Shock index in diagnosing early acute hypovolemia.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the hemodynamic response and calculated shock index (SI=heart rate [HR]/systolic blood pressure [SBP]) in early acute blood loss.

Methods: This was a prospective observational study that enrolled healthy blood donors. Patients were excluded if not eligible for blood donation.

Emergency medicine-trained physicians are proficient in the insertion of transvenous pacemakers.

Study Objective: The insertion and management of a temporary transvenous pacemaker can be a lifesaving procedure in the emergency department setting. We compare the success and complication rates associated with temporary transvenous pacemaker insertion between physicians trained in either emergency medicine or cardiology.

Methods: This was a retrospective medical record review of all patients with a billing code for temporary transvenous pacemaker insertion at our institution between July 1999 and December 2002.

The ability of traditional vital signs and shock index to identify ruptured ectopic pregnancy.

Objective: This study evaluated the correlation between vital signs and hemoperitoneum and the association between abnormal vital signs and tubal rupture.

Study Design: With the use of a retrospective case-control design, the initial heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and heart rate/systolic blood pressure were correlated with respect to degree of hemoperitoneum; predictive values were calculated.

Results: Fifty-two patients were studied (25 ruptured pregnancies and 27 unruptured ectopic pregnancies).