illness panel later tested positive for Babesia microti infection. His skin lesions resolved with the above described treatment. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Both tick-borne illnesses and methemoglobinemia are typically easily treatable with proper antimicrobial coverage and methylene blue, respectively. The current literature is bare regarding concurrent tick-borne illnesses, specifically babesiosis, and methemoglobinemia. Without knowledge and documentation of a potential link between the two conditions, hypoxia, if found to be due to methemoglobinemia, may be treated adequately, but a potentially life-threatening tick-borne illness may continue to cause damage and disease to the patient if not tested for, identified, and treated.
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Physical restraints are used in the emergency department (ED) for agitated patients to prevent self-harm and protect staff. Prior studies identified associations between sociodemographic factors and ED physical restraints use. ⋯ At this institution, certain sociodemographic characteristics were associated with receiving both types of physical restraint. Emergency physicians also differed in restraint-ordering practice. Further investigation is needed to understand the influence of implicit bias on ED restraint use.