Safety of cardioversion in atrial fibrillation lasting less than 48 h without post-procedural anticoagulation in patients at low cardioembolic risk.

Currently, there is no unified consensus on short-term anticoagulation after cardioversion of atrial fibrillation lasting less than 48 h in low-cardioembolic-risk patients. The aim of this study is to evaluate the rate of transient ischemic attacks, stroke and death in this subset of patients after cardioversion without post-procedural anticoagulation. In a prospective observational study, patients with recent-onset AF undergoing cardioversion attempts in the Emergency Department were evaluated over the past 3 years.

Safety and feasibility of intravenous rt-PA in the Emergency Department without a neurologist-based stroke unit: an observational study.

Early intravenous thrombolysis has proven to be a safe and effective therapy for selected patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Nowadays, thrombolysis is usually delivered by neurologists in "hub" referral centers. However, only a few among eligible patients actually receive treatment.

Proposal for the use in emergency departments of cardiac troponins measured with the latest generation methods in patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome without persistent ST-segment elevation.

Unlabelled: The purpose of this document is to develop recommendations on the use of the latest generation of cardiac troponins in emergency room settings for the diagnosis of myocardial infarction in patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome (ACS) without persistent ST-segment elevation (NSTE-ACS). The main points which have been addressed reaching a consensus are represented by: Suitability and appropriateness of the terminology. Appropriateness of the request.

Cardioversion in atrial fibrillation. Focus on recent-onset atrial fibrillation.

Atrial fibrillation is the most common sustained arrhythmia encountered in clinical practice. Its prevalence is rising due to an increasing elderly population and the improvement in management of life-threatening diseases such as myocardial infarction and heart failure. Over the past few years effective non-pharmacological treatments, new antiarrhythmics drugs, and anticoagulants have been introduced.

Toscana virus infections in northern Italy: laboratory and clinical evaluation.

Toscana virus (TOSv) is a neurotropic arthropod-borne virus that causes meningitis in the Mediterranean basin during the summer months. A total of 120 patients suffering from acute aseptic meningitis between July 1 and October 31, 2010 in northern Italy were evaluated. Eighteen of them (15%) were in the acute stage of TOSv disease.

Cardioversion of acute atrial fibrillation in the short observation unit: comparison of a protocol focused on electrical cardioversion with simple antiarrhythmic treatment.

Background: Direct current cardioversion (DCC) has been shown to be effective for the management of atrial fibrillation (AF) in the emergency department (ED). Pharmacological cardioversion was compared with a strategy including DCC on patients with uncomplicated, recent-onset (<48 h) AF managed in a short observation unit (SOU).

Methods: A prospective observational study was undertaken over a period of 13 months in two institutions.

Reliability and validity of an Italian four-level emergency triage system.

Objectives: To measure the reliability and predictive validity of a four-level triage system (I-4L).

Methods: This observational study was conducted in an urban hospital. Five nurses were randomly selected to assign a triage level to 246 paper scenarios, using the I-4L model.

[Chest pain evaluation project].

The evaluation of acute chest pain remains challenging, despite many insights and innovations over the past two decades. The percentage of patients presenting at the emergency department with acute chest pain who are subsequently admitted to the hospital appears to be increasing. Patients with acute coronary syndromes who are inadvertently discharged from the emergency department have an adverse short-term prognosis.

Reliability and validity of two four-level emergency triage systems.

Objective: To measure and compare the reliability and predictive validity of a four-level triage system (I-4L) and the new four-level model triage emergency method (TEM).

Methods: This observational study was conducted in an urban hospital. Ten nurses were randomly selected to assign a triage level to 189 paper scenarios, using either the I-4L model (5 nurses) or the TEM model (5 nurses).