Articles: hospital-emergency-service.
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This study investigates the association between Methamphetamine (MA) intoxication and suicidal ideation/behavior in patients presenting to emergency departments. Amidst rising MA use and co-use with opioids, this "twin epidemic" has manifested in increasing admissions for MA intoxication, often accompanied by psychiatric symptoms that can escalate to suicidal behaviors. ⋯ These results underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions to address the complex interplay between MA use and suicidal risks in the emergency department setting, as well as broader public health strategies to combat the increasing prevalence of MA use.
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There is a lack of evidence-based guidelines for the administration methods of ceftriaxone in emergency departments (EDs), resulting in the reliance on individual institutional protocols for decision-making. ⋯ IVP administration of ceftriaxone reduced the time of antibiotic administration compared with IVPB, but there was no difference in 28-day mortality.
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Patients with acute vertebral compression fractures (aVCFs) are frequently transferred to an emergency department by ambulance. The most useful imaging modality is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); however, which patients should be prioritized for MRI evaluation may be unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate plasma D-dimer levels as a biomarker for aVCFs. ⋯ Plasma D-dimer levels can provide useful diagnostic information about whether an aVCF is present.
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Over-testing and over-treatment are common in children with croup at pediatric emergency departments (PED). The objective of the study was to improve care for children with croup. ⋯ With this QI intervention, decreases in the rate of administration of NE to mild croup cases, antibiotic prescription, X-ray, laboratory blood and respiratory PCR panel tests in all croup cases were achieved without an increase in revisits. However, unnecessary NE, antibiotic, and X-ray rates are still high.