Articles: emergency-department.
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Seasonal influenza is associated with significant healthcare resource utilization. An estimated 490,000 hospitalizations and 34,000 deaths were attributed to influenza during the 2018-2019 season. Despite robust influenza vaccination programs in both the inpatient and outpatient setting, the emergency department (ED) represents a missed opportunity to vaccinate patients at high risk for influenza who do not have access to routine preventive care. Feasibility and implementation of ED-based influenza vaccination programs have been previously described but have stopped short of describing the predicted health resource impact. The goal of our study was to describe the potential impact of an influenza vaccination program in an urban adult emergency department population using historic patient data. ⋯ Patients presenting to the ED with influenza frequently had opportunities to be vaccinated during prior ED encounters. An ED-based influenza vaccination program could potentially reduce influenza-related burden on healthcare resources by preventing future influenza-related ED encounters and hospitalizations.
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Pediatric emergency care · Jun 2023
Screening for Child Abuse in Children With Isolated Skull Fractures.
Head trauma is the most common cause of death from child abuse, and each encounter for recurrent abuse is associated with greater morbidity. Isolated skull fractures (ISF) are often treated conservatively in the emergency department (ED). We determined patterns of physical abuse screening in a children's hospital ED for children with ISF. ⋯ To decrease risk of missed physical abuse, SW consultation should be considered for all ISF patients.
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This study aimed to investigate the association between traumatic tap and the incidence of post-dural puncture headache (PDPH) following lumbar puncture (LP) among patients who underwent LP with a primary discharge diagnosis of primary headache in the emergency department (ED). ⋯ Notably, our results suggest that traumatic LP may be an unexpected factor in reducing the occurrence rate of PDPH. Consequently, the admission rate for PDPH was significantly reduced among patients with traumatic LP and those with primary headaches. In this study, we collected and analyzed the data from a relatively small sample size of 112 patients. Further studies are needed to evaluate the relationship between traumatic LP and PDPH.
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Pharmacological reperfusion remains the primary strategy for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in low- and medium-income countries. Literature has reported inconsistent incidences and outcomes of failed thrombolysis (FT). This study aimed to identify the incidence, mortality outcomes and predictors of FT in STEMI pharmacological reperfusion. ⋯ History of stroke (aOR 6.144, p = 0.004) and heart rate ≥ 100 bpm at presentation (aOR 2.216, p = 0.015) were the predictors of FT in STEMI patients who received tenecteplase. Mortality following STEMI thrombolysis remained high in our population and was attributed to FT. Identified predictors of FT enable early risk stratification to evaluate the patients' prognosis to manage them better.