Emergency Medicine Alert articles from April 2004

Emergency Medicine Alert archives from April 2004

LMWHs appear equivalent to unfractionated heparin for PE.(Abstract & Commentary)(low molecular-weight heparin, pulmonary embolism)
April 1, 2004... Source: Quinlan DJ, et al. Low-molecular-weight heparin compared with intravenous unfractionated heparin for treatment of pulmonary embolism. Ann Intern Med 2004;140:175. ********** IN THIS STUDY, THE AUTHORS PERFORMED A META-ANALYSIS...

Early BNP measurement yields more efficient ED care.(Abstract & Commentary)(B-type natriuretic peptide levels, Emergency Department)
April 1, 2004... Source: Mueller C, et al. Use of B-type natriuretic peptide in the evaluation and management of acute dyspnea. N Engl J Med 2004;350:647-654. ********** THIS RANDOMIZED, CONTROLLED, SINGLE-BLINDED study examined the hypothesis that...

Vasopressin vs. epinephrine in cardiac arrest.(Abstract & Commentary)
April 1, 2004... Source: Wenzel V, et al, for the European Resuscitation Council Vasopressor during Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Study Group. A comparison of vasopressin and epinephrine for out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation. N Engl J Med...

Major trauma and GCS of 3: do pupillary characteristics give prognostic clues?(Abstract & Commentary)(Glasgow Coma Scale score)
April 1, 2004... Source: Lieberman JD, et al. Use of admission Glasgow coma score, pupil size, and pupil reactivity to determine outcome for trauma patients. J Trauma 2003;55:437-43. ********** THE ABILITY TO RELIABLY PREDICT FATAL OUTCOMES of major...

Suspicious powder episodes and the ED.(Special Feature)(Emergency Department)
April 1, 2004... ONE WEEKDAY MORNING A FEW MONTHS AGO, SEVEN people inside a hotel in downtown Philadelphia were quarantined. Why? A suspicious powder was found in one of the rooms. Fire department personnel, police, and anti-terrorism personnel responded to...

Physician CME questions.
April 1, 2004... 26. If a suspicious powder is brought to the ED by a patient who carries the substance in a sealed envelope: a. the envelope must be burned promptly. b. the triage nurse who evaluates the patient must be placed in strict isolation. ...

What's going on? (Part II).(ECG Review)(dyspnea diagnosis)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Clinical Scenario: 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. Can you account for the...