Osborn wave in hypothermia and relation to mortality

Background & aimThe aim of this study was to compare hypothermia patients with and without an Osborn wave (OW) in terms of physical examination findings, laboratory results, and clinical survival.MethodsThe study was carried out retrospectively on hypothermic patients. The hypothermic patients were divided into two groups. Group 1 comprised patients with OW on electrocardiogram (ECG), and Group 2 comprised patients without OW on ECG. The Mann–Whitney U test was used to compare the two groups, and the relationships between the variables and the presence of OW and mortality were analyzed with ANOVA. A value of p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.ResultsOW was detected on ECG of 41.9% of the patients (Group 1). The mean body temperature was 30.8 ± 4.1 °C in Group 1 and 33.3 ± 1.6 °C in Group 2 (p = 0.106). The mean creatinine level was 1.01 ± 0.6 mg/dl in Group 1 and 0.73 ± 0.5 mg/dl in Group 2 (p = 0.046). The mean bicarbonate level was 15.9 ± 3.8 mmol/l in Group 1 and 18.6 ± 3.5 mmol/l in Group 2 (p = 0.038). A relationship was determined between the presence of OW and pH, bicarbonate, and creatinine levels (p = 0.026; 0.013; 0.042, respectively). The mortality rate was 69.2% in Group 1 and 77.8% in Group 2 (p = 0.689).ConclusionAlthough there is a relationship between the decrease in bicarbonate levels, changes in kidney functions that cause acidosis, and the presence of OW, it has no effect on mortality. The presence of OW in hypothermic patients is insufficient to make a decision regarding mortality.     

Evaluation of new two-thumb chest compression technique for infant CPR performed by novice physicians. A randomized,crossover, manikin trial

Background

The impact of high-quality chest compressions during CPR for the patients' outcome is undisputed, as it is essential for maintaining vital organ perfusion. The aim of our study is to compare the quality of chest compression (CC) and ventilation among the two current standard techniques with our novel “nTTT” technique in infant CPR.

Resuscitation quality of rotating chest compression providers at one-minute vs. two-minute intervals: A mannequin study

Objective

The aim of this randomized cross-over study was to compare one-minute and two-minute continuous chest compressions in terms of chest compression only CPR quality metrics on a mannequin model in the ED.

Intravenous paracetamol versus dexketoprofen in acute musculoskeletal trauma in the emergency department: A randomised clinical trial

Introduction

Musculoskeletal system traumas are among the most common presentations in the emergency departments. In the treatment of traumatic musculoskeletal pain, paracetamol and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory analgesics (NSAID) are frequently used. Our aim in this study is to compare the efficacy of intravenous dexketoprofen and paracetamol in the treatment of traumatic musculoskeletal pain.

Comparison of Macintosh and Intubrite laryngoscopes for intubation performed by novice physicians in a difficult airway scenario

Introduction

In the difficult airway, the intubation skills are critically important. In selected cases, particularly in airway edema, laryngeal or tongue edema, endotracheal intubation can turn out very difficult, and repeated attempts may even worsen the airway edema, causing trauma and bleeding, and finally leading to complete airway obstruction and inability to ventilate the patient.

High-thoracic ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block for acute herpes zoster pain management in emergency department

Herpes zoster is a painful, eruptive, viral condition occurring with reactivation in immunosuppressed individuals. The selection of an effective analgesic method in the acute phase of herpes zoster can decrease the incidence of postherpetic neuralgia by reducing neural sensitization. The erector spinae plane block has been reported to provide diffuse and effective analgesia in the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar regions. We report an effective decrease in pain with the application of the high-thoracic erector spinae plane block in the emergency department in a patient with herpes zoster pain in the cervicothoracic and shoulder region.     

Evaluation of activated charcoal and lipid emulsion treatment in model of acute rivaroxaban toxicity

Aim

Reducing or reversing the toxicity effects of new oral anticoagulants is an important question.The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the effect of lipid emulsion (LE) and Activated Charcoal (AC) therapy on the intoxication of rivaroxaban, on mice.

Selective chest imaging for blunt trauma patients: The national emergency X-ray utilization studies (NEXUS-chest algorithm)

Chest imaging plays a prominent role in blunt trauma patient evaluation, but indiscriminate imaging is expensive, may delay care, and unnecessarily exposes patients to potentially harmful ionizing radiation. To improve diagnostic chest imaging utilization, we conducted 3 prospective multicenter studies over 12 years to derive and validate decision instruments (DIs) to guide the use of chest x-ray (CXR) and chest computed tomography (CT).The first DI, NEXUS Chest x-ray, consists of seven criteria (Age > 60 years; rapid deceleration mechanism; chest pain; intoxication; altered mental status; distracting painful injury; and chest wall tenderness) and exhibits a sensitivity of 99.0% (95% confidence interval [CI] 98.2–99.4%) and a specificity of 13.3% (95% CI, 12.6%–14.0%) for detecting clinically significant injuries.We developed two NEXUS Chest CT DIs, which are both highly reliable in detecting clinically major injuries (sensitivity of 99.2%; 95% CI 95.4–100%). Designed primarily to focus on detecting major injuries, the NEXUS Chest CT-Major DI consists of six criteria (abnormal CXR; distracting injury; chest wall tenderness; sternal tenderness; thoracic spine tenderness; and scapular tenderness) and exhibits higher specificity (37.9%; 95% CI 35.8–40.1%). Designed to reliability detect both major and minor injuries (sensitivity 95.4%; 95% CI 93.6–96.9%) with resulting lower specificity (25.5%; 95% CI 23.5–27.5%), the NEXUS CT-All rule consists of seven elements (the six NEXUS CT-Major criteria plus rapid deceleration mechanism).The purpose of this review is to synthesize the three DIs into a novel, cohesive summary algorithm with practical implementation recommendations to guide selective chest imaging in adult blunt trauma patients.     

Safety of reassessment-and-release practice for mental health patients boarded in the emergency department

Objectives

Among emergency department (ED) mental health and substance abuse (MHSA) patients, we sought to compare mortality and healthcare utilization by ED discharge disposition and inpatient bed request status.