Implementing a rapid cord compression Magnetic Resonance Imaging protocol in the emergency department: Lessons learned.

Background & Purpose: (1) Evaluate efficacy of an abbreviated total spine protocol in triaging emergency department (ED) patients through retrospective evaluation. (2) Describe patient outcomes following implementation of a rapid cord compression protocol.

Methods: (1) All contrast-enhanced total spine magnetic resonance imaging studies (MRIs) performed on ED patients ( = 75) between 10/1-12/31/2022 for evaluation of cord compression were included.

Comparative Effectiveness of Amiodarone and Lidocaine for the Treatment of In-Hospital Cardiac Arrest.

Background: American Heart Association Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) guidelines support the use of either amiodarone or lidocaine for cardiac arrest caused by ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation (VT/VF) based on studies of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Studies comparing amiodarone and lidocaine in adult populations with in-hospital VT/VF arrest are lacking.

Research Question: Does treatment with amiodarone vs lidocaine therapy have differential associations with outcomes among adult patients with in-hospital cardiac arrest from VT/VF?

Study Design And Methods: This retrospective cohort study of adult patients receiving amiodarone or lidocaine for VT/VF in-hospital cardiac arrest refractory to CPR and defibrillation between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2014, was conducted within American Heart Association Get With the Guidelines-Resuscitation (GWTG-R) participating hospitals.

Best Practices for Education and Training of Resuscitation Teams for In-Hospital Cardiac Arrest.

Background: Survival outcomes following in-hospital cardiac arrest vary significantly across hospitals. Research suggests clinician education and training may play a role. We sought to identify best practices related to the education and training of resuscitation teams.

Predicting Direct-Specimen SARS-CoV-2 Assay Performance Using Residual Patient Samples.

Background: Diagnostic sensitivities of point-of-care SARS-CoV-2 assays depend on specimen type and population-specific viral loads. Evaluation of these assays require "direct" specimens from paired-swab studies rather than more accessible residual specimens in viral transport media (VTM).

Methods: Residual VTM and limit-of-detection studies were conducted on Abbott ID NOW™ COVID-19, Quidel Sofia 2™ SARS Antigen FIA, and DiaSorin Simplexa™ COVID-19 Direct assays, with cycle threshold (CT) adjustments to approximate direct-specimen testing based on gene-target doubling each PCR cycle.