Southern medical journal
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Southern medical journal · Dec 1997
Prospective assessment of triage in an urban emergency department.
This study examined the effectiveness of a triage system based on patient complaints, medical history, vital signs, and triage nurse impression. Measurements included recognizing patients needing admission, in correlating with disposition, and its effectiveness in all age groups. ⋯ This triage system accurately correlated with disposition and determined waiting time to examination.
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Southern medical journal · Dec 1997
Focal reexpansion pulmonary edema after drainage of large pleural effusions: clinical evidence suggesting hypoxic injury to the lung as the cause of edema.
The purposes of this study were to review possible causes of reexpansion pulmonary edema (RPE) and to attempt to explain atypical distributions of RPE after drainage of large pleural effusions. ⋯ This suggests that hypoxic injury to the atelectatic lung, rather than mechanical stress, is the most plausible explanation for RPE.
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Southern medical journal · Dec 1997
Comparative StudyPulmonary function tests: comparison of 95th percentile-based and conventional criteria of normality.
Although 95th percentile-based normal limits are recommended instead of conventional criteria of normality to guide pulmonary function test (PFT) readings, we have found no objective assessment of how the choice of normal limits might influence PFT interpretation. ⋯ Discrepancies between 95th percentile-based and conventional normal limits can potentially influence PFT readings, and 95th percentile-based criteria are not used in the majority of VA PFT laboratories.