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Background: The authors previously described an acoustic cardiographic model that predicted echocardiographic correlates of elevated left ventricular (LV) filling pressure. This study evaluated this bedside acoustic cardiographic model against invasive measurements of LV filling pressure. Methods and Results: Data were prospectively obtained from 68 adults referred for right heart catheterisation. Acoustic cardiographic measurements were obtained during right heart catheterisation. Elevated LV filling pressure was defined as a pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) > or =15 mm Hg. Parameters generated from a previous dataset used for the current analysis were measures of LV systolic time, maximum negative area of the P wave, QTc interval and third heart sound (S3) score. Logistic regression was used to calculate area under the curve (AUC). Of the 66 patients included, 39 had elevated PCWP. Estimating the probability of an elevated PCWP from the derived model resulted in an AUC of 0.72 (95% CI 0.60 to 0.85). When the regression model's parameters were held constant but the parameter estimates were allowed to vary, the AUC in the validated model was 0.76 (95% CI 0.64 to 0.88). At a specificity of 90% the positive likelihood ratio (LR+) was 5.0 (1.7 to 15.3) and the negative likelihood ratio was 0.49 (0.34 to 0.71). Conclusion: These data demonstrate that the four-variable model predicts elevated filling pressure at the bedside with high specificity and an intermediate LR+. With improvements in sensitivity and further prospective validation of this model in a cohort of emergency department patients with undifferentiated dyspnoea this may be a useful bedside diagnostic modality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Anti-epileptic drugs are commonly used for seizure prophylaxis after neurological injury. We performed a study comparing intravenous (IV) levetiracetam (LEV) to IV phenytoin (PHT) for seizure prophylaxis after neurological injury.Methods: In this prospective, single-center, randomized, single-blinded comparative trial of LEV versus PHT (2:1 ratio) in patients with severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI) or subarachnoid hemorrhage (NCT00618436) patients received IV load with either LEV or fosphenytoin followed by standard IV doses of LEV or PHT. Doses were adjusted to maintain therapeutic serum PHT concentrations or if patients had seizures. Continuous EEG (cEEG) monitoring was performed for the initial 72 h; outcome data were collected.Results: A total of 52 patients were randomized (LEV = 34; PHT = 18); 89% with sTBI. When controlling for baseline severity, LEV patients experienced better long-term outcomes than those on PHT; the Disability Rating Scale score was lower at 3 months (P = 0.042) and the Glasgow Outcomes Scale score was higher at 6 months (P = 0.039). There were no differences between groups in seizure occurrence during cEEG (LEV 5/34 vs. PHT 3/18; P = 1.0) or at 6 months (LEV 1/20 vs. PHT 0/14; P = 1.0), mortality (LEV 14/34 vs. PHT 4/18; P = 0.227). There were no differences in side effects between groups (all P > 0.15) except for a lower frequency of worsened neurological status (P = 0.024), and gastrointestinal problems (P = 0.043) in LEV-treated patients.Conclusions: This study of LEV versus PHT for seizure prevention in the NSICU showed improved long-term outcomes of LEV-treated patients vis-à-vis PHT-treated patients. LEV appears to be an alternative to PHT for seizure prophylaxis in this setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The Institute of Medicine, through its landmark report concerning errors in medicine, suggests that standardization of practice through systematic development and implementation of evidence-based clinical pathways is an effective way of reducing errors in emergency systems. The specialty of emergency medicine is well positioned to develop a complete system of innovative quality improvement, incorporating best practice guidelines with performance measures and practitioner feedback mechanisms to reduce errors and therefore improve quality of care. This article reviews the construction, ongoing development, and initial impact of such a system at a large, urban, university teaching hospital and at 2 affiliated community hospitals. METHODS: The Committee for Procedural Quality and Evidence-Based Practice was formed within the Department of Emergency Medicine to establish evidence-based guidelines for nursing and provider care. The committee measures the effect of such guidelines, along with other quality measures, through pre- and postguideline patient care medical record audits. These measures are fed back to the providers in a provider-specific, peer-matched 'scorecard.' RESULTS: The Committee for Procedural Quality and Evidence-Based Practice affects practice and performance within our department. Multiple physician and nursing guidelines have been developed and put into use. Using asthma as an example, time to first nebulizer treatment and time to disposition from the emergency department decreased. Initial therapeutic agent changed and documentation improved. CONCLUSION: A comprehensive, guideline-driven, evidence-based approach to clinical practice is feasible within the structure of a department of emergency medicine. High-level departmental support with dedicated personnel is necessary for the success of such a system. Internet site development (available at http://www.CPQE.com) for product storage has proven valuable. Patient care has been improved in several ways; however, consistent and complete change in provider behavior remains elusive. Physician scorecards may play a role in altering these phenomena. Emergency medicine can play a leadership role in the development of quality improvement, error reduction, and pay-for-performance systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Up to 55% of the homeless population report health problems. They often use the emergency department (ED) to obtain care when the health needs are not urgent. Nurse-managed clinics have the potential to reduce nonurgent ED use and improve the health of the homeless. The purpose of this study was to establish baseline health data on homeless persons prior to attending a nurse-managed clinic. This study was a cross-sectional, retrospective health survey of homeless clients at a nurse-managed clinic. A total of 110 participants completed a baseline health survey. Of these, 61% reported that prior to coming to the clinic, they used the ED as a source of health care. The most frequent medical diagnoses reported were substance use disorders, depression, back pain, hypertension, and asthma. Providing care for chronic conditions at a nurse-managed clinic has the potential to improve health and reduce use of the ED. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: HbA(1c) (A1C) is substantially determined by genetic factors not shared in common with glucose. Fractions of the variance in A1C, the glycation gap (GG; previously called the glycosylation gap) and the hemoglobin glycosylation index, correlate with diabetes complications. We therefore tested whether GG (measured A1C - A1C predicted from glycated serum proteins [GSPs]) was genetically determined and whether it accounted for the heritability of A1C. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We conducted a classic twin study on A1C and GSP collected in 40 and 46 pairs of monozygotic and dizygotic healthy female twins, respectively. The predicted A1C was based on the regression line between A1C and GSP in a separate population spanning the pathophysiologic range. RESULTS: GG was more strongly correlated between monozygotic (r = 0.65) than dizygotic (r = 0.48) twins, adjusted for age and BMI. The best-fitting quantitative genetic model adjusted for age and BMI showed that 69% of population variance in GG is heritable, while the remaining 31% is due to unique environmental influences. In contrast, GSP was similarly correlated between monozygotic (r = 0.55) and dizygotic (r = 0.49) twins, hence not genetically determined. GG was strongly correlated to A1C (r = 0.48), attributable mostly to genetic factors. About one-third of the heritability of A1C is shared with GG; the remainder is specific to A1C. CONCLUSIONS: Heritability of the GG accounts for about one-third of the heritability of A1C. By implication, there are gene(s) that preferentially affect erythrocyte lifespan or glucose and/or nonenzymatic glycation or deglycation in the intracellular, rather than extracellular, compartment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To evaluate both factors predicting nontransport and mortality rates in an emergency medical services system with a nontransport policy. Methods. We reviewed data from 1,581 transported and nontransported patients from October 2001 to July 2003. Patients who refused transport against medical advice were excluded. Extracted data included demographics, run characteristics, chief complaint, and clinical impression. Transported and nontransported patients were compared using Mann-Whitney U or chi-square tests. Logistic regression identified factors predictive of nontransport. A Social Security Death Index search determined 30-day mortality. Results. A total of 1,501 runs involving 1,059 patients were included. Median age was 60 years (range, 0-97 years). A total of 427 (40.4%) were male; 107 (10.2%) were nonwhite. Older patients were more likely to be transported (odds ratio, 1.03; confidence interval, 1.02-1.03). Race, frequency of calls, mutual aid, or time of day did not significantly influence probability of transport. Patients with cardiovascular, respiratory, and gastrointestinal complaints were more likely to be transported than those with other conditions (P < 0.005); patients with endocrine, trauma, and miscellaneous complaints were less likely to be transported (P < 0.003). Patients with renal, obstetrics/gynecology, and hema matology/oncology were complaints all transported. Mortality was 4.9% (confidence interval, 3.9%-6.2%) for transported patients and 1.0% for those not transported (confidence interval, 0.2%-3.7%). Conclusions. Age is a determinant when deciding on transporting patients. Patients with complaints with potentially higher acuity were transported most often. Only two nontransported patients died within 30 days, although it is unknown whether initial transport would have changed their mortality. Our data suggest that emergency medical services-initiated nontransport is influenced only by age and chief complaint and may not result in significant mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: Understanding perceived benefits and disadvantages of HIV testing in emergency departments (EDs) is imperative to overcoming barriers to implementation. We codify those domains of public health and clinical care most affected by implementing HIV testing in EDs, as determined by expert opinion. METHODS: Opinions were systematically collected from attendees of the 2007 National ED HIV Testing Consortium meeting. Structured evaluation of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats analysis was conducted to assess the impact of ED-based HIV testing on public health. A modified Delphi method was used to assess the impact of ED-based HIV testing on clinical care from both individual patient and individual provider perspectives. RESULTS: Opinions were provided by 98 experts representing 42 academic and nonacademic institutions. Factors most frequently perceived to affect public health were (strengths) high volume of ED visits and high prevalence of HIV, (weaknesses) undue burden on EDs, (opportunities) reduction of HIV stigma, and (threats) lack of resources in EDs. Diagnostic testing and screening for HIV were considered to have a favorable impact on ED clinical care from both individual patient and individual provider perspectives; however, negative test results were not perceived to have any benefit from the provider's perspective. The need for HIV counseling in the ED was considered to have a negative impact on clinical care from the provider's perspective. CONCLUSION: Experts in ED-based HIV testing perceived expanded ED HIV testing to have beneficial impacts for both the public health and individual clinical care; however, limited resources were frequently cited as a possible impediment. Many issues must be resolved through further study, education, and policy changes if the full potential of HIV testing in EDs is to be realized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES: In the absence of a gold standard, clinicians and researchers often categorize their opinions of the likelihood of inflicted injury using several ordinal scales. The objective of this protocol was to determine the reliability of expert ratings using several of these scales. METHODS: Participants were pediatricians with substantial academic and clinical activity in the evaluation of children with concerns for physical abuse. The facts from several cases that were referred to 1 hospital's child abuse team were abstracted and recorded as in a multidisciplinary team conference. Participants viewed the recording and rated each case using several scales of child abuse likelihood. RESULTS: Participants (n = 22) showed broad variability for most cases on all scales. Variability was lowest for cases with the highest aggregate concern for abuse. One scale that included examples of cases fitting each category and standard reporting language to summarize results showed a modest (18%-23%) decrease in variability among participants. The interpretation of the categories used by the scales was more consistent. Cases were rarely rated as 'definite abuse' when likelihood was estimated at < or = 95%. Only 7 of 156 cases rated < or = 15% likelihood were rated as 'no reasonable concern for abuse.' Only 9 of 858 cases rated > or = 35% likelihood were rated as 'reasonable concern for abuse.' CONCLUSIONS: Assessments of child abuse likelihood often show broad variability between experts. Although a rating scale with patient examples and standard reporting language may decrease variability, clinicians and researchers should be cautious when interpreting abuse likelihood assessments from a single expert. These data support the peer-review or multidisciplinary team approach to child abuse assessments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Little is known about the relationship between types of healthcare providers and outcomes in patients with epilepsy. This study compares the relative effects of provider type (epileptologist vs. other neurologist) and pharmacologic treatment (newer vs. older antiepileptic drugs) on seizure control in patients with epilepsy.Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of patients with medication-resistant epilepsy. Consecutive charts of 200 patients were abstracted using a standard case report form. For each patient, data included seizure frequency and medication use prior to, and while being treated by an epileptologist. Changes in seizure frequency were modeled using a generalized linear model.Results: After transferring care from a general neurologist to specialized epilepsy center, patients experienced fewer seizures (p < 0.001) and were more frequently seizure-free (p < 0.001). The improved seizure control was not related to treatment with newer vs. older antiepileptic drugs (p = 0.305).Conclusion: Our findings suggest an association between subspecialty epilepsy care and improved seizure control in patients with medication-resistant epilepsy. Further research should prospectively determine whether patients with medication-resistant epilepsy would benefit from being routinely referred to an epilepsy specialist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]