Articles: emergency-department.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) versus sham TENS in adult ED patients with abdominal pain: A clinical trial.
There is a growing consensus that the risks of current pharmacologic analgesics warrant consideration of alternative modalities for acute and chronic pain control. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) in adult emergency department (ED) patients presenting with abdominal pain. ⋯ Application of TENS to the abdominal wall did not result in more effective pain relief than sham TENS in adult ED patients with abdominal pain.
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Pediatric psychiatric emergencies account for 15% of emergency department visits and are on the rise. Psychiatric diagnoses in the pediatric population are difficult to make, due to their variable presentation, but early diagnosis and treatment improve clinical outcome. ⋯ Both physical and emotional safety must be ensured. A multidisciplinary approach, utilizing local primary care and psychiatric resources, is recommended.
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Emerg. Med. Clin. North Am. · Feb 2024
ReviewEmergency Department Care of the Patient with Suicidal or Homicidal Symptoms.
Patients frequently present to the emergency department (ED) with acute suicidal and homicidal thoughts. These patients require timely evaluation, with determination of disposition by either voluntary or involuntary hospitalization or discharge with appropriate outpatient follow-up. Safety concerns should be prioritized for patients as well as ED staff. Patient dignity and autonomy should be respected throughout the process.
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Pediatric emergency care · Feb 2024
Ten-Year Analysis of Complications Related to Simple Basilar Skull Fractures in Children Presenting to a Trauma Center.
Head trauma is a common presenting complaint among children requiring urgent medical attention, accounting for more than 600,000 emergency department (ED) visits annually, 4% to 30% of which identify skull fractures among the patient's injuries. Previous literature shows that children with basilar skull fractures (BSFs) are usually admitted for observation. We studied whether children with an isolated BSF have complications precluding them from safe discharge home from the ED. ⋯ Our findings suggest that patients with uncomplicated BSFs can be safely discharged from the ED if the patient has reliable follow-up, is tolerating oral fluids, has no evidence of cerebrospinal fluid leak, and has been evaluated by appropriate subspecialists before discharge.
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Adverse drug reactions impose a major burden. Those adverse drug reactions might lead to hospitalization but are often not correctly identified in the emergency department (ED). Clinical pharmacists, although not routinely implemented, can help identify adverse drug reactions. ⋯ In this study the implementation of a clinical pharmacist was associated with improved identification of drug-related ED visits. Discontinuations of causal medications and dose reductions were significantly higher in the pharmaceutical group compared to the standard care group.