J Emerg Med
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Vital signs are an essential component of the emergency department (ED) assessment. Vital sign abnormalities are associated with adverse events in the ED setting and may indicate a risk of poor outcomes after ED discharge. ⋯ Based on the available evidence, the specific vital sign abnormality and the number of total abnormalities influence the risk of adverse outcomes after discharge. Vital sign abnormalities at the time of discharge also increase the risk of ED revisit. The most common abnormal vital sign at the time of discharge is tachycardia.
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Adolescent substance use is a growing public health concern, particularly given rising mortality rates from drug overdose deaths. The emergency department (ED) provides a unique opportunity to screen adolescents for substance use and provide brief interventions and linkage to care. ⋯ ED-based adolescent substance use screening and interventions are necessary, feasible, and acceptable, but understudied. Future studies, focusing on optimizing ED interventions and linkage to care, are important next steps in determining the best care for adolescents with substance use who present to the ED.
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Alcohol use disorder is associated with a variety of complications, including alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS), which may occur in those who decrease or stop alcohol consumption suddenly. AWS is associated with a range of signs and symptoms, which are most commonly treated with GABAergic medications. ⋯ Based on the available literature, phenobarbital is reasonable to consider for treatment of AWS. Clinicians must consider the individual patient, clinical situation, and comorbidities when selecting a medication for treatment of AWS.