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4. Top Stories of 2009: Most Read

Emergency Medicine Top Stories of 2009: Most Read

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Antibiotic Use in Children with Otitis Media Increases Risk for Recurrence

• August 7, 2009
• Kristi L. Koenig, MD, FACEP
• Emergency Medicine

Another reason to wait and see

• Reviewing:
• Bezáková N et al. BMJ 2009 Jun 30; 338:b2525

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Normal ECG During Chest Pain Does Not Rule Out ACS

• June 12, 2009
• Diane M. Birnbaumer, MD, FACEP
• Emergency Medicine

Among chest pain patients with normal initial ECGs, a similar percentage had acute coronary syndrome whether the ECG was performed when chest pain was present or absent.

• Reviewing:
• Turnipseed SD et al. Acad Emerg Med 2009 Jun; 16:495

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Stroke After TIA: How Likely and How Soon?

• June 1, 2009
• Richard D. Zane, MD, FAAEM
• Emergency Medicine

Risk for stroke within 24 hours after TIA was 5% in this large population-based study.

• Reviewing:
• Chandratheva A et al. Neurology 2009 Jun 2; 72:1941

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Ultrasound Before CT in Patients with Acute Abdominal Pain

• July 24, 2009
• Kristi L. Koenig, MD, FACEP
• Emergency Medicine

A diagnostic strategy of ultrasound followed by CT only if ultrasound results are nondiagnostic optimizes sensitivity while minimizing radiation exposure.

• Reviewing:
• Laméris W et al. BMJ 2009 Jun 26; 338:b2431
  Dixon AK and Watson CJ. BMJ 2009 Jun 26; 338:b1678

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Clinical Performance of Newer, More-Sensitive Troponin Assays

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

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

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Steroids Might Relieve Sore Throat Pain

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

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

Benefits of Urgent Evaluation and Treatment for TIA and Minor Stroke

• March 6, 2009
• Kristi L. Koenig, MD, FACEP
• Emergency Medicine

Early neurological assessment and treatment is cost-effective and prevents long-term disability.

• Reviewing:
• Luengo-Fernandez R et al. Lancet Neurol 2009 Mar; 8:235

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Reducing Antibiotic Use for Lower Respiratory Tract Infections

• May 22, 2009
• Kristi L. Koenig, MD, FACEP
• Emergency Medicine

Communication skills training and use of bedside C-reactive protein testing reduce antibiotic prescribing for lower respiratory tract infections without affecting patient outcomes.

• Reviewing:
• Cals JWL et al. BMJ 2009 May 5; 338:b1374
  Hay AD and Jüttner KV. BMJ 2009 May 5; 338:b834

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

LP Is Not Needed for Young Children with First Simple Febrile Seizure

• February 27, 2009
• Jill M. Baren, MD, MBE, FACEP, FAAP
• Emergency Medicine

It’s time for the American Academy of Pediatrics to revise its recommendations for LP.

• Reviewing:
• Kimia AA et al. Pediatrics 2009 Jan; 123:6

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Norepinephrine vs. Dopamine for Septic Shock

• April 10, 2009
• Daniel J. Pallin, MD, MPH
• Emergency Medicine

In a nonrandomized study, investigators used complex statistical methods to reach the flawed conclusion that norepinephrine is inferior to dopamine.

• Reviewing:
• Póvoa PR et al. Crit Care Med 2009 Feb; 37:410