Publications (39) View all
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Article: Two days of dexamethasone versus 5 days of prednisone in the treatment of acute asthma: a randomized controlled trial.
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ABSTRACT: Dexamethasone has a longer half-life than prednisone and is well tolerated orally. We compare the time needed to return to normal activity and the frequency of relapse after acute exacerbation in adults receiving either 5 days of prednisone or 2 days of dexamethasone. We randomized adult emergency department patients (aged 18 to 45 years) with acute exacerbations of asthma (peak expiratory flow rate less than 80% of ideal) to receive either 50 mg of daily oral prednisone for 5 days or 16 mg of daily oral dexamethasone for 2 days. Outcomes were assessed by telephone follow-up. Ninety-six prednisone and 104 dexamethasone subjects completed the study regimen and follow-up. More patients in the dexamethasone group reported a return to normal activities within 3 days compared with the prednisone group (90% versus 80%; difference 10%; 95% confidence interval 0% to 20%; P=.049). Relapse was similar between groups (13% versus 11%; difference 2%; 95% confidence interval -7% to 11%, P=.67). In acute exacerbations of asthma in adults, 2 days of oral dexamethasone is at least as effective as 5 days of oral prednisone in returning patients to their normal level of activity and preventing relapse.Annals of emergency medicine 02/2011; 58(2):200-4. · 4.23 Impact Factor -
Article: Appendicitis, diverticulitis, and colitis.
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ABSTRACT: Appendicitis, diverticulitis, and colitis are common gastrointestinal conditions presenting to the emergency department (ED). Although it is a common condition, the diagnosis of appendicitis remains challenging, and the approach to this disease continues to evolve. The diagnostic approach to diverticulitis is more straightforward, and treatment and the decision whether to hospitalize varies with disease severity. Colitis may be caused by inflammatory bowel disease, ischemia, or infection. This article details an ED-based approach to each of these disease entities.Emergency medicine clinics of North America 05/2011; 29(2):347-68, ix. · 0.96 Impact Factor -
Article: Ethics curriculum for emergency medicine graduate medical education.
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ABSTRACT: Ethics education is an essential component of graduate medical education in emergency medicine. A sound understanding of principles of bioethics and a rational approach to ethical decision-making are imperative. This article addresses ethics curriculum content, educational approaches, educational resources, and resident feedback and evaluation. Ethics curriculum content should include elements suggested by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, and the Model of the Clinical Practice of Emergency Medicine. Essential ethics content includes ethical principles, the physician-patient relationship, patient autonomy, clinical issues, end-of-life decisions, justice, education in emergency medicine, research ethics, and professionalism. The appropriate curriculum in ethics education in emergency medicine should include some of the content and educational approaches outlined in this article, although the optimal methods for meeting these educational goals may vary by institution.Journal of Emergency Medicine 09/2010; 40(5):550-6. · 1.31 Impact Factor -
Article: Lateral-horizontal patient position and horizontal orientation of the endotracheal tube to prevent aspiration in adult surgical intensive care unit patients: a feasibility study.
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ABSTRACT: Recent data suggest that during mechanical ventilation the lateral-horizontal patient position (in which the endotracheal tube is horizontal) decreases the risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia, compared to the recommended semi-recumbent position (in which the endotracheal tube slopes downward into the trachea). We tested the feasibility of the lateral-horizontal patient position, measured the incidence of aspiration of gastric contents, and watched for any adverse effects related to the lateral-horizontal position. Ten adult intensive care unit patients were ventilated for 64 hours in the standard semi-recumbent position, and ten for 12-24 hours in the lateral-horizontal position. Tracheal secretions were collected every 8 hours and every 4 hours, respectively, and tested for pepsin, which is a marker of gastric contents. We also recorded clinical, physiologic, and outcome variables. The patients remained stable during ventilation in the lateral-horizontal position, and no adverse events occurred. Pepsin was detected in the trachea of 7 semi-recumbent patients and in five of the lateral-horizontal patients (P = .32). The number of ventilator-free days was 8 days (range 0-21 days) in the semi-recumbent patients, versus 24 days (range 12-25 days) in the lateral-horizontal patients (P = .04). Implementing the lateral-horizontal position for 12-24 hours in adult intubated intensive care unit patients is feasible, and our patients had no adverse events. The incidence of aspiration of gastric contents in the lateral-horizontal position seems to be similar to that in the semi-recumbent position.Respiratory care 03/2010; 55(3):294-302. · 2.01 Impact Factor -
Article: S CENE D IAGNOSIS OF C ARBON M ONOXIDE P OISONING BY E MERGENCY M EDICAL S ERVICES P ERSONNEL
07/2009; 5(4):407-410.
