The emergency department care of hemodialysis patients.

Aims: To describe the emergency department (ED) presentation, evaluation and disposition of maintenance hemodialysis (HD) patients.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective review of adult HD patients seen 1/1-12/31/97. The following was collected: demographics, mode of arrival, chief complaint, etiology of renal failure, evaluation, treatment, disposition, length of stay and facility charges.

Validation of a brief screening tool to detect depression in elderly ED patients.

Although depression is the most common psychiatric disorder in the elderly, it is often unrecognized by physicians. The objective of the study was to assess the utility of a 3-question screening instrument (ED-DSI) to detect depression among elderly emergency department (ED) patients. We used a prospective convenience sample of English-speaking ED patients >or=65yr.

Socioeconomic and health status differences between depressed and nondepressed ED elders.

The objective of the study was to describe differences in demographics, medical conditions, and social situation between depressed and nondepressed elderly emergency department (ED) patients. We studied a prospective convenience sample of English-speaking ED patients greater-than-or-equal 65 years, without altered mental status, obvious dementia or delirium, participating in a depression screening study during an ED visit for a nonpsychiatric complaint. Demographics were collected.

Benzyl alcohol with epinephrine as an alternative to lidocaine with epinephrine.

A randomized, prospective, double-blind study comparing benzyl alcohol with epinephrine, 1:100,000 (BA), and lidocaine with epinephrine, 1:100,000 (LID), as local anesthetics was carried out on adult patients with simple lacerations. The two study groups were compared for pain of infiltration (100 mm visual analog scale) and need for additional anesthesia. Pain scores were compared by a Mann Whitney Independent Rank Sum test and need for additional anesthesia by a Fishers Exact test.

Home antipyretic use in children brought to the emergency department.

Objective: To determine how often children with a complaint of fever receive antipyretics at home and if any demographic factors are associated with correct dosing.

Methods: A prospective, descriptive study of children 3 to 36 months old presenting with complaint of fever was conducted. Caregivers were questioned about demographics and antipyretic given.

Nitrous oxide for the treatment of acute migraine headache.

The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of nitrous oxide in the therapy of acute migraine symptoms in emergency department (ED) patients. This was a prospective, randomized, double blind study of patients presenting to an ED. All eligible patients had a prior diagnosis and symptoms consistent with migraine headache and a normal neurological examination.

Accuracy of an enzymatic assay device for serum ethanol measurement.

Objective: To determine the accuracy of an enzymatic assay of serum to measure blood ethanol levels in the emergency department.

Methods: A blinded, prospective study of emergency department patients for whom a blood ethanol was ordered and performed. After skin prep with betadine, two blood samples were drawn into separate sodium fluoride-containing vacutainers.

Randomized trial of diphenhydramine versus benzyl alcohol with epinephrine as an alternative to lidocaine local anesthesia.

Study Objectives: We compared the pain of infiltration and anesthetic effects of.9% benzyl alcohol with epinephrine, 1% diphenhydramine, and.9% buffered lidocaine.

The effect of order on pain of local anesthetic infiltration.

Objective: To define the relationship between order of injection and pain of infiltration of buffered lidocaine.

Methods: Volunteers > or = 18 years of age were enrolled in a prospective, double-blind experimental protocol. Subjects received a 0.

Local anesthesia for lacerations: pain of infiltration inside vs outside the wound.

Objective: To compare the pains of infiltration of a local anesthetic for simple lacerations when used from within the wound vs through intact skin.

Methods: A randomized, prospective, single-blind, experimental protocol was conducted on a convenience sample of adults with simple lacerations. Subjects received two 0.

Physician and patient factors influencing the treatment of low back pain.

Previous retrospective studies have suggested that patient demographics may influence analgesic administration. These studies have not taken physicians' impression of patient pain into account. This prospective study investigates the influence of (i) physician impression of the degree of pain and (ii) patient demographics on the use of analgesic.

Topical tetracaine attenuates the pain of infiltration of buffered lidocaine.

Objective: To determine whether topical tetracaine attenuates the pain of buffered lidocaine infiltration.

Methods: A prospective, randomized, double-blind trial was conducted involving adults with lacerations being repaired following local anesthesia. Two 0.

Safe out-of-hospital treatment of chest pain without direct medical control.

Introduction: The use of direct medical control (DMC) in the out-of-hospital setting often is beneficial, but has the disadvantage of consuming emergency medical services (EMS) resources.

Hypothesis: Uncomplicated, nontrauma, adult patients with chest pain can be treated safely and transported by paramedics without DMC.

Methods: Retrospective chart review of all nontrauma, adult patients with chest pain treated in a combined rural and suburban EMS system during a 2-year period (December 1990 through November 1992) was conducted.

Lack of a hyperkalemic response in emergency department patients receiving succinylcholine.

Objective: To determine whether serum potassium (K) levels increase significantly following succinylcholine (SCh)-assisted intubation in ED patients.

Methods: A prospective, noncontrolled, consecutive case series design was used to evaluate the change in serum K levels in ED patients who received SCh for emergency intubation. The study was performed at an academic medical center staffed by board-certified emergency physicians.

The effects of warming and buffering on pain of infiltration of lidocaine.

Objectives: To investigate the effects of warming vs buffering, and warming with buffering, on the pain of lidocaine infiltration.

Methods: A randomized, double-blind clinical trial was conducted using volunteers aged 18 years or more and without an allergy to lidocaine. The study consisted of two parts, each comparing two solutions.

Does topical lidocaine attenuate the pain of infiltration of buffered lidocaine?

Objective: To determine whether topical lidocaine attenuates the pain of buffered lidocaine infiltration.

Methods: This was a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted at a university-based ED. The subjects were adults who had lacerations being repaired using local anesthesia.

Ketorolac tromethamine use in a university-based emergency department.

Objective: To assess the use of parenteral ketorolac tromethamine (KT) in the emergency department (ED).

Methods: During a six-month period, KT was administered in an uncontrolled, nonblinded fashion to a series of ED patients experiencing acute pain. The patients rated pain on a previously validated visual analog pain scale before receiving KT.

A comparison of proparacaine and tetracaine eye anesthetics.

Objective: To compare two topical eye anesthetics, proparacaine and tetracaine, for pain of instillation and duration of activity.

Methods: Volunteers received both anesthetics in a prospective, randomized, double-masked protocol. The subjects were given one drop of a study solution in the lower lid fornix of the left eye.

4-Methylpyrazole blocks acetaminophen hepatotoxicity in the rat.

Study Objective: To determine whether 4-methylpyrazole inhibits the hepatotoxic effects of acetaminophen in a rat model. DESIGN AND TYPE OF PARTICIPANTS: A nonblinded experiment using male Sprague-Dawley rats.

Interventions: Animals were divided into four groups.