39 research outputs found
Emergency Medicine in the #MeToo Era
No full textSexual harassment is a serious threat to a safe and productive workplace. The emergency department (ED) environment poses unique threats, including stress, time constraints, working in close physical proximity, and frequent personal contacts with staff, colleagues, consultants, and difficult patients. Sexual harassment must be recognized and addressed in individual cases, in policy and in law, to protect staff members and patients.This article addresses the scope of the problem of sexual harassment known to date. It describes the ED environment and culture and why they may be conducive to harassment or abusive behavior. The authors examine relationships among staff, legal and regulatory issues, and strategies for prevention and remediation of inappropriate behavior. The article ends with a call for future researc
The effect of written informed consent on detection of violence in the home.
No full textUNLABELLED: Studies of programmatic interventions for victims of violence in the home may require the use of informed consent. The use of informed consent may result in ascertainment bias, with victims of violence being less likely to participate.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of written informed consent on the detection of violence in the home during emergency department (ED) screening.
METHODS: The authors performed a nonrandomized, controlled trial of 3,466 patients at an urban university ED. On odd days, patients (n = 1,857) were read a brief scripted statement and screened using standardized questions. On even days, patients (n = 1,609) received standard written informed consent prior to the same screening questions (writ-IC). The main outcome was the number of cases of violence in the home detected using each screening protocol.
RESULTS: Fewer writ-IC patients participated in screening (82% vs 92%; p \u3c 0.001). Despite a higher refusal rate in the writ-IC group, there was no difference in the number of victims detected by each screening method: choked/kicked/bit/punched? (writ-IC, 7.3 vs routine screen, 6.5%; p = 0.3); slapped/grabbed/shoved? (7.3 vs 6.7%; p = 0.4); threatened/actually used knife/gun to scare/hurt you? (8.3 vs 9.4%; p = 0.3); thrown object to harm you? (5.2 vs 4.6%; p = 0.4); forced sex? (5.8 vs 4.7%; p = 0.15); or afraid current/former intimate partner would hurt you physically? (13.9 vs 11.9%; p = 0.9).
CONCLUSIONS: A written informed consent process in screening for violence in the home is associated with a higher refusal rate than routine screening, but use of written informed consent does not result in a lower rate of detection for multiple forms of violence. The authors did not find any support for the hypothesis that the use of written informed consent would decrease detection of violence in the home
Airway pressure release ventilation in pediatrics.
No full textOBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of airway pressure release ventilation in children. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, crossover clinical trial. SETTING: This study was conducted in our 33-bed pediatric intensive care unit at The Children\u27s Hospital of Philadelphia. PATIENTS: Patients requiring mechanical ventilatory support and weighing \u3e8 kg were considered for enrollment. Patients were excluded if they required mechanical ventilatory support for \u3e7 days or required \u3e.50 Fio(2) for \u3e7 days before enrollment. Patients with documented obstructive airway disease and congenital or acquired heart disease were excluded as well. INTERVENTIONS: Each patient received both volume-controlled synchronized intermittent mechanical ventilation (SIMV) and airway pressure release ventilation (APRV) via the Drager Evita ventilator (Drager, Lubeck, Germany). Measurements were obtained after the patient was stabilized on each ventilation mode. Stabilization was defined as oxygenation, ventilation, hemodynamic variables, and patient comfort within the acceptable range for each patient as determined by the bedside physician. After measurements were obtained on the initial mode of ventilation, the subjects crossed over to the alternative study mode. Stabilization was again achieved, and measurements were repeated. After completion of the second study measurements, patients were placed on the ventilation modality preferred by the bedside clinician and were followed through weaning and extubation. Measurements: Vital signs, airway pressures, minute ventilation, Spo(2), and E(T)CO(2) were recorded at enrollment and at each study condition. MAIN RESULTS: APRV provided similar ventilation, oxygenation, mean airway pressure, hemodynamics, and patient comfort as SIMV. Inspiratory airway pressures were lower with APRV when compared with SIMV. CONCLUSIONS: Using APRV in children with mild to moderate lung disease resulted in comparable levels of ventilation and oxygenation at significantly lower inspiratory peak and plateau pressures. Based on these findings, we plan to evaluate APRV in children with significant lung disease
Survey of self-assessed preparedness for clinical practice in one Croatian medical school
No full textAbstract Background The Croatian higher education system is in the process of reforming its medical curricula to comply with European Union standards. We conducted a survey of students enrolled at the University of Zagreb (Croatia) asking them to rate their perception of preparedness for clinical practice prior to initiation of the reform process. The purpose of the survey was to identify self-perceived deficiencies in education and to establish a reference point for the later assessment of ongoing educational reform. Findings One-hundred and forty seven (N = 147) graduates reported the levels of perceived preparedness on 30 items grouped into 8 educational domains. Main domains were: understanding science, practical skills/patient management, holistic care, prevention, interpersonal skills, confidence/coping skills, collaboration, and self-directed learning. For each item, graduates self assessed their preparedness on a scale ranging from 1 to 4, with 1 = "Very inadequate", 2 = "Somewhat inadequate", 3 = "Somewhat adequate", and 4 = "Very adequate". In 7 out of 8 domains the achieved median score was ≥ 3. Students expressed low confidence (defined when ≥ 25% of respondents supplied a rating for the survey question as: "very inadequate" or "somewhat inadequate") with interpersonal skills (discussing terminal disease, counseling distraught patients, balancing professional and personal life), and in performing certain basic semi-invasive or invasive procedures. Conclusion Zagreb medical graduates identified several deficiencies within educational domains required for standard clinical practice. Ongoing educational efforts need to be directed towards the correction of these deficiencies in order to achieve standards required by the European Union.</p
Regional low-flow perfusion improves neurologic outcome compared with deep hypothermic circulatory arrest in neonatal piglets
No full textAbstractBackgroundRegional low-flow perfusion is an alternative to deep hypothermic circulatory arrest, but whether regional low-flow perfusion improves neurologic outcome after deep hypothermic circulatory arrest in neonates remains unknown. We tested neurologic recovery after regional low-flow perfusion compared with deep hypothermic circulatory arrest in a neonatal piglet model.MethodsSixteen neonatal piglets underwent cardiopulmonary bypass, were randomized to 90 minutes of deep hypothermic circulatory arrest or regional low-flow perfusion (10 mL · kg−1 · min−1) at 18°C, and survived for 1 week. Standardized neurobehavioral scores were obtained on postoperative days 1, 3, and 7 (0 = no deficit to 90 = brain death). Histopathologic scores were determined on the basis of the percentage of injured and apoptotic neurons in the neocortex and hippocampus by hematoxylin and eosin and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase–mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate–biotin nick-end labeling (0 = no injury to 4 = diffuse injury). Differences between groups were tested by using the Wilcoxon rank sum test, and results are listed as medians within a range.ResultsThere were no significant differences between groups during cardiopulmonary bypass. Postoperative neurobehavioral scores were abnormal in 25% (2/8) of the regional low-flow perfusion animals versus 88% (7/8) of controls. Regional low-flow perfusion animals had significantly less neurologic injury compared with controls on postoperative day 1 (0.00 [range, 0-5] vs 12.5 [range, 0-52]; P < .008). There was a trend for less severe injury in the regional low-flow perfusion group (2.0 [range, 1-4] vs 0.0 [range, 0-50]; P = .08) on hematoxylin and eosin. The degree of apoptosis was significantly less in the regional low-flow perfusion group (0.0 [range, 0-1] vs 2.5 [range, 0-4]; P = .03).ConclusionsRegional low-flow perfusion decreases neuronal injury and improves early postoperative neurologic function after deep hypothermic circulatory arrest in neonatal piglets
Avaliação dos óbitos ocorridos no setor de emergência
No full textDissertação (mestrado profissional) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Cuidados Intensivos e Paliativos, Florianópolis, 2014.Introdução - A maioria das mortes no mundo atual ocorre nos hospitais, sendo crescente o atendimento nos setores de emergência (SE) de pacientes com doença terminal. Objetivos - Avaliar o perfil clínico-demográfico dos pacientes que morreram no SE do HU-UFSC; constatar se as mortes foram consideradas esperadas; verificar as condutas terapêuticas que precederam o óbito. Método - Coorte retrospectivo, aprovado pela comissão de ética. As informações foram colhidas do banco de dados da Comissão de Óbitos do HU-UFSC. Foi anotada a causa da morte e foram avaliados dados clínico-demográficos daqueles que morreram entre julho/2004-dezembro/2010 (G1) e entre janeiro/2011-dezembro/2012 (G2). Para análise estatística foram utilizados teste T Student e x2. Resultados: Foram avaliados 860 óbitos. A comparação do G1 com o G2 mostrou aumento significativo da idade média (68.9/71.4anos) e da incidência de doenças crônico-degenerativas (79%/95.4%). Reanimação cardiorrespiratória (RCP) precedeu o óbito em 30.5% no G1 e 6.6% no G2 (pAbstract : Back Ground - As the majority of the deaths occur in hospitals nowadays, that demands an increasing care in the emergency department (ED) for patients with terminal illness. Objectives - To evaluate the clinical and demographic profile of the patients who died in the ED of HU-UFSC. To determine whether the deaths were considered expected; to verify the therapeutic procedures before death. Method: A retrospective cohort, approved by the Ethics Committee. Information was collected from data base of the Death Commission HU-UFSC. Notes were taken considering the cause for death. Clinical and demographic data of those who died between July/2004-december/2010 (G1) and between January/2011- December/2012 (G2) were evaluated. Student's t test and x2 where used for statistical analysis. Results: A total of 860 deaths were evaluated. In comparison with G1, G2 showed significant increase in average age (68.6/71.4 years) and the incidence chronic degenerative disease (79%/ 95.4%). Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) preceded the death in 30.5% in G1 and 6.6% in G2 (p<0.01). In G1, 57.2% of deaths were expected and 92.9% in G2. Compared with patients who remained in a time =24 hours, those that remained more than 24 hours were older (67.5 vs 72 years). Death was significantly more expected (85% vs 98%), suffering from chronic degenerative diseases (91.5 vs 97.6%). CPR manoeuvres were less performed in these patients (p <0:01). Conclusions: There was a time difference of clinical and demographic characteristics of patients who died in the emergency HU/UFSC. There was an increasing in age, in the incidence of chronic-degenerative diseases, and in the deaths considered expected. There was a decrease of CPR
Same-Day Versus Non-Simultaneous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Support for In-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Complicating Acute Myocardial Infarction
No full textBackground: Although extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is used for hemodynamic support for in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) complicating acute myocardial infarction (AMI), there are limited data on the outcomes stratified by the timing of initiation of this strategy. Methods: Adult (>18 years) AMI admissions with IHCA were identified using the National Inpatient Sample (2000–2017) and the timing of ECMO with relation to IHCA was identified. Same-day vs. non-simultaneous ECMO support for IHCA were compared. Outcomes of interest included in-hospital mortality, temporal trends, hospitalization costs, and length of stay. Results: Of the 11.6 million AMI admissions, IHCA was noted in 1.5% with 914 (<0.01%) receiving ECMO support. The cohort receiving same-day ECMO (N = 795) was on average female, with lower comorbidity, higher rates of ST-segment-elevation AMI, shockable rhythm, and higher rates of complications. Compared to non-simultaneous ECMO, the same-day ECMO cohort had higher rates of coronary angiography (67.5% vs. 51.3%; p = 0.001) and comparable rates of percutaneous coronary intervention (58.9% vs. 63.9%; p = 0.32). The same-day ECMO cohort had higher in-hospital mortality (63.1% vs. 44.5%; adjusted odds ratio 3.98 (95% confidence interval 2.34–6.77); p < 0.001), shorter length of stay, and lower hospitalization costs. Older age, minority race, non-ST-segment elevation AMI, multiorgan failure, and complications independently predicted higher in-hospital mortality in IHCA complicating AMI. Conclusions: Same-day ECMO support for IHCA was associated with higher in-hospital mortality compared to those receiving non-simultaneous ECMO support. Though ECMO-assisted CPR is being increasingly used, careful candidate selection is key to improving outcomes in this population
