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Screening patients in the ED can help detect undiagnosed diabetes
The emergency department diabetes screening program involved a best practice alert that was built into electronic medical records. About 52.3% of patients who were screened in the ED had abnormal readings, where 30% had diabetes, while 70% had prediabetes. Only 25% of these patients reported being diagnosed with diabetes, while 58% were receiving treatment.
Drugs.com
Diagnostic errors in ED occur at similar rates seen in other clinical settings
One in 18 patients in the emergency department (ED) receive an incorrect diagnosis, 1 in 50 experience an adverse event, and 1 in 350 experience death or disability, as per a study conducted by emergency medicine agencies in the US. Overall, the diagnostic accuracy in emergency settings was high. These findings can help change policies to minimize misdiagnosis-linked harms.
Effective Health Care Program
What to do when a child swallows a button battery?
Button batteries are coin-shaped batteries used in watches, hearing aids, car keys, and toys. Ingesting them is dangerous as they can cause holes in the oesophagus or intestines, ultimately causing tissue damage and death. If a child swallows a button battery, immediately go to the nearest emergency. Vomiting induction and the Heimlich manoeuvre are not recommended.
Twitter @ClevelandClinic
WHO: Almost 50% of the world's population has oral diseases
Severe gum disease, oral cancers, tooth decay, and tooth loss are common oral diseases worldwide. Around 2.5 billion people worldwide are suffering from tooth decay, while 380,000 new oral cancer cases are being diagnosed yearly. Oral health is being neglected due to high out-of-pocket costs and the unavailability of dental equipment in primary healthcare facilities.
Twitter @Reuters_Health
"Tranq" can complicate the treatment of drug overdose
Overdose of xylazine-containing products, namely tranq, tranq dope, zombie drug, Philly dope, and sleep-cut, may not be reversed with naloxone treatment as per the FDA. Also, conventional tox screens cannot detect xylazine; thus, it should be considered a possible adulterant while treating overdosed patients. It can cause necrotic skin ulcers and severe withdrawal symptoms.
FDA
Giving IV potassium and magnesium could help treat AF
Patients with non-permanent atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter in the emergency department who were administered intravenous potassium and magnesium had an increased rate of spontaneous conversion in AF than no administration (19.2% vs 10.4%), as per a study. The findings suggest administering magnesium and potassium could reduce the necessity of antiarrhythmic treatment.
Twitter @JAMANetworkOpen
Pulse CO oximetry is not reliable for detecting carbon monoxide poisoning
Non-invasive pulse CO oximeters showed 77% sensitivity, 83% specificity, and 86% overall accuracy in diagnosing carbon monoxide poisoning, as per a study. However, they had a false negative rate of 23% for triaging patients with suspected poisoning. These findings suggest that pulse CO oximeters are not accurate enough to measure blood COHb levels in clinical practice.
European Emergency Medicine Congress
New CPR method increases survival chances in out-of-hospital heart attacks
Applying an "automated head-up/torso-up positioning" method to cardiopulmonary resuscitation was linked to significant improvements in the chances of survival compared to conventional CPR. Additionally, initiating this method of CPR early improved survival odds within achievable response intervals. This method could improve circulation and reduce intracranial pressure.
Twitter @cardioceptor
ACC's guidance on evaluating acute chest pain in an emergency department
It advises a systematic approach at individual patient and institution levels to achieve optimal outcomes during evaluation. A hs-cTn assay and clinical decision pathway are advised to reduce ED time and safe discharge. ECG remains the best test to be done and interpreted within 10 minutes of arrival. Pre-hospital ECG should be reviewed in those arriving in ambulances.
Twitter @ACCinTouch
An ultrasound can move kidney stones in awake patients
The new technique uses a handheld transducer that directs ultrasound waves towards the stones to move or pass them or even break them using burst wave lithotripsy, as per a report. Unlike the standard shock wave lithotripsy procedure, this technique does not need sedation and can be performed in an emergency room setting. Also, this procedure is nearly painless.
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