Emergency Medicine Alert articles from July 2002

Emergency Medicine Alert archives from July 2002

t-PA infusion for undifferentiated, unresponsive PEA: just say no? (Abstract & Commentary).(pulmonary embolism)
July 1, 2002... Source: Abu-Laban RB, et al. Tissue plasminogen activator in cardiac arrest with pulseless electrical activity. N Engl J Med 2002;346:1522-1528. ACUTE CORONARY THROMBOSIS AND PULMONARY EMBOLISM (PE) are considered common causes of cardiac...

Highlights from SAEM 2002: ED overcrowding--new research on an old problem. (Abstract & Commentary).
July 1, 2002... The following are brief summaries of three abstracts presented recently at the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine 2002 annual meeting in St. Louis. Source: Asplin BR, et al. Measuring emergency department crowding and hospital...

Post-exposure prophylaxis for needlesticks and other occupational exposures. (Special Feature).
July 1, 2002... DESPITE AWARENESS OF UNIVERSAL PRECAUTIONS, occupational exposures to blood and body fluids remain a constant threat to health care personnel (HCP). A growing number of HCP have reported at least one percutaneous exposure. (1) One group found...

Physician CME questions.(continuing medical education)
July 1, 2002... (7.) All of the following statements regarding the study by Abu-Laban et al about the use of t-PA in patients with PEA are true except: a. It is possible that there is a t-PA-related absolute improvement in the rate of survival to hospital...

A clue in the pause. (ECG Review).
July 1, 2002... Clinical Scenario: The tachycardia recorded in the 12-lead ECG shown in the Figure was obtained from a 73-year-old woman who presented with shortness of breath. What is the rhythm most likely to be? [FIGURE OMITTED] Interpretation: The...