Practical Summaries in Acute Care Archives – March 1, 2004
March 1, 2004
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NEXUS vs. the Canadian C-spine Rule: Let the Battle Begin
The purpose for this study, carried out at nine Canadian tertiary care hospitals, was to prospectively compare the NEXUS low-risk criteria to the Canadian c-spine rules for accuracy, reliability, clinical acceptability, and potential outcomes in patient care and radiography utilization. -
Is Response to Nitroglycerin Predictive of Active CAD?
To clarify nitroglycerins ability to distinguish ischemic chest pain, Henrickson and colleagues studied symptomatic patients in an academic emergency department, evaluating nitroglycerins responsiveness as a predictor of coronary artery disease (CAD). -
What’s the Critical Threshold in Time for Administering Antibiotics in CAP?
The objective of this prospective observational study was to determine if there was a significant difference in time to clinical stability between patients with moderate-to-severe community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) who received their antibiotics within four hours and those who received antibiotics after four hours. -
Special Feature: Electrocardiographic ST Segment Depression
While ST segment changes (both elevation and depression) are associated with an acute coronary syndrome, numerous other clinical entities manifest ST segment depression. Appropriate management partially is dependent upon differentiating these various causes of ST segment depression on the ECG. -
ECG Review: What’s Going On?
The 12-lead ECG and accompanying rhythm strip in the Figure were obtained from an 84-year-old man who presented to the emergency department with acute dyspnea from pneumonia and heart failure. Whats going on? Is RBBB (right bundle-branch block) among the findings? -
Trauma Reports Supplement: Evaluation and Management of Blunt and Penetrating Thoracic Trauma
Trauma to the thoracic cavity is responsible for approximately 10-25% of all trauma-related deaths, with the majority of these deaths occurring after arrival at the emergency department. The mortality for isolated chest injury is relatively low (less than 5%); however, with multiple organ system involvement, the mortality approaches 30%. This article dissects the critical aspects of thoracic trauma and highlights acute care management strategies.