Articles: emergency-medicine.
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An artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm has been developed to detect the electrocardiographic signature of atrial fibrillation (AF) present on an electrocardiogram (ECG) obtained during normal sinus rhythm. We evaluated the ability of this algorithm to predict incident AF in an emergency department (ED) cohort of patients presenting with palpitations without concurrent AF. ⋯ We found this AI-ECG AF algorithm to maintain statistical significance in predicting incident AF, with clinical utility for screening purposes limited in this ED population with a low incidence of AF.
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To characterize the emergency medicine resident physician workforce and the residency programs training them. ⋯ The number of emergency medicine residency programs has increased; most new programs were added to the states that already had emergency medicine residency programs. There is an emergency physician "desert" in the rural United States, lacking both residents and residency training programs. This analysis provides essential context to the ongoing conversation about the future of the emergency physician workforce.
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Diagnostic Value of Galectin-3 for Identifying Acute Pulmonary Embolism in the Emergency Department.
Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a common disease associated with high mortality and morbidity. Diagnosing PE is challenging due to diverse clinical presentations and the lack of specific biomarkers. ⋯ A biomarker that rapidly and accurately diagnoses acute PE in the emergency department can be an extremely useful tool. We concluded that plasma Gal-3 levels can be regarded as a promising marker of acute PE.
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Nursing care is widely recognized to be a vital element in stroke care delivery. However, no publications examining clinical education and optimal workflow practices as predictors of acute ischemic stroke care metrics exist. This study aimed to explore the impact of a nurse-led workflow to improve patient care that included telestroke encounters in the emergency department. ⋯ In this sample, implementation of the nurse-driven acute stroke care protocol is associated with improved nurse-sensitive stroke time metrics but did not translate to faster delivery of thrombolytic agents for acute ischemic stroke, emphasizing the importance of well-outlined workflows and standardized stroke code protocols at every point in acute ischemic stroke care.
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Necrotizing fasciitis is a life-threatening soft-tissue infection, often characterized by soft-tissue destruction, systemic toxicity, and high mortality. No single laboratory value can diagnose necrotizing fasciitis; ultimately, necrotizing fasciitis is a clinical diagnosis and therefore presents a diagnostic dilemma for many physicians. The finger probe test is useful in confirming the diagnosis when imaging studies are unobtainable or nondiagnostic. ⋯ We present the case of a 70-year-old woman presenting nonverbal and obtunded with a soft-tissue infection of the right lower extremity. The only pertinent positive vital sign was tachypnea with a respiratory rate of 22 breaths/min. Physical examination revealed nonpitting edema, cold-to-touch lower extremity, and Nikolsky-positive hemorrhagic bullae. Initial laboratory test results showed white blood cell count of 38 x 109/L and lactic acid of 8.2 mg/dL. Advanced imaging was unobtainable, given the patient's worsening clinical status, and the decision was made to perform the finger probe test, which revealed absence of bleeding and presence of friable tissue and "dishwater" discharge. Consequently, the general surgery team took the patient to the operating room and performed an above-the-knee amputation and surgical debridement. Postoperative report noted nonviable tissue consistent with necrotizing fasciitis. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Necrotizing fasciitis is a life-threatening emergency that can destroy soft-tissue at a rate of 1 inch/h. When imaging is unobtainable or nondiagnostic, the finger probe test can be used in select patients to aid with diagnosis.