Articles: emergency-department.
-
Creatinine has limitations in identifying and predicting acute kidney injury (AKI). Our study examined the utility of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) in predicting AKI in patients presenting to the emergency department (ED), and in predicting the need for renal replacement therapy (RRT), occurrence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) and all-cause mortality at three months post visit. ⋯ Serum NGAL identifies AKI and predicts three-month mortality.
-
Observational Study
Establishing a rapid assessment service for patients with suspected malignancies for expedited outpatient management.
11% of new cancer diagnoses occur in the emergency department. Historically, these diagnoses disproportionately affect underserved patient populations and are associated with poor outcomes. This is an observational study of the Rapid Assessment Service (RAS) program, which aims to provide timely outpatient follow-up and facilitate a diagnosis for patients discharged from the emergency department with suspected malignancies. ⋯ Creating a Rapid Assessment Service facilitated an expedited oncologic work-up and diagnosis in an outpatient setting.
-
Acute gastrointestinal bleeding (GI bleeding) can range from mild symptoms to life-threatening conditions that require emergency intervention. Therefore, it is important to first identify the high-risk and low-risk patients in the emergency department (ED). ⋯ This study validated that lactate clearance at three-hourly intervals is useful for early prediction of mortality and prognosis in patients with GI bleeding. It is important to perform not only an initial lactate measurement, but also a follow-up lactate measurement after initial resuscitation to check the lactate clearance.
-
Dental abscesses are a common reason patients present to the emergency department (ED). Facial and dental imaging are sometimes necessary to support the clinical diagnosis. While radiographs and computed tomography scans are frequently used, point-of-care ultrasound (US) offers several advantages, including decreased radiation exposure, reduced costs, and shorter patient length of stay. This report outlines the use of US in evaluating patients with suspected dental abscesses in the ED. ⋯ US presents several advantages as an alternative imaging method for patients with suspected dental abscesses in the ED. Using innovative techniques such as the OHS and the TPT can further increase the visibility of tissue planes and help define the area of interest in these cases.
-
The respiratory muscles of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exhibit structural and functional changes that can be evaluated and monitored by ultrasonography. ⋯ Diaphragmatic excursion, diaphragmatic end-expiratory thickness, and right and left intercostal muscle thicknesses vary in the prognosis of subjects presenting with COPD exacerbation.