Repeat CT after blunt head trauma and Glasgow Coma Scale score 13-15 without neurological deterioration is very low yield for intervention.

Purpose: Due to the increase in accessibility of computed tomography (CT), repeat head CT scans are routinely ordered for patients with minor head injuries. The aim of this study is to evaluate the necessity and outcomes of routine repeat head CT in patients with GCS score of 13-15 who presented to the emergency department (ED) of Antalya University Hospital in Turkey with blunt head trauma.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of patients with minor head trauma that received initial and repeat head CT results from July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2015.

Utility of 360-degree assessment of residents in a Turkish academic emergency medicine residency program.

Objectives: This study was designed to test a 360-degree assessment tool for four of the emergency medicine resident competencies as outlined by the Council of Residency Directors in Emergency Medicine on patient care, communication skills, professionalism and system based practice in an academic Emergency Department.

Material And Methods: Using the competency framework of the American Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, a 57 item-containing assessment tool was created. Based on the different exposure aspects of the involved evaluator groups, the items were integrated into seven different evaluation forms.

Contribution of verbal suggestion to the therapeutic efficacy of an analgesic agent for acute primary headache.

Objective: The therapeutic response of a patient cannot purely be explained by the method of therapy or the efficacy of a drug. Clinician-patient interaction, psychosocial factors, patients' expectations, hopes, beliefs and fears are all related to the healing outcome. Malleability and suggestibility are also important in the placebo or nocebo effect.

Pancreatic Injury Caused By A Fall From Height: Transection at the Tail.

Isolated pancreatic injury due to blunt abdominal trauma is rare and may be clinically difficult to diagnose. Parenchymal injuries may not be recognized during initial evaluation. We report the case of a 30-year-old male presented to the Emergency Department (ED) with the complaint of persistent abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting.

Personnel response during an internal emergency-unexpected release of an irritant gas in a hospital.

Internal emergencies can occur at any time and location in a hospital. Planning, training, and exercises can prepare personnel to respond effectively to internal emergency situations. All hospital staff should be trained to recognize an internal incident and activate the hospital emergency management system.

Using n-Grams for Syndromic Surveillance in a Turkish Emergency Department Without English Translation: A Feasibility Study.

Introduction: Syndromic surveillance is designed for early detection of disease outbreaks. An important data source for syndromic surveillance is free-text chief complaints (CCs), which are generally recorded in the local language. For automated syndromic surveillance, CCs must be classified into predefined syndromic categories.

The effect of temperature on illness severity in emergency department congestive heart failure patients.

Introduction: Previous studies revealed fewer visits for congestive heart failure (CHF) to emergency departments (EDs) in New Jersey, USA and fewer admissions for CHF to a Southern Indian and an Israeli hospital during warmer months. Using hospital admission rate for CHF as a marker for illness severity, we hypothesized that CHF would also be less severe in warmer months.

Materials And Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study which included all ED visits from 1 January 2004 to 31 January 2006.

How stylet use can effect confirmation of endotracheal tube position using ultrasound.

Introduction: None of the techniques used for confirmation of endotracheal tube (ET) placement are proven reliable 100% of the time. The purpose of our study is to determine whether ultrasound can accurately detect the passage of ET through the trachea and esophagus and to see whether this visualization is augmented with the use of a metal stylet.

Methods: A total of 7 physicians made assessments of ET positions using an ultrasound during their passage through the trachea or esophagus.

Factors affecting revisit of COPD exacerbated patients presenting to emergency department.

The primary purpose of this prospective cohort study was to characterize the use of the Emergency Department (ED) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations and determine the factors affecting the revisit of COPD patients. This is a prospective cohort study on ambulatory patients with exacerbated chronic bronchitis in an ED setting. Patients included in the study were above 18 years of age, had a previous diagnosis of COPD, and presented to the ED for the treatment of COPD exacerbation.

[Analysis of motorcycle accident victims presenting to the emergency department].

Background: Motorcycle accidents are one of the major causes of traumatic injuries and deaths. The purpose of this study was to analyze the features of the victims presenting with motorcycle-related injuries.

Methods: This study was conducted prospectively from July 1 to September 30, 2005 at the Emergency Department (ED) of Akdeniz University Hospital.

Herpes zoster as a useful clinical marker of underlying cell-mediated immune disorders.

Introduction: The objective of this study was to determine the necessity of further evaluation of patients presented with herpes zoster (HZ) to the Emergency Department for the underlying decreased cell-mediated immunity.

Materials And Methods: The data of 132 adult patients presenting with HZ to the Emergency Department were collected from the computerised database of Akdeniz University Hospital. The following data were recorded: demographic data and underlying diseases during onset of HZ and laboratory results (white blood cell counts, blood glucose levels).

Seizure or syncope: the diagnostic value of serum creatine kinase and myoglobin levels.

Objective: To determine if the serum levels of creatine kinase and myoglobin can be used to differentiate the grandmal tonic-clonic seizure and syncope activities in the emergency department (ED).

Methods: Consecutive patients over 16 years old who presented to an ED of a tertiary care hospital with a witnessed tonic-clonic seizure activity and a history of a transient loss of consciousness with normal neurological exams in the ED were selected to either seizure or syncope groups. Patients with an unclear history of seizure or syncope with more than 4 h of the activity and with any conditions that could elevate creatine kinase and myoglobin levels were excluded.

Comparison of trauma mortality between two hospitals in Turkey to one trauma center in the US.

Objectives: The development of comprehensive international trauma case registries could be used to perform outcomes analysis and comparisons between countries with the goal of improving trauma care worldwide.

Methods: A retrospective study (April 2004 to April 2005) of injured patients from a Pennsylvania state trauma center (PSTC) were case matched according to age, sex, and injury severity score with two Turkish hospitals. Patients' demographics (age, sex), prehospital information (mechanism of injury, mode of transportation), injury severity (injury severity score and Glasgow coma score), and outcomes (intensive care unit length of stay, hospital length of stay, mortality) were collected.

Pain perception of patients predisposed to anxiety and depressive disorders in emergency department.

The aim of this study was to reveal the effects of anxiety and depression on pain perception in the emergency setting. This randomized prospective study was performed in an urban tertiary care hospital emergency department (ED). Consecutive patients presenting to the ED with pain who had an intramuscular injection of diclofenac sodium were enrolled in the study.

Anxiety and depressive disorders in patients presenting with chest pain to the emergency department: a comparison between cardiac and non-cardiac origin.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of anxiety and depressive disorders in patients presenting with chest pain to the Emergency Department (ED) and determine if there is a relationship between these and cardiac vs. non-cardiac chest pain.

Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study was performed in an urban tertiary care hospital between March and October 2005.

Pseudoephedrine-induced paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia: a case report.

Palpitation is a common chief complaint among emergency department patients, and is often associated with a tachydysrhythmia. Tachydysrhythmia is classified as supraventricular tachycardia or ventricular tachycardia. Reentry in a normal or accessory pathway is one of the most frequently seen mechanisms explaining the tachydysrhythmia.

Abamectin intoxication with coma and hypotension.

Abamectin is a potent antihelmintic, insecticide, and miticide used to control pests of humans, veterinary animals, and crops. The toxic effects of abamectin are usually seen after oral ingestions. These are altered mental status, respiratory failure, and hypotension.

[The evaluation of academic emergency department design].

Background: In our study which was based upon a questionnaire, the inner and outer architectural designs of emergency services of Emergency Medicine Departments were investigated.

Methods: In this descriptive study, a standard questionnaire was sent to 26 Emergency Medicine Departments which were operating at that time. In the questionnaire, the internal, external architectural and functional features were questioned.

The prevalence of asymptomatic pyuria in diabetic patients: comparison of the Sysmex UF-100 automated urinalysis analyzer with Fuchs-Rosenthal hemacytometer.

Objective: We investigated the prevalence of asymptomatic pyuria (ASP) in diabetic patients and compared the Sysmex UF-100 with Fuchs-Rosenthal hemacytometer.

Design And Methods: ASP prevalence was investigated in 227 diabetic patients. Imprecision, accuracy and correlation of UF-100 with hemacytometer in measuring leukocyte counts were determined.

Comparison of systemic and local effects of nitric acid and hydrochloric acid: an experimental study in a rat model.

Background: We aimed to determine the local and systemic effects of widely available household cleaners, namely 45% nitric acid (NHO(3)), and 18% hydrochloric acid (HCl), in a rat model.

Methods: This prospective, experimental, placebo-controlled trial was carried out in the Animal Research Laboratory of Akdeniz University hospital. Commonly available solution of 45% NHO(3) and 18% HCl were tested against normal saline.

[A second-degree burn related to air bag deployment: a case report].

Although air bags have been shown to reduce mortality and morbidity in motor vehicle crashes, they are associated with specific injuries. Burns due to air bag deployment account for more than 5% of all air bag injuries and typically involve upper extremities or head and neck. Aside from friction burns, thermal and chemical burns are also seen resulting from the use of certain chemicals for the deployment mechanism.

Unintentional toxicity due to endosulfan: a case report of two patients and characteristics of endosulfan toxicity.

Unrestricted use of endosulfan, a cyclic chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticide, results in many intentional and unintentional toxicities in Turkey. Due to its chemical stability in the environment, toxicity may be seen even if exposure happens 6-mo after the endosulfan has been sprayed. We discuss a case of 2 patients with unintentional exposure to endosulfan after eating contaminated foods, one of which presented with neurological manifestations and required mechanical ventilation, the other having only mild symptoms.

Appropriateness of emergency department visits in a Turkish university hospital.

Aim: To determine the patterns and appropriateness of patients' use of a university hospital emergency department.

Methods: During a 14-day period in November 1998, we collected demographic and socio-economic data, reasons for preferring emergency department care, and patient visit data from consecutive patients visiting our tertiary-care university hospital emergency department. The principle investigator reviewed the study information forms and classified visits according to the classification of Afilalo into three categories: category I--emergent emergency department visits; category II--needing evaluation within 6 hours, either in emergency department or elsewhere; or category III--needing evaluation after more than 6 hours.