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Emergency Medicine
Keep on top of the latest research relevant to emergency medicine with succinct perspectives by leading experts in the field.
Featured Article

SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Induced Hypothermia After VF Cardiac Arrest Improves OutcomesFree
- November 6, 2009
- Kristi L. Koenig, MD, FACEP
Hypothermia led to significantly better survival rates and neurological outcomes in patients with ventricular fibrillation but not in those with other initial rhythms.
- Reviewing:
- Don CW et al. Crit Care Med 2009 Sep 16
Recent Emergency Medicine Articles
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Ultrasound Detects Central Line Placement and Postprocedure Pneumothorax
- November 6, 2009
- Kristi L. Koenig, MD, FACEP
Chest x-ray missed 2 of 4 pneumothoraces and 1 of 25 misplaced catheter tips that were detected by bedside ultrasound.
- Reviewing:
- Vezzani A et al. Crit Care Med 2009 Oct 12
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
N95 Respirators or Surgical Mask for Protection from Influenza?
- November 6, 2009
- Kristi L. Koenig, MD, FACEP
By current knowledge, a surgical mask is sufficient. Save N95 respirators for TB and other aerosol-transmitted diseases.
- Reviewing:
- Gralton J and McLaws M-L. Crit Care Med 2009 Sep 1
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Dramatic Increase in Pediatric Venous Thromboembolism
- November 6, 2009
- Katherine Bakes, MD
The rate of pediatric VTE admissions in the U.S. increased by 70% between 2001 and 2008.
- Reviewing:
- Raffini L et al. Pediatrics 2009 Oct; 124:1001
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
BP Reduction in Acute Intracranial Hemorrhage: How Low Should We Go?
- November 6, 2009
- Kristi L. Koenig, MD, FACEP
This small phase I study shows that BP reduction is feasible but does not identify an optimum target level.
- Reviewing:
- Qureshi AI. Crit Care Med 2009 Sep 16
DRUG WATCH
Peramivir for Treatment of 2009 H1N1 Influenza
- November 4, 2009
- Lynn Estes, PharmD
- Infectious Diseases
Responding to a CDC request, the FDA authorized the emergency use of this investigational agent in critically ill patients.
- Reviewing:
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 2009 Oct 24
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Chest Compression Fraction and Survival from Cardiac ArrestFree
- October 30, 2009
- Aaron E. Bair, MD, MSc, FAAEM, FACEP
Minimizing interruption of chest compressions is associated with improved survival.
- Reviewing:
- Christenson J et al. Circulation 2009 Sep 29; 120:1241
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Methohexital vs. Pentobarbital for Head CT Sedation in Children
- October 30, 2009
- Katherine Bakes, MD
Methohexital is superior to pentobarbital for sedation of children during head CT.
- Reviewing:
- Chun TH et al. Pediatr Emerg Care 2009 Oct; 25:648
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Chest X-Ray Abnormalities Associated with H1N1 Influenza Infection
- October 30, 2009
- Daniel J. Pallin, MD, MPH
Patchy consolidation, often bilateral, was the most common finding.
- Reviewing:
- Agarwal PP et al. AJR Am J Roentgenol 2009 Oct 12
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Systematic Screening for Blunt Cervical Vascular Injury Reduces Time to Diagnosis and Incidence of Stroke
- October 30, 2009
- John A. Marx, MD, FAAEM
A standardized scoring system and computed tomographic angiography greatly reduced time to diagnosis from the old standard of conventional angiography.
- Reviewing:
- Eastman AL et al. J Trauma 2009 Sep; 67:551
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Intranasal Naloxone Is Effective for Opioid Overdose
- October 30, 2009
- Kristi L. Koenig, MD, FACEP
Time from patient contact to clinical response was the same with intranasal and intravenous naloxone.
- Reviewing:
- Robertson TM et al. Prehosp Emerg Care 2009 Oct-Dec; 13:512
Editor's Picks from across Journal Watch
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
CADENCE: A Snapshot of Angina in Primary Care Practice
- October 14, 2009
- By Frederick A. Masoudi, MD, MSPH
- Cardiology
Symptom control in patients with CAD merits more attention.
- Reviewing:
- Arch Intern Med 2009 Sep 14; 169:1491
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Intimate Partner Violence Linked to Various Health Conditions
- October 29, 2009
- By Jamaluddin Moloo, MD, MPH
- General Medicine
Women who reported IPV had significantly higher rates of musculoskeletal, psychosocial, and reproductive diagnoses.
- Reviewing:
- Arch Intern Med 2009 Oct 12; 169:1692
DRUG WATCH
Zanamivir (Relenza) Must Not Be Given by NebulizationFree
- October 28, 2009
- By Lynn L. Estes, PharmD
- Infectious Diseases
Ventilator obstruction was blamed for the death of a woman who received zanamivir inhalation powder that was solubilized and administered by mechanical ventilation.
- Reviewing:
- 2009 Oct 9
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Glucocorticoid Use Is Associated with Risk for Atrial Fibrillation
- October 27, 2009
- By Jamaluddin Moloo, MD, MPH
- General Medicine
A large case-control study suggests that glucocorticoid use is linked to AF.
- Reviewing:
- Arch Intern Med 2009 Oct 12; 169:1677
Journal Watch Emergency Medicine summarizes important medical journal articles about a wide variety of subjects relevant to the practice of emergency medicine including acute coronary syndrome, airway management, asthma, cardiac arrest, chest pain, endotracheal intubation, head trauma, pulmonary embolism, sedation, and stroke.
