Articles: emergency-services.
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Observational Study
The effect of intravenous ondansetron on QT interval in the emergency department.
Ondansetron, a 5HT3 receptor antagonist, is commonly used in emergency departments to treat nausea and vomiting. In 2011, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning that this medicine may cause QT prolongation, potentially leading to deadly arrhythmias. The objective of this study was to characterize the QT interval prolongation associated with ondansetron use in the Emergency Department. ⋯ In this study, QT prolongation due to ondansetron administration was below the 'important' value according to the recommendations of the ICH. No cases of cardiac arrhythmia were reported in any of the partients. Thus, routine ECG monitoring in patients given ondansetron due to the risk of QTc prolongation does not seem cost-effective when evaluated together with additional factors such as its negative impact on emergency patient flow, waste of personnel and time, and increase in healthcare costs. In the absence of a known risk of cardiac arrhythmia, IV administration of 4 mg and 8 mg of ondansetron doses no risk of QT prolongation in the emergency population.
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Pediatric emergency care · Nov 2024
Factors Associated With Potentially Unnecessary Transfers for Children With Asthma: A Retrospective Cohort Study.
Our objective was to identify the hospital- and community-related factors associated with the hospital-level rate of potentially unnecessary interfacility transfers (IFTs) for pediatric patients with asthma exacerbations. ⋯ Several hospital- and community-related factors were associated with potentially unnecessary IFTs among pediatric patients presenting to the ED with asthma exacerbations. These findings provide insight into disparities in potentially unnecessary IFT across communities and can guide the development of future interventions.
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Review Meta Analysis
Discharge instruction comprehension by older adults in the emergency department: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Older adults are at high risk of adverse health outcomes in the post-emergency department (ED) discharge period. Prior work has shown that discharged older adults have variable understanding of their discharge instructions which may contribute to these outcomes. To identify discharge comprehension gaps amenable to future interventions, we utilize meta-analysis to determine patient comprehension across five domains of discharge instructions: diagnosis, medications, self-care, routine follow-up, and return precautions. ⋯ Older patients discharged from the ED had greater comprehension of self-care and follow-up instructions than about their medications. These findings suggest that medication instructions may be a priority domain for future interventions.
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Meta Analysis
The Role of Troponin Testing in Patients with Supraventricular Tachycardia, Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is commonly evaluated in the emergency department (ED). While troponin has been shown to be elevated in SVT, its usefulness for predicting coronary artery disease and future adverse cardiovascular outcomes has not been shown. ⋯ Troponin levels are frequently ordered for ED patients with SVT and are often elevated. However, this review suggests that they have low prognostic value in predicting MACE.