Medscape Emergency Medicine Headlines

Enrollment Halts in Randomized Trial of CPR for Out-of-Hospital Arrest

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 18:25:46 EST

No survival differences after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest were seen at a preliminary DSMB review in the ROC PRIMED trial, which compared early vs delayed post-CPR assessment for defibrillation and tested the effectiveness of a device for optimizing intrathoracic pressure during CPR.
Heartwire

Prehospital Triage "Immediately Successful" in Boosting Rates of Thrombolytic Therapy for Stroke

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 09:56:01 EST

Toronto researchers report that a citywide prehospital protocol raised their rates of thrombolytic treatment to among the highest in North America, underlining, they say, the critical importance of organized stroke care.
Medscape Medical News

Rocuronium vs. Succinylcholine in the Emergency Department: A Critical Appraisal

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST

Can rocuronium replace succinylcholine as the paralytic agent of choice for rapid sequence intubation in the Emergency Department?
The Journal of Emergency Medicine

Factors Applicants Value when Selecting an Emergency Medicine Residency

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST

What are the residency-specific criteria applicants value while selecting an emergency medicine training program?
Western Journal of Emergency Medicine

Respiratory Failure Mortality Higher at Teaching Hospitals

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 11:55:39 EST

Patients with acute respiratory failure are more likely to die after admission to teaching hospitals than to non-teaching hospitals, according to findings presented this week at the CHEST 2009 meeting in San Diego, California.
Reuters Health Information

U.S. States, Counties Struggle to Deliver H1N1 Shots

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 11:58:01 EST

States and counties will be struggling to vaccinate people against the swine flu pandemic well into December and January -- long after the first peak of the virus in the United States, officials said on Wednesday.
Reuters Health Information

Hospitalization, Death From H1N1 Influenza Can Occur at Any Age

Thu, 5 Nov 2009 12:07:01 EST

Infants had the highest hospitalization rates from H1N1 influenza, but persons aged 50 years or older had the highest mortality rates once hospitalized.
Medscape Medical News

Inhaled Loxapine Offers Rapid-Onset Treatment for Agitation

Thu, 5 Nov 2009 11:46:36 EST

Inhaled loxapine takes effect within 10 minutes, which is faster than intramuscular injection.
Medscape Medical News

Testing for H1N1 Influenza in the Emergency Department

Thu, 5 Nov 2009 10:39:25 EST

James Wilde, MD, discusses the recommendations for testing of H1N1 and how to determine when isolation of patients who are ill is needed in the emergency department.
Medscape Emergency Medicine

Another in-Hospital CV Risk Marker: 24-Hour Shifts With Overnight On-Call Duty

Wed, 4 Nov 2009 18:01:00 EST

Long work shifts with nighttime on-call duty, with the inevitable interruptions of sleep, are associated with ECG, blood-pressure, and biochemical changes associated with increased cardiovascular risk, suggests a randomized crossover study that hints at a sustained effect on the risk markers if the 24-hour shifts happen too frequently.
Heartwire

Psychiatric Training in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders "Inadequate"

Wed, 4 Nov 2009 11:55:12 EST

Training in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders is inadequate, and a significant proportion of psychiatric trainees believe drinking during the third trimester of pregnancy is safe.
Medscape Medical News

Physicians Are Talking About: A Death Foretold

Wed, 4 Nov 2009 11:14:29 EST

Would you operate on a patient who experienced a premonition of death? Is this a contraindication surgery? Medscape Physician Connect members discuss whether to ignore or heed premonitions.
Medscape Family Medicine

Oseltamivir-Resistant Novel Influenza A (H1N1) Virus Infection in Two Immunosuppressed Patients --- Seattle, Washington, 2009

Wed, 4 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST

Close monitoring for antiviral drug resistance is needed among immunosuppressed patients being treated for novel influenza A (H1N1) infection.
Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report

H1N1 Vaccine Supplies Catching Up

Tue, 3 Nov 2009 23:53:20 EST

H1N1 vaccine supplies are now "on track" to meet target levels, according to data reported today at a CDC press briefing.
Medscape Medical News

New WHO Criteria May Qualify More Flu Viruses as Pandemic Strains

Tue, 3 Nov 2009 11:10:01 EST

A BMJ editorial suggests that refining the pandemic criteria issued by the WHO might reduce the risk for a false alarm.
Medscape Medical News

H1N1 Vaccine Protects Pregnant Women

Tue, 3 Nov 2009 11:01:17 EST

One dose of the H1N1 vaccine works for pregnant women, but children still need 2 doses.
WebMD Health News

Emergency Use Authorization of Peramivir Prompted by Reasonable Belief of Efficacy, Lack of Alternatives

Tue, 3 Nov 2009 10:47:20 EST

Officials from the Antiviral Drug Products Division of the FDA explain the rationale for granting emergency use authorization of peramivir for H1N1 influenza and detail how the drug should be used.
Medscape Medical News

H1N1 Flu Study on N95 Masks Retracted

Mon, 2 Nov 2009 17:26:14 EST

Researchers revise earlier findings suggesting N95 masks are better than surgical masks at preventing flu.
WebMD Health News

Respiratory Protection for Healthcare Workers: 2009 H1N1 Influenza

Mon, 2 Nov 2009 17:18:21 EST

In this video blog, William R. Jarvis, MD, reviews the varying recommendations for 2009 H1N1 influenza protection -- N95 respirators or surgical face masks?
Medscape Infectious Diseases

Signs That Mimic Sexual Abuse

Mon, 2 Nov 2009 12:23:20 EST

To avoid erroneous claims, clinicians who examine children need to be aware of the physical findings that can mimic sexual abuse.
Medscape Nurses