Emergency Medicine Alert articles from September 2004

Emergency Medicine Alert archives from September 2004

Sodium bicarbonate reduces the incidence of contrast-induced nephropathy.(Abstract & Commentary)
September 1, 2004... THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROSPECTIVE, SINGLE-CENTER, RANDOMized trial was to compare the efficacy of sodium bicarbonate with sodium chloride as the hydration fluid to prevent contrast-induced nephropathy. A total of 119 patients with stable...

Absorbable suture material for closure of pediatric lacerations.(Abstract & Commentary)
September 1, 2004... THIS PROSPECTIVE, RANDOMIZED CLINICAL TRIAL attempted to determine if there was any difference in outcome between lacerations closed with traditional nonabsorbable sutures vs. those closed with fast-absorbing gut. This Canadian study was...

New vestibular neuritis treatment targets assumed etiologic link to herpes.(Abstract & Commentary)
September 1, 2004... AFTER BENIGN POSITIONAL VERTIGO, VESTIBULAR neuritis is the most common cause of peripheral vestibular vertigo, with an estimated incidence of 3.5 per 100,000 in one study. (1) If it is indeed a manifestation of the reactivation of herpes...

Midazolam vs haloperidol vs lorazepam in the chemical restraint of agitated patients.(Abstract & Commentary)
September 1, 2004... THE PHARMACOLOGIC PROFILE OF MIDAZOLAM, A short-acting benzodiazepine, led the authors to hypothesize that this drug would compare favorably with lorazepam and haloperidol in the sedation of violent and severely agitated patients in the ED. All...

Glycoprotein IIb-IIIa receptor inhibitors: applications in the ED.(Special Feature)
September 1, 2004... THE GLYCOPROTEIN IIB-IIIA RECEPTOR INHIBITOR (GPI) agents representa relatively recent addition to the therapeutic armamentarium employed in the treatment of the patient with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). During platelet stimulation, surface...

Physician CME questions.
September 1, 2004... 21. Considering the results of the study about contrast-induced renal failure, all of the following statements are true except: a. Hydration with sodium bicarbonate after contrast exposure is more effective than hydration with sodium...

Afib with PVCs?(ECG Review)(premature ventricular contractions)(Atrial fibrillation )(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Clinical Scenario: The computerized interpretation for the ECG in the Figure read, "Atrial fibrillation with PVCs (premature ventricular contractions)." Do you agree? Interpretation/Answer: The rhythm is rapid and irregularly irregular....

The evaluation and clearance of the cervical spine in adult trauma patients: clinical concepts, controversies, and advances, Part 2.
September 1, 2004... Cervical spine injuries, although uncommon (0.9-6% of blunt trauma patients), (1-5) have the potential to result in permanent neurologic devastation for the patient. Appropriate suspicion for cervical spine injury, immobilization, and the...

CE/CME questions.
September 1, 2004... 1. Which of the following statements is true regarding the role of computerized tomography (CT) in evaluating patients for cervical spine injury? A. CT of the cervical spine may be able to detect cervical spine injuries not readily...