Articles: emergency-department.
-
Substance abuse is a considerable medical issue worldwide, yet current surveillance systems in Taiwan offer limited insights into the clinical characteristics and outcomes of substance abuse patients. This study aimed to delineate the epidemiology of emergency department visits related to substance abuse at a hospital in Taiwan and to identify factors predictive of severe complications or mortality. ⋯ In Taiwan, benzodiazepines emerged as the most prevalent substance of abuse among emergency department visitors, and a significant proportion of these patients experienced severe outcomes. Continuous monitoring of severe outcome predictors is essential for enhanced understanding and management.
-
Recent reports have identified associations between patient race and ethnicity and use of physical restraint while receiving care in the emergency department (ED). However, no study has assessed this relationship in hospitals primarily treating patients of color and underserved populations. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the association between race/ethnicity and the use of restraints in an ED population at a minority-serving, safety-net institution. ⋯ Racial disparities exist in restraint utilization at this minority-serving safety-net hospital; however, these disparities are modified by sex and by behavioral health diagnoses. The reasons for these disparities may be multifactorial and warrant further investigation.
-
Case Reports
Novel use of motor-sparing genicular nerve blocks for knee injuries in the emergency department.
Knee injuries are quite prevalent in the Emergency Department (ED) and often present with severe pain, necessitating effective pain management strategies. Traditional pain management approaches, including opioid medications, may carry undesirable side effects and potential risks, leading to the growing interest in non-opioid alternatives. Nerve blocks have emerged as promising options for targeted pain relief in the ED. ⋯ As the evidence base grows, GNBs may become a more established component of ED pain management protocols, enhancing patient outcomes and safety in the management of acute knee injuries. The incorporation of ultrasound-guided motor-sparing nerve blocks in ED pain management protocols may hold great promise in optimising pain control and enhancing patient comfort. Trial Registration: N/A.
-
Observational Study
The profile of adolescents assisted by the emergency department of a Brazilian private tertiary hospital.
Adolescents represent an important demographic percentage in the studied population and in Emergency Departments (ED). It is imperative that health professionals and services are prepared to address this population. This work aims to characterize adolescents at the ED of a Brazilian private tertiary hospital. ⋯ In this study, flu-like symptoms were the single main reason for adolescents to search for immediate health care, in every age subgroup and gender, but represented a small risk for hospital admission. Limb trauma was more common in younger male teenagers. Acute abdominal pain and trauma were the most frequent causes of hospital admissions. There was a significant and strong correlation between age and both admission rate and severity.
-
In 2016, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued its strongest safety warning ("Black Box Warning") for concomitant use of prescription opioids and benzodiazepines due to overdose deaths. ⋯ Our study found that between 2012 and 2019, there was no overall reduction in co-prescribing of opioids and benzodiazepines across EDs nationwide, but a decrease after the 2016 Black Box Warning.