Does point-of-care ultrasonography improve diagnostic accuracy in emergency department patients with undifferentiated hypotension? An international randomized controlled trial from the SHOC-ED investigators.

Purpose: Point-of-care ultrasonography (POCUS) is an established tool in the management of hypotensive patients in the emergency department (ED). We compared the diagnostic accuracy of a POCUS protocol versus standard assessment without POCUS in patients with undifferentiated hypotension.

Methods: This was an international, multicenter randomized controlled trial included three EDs in North America and three in South Africa from September 2012 to December 2016.

A promising poison information centre model for Africa.

Introduction: The burden of poisoning exposures in Africa is a significant public health concern, yet only ten African countries have poisons information centres. The establishment of poisons centres was subsequently identified as a priority. This article focuses on workshop discussions with international multi-sector stakeholders in Eastern Africa regarding the possibility of a sub-regional poisons centre serving multiple countries.