Emergency Medicine: Archives

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Success of the LMA CTrach with C-Spine Immobilization

• August 28, 2009
• Aaron E. Bair, MD, MSc, FAAEM, FACEP

Cervical spine immobilization did not significantly increase time to ventilation or time to glottic visualization with the CTrach.

• Reviewing:
• Ng BSW et al., Anaesthesia 2009 Aug; 64:894

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Testing for the Cause of Syncope in Elders

• August 28, 2009
• J. Stephen Bohan, MD, MS, FACP, FACEP

Most tests have a low diagnostic yield and are not cost-effective.

• Reviewing:
• Mendu ML et al., Arch Intern Med 2009 Jul 27; 169:1299 Heidenreich PA., Arch Intern Med 2009 Jul 27; 169:1262 Quinn JV., Arch Intern Med 2009 Jul 27; 169:1305

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Steroids Might Relieve Sore Throat Pain

• August 28, 2009
• Kristi L. Koenig, MD, FACEP

A meta-analysis shows that a single dose of steroids, given in addition to standard antibiotics, hastens resolution of pain in adults with exudative pharyngitis or bacterial pharyngitis.

• Reviewing:
• Hayward G et al., BMJ 2009 Aug 6; 339:b2976 Little P., BMJ 2009 Aug 6; 339:b2476

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Clinical Performance of Newer, More-Sensitive Troponin AssaysFree

• August 26, 2009
• J. Stephen Bohan, MD, MS, FACP, FACEP

The new assays improve early detection of MI.

• Reviewing:
• Reichlin T et al., N Engl J Med 2009 Aug 27; 361:858 Keller T et al., N Engl J Med 2009 Aug 27; 361:868 Morrow DA., N Engl J Med 2009 Aug 27; 361:913

LETTER TO READERS

A Wait-and-See Approach to Management of Otitis Media in Children: Readers Weigh InFree

• August 21, 2009
• Ron M. Walls, MD, FRCPC, FAAEM

The preponderance of evidence opposes the routine use of antibiotics, although some readers disagree.

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Does Your Patient Really Need Another Chest CT?

• August 21, 2009
• Richard D. Zane, MD, FAAEM

Repeat chest CT angiography scans have a low yield for diagnosing pulmonary embolism.

• Reviewing:
• Kline JA et al., Ann Emerg Med 2009 Jul; 54:41 Piazza G and Goldhaber SZ., Ann Emerg Med 2009 Jul; 54:49

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

MRSA Coinfection in Children Hospitalized for Influenza

• August 21, 2009
• Daniel J. Pallin, MD, MPH

Six percent of children hospitalized for influenza in Atlanta had MRSA coinfection.

• Reviewing:
• Reed C et al., Pediatr Infect Dis J 2009 Jul; 28:572

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Factors Associated with Time to Defibrillation After In-Hospital Cardiac Arrest

• August 21, 2009
• J. Stephen Bohan, MD, MS, FACP, FACEP

Time to defibrillation varies widely among U.S. hospitals, and performance is best in ICUs and large hospitals (>200 beds).

• Reviewing:
• Chan PS et al., Arch Intern Med 2009 Jul 27; 169:1265 Ho PM and Bradley SM., Arch Intern Med 2009 Jul 27; 169:1260

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Better Outcomes with a Specialized Pediatric Transport Team

• August 21, 2009
• Daniel J. Pallin, MD, MPH

Children transferred to a pediatric hospital had better outcomes when transported by a specialized pediatric team.

• Reviewing:
• Orr RA et al., Pediatrics 2009 Jul; 124:40

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Fever in a Vaccinated Child? Hold the Blood CulturesFree

• August 14, 2009
• Diane M. Birnbaumer, MD, FACEP

Routine blood cultures are not necessary for febrile children older than 3 months.

• Reviewing:
• Rudinsky SL et al., Acad Emerg Med 2009 Jul; 16:585