Advanced Journal of Emergency medicine
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What Can We Do to Improve Patient Satisfactıon in the Emergency Department? A Prospective Study in a Turkish University Hospital
Get PDFIntroduction: In recent years, patients' satisfaction with emergency medical services provided to them has been one of the main criteria in the evaluation of the quality of these services. Objective: The goal of our study was to determine the factors that affect the satisfaction of patients admitted to the emergency department (ED) and to provide new regulations. Method: This prospective and descriptive study included 341 patients who utilized the ED services of a university hospital between October 1, 2004, and June 30, 2005. The patients' demographic and visit characteristics, waiting times, and the total duration of stay in the ED were noted in the prepared questionnaire. In addition, all patients were asked to indicate their level of satisfaction with the care received in the ED based on a five-point Likert scale. The results were analyzed using ANOVA, chi-square, and logistic regression tests. Results: Of the 341 patients, 219 (64.2%) were satisfied with the care they had received in the ED. Factors such as doctor and nurse behavior, medical information, the frequency of doctors and nurses visits, the ease of access to personnel, the cleanliness of the ED, and the availability of technical equipment had a statistically significant effect on the overall satisfaction of the patients (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The quality of patient care provided and the features of the ED determine the patients’ satisfaction with the ED services
Facial hyperpigmentation: Any link to cancer?
Get PDFIntroduction: Ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) syndrome is recognized by edema, proximal muscle weakness, hypertension, diabetes and skin hyperpigmentation. This syndrome is mainly associated with malignancies. Case presentation: A 43-year-old woman came to our hospital with a history of new-onset diabetes, hypertension, edema and facial hyperpigmentation from four months before. Upon admission, she had alkalosis, hypokalemia, mild hypertension and low-grade fever. Due to abdominal pain, an abdominal ultrasound was performed, which revealed common bile duct (CBD) and pancreatic duct dilation. The abdominopelvic computed tomography (CT) scan showed a poorly-enhancing mass in the periampullary region. Conclusion: The patient's facial hyperpigmentation and hypokalemia appear to have been due to ACTH ectopic syndrome as a result of periampullary cancer
Interstitial Nephritis Presenting as Acute Kidney Injury Following Ingestion of Alternative Medicine Containing Lead: A Case Report
Get PDFIntroduction: Some studies have shown that patients consuming alternate medicine can suffer from complications like acute kidney injury (AKI) due to heavy metal poisoning. The use of traditional ayurvedic herbal remedies may be difficult to identify as a source of toxicity, especially if the treating doctor is not aware of this habit, unless a detailed history is taken. In this report, we describe a patient who had consumed ayurvedic supplements for treating fever and abdominal pain and presented to our emergency department (ED) with AKI. Case presentation: A 24-year-old male presented to the ED with complaints of abdominal pain, fever and loose stools. His blood tests revealed AKI and he was started on emergency hemodialysis. His renal function improved after only one cycle of dialysis and he was discharged in a stable condition. Conclusion: Acute lead toxicity should be suspected in patients with abdominal and neurological dysfunction who have a history of chronic ayurvedic medicine intake and thus should be promptly treated. Physicians should rule out potential toxicity from these supplements and have a heightened level of suspicion for lead toxicity in patients presenting with abdominal pain and AKI without any obvious cause
Radial Head Subluxation: Possible Effective Factors on Time to Re-use the Affected Limb
Get PDFIntroduction: Radial head subluxation (RHS) is a common disorder in children. Although it is not accompanied by any important short- or long-term sequel, it could make the parents worried about. Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the possible effective factors that may influence time to use the affected limb. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted prospectively during the years 2014 to 2016. All children under the age of 6 years who visited the emergency department (ED) and were diagnosed as having RHS were eligible. The patients’ baseline information was recorded. After the reduction, the time until the affected arm use returned was recorded. The possible relationship between the baseline data and time to re-use the affected limb was assessed. Results: During the study period, 112 children with a mean age of 30.18 ± 18.18 months were evaluated (53% male). Among the children who visited the ED during the first 4 hours and thereafter, 84% and 60%, respectively, re-used their limb in less than 10 minutes after reduction (p = 0.004). Also, 55% of children less than or equal to 24 months and 89% over the age of 24 months re-used the arm in 10 minutes (p < 0.001). The success rate of the first reduction maneuver was significantly lower in children with a recurrent dislocation (p = 0.001). Conclusion: It is likely that age less than or equal to 24 months and ED visit after 4 hours of the event lead to a longer duration for re-using the affected arm following reduction
Propofol-Ketamine vs. Propofol-Fentanyl Combinations in Patients Undergoing Closed Reduction: A Randomized, Double-blind, Clinical Trial
Get PDFIntroduction: Painful surgical procedures require adequate sedation and analgesia. A vast array of medications can be used for Procedural Sedation and Analgesia (PSA) in Emergency Departments (EDs). Objective: The present study was conducted to compare Propofol-Ketamine (PK) and Propofol-Fentanyl (PF) compounds in patients undergoing closed reduction in EDs. Methods: This randomized, double-blind, clinical trial was conducted on 110 consecutive patients who required sedation for closed reduction. The patients were randomly divided into two groups of equal sizes. The PK group received an intravenous bolus of 1 mg/kg of propofol plus 0.5 mg/kg of ketamine, and the PF group received an intravenous bolus of 1 mg/kg of propofol plus 1 µg/kg of fentanyl. The analgesic effect and success rate were the primary outcomes under study. Results: The PK group achieved more effective analgesia at the end of the experiment. The success rate was almost the same in both groups Shivering (p=0.005) and a drop in oxygen saturation to below 92% (p=0.048) were two side effects that were more prevalent in the FK group . The mean recovery time was significantly shorter in the PK group (p<0.001). The patients in the PK group were more satisfied. Conclusion: In comparison with the PF compound, the use of KP leads to better pain relief and greater patient satisfaction and shorter sedation time in PSA
Sample Size Calculation Guide - Part 2: How to Calculate the Sample Size for an Independent Cohort Study
Get PDFIn the previous article, we explained how to calculate the sample size for a cross-sectional study based on a rate or a single proportion. In this article, we will explain how to calculate the sample size for an independent cohort study based on a comparison of two proportions representing the event rates in both the exposed and the non-exposed groups
The Cost of Leaving the Emergency Department without Notice; a Cross-sectional Study
Get PDFIntroduction: Leaving the hospital without notice is among the problems that can inflict financial and non-financial burdens on the health care system of a country. Objective: The present study was carried out with the aim of evaluating the prevalence of leaving without notice cases in the emergency department (ED) of one of the major teaching hospitals of Tehran affiliated with Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences and calculating the direct costs resulting from it. Methods: This study was a retrospective cross-sectional one carried out during 1 year from 2016 to 2017 in one of the teaching hospitals of Tehran affiliated with Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. Sampling was performed via census method and the study population consisted of the profiles of all the patients who had left the hospital without notice or checking out after being admitted to the hospital. To gather the required data for this study, a checklist consisting of questions regarding sex, age, insurance coverage, and the amount of money they owed the hospital was used. Statistical analysis was performed using the software IBM Statistics for Windows v22 and P-value<0.05 was considered significant. Results: Out of the total of 39946 patients visiting the ED of the studied hospital during 1 year, 1692 (4.2%) had left the hospital without checking out. Below 30 years age range was the most common age range with 46.9% (794 patients) and 72.9% of the patients leaving without notice were men. Based on the findings obtained, male patients without insurance coverage had attempted to leave the hospital without notice more than others (p<0.001). The total cost inflicted by leaving without notice throughout the studied year was 1,755,286,279 Rials, which is equal to 0.0059 of the total annual income of the ED. Conclusion: Throughout the year this study was performed, a total of 1.2% of all the visitors of the ED of a hospital affiliated with Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences left the hospital without notice or checking out, which inflicted a considerable cost on the ED
Reverse Triage to Increase the Hospital Surge Capacity in Disaster Response
Get PDFIntroduction: Successful and effective management of large-scale disasters and epidemics requires pre-established systematic plans to minimize the damage and control the situation. With an increasing number of people in need of urgent medical care, hospitals must improve their response capacity, being at the forefront of responding to disasters and incidents. One way to develop the hospital capacity in disaster response is by reverse triage (RT). Objective: The current study was conducted to investigate the role of RT to create additional hospital surge capacity in one of the major referral academic hospitals of Isfahan, Iran. Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2015 at Al-Zahra Subspecialty Hospital, Isfahan, Iran. The ten most common diseases leading to hospitalization in each ward of the hospital in 2014 were reviewed and, based on the prevalence, sorted and listed. Academic instructions for making a decision and possibility of early discharge was written and approved by an expert panel. On a day that was not set previously, the pre-selected in-charge person of each department was asked to run the RT following the instructions, and the number and percentage of those who were eligible for discharge via RT were determined. Results: The total BOR in Al-Zahra Hospital in 2014 was about 80%, so it was estimated that almost 140 out of 700 beds are vacant. The results showed that by using RT, 108 (20%) hospitalized cases could be discharged, and considering the bed occupancy rate of about 80% and 140 vacant beds, a total of 248 beds could be provided following RT. Conclusion: Running RT in 41 wards and units of Isfahan Al-Zahra Hospital, on average, added 108 beds to the hospital capacity. This increment is not the same in all wards, as the role of intensive care units in RT for surge capacity is insignificant
Critical Care Medicine: Bangladesh Perspective
Get PDFBangladesh became an independent and sovereign country in 1971 following a nine-month blood shedding liberation war. Bangladesh has a population of about 152.25 million, making it one of the most populous countries in the world. Intensive care is an emerging but less emphasized concept in Bangladesh. The first intensive care unit (ICU) in Bangladesh was established in the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) in 1980. Since then many ICUs have been established. In Bangladesh there is no governing body like Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council (BMDC) that can set the standard of such units. There are no reliable statistics regarding the number of both governmental and private ICUs, bed capacities, no. of patients getting admitted per month, services offered, equipment, qualification of health professionals, cost/benefits and mortality rates of these ICUs