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The American journal of emergency medicine
Centrum Philadelphia]
The American journal of emergency medicine

Centrum Philadelphia]

0735-6757

The American journal of emergency medicine/Journal The American journal of emergency medicine
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    The emergency neurology literature 2020

    Khoujah D.Chang W.-T.W.
    7页
    查看更多>>摘要:? 2022 Elsevier Inc.Managing neurological emergencies is an essential element of emergency physicians' armamentarium, irrelevant of the specific nature of their practice. The combination of evolving literature and advances in imaging fuel the rapidly changing standards of care, especially in high-stakes diagnoses such as stroke. Navigating the emergency neurology literature to stay abreast of the current updates is becoming more challenging with the sheer volume of publications, combined with the recent dominance of COVID-19 on the literature and media attention. This review article summarizes emergency neurology literature updates that can help you improve your care of these high-risk presentations; articles covering stroke, dizziness, intracerebral hemorrhage, head trauma imaging, headache, seizures, and COVID-19 are reviewed.

    Dynamic changes in electrocardiographic findings between initial and follow-up electrocardiography: The role of the T/QRS ratio

    Choi Y.Lee J.H.
    7页
    查看更多>>摘要:? 2022 Elsevier Inc.Background: Dynamic changes in electrocardiographic findings between initial and follow-up electrocardiograms (ECGs) have rarely been studied for disease severity and differential diagnosis in non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome. We aimed to determine whether the changes in staple variables on ECG can assist in distinguishing between neuropsychiatric or gastrointestinal disorders (mild non-ischemic disorders), heart failure, and NSTE-ACS (non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome). Methods: This retrospective study enrolled 1279 patients who presented with ischemic symptoms; were diagnosed with NSTE-ACS, acute heart failure, and mild disorders; and underwent echocardiography and coronary angiography. After performing propensity matching of the ECG follow-up interval, 184 patients with symptom onset within 48 h were included and analyzed. Results: As a discriminator for NSTE-ACS, the maximum change in the T/QRS ratio in two contiguous leads was superior to the maximum change in ST segment depression, T wave inversion, and ST/T ratio. ECGs of patients with NSTE-ACS and heart failure showed a tendency to increase and decrease the T/QRS ratio change, respectively. Compared with regional wall motion abnormality, the change in troponin I/h and the maximum change in ST segment depression and T-wave inversion, the most deviated T/QRS ratio change from 1 (>1.5 or < 0.5) in two contiguous leads was the most significant discriminator for disease severity and differential diagnosis (standardized β = 0.545, p < 0.001). Conclusion: The maximum changes in the T/QRS ratio in two contiguous leads can assist in distinguishing disease severity and acute mimicking disease such as acute heart failure in patients with suspected ACS.

    Epidemiology of welding-associated ocular injuries

    Yan J.Uppuluri A.Zarbin M.A.Bhagat N....
    2页
    查看更多>>摘要:? 2022Purpose: Currently, there exists a lack of recent epidemiological data concerning ocular injuries due to welding related activities. Our study analyzes trends in ocular injuries related to usage of welding equipment in the U.S. from 2010 to 2019. Methods: Using the Consumer Product Safety Commission's National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) Database, we queried data from January 1st 2010 to December 31st 2019 using the corresponding product code for welding equipment (896). Results were stratified by year, and standard descriptive statistical methods were applied to components including gender, age, diagnoses, and ED disposition. Circumstances leading up to the injuries were reviewed as well. Results: Between 2010 and 2019 a total of 109,127 welding-associated ocular injuries occurred in the United States (95% CI, 86937–131,316). Estimates show a decreasing trend in cases from 13,415 (95% CI, 9979–16,851) in 2010 to 6944 (95% CI, 4868–9020) in 2019. A majority of cases occurred in men (98.2%) and in the 10–49 year age range (83.8%). 3.3% of cases involved spectators and 44% were bilateral. The top three ocular injury diagnoses were flash burns (62.1%), foreign body implantation (19.6%), and contusions/abrasions (11.1%). The number of radiation injuries trended down from 9286 in 2010 to 4023. With respect to a documented location, 38.9% occurred at home and 4.5% occurred in a school setting. Most patients (99.9%) were discharged from the ED; 0.1% were admitted to the hospital. Conclusions: The data suggests that number of ocular injuries related to welding has decreased significantly over the past 10 years. The most common injuries were radiation burns, foreign body disruption, and contusions/abrasions of the eye. Patients were predominantly men and between the ages of 10 and 49. Of note, almost half of all ocular injuries due to welding were bilateral, and 3% of ocular injuries were seen in spectators.

    Gender disparity in medicine and where are we now in emergency medicine?

    Atis S.E.Bozan O.Bildik B.Cekmen B....
    5页
    查看更多>>摘要:? 2022 Elsevier Inc.Background: Studies show that although the presence of women in the medical field has risen, there is a lesser representation of women within editorial boards of journals. Studies on this subject have mostly been carried out related to the medical field of the researcher. It is not known what position the emergency medicine department is in this regard compared to other departments. We aimed to investigate whether gender disparity exists within the editors and editorial board members of medical journals, especially in those related to emergency medicine. Methods: In the present cross-sectional study, we searched medical journals using the Scimago Journal/Country Rank journal system for comparison. The websites of the journals included in the study were searched, and gender data of the editor and editorial board, associate editors, consultant editors, and section editors for each journal were obtained. Results: The total number of journals examined in this study was 276. The median percentage of female editorial board members (20.8%; 50–100) was lower in emergency medicine journals compared to other branches of medicine (31%; 0–100) (p < .001). The median percentage of female editorial board members and editors was also lower in the emergency medicine field (20.6%; 0–50) (p < .001) than in other branches of medicine. The percentage of female editorial board members of emergency medicine journals was 19.5% with the third-lowest ranking among 26 branches. When both the editors and editorial board members were considered, the highest female percentage was found in pediatrics (50.7%) followed by geriatric medicine (43.4%). Conclusion: There is a significant gender disparity within editors and editorial board members in emergency medicine journals. The proportion of women within the editorial board was found to be lower in emergency medicine journals among all the journals included in the study.

    Drug-induced poisoning during pregnancy: Four-year experience

    Sert Z.S.Menekse T.S.
    4页
    查看更多>>摘要:? 2022 Elsevier Inc.Objective: The aim of this study was to define the population of pregnant women who presented to our clinic after drug exposure for suicidal purposes and to determine the effect of drug-induced poisoning on maternal and fetal outcomes. Methods: The records of patients who presented to the emergency department after a suicide attempt with drugs between 2017 and 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. Pregnant women aged 18 years and over who delivered their babies in our hospital were included in the study. Patient data were obtained from the hospital electronic database using the International Classification of Disease-10 code system. Demographic information, clinical characteristics, type of drugs ingested, pregnancy outcomes, and perinatal outcomes were recorded. Results: We found adverse pregnancy outcomes in five of the 28 patients included in the study. The most frequently used drugs for suicidal purposes were non-opioid analgesics, paracetamol, and antibiotics (39.3%, 35.7%, and 28.6%, respectively). Adverse pregnancy outcomes observed in the patients were preterm birth (n = 3), preeclampsia (n = 2), premature rupture of membranes (n = 1), fetal distress (n = 2), small for gestational age (n = 2), Apgar score at 5 min < 7 (n = 1), and requirement of neonatal intensive care (n = 2). Conclusion: Pregnant women attempting suicide with drug exposure are at high risk of many adverse obstetric outcomes. Providing these patients with appropriate clinical care is critical for the health of the mother and fetus.

    Utility of electroencephalogram in the pediatric emergency department

    Gunawardena S.Chikkannaiah M.Stolfi A.Kumar G....
    4页
    查看更多>>摘要:? 2022 Elsevier Inc.Introduction: Electroencephalograms (EEG) can be helpful in evaluating patients presenting to the emergency department (ED). Methods: We reviewed the charts of patients who had an EEG done in the ED at Dayton Children's Hospital in Dayton, Ohio from 2010 to 2018. We divided the indication for EEG into 6 categories, 1) suspected new onset seizures, 2) recurrent seizures, 3) altered mental status, 4) death, 5) non-convulsive status epilepticus, and 6) psychogenic seizures. We collected data on age, gender, suspected diagnosis, EEG result, outcome of the visit in terms of discharge versus inpatient admission, follow up of the patient with respect to a) diagnosis, b) medication, c) recurrent visit to the ED, and d) clinical outcome over a two-year follow up. We also collected data on the results of the subsequent video EEG in patients who had an EEG in the ED and determined whether the video EEG had the same results and/or added any additional information. Results: We studied 162 patients (mean ± SD age 7.8 ± 5.8 years, 42.6% females) with routine EEG in the ED from 2010 to 2018. In 142 patients (87.7%), the EEG was helpful in confirming or ruling out the suspected diagnosis. For the indications of new onset seizures (n = 90), recurrent seizures (n = 48), acute mental status change (n = 22), and psychogenic seizures (n = 5), the EEG was useful in 91.1%, 81.3%, 81.8%, and 100% respectively. Of the 162 patients, 58 were discharged and 104 were admitted. For the 142 patients in whom the routine EEG was diagnostically useful, 59.9% were admitted, compared to 95.0% of the 20 patients in whom the EEG did not help in clarifying the diagnosis (p = 0.002). In 31 of the admitted patients, a video EEG was done. In the 31 patients who obtained video EEG, it did not add any additional information in 23 patients while in 8 patients (25.8%) the video EEG provided additional information that was useful for diagnosis and management. Conclusions: EEG done in the ED is a useful diagnostic tool that may prevent admission to the hospital. Video EEGs should be considered in patients where the diagnosis is uncertain despite obtaining a routine EEG in the ED.

    Injuries from nonmotorized scooters treated in emergency departments in the United States, 2005–2020

    Tuckel P.
    6页
    查看更多>>摘要:? 2022 Elsevier Inc.Background: In the past decade scholarly attention has shifted away from examining injuries from nonmotorized scooters to injuries from electric scooters. This has resulted in a knowledge gap concerning current levels of injury due to the use of nonmotorized scooters. This study presents recent trend data and demographics of patients treated for injuries from nonmotorized scooters in US Emergency Departments (EDs) from 2005 to 2020. Methods: The study examines data from a probability sample of hospitals with an ED under the auspices of the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS). NEISS generates annual national estimates of the incidence of injuries related to nonmotorized scooters. The NEISS data set includes demographic and diagnostic information about each patient as well as a narrative surrounding the circumstances surrounding the injury. Results: Injuries from unpowered scooters in the United States have undergone a decline in the past decade. However, as data from this study reveals, injuries from nonmotorized scooters still constitute a substantial source of morbidity in the United States, totaling approximately 40,000 annually. Males and children in the age group 5 to 9 were found to be most likely to be injured. The most frequent type of diagnosis was “fracture” (26.4%), followed by “contusions/abrasions” (21.7%) and “laceration” (21.4%). The most common site of injury was the head, neck, or face (32%), followed in descending order by the forearm (28%), the leg (17.3%), the arm (9.8%), and the thigh (7.7%). The gender disparity in injuries to the head region was particularly pronounced. Among those who sustained a head or facial injury, more than two-thirds (68.6%) were male and this disparity persists even when controlling for age. Over time, the geographic location of injuries has shifted downwards from the home and increased in “places or recreation or sport” or “other public places.” Conclusions: Injuries from nonmotorized in the United States are still sizeable in number and can be prevented by greater use of protective equipment. Injuries predominate among males and children in the age category of 5 to 9.

    Brief report: The diagnostic utility of procalcitonin is limited in the setting of methamphetamine toxicity

    Kennis B.Aaser A.Lasoff D.Sweeney D.A....
    5页
    查看更多>>摘要:? 2022 Elsevier Inc.Procalcitonin (PCT) is a biomarker with greater specificity for bacterial infection than other current laboratory markers. However, PCT can also be elevated in the setting of several noninfectious conditions. A recent case report describes a patient with elevated PCT in the context of acute methamphetamine intoxication, but without evidence of infection. Thus far, no studies have evaluated the diagnostic utility of PCT in patients with active methamphetamine use. We seek to test the hypothesis that PCT has diminished utility in patients who use methamphetamine presenting to the Emergency Department (ED). We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients presenting to an academic ED between May 2017 and July 2019. We included patients ≥18 years of age with a positive urine methamphetamine test and at least two PCT results. Pregnant patients were excluded. Cases were classified as microbiologically documented infection, clinically documented infection, possible infection, or no infection by clinician review. A positive PCT value was defined as ≥0.5 ng/ml. The performance of PCT as a diagnostic test for bacterial infection in this population was then evaluated using sensitivity, specificity, false positive rate, false negative rate, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. We identified 143 patients, including 75 with recorded PCT levels ≥0.5 ng/ml and 93 with microbiologically or clinically documented bacterial infection. The sensitivity and specificity of PCT for bacterial infection in this study population was 60% and 64%, respectively. The false positive rate was 36% while the false negative rate was 40%. The area under the ROC curve was 0.65. Additionally, we describe 8 patients with confirmed absence of infection but with elevated PCT, 4 of whom had serum values >10 ng/ml. The results suggest that PCT has poor diagnostic utility for bacterial infection in patients with active methamphetamine use presenting to the ED.

    High risk and low prevalence diseases: Traumatic arthrotomy

    Colmer H.G.Pirotte M.Koyfman A.Long B....
    5页
    查看更多>>摘要:? 2022Introduction: Traumatic arthrotomy (TA) is a rare but serious condition associated with a high morbidity and mortality that can be mitigated with prompt diagnosis and appropriate management. Objective: This review highlights the pearls and pitfalls of the emergency department (ED) evaluation of TA, including diagnostic procedures, imaging, and management based on current evidence. Discussion: Traumatic arthrotomy occurs when the joint capsule is disrupted during a penetrating injury. This exposes the intra-articular contents to contamination and poses a serious risk for development of septic arthritis. All periarticular injuries should prompt evaluation for TA, as missing this diagnosis can lead to significant morbidity and possibly mortality. ED evaluation options include plain radiographs, computerized tomography, and the saline load test. Each of these diagnostic modalities has unique limitations, and as such it is difficult to determine optimal practice or a standard of care. This is further complicated by the limited number of studies evaluating joints other than the knee. ED management includes orthopedic surgery consultation, wound care including irrigation, tetanus prophylaxis, and antibiotic administration. Conclusions: An understanding of an evidenced-based approach to TA can assist emergency clinicians in diagnosing and managing this challenging clinical presentation.

    Clinical update on COVID-19 for the emergency clinician: Presentation and evaluation

    Long B.Carius B.M.Chavez S.Liang S.Y....
    12页
    查看更多>>摘要:? 2022Introduction: Coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) has resulted in millions of cases worldwide. As the pandemic has progressed, the understanding of this disease has evolved. Objective: This first in a two-part series on COVID-19 updates provides a focused overview of the presentation and evaluation of COVID-19 for emergency clinicians. Discussion: COVID-19, caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has resulted in significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Several variants exist, including a variant of concern known as Delta (B.1.617.2 lineage) and the Omicron variant (B.1.1.529 lineage). The Delta variant is associated with higher infectivity and poor patient outcomes, and the Omicron variant has resulted in a significant increase in infections. While over 80% of patients experience mild symptoms, a significant proportion can be critically ill, including those who are older and those with comorbidities. Upper respiratory symptoms, fever, and changes in taste/smell remain the most common presenting symptoms. Extrapulmonary complications are numerous and may be severe, including the cardiovascular, neurologic, gastrointestinal, and dermatologic systems. Emergency department evaluation includes focused testing for COVID-19 and assessment of end-organ injury. Imaging may include chest radiography, computed tomography, or ultrasound. Several risk scores may assist in prognostication, including the 4C (Coronavirus Clinical Characterisation Consortium) score, quick COVID Severity Index (qCSI), NEWS2, and the PRIEST score, but these should only supplement and not replace clinical judgment. Conclusion: This review provides a focused update of the presentation and evaluation of COVID-19 for emergency clinicians.