Prognosis of Cardiac Arrest-Peri-arrest and Post-arrest Considerations.

There has been only a small improvement in survival and neurologic outcomes in patients with cardiac arrest in recent decades. Type of arrest, length of total arrest time, and location of arrest alter the trajectory of survival and neurologic outcome. In the post-arrest phase, clinical markers such as blood markers, pupillary light response, corneal reflex, myoclonic jerking, somatosensory evoked potential, and electroencephalography testing can be used to help guide neurological prognostication.

Hepatic Portal Venous Gas Incidentally Associated With Bacterial Enteritis: A Case Report.

Hepatic portal venous gas (HPVG) has long been associated with catastrophic intraabdominal conditions. Advancements in ultrasound (US) and computed tomography (CT) imaging have resulted in an increased number of incidental and clinically benign HPVG cases identified. Causes of clinically benign HPVG include viral gastroenteritis, gastritis, pancreatitis, appendicitis and diverticulitis.

A Pulse Check on Leadership and Teamwork: An Evaluation of the First 5 Minutes of Emergency Department Resuscitation During Pediatric Cardiopulmonary Arrests.

Objectives: Effective leadership and teamwork are imperative during pediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitations (CPR). The initial phase of pediatric CPR, termed the "first 5 minutes," has significant care delivery gaps in both leadership and team performance. The aim of the study was to describe the performance data of emergency department (ED) teams who performed CPR in a pediatric ED.

Videographic Assessment of the Quality of EMS to ED Handoff Communication During Pediatric Resuscitations.

Background: The National Association of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Physicians emphasizes the importance of high quality communication between EMS providers and emergency department (ED) staff for providing safe, effective care. The Joint Commission has identified ineffective handoff communication as a contributing factor in 80% of serious medical errors. The quality of handoff communication from EMS to ED teams for critically ill pediatric patients needs further exploration.

Procedure rates performed by emergency medicine residents: a retrospective review.

Background: The purpose of our study is to investigate rates of individual procedures performed by residents in our emergency medicine (EM) residency program. Different programs expose residents to different training environments. Our hypothesis is that ultrasound examinations are the most commonly performed procedure in our residency.

Characteristics and lipid distribution of a large, high-risk, hypertensive population: the lipid-lowering component of the Antihypertensive and Lipid-Lowering Treatment to Prevent Heart Attack Trial (ALLHAT).

The Antihypertensive and Lipid-Lowering Treatment to Prevent Heart Attack Trial (ALLHAT) consisted of 42,418 participants randomized to one of four antihypertensive treatment groups: chlorthalidone, amlodipine, lisinopril, or doxazosin. A subset of these participants with fasting low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels 100-189 mg/dL were randomized into a lipid-lowering component: 5170 to receive pravastatin (40 mg daily) and 5185 to receive usual care. This report describes the characteristics and lipid distribution of these participants.