Articles: emergency-medicine.
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The surgical needs of Ethiopia are not met by traditionally trained surgeons. Ten recently registered doctors were trained for a two-month period in 20 selected lifesaving procedures. Evaluation of their skills one year after their course suggested that they were able to save lives and to use their skills either under supervision or alone. The training of physicians before their appointment to rural areas is a possible solution to the unacceptably high morbidity and mortality from surgical causes in rural Ethiopia.
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Previously published research (phase I) demonstrated a concerning misinterpretation rate of cranial computed tomography (CT) scans by emergency physicians. This study (phase II) determined whether an abbreviated educational session would improve emergency physician interpretation skills of cranial CT scans. ⋯ Within the limits of this study, we conclude that emergency physicians' interpretation skills of cranial CT scans may be improved using a 1-hour educational session.
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Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Evaluation of a bedside whole-blood rapid troponin T assay in the emergency department. Rapid Evaluation by Assay of Cardiac Troponin T (REACTT) Investigators Study Group.
To evaluate the performance of a new bedside whole-blood rapid assay for cardiac troponin T (cTnT) in patients presenting to the ED with symptoms consistent with acute coronary ischemia. ⋯ The sensitivity of this whole-blood rapid cTnT assay for detecting AMI is comparable to that of current serum assays and offers the advantage of providing rapid bedside results. Discrepancies between serum and whole-blood assays for cTnT noted in this study may indicate the need for further education for the test reader prior to patient use.