Simpli?ed point-of-care ultrasound protocol to con?rm central venous catheter placement:A prospective study

BACKGROUND: The current standard for con? rmation of correct supra-diaphragmatic central venous catheter(CVC) placement is with plain ? lm chest radiography(CXR). We hypothesized that a simple point-of-care ultrasound(POCUS) protocol could effectively con? rm placement and reduce time to con? rmation.METHODS: We prospectively enrolled a convenience sample of patients in the emergency department and intensive care unit who required CVC placement. Correct positioning was considered if turbulent flow was visualized in the right atrium on sub-xiphoid, parasternal or apical cardiac ultrasound after injecting 5 cc of sterile, non-agitated, normal saline through the CVC.RESULTS: Seventy-eight patients were enrolled. POCUS had a sensitivity of 86.8%(95%CI 77.1%–93.5%) and speci? city of 100%(95%CI 15.8%–100.0%) for identifying correct central venous catheter placement. Median POCUS and CXR completion were 16 minutes(IQR 10–29) and 32 minutes(IQR 19–45), respectively.CONCLUSION: Ultrasound may be an effective tool to confirm central venous catheter placement in instances where there is a delay in obtaining a con? rmatory CXR.

Point-of-care ultrasound versus radiology department pelvic ultrasound on emergency department length of stay

BACKGROUND: The study aimed to compare the time to overall length of stay(LOS) for patients who underwent point-of-care ultrasound(POCUS) versus radiology department ultrasound(RDUS).METHODS: This was a prospective study on a convenience sample of patients who required pelvic ultrasound imaging as part of their emergency department(ED) assessment.RESULTS: We enrolled a total of 194 patients who were on average 32 years-old. Ninety-eight(51%) patients were pregnant(<20 weeks). Time to completion of RDUS was 66 minutes longer than POCUS(95%CI 60–73, P<0.01). Patients randomized to the RDUS arm experienced a 120 minute longer ED length of stay(LOS)(95%CI 66–173, P<0.01)CONCLUSION: In patients who require pelvic ultrasound as part of their diagnostic evaluation, POCUS resulted in a signifi cant decrease in time to ultrasound and ED LOS.

On the verge of Microsoft Windows Vista

Windows Vista,previously code named“Longhorn,”is the latest version of the popular Microsoft Windows op- erating system. Windows Vista is scheduled for release to the general public in early 2007. During the months fol- lowing its release,Windows Vista,like its predecessor Windows XP,is bound to find its way onto most desktops and laptops at home and in the office. This article offers a brief introduction to Windows Vista and suggests benefits for developers creating virtual instruments using National Instruments LabVIEW software.

The Affordable Care Act: Disparities in emergency department use for mental health diagnoses in young adults

BACKGROUND: There is little consensus as to the effects of insurance expansion on emergency department(ED) utilization for mental health purposes. We aimed to study the race specifi c association between the dependent coverage provision of the Affordable Care Act(ACA) and changes in young adults' usage of emergency department services for psychiatric diagnoses.METHODS: We utilized a Quasi-Experimental analysis of ED use in California from 2009–2011 for behavioral health diagnoses of individuals aged 19 to 31 years. Analysis used a difference-indifferences approach comparing those targeted by the ACA dependent provision(19–25 years) and those who were not(27 to 31 years), evaluating changes in ED visit rates per 1 000 in California. Primary outcomes measured included the quarterly ED visit rates with any psychiatric diagnosis. Subgroups were analyzed for differences based on race and gender.RESULTS: The ACA dependent provision was associated with 0.05 per 1 000 people fewer psychiatric ED visits among the treatment group(19–25 years) compared to the control group(27–31 years). Hispanics and Asian/Pacific Islanders were the only racial subgroups who did not see this significant reduction and were the only racial subgroups that did not see significant gains in the proportion of psychiatric ED visits covered by private insurance.CONCLUSION: The ACA dependent provision was associated with a modest reduction in the growth rate of ED use for psychiatric reasons, however, racial disparities in the effect of this provision exist for patients of Hispanic and Asian/Pacifi c Islander racial groups.

Instrumentation 2.0架构:迎接PCI Express和多核的时代

基于Web的应用,包括Google、Wikipedia和YouTub,已经将Web从少数机构为多数消费者提供服务内容的应用模式转变为每个用户定制和定义他/她自己的消费内容的模式。人们把这种新的Web形式称为Web2.0。

自发性脑出血治疗指南美国心脏协会／美国卒中协会对医疗卫生专业人员发布的指南

目的本指南旨在为急性自发性脑出血的诊断和治疗提供最新的综合性推荐意见。方法通过Medline进行规范的文献检索，利用证据表合并资料。撰写委员会成员通过远程电信会议讨论根据资料得出的推荐意见。采用美国心脏协会卒中委员会的证据分级方案对推荐意见进行分级。由6位同行评议专家以及卒中委员会科学声明监督委员会和卒中委员会领导委员会成员对指南的草案进行发表前审阅。预期本指南在3年内完全更新。结果本文为脑出血患者的医疗诊治提供了循证指南。重点包括诊断、止血、血压管理、院内管理和护理、预防内科合并症、外科治疗、转归预测、康复、预防复发以及将来需要考虑的问题。结论脑出血是一种严重的疾病，早期积极救治可影响其转归。本指南为脑出血患者的目标导向治疗提供了一个框架。

Impact of COVID-2019 on stroke services in China: survey from the Chinese Stroke Association

Background The COVID-19 pandemic and physical distancing guidelines have compelled stroke practices worldwide to reshape their delivery of care significantly.We aimed to illustrate how the stroke services were interrupted during the pandemic in China.Methods A 61-item questionnaire designed on Wenjuanxing Form was completed by doctors or nurses who were involved in treating patients with stroke from 1 February to 31 March 2020.Results A total of 415 respondents completed the online survey after informed consent was obtained.Of the respondents,37.8%,35.2%and 27.0%were from mild,moderate and severe epidemic areas,respectively.Overall,the proportion of severe impact(reduction>50%)on the admission of transient ischaemic stroke,acute ischaemic stroke(AIS)and intracerebral haemorrhage(ICH)was 45.0%,32.0%and 27.5%,respectively.Those numbers were 36.9%,27.9%and 22.3%;36.5%,22.1%and 22.6%;and 66.4%,47.5%and 41.1%in mild,moderate and severe epidemic areas,respectively(all p<0.0001).For AIS,thrombolysis was moderate(20%-50%reduction)or severely impacted(>50%),as reported by 54.4%of the respondents,while thrombectomy was 39.3%.These were 44.4%,26.3%;44.2%,39.4%;and 78.2%,56.5%,in mild,moderate and severe epidemic areas,respectively(all p<0.0001).For patients with acute ICH,39.8%reported the impact was severe or moderate for those eligible for surgery who had surgery.Those numbers were 27.4%,39.0%and 58.1%in mild,moderate and severe epidemic areas,respectively.For staff resources,about 20%(overall)to 55%(severe epidemic)of the respondents reported moderate or severe impact on the on-duty doctors and nurses.Conclusion We found a significant reduction of admission for all types of patients with stroke during the pandemic.Patients were less likely to receive appropriate care,for example,thrombolysis/thrombectomy,after being admitted to the hospital.Stroke service in severe COVID-19 epidemic areas,for example,Wuhan,was much more severely impacted compared with other regions in China.