Out-of-hospital Times Using Helicopters Versus Ground Services for Emergency Patients.

Objective: Minimizing out-of-hospital time reduces morbidity and mortality in patients with severe trauma, acute coronary syndrome, or acute stroke. Our objective was to compare out-of-hospital times by helicopter versus ground services when the estimated time of arrival on the scene was over 20 minutes.

Methods: We proposed a retrospective observational monocentric study following 2 cohorts.

Ultrasound guidance in difficult radial artery puncture for blood gas analysis: A prospective, randomized controlled trial.

Background: Ultrasound (US) guidance has yet to prove its applicability in radial arterial blood gas analysis (ABGA) punctures. The main objective of our study was to compare the number of first-attempt successes (NFAS) for radial arterial puncture in difficult patients with or without US guidance. The Secondary aims were to compare the number of punctures (NOP), puncture time, and patient pain.

Plasma brain natriuretic peptide and troponin levels in severe sepsis and septic shock: relationships with systolic myocardial dysfunction and intensive care unit mortality.

The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) levels as mortality prognosticator and predictor for myocardial dysfunction in severe sepsis and septic shock. Baseline clinical and biological variables were collected from 47 patients with severe sepsis or septic shock. Ventricular systolic function assessed by echocardiography was measured over a 5-day period.

Ultrasound guidance for radial arterial puncture: a randomized controlled trial.

Unlabelled: STUDY OBJECTIVE AND BACKGROUND: Arterial puncture for blood gas analysis is a frequent procedure and could be difficult in the emergency setting. The aim of the study was to compare ultrasonographically guided arterial radial puncture vs conventional sampling.

Materials And Methods: This is a prospective, randomized study.

First medical contact and physicians' opinion after the implementation of an electronic record system.

Hospitals implement electronic medical record systems (EMRSs) that are intended to support medical and nursing staff in their daily work. Evolution toward more computerization seems inescapable. Nevertheless, this evolution introduced new problems of organization.