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Introduction: Emergency departments (ED) globally are addressing the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic with varying degrees of success. We leveraged the 17-country, Emergency Medicine Education & Research by Global Experts (EMERGE) network and non-EMERGE ED contacts to understand ED emergency preparedness and practices globally when combating the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: We electronically surveyed EMERGE and non-EMERGE EDs from April 3–June 1, 2020 on ED capacity, pandemic preparedness plans, triage methods, staffing, supplies, and communication practices. The survey was available in English, Mandarin Chinese, and Spanish to optimize participation. We analyzed survey responses using descriptive statistics.Results: 74/129 (57%) EDs from 28 countries in all six World Health Organization global regions responded. Most EDs were in Asia (49%), followed by North America (28%), and Europe (14%). Nearly all EDs (97%) developed and implemented protocols for screening, testing, and treating patients with suspected COVID-19 infections. Sixty percent responded that provider staffing/back-up plans were ineffective. Many sites (47/74, 64%) reported staff missing work due to possible illness with the highest provider proportion of COVID-19 exposures and infections among nurses.Conclusion: Despite having disaster plans in place, ED pandemic preparedness and response continue to be a challenge. Global emergency research networks are vital for generating and disseminating large-scale event data, which is particularly important during a pandemic.

Background/Objectives: We investigated the potential diagnostic role of galectin-3 (Gal-3) in patients presenting with suspected acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Methods: We searched PubMed Central, Scopus, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library from inception until 20 June 2024. We measured effect sizes using odds ratios (OR) with 95% CIs for dichotomous data and mean differences (MD) with CIs for continuous data. Random synthesis analysis was performed if I2 was less than 50% or Q test p values were less than 0.05. Otherwise, a fixed pooled meta-analysis was performed. Results: The meta-analysis includes 15 eligible studies. Gal-3 levels were substantially higher in the ACS group (12.84 ± 8.48 ng/mL) compared to the control group (7.23 ± 6.05 ng/mL; MD = 3.89; 95% CI: 2.83 to 4.95; p < 0.001). Gal-3 levels in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and control groups differed (10.09 ± 8.16 vs. 4.64 ± 3.07 ng/mL, MD = 4.30; 95% CI: 0.41 to 8.18; p < 0.001). Statistical analysis revealed significant differences in Gal-3 levels between ST-elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI) and control groups (10.62 ± 7.34 vs. 5.54 ± 2.96 ng/mL; MD = 5.54; 95% CI: 3.12 to 7.97; p < 0.001). No significant differences were found between the non-ST-elevated myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) vs. control groups or patients with STEMI vs. patients with NSTEMI. Conclusions: Gal-3 may be beneficial for detecting acute coronary syndromes but not NSTEMI or differentiating between ACS types. This meta-analysis is promising, but further research is needed to prove Gal-3's potential diagnostic value, exact cut-offs, and advantages over cardiospecific troponins. Gal-3 may be a useful diagnostic biomarker; however, more clinical trials are needed to prove its utility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Byline: Amit. Agrawal, Amey. Savardekar, Mitasha. Singh, Ranabir. Pal, Dhaval. Shukla, Andreas. Rubiano, Virendra. Sinha, Geetha. Menon, Sagar. Galwankar, Luis. Moscote-Salazar, Prashant. Bhandarkar, Ashok. Munivenkatappa, Ugan. Meena, Amit. Chakrabarty Sir, [...]

The first in-person Academic International Medicine Congress (AIM 2023) since the beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic took place at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ, almost exactly 4 years after a meeting at the same location had to be canceled due to the global calamity. Featuring 3 days packed with high quality continuing medical education content and leadership development sessions, AIM 2023 set several important records for our organization. Among the most important sessions was the half-day strategic leadership retreat, with a goal of charting ACAIM's path for the next 3-5 years. The main program featured more than 35 speakers and panelists, and offered more than 20 hours of continuing medical education credits. The scientific program included more than 30 abstracts and interesting case presentations. The AIM 2023 Gala and Awards Ceremonies were among the most attended attractions. This report includes a summary of key events and sessions from the AIM 2023 Congress, inclusive of published abstracts from the meeting. The following core competencies are addressed in this article: Interpersonal and communication skills, Professionalism, Practice-based learning and improvement, Systems based practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peripheral nerve blocks preclude the need for procedural sedation and provide adequate anesthesia during painful procedures. This technique can be performed in the emergency department with the aid of ultrasound imaging to identify target nerves. We describe eight cases of upper and lower extremity nerve blocks performed under ultrasound guidance in the emergency department of the Jai Prakash Narayan Trauma Centre, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. Only two of the patients, both with extensive injuries, required any additional anesthesia during the subsequent procedures and all of them reported significant pain control and muscle relaxation.

Human bites are frequently overlooked in making a diagnosis in the emergency room. They are particularly notorious due to the polymicrobial nature of human saliva inoculated in the wound and the risk they pose for transmission of infectious diseases. Early treatment, appropriate prophylaxis and surgical evaluation are the key to achieving desired treatment outcomes. Through this article, we have tried to summarize the diagnostic features, complications as well as the recommended treatment alternatives for human bites based on the current available evidence.

As of April 25 th 2009, 11.00 AM, eight human cases of swine influenza A virus infection have been identified in the United States in California and Texas. There is also established evidence of similar cases across the United States border in Mexico. Experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in cooperation with World Health Organization and public health experts from Canada and Mexico are leading an exhaustive investigation to find the source of infection and infected people. We present a profile of this illness from the available literature.

Procedural sedation and analgesia (PSA) is an evolving field in pediatric emergency medicine. As new drugs breach the boundaries of anesthesia in the Pediatric Emergency Department, parents, patients, and physicians are finding new and more satisfactory methods of sedation. Short acting, rapid onset agents with little or no lingering effects and improved safety profiles are replacing archaic regimens. This article discusses the warning signs and areas of a patient′s medical history that are particularly pertinent to procedural sedation and the drugs used. The necessary equipment is detailed to provide the groundwork for implementing safe sedation in children. It is important for practitioners to familiarize themselves with a select few of the PSA drugs, rather than the entire list of sedatives. Those agents most relevant to PSA in the pediatric emergency department are presented.

Byline: Amit. Agrawal, Amey. Savardekar, Mitasha. Singh, Ranabir. Pal, Dhaval. Shukla, Andres. Rubiano, Virendra. Sinha, Geetha. Menon, Sagar. Galwankar, Luis. Moscote-Salazar, Prashant. Bhandarkar, Ashok. Munivenkatappa, Ugan. Meena, Amit. Chakrabarty Background: [...]

Background : In countries with fully developed emergency medicine systems, emergency ultrasound (EUS) plays an important role in the assessment and treatment of critically ill patients. Methods : The authors sought to introduce EUS to a group of doctors working in the emergency departments (EDs) in India through an intensive 4-day adult and pediatric ultrasound course held at the Apex Trauma Center and EM division of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi. The workshop was evaluated with a survey questionnaire and a hands-on practical test. The questionnaire was designed to assess the current state of EUS in India′s EDs, and to identify potential barriers to the incorporation of EUS into current EM practice. The EUS course consisted of a general introductory didactic session followed by pediatric, abdominal and trauma, cardiothoracic, obstetrical and gynecologic, and vascular modules. Each module had a didactic session followed by hands-on applications with live models and/or simulators. A post-course survey questionnaire was given to the participants, and there was a practical test on the final day of the course. The ultrasound images taken by the participants were digitally recorded, and were subsequently graded for their accuracy by independent observers, residency, and/or fellowship trained in EUS. Results : There were a total of 42 participants who completed the workshop and took the practical examination; 32 participants filled in the course evaluation survey. Twenty-four (75%) participants had no prior experience with EUS, 5 (16%) had some experience, and 3 (9%) had significant experience. During the practical examination, 38 of 42 participants (90%) were able to identify Morison′s pouch on the focused abdominal sonography for trauma (FAST) examination, and 32 (76%) were able to obtain a parasternal long axis cardiac view and identify the left ventricle. The inferior vena cava was identified as it crosses the diaphragm into the right atrium by 20 (48%) participants. All participants felt they would be able to incorporate what they had learned into their practice, and indicated that they were advocates for further training of non-radiologist clinicians in the use of ED ultrasound. Conclusion : After this introductory workshop in EUS, the participants were comfortable in their ability to use the ultrasound machine. Participants deemed it particularly useful for certain ED applications, particularly the FAST examination, the lung examination, and vascular access .