behzad zohrevandi

Isolated sternum fracture is known as a dangerous fracture. Conservative treatment measures and increased length of hospitalization lead to a large financial burden. The available knowledge is limited. The aim of this study was to determine the extent of heart damage following isolated sternum fractures in trauma patients referred to Pursina Hospital in Rasht.

This was a descriptive retrospective study. The information of patients with isolated sternum fracture was extracted from the hospital information system (HIS) between 2016 and 2018.

31 patients were eligible for entry, whose mean and standard deviation of age was 49.19 ± 14 years. The largest number of patients is 32.3% in the age group of 40 to 49 years and 74.2% of them were men, 74% of them had trauma mechanisms caused by accidents, 67.8% of them did not have comorbidities, and 100% of patients did not have history of trauma or heart surgery. The mean and standard deviation of hospitalization days were 1.87±1.58. One hundred percent of patients with isolated sternum fracture were without any complications. They only received painkillers and they did not receive any other therapeutic intervention. The majority of cases, 90.3% of patients, were without cardiac complications. All patients were discharged with recovery and mortality rate was zero.

It seems that an isolated sternum fracture without accompanying other adjacent fractures in the chest does not lead to heart damage, mortality and related complications. Worrying about this only leads to an probable long- term hospitalization period. In addition,  an increase in the financial burden and services are provided to both patients and the healthcare system.

Providing pre-hospital emergency services is accessible in Iran but costly for the country’s health system. This study calculated the willingness to pay (WTP) for pre-hospital emergency services in Iran. Discrete choice experiment (DCE) was used to measure the population’s WTP for ambulance services focusing on time, price, and quality of services. Four hundred and sixty people in Rasht city, Iran, participated in this online survey. Participants preferred lower transfer fees (β = -0.7, P˂ 0.05), lower time of reaching to the scene (β = -0.061, P˂ 0.05), lower time to arrive to the hospitals (β = -0.038, P ˂ 0.05), Private ambulance (β = -0.151, P ˂ 0.05), and emergency medical services (EMS) technicians (β = 0.209, P ˂ 0.05). Patients’ WTP in selecting EMS services can help policymakers to provide the best services.

Traumatic brain injury is one of the leading causes of death and disability. Traumatic brain injuries have multifactorial injury mechanisms and are often associated with other injuries. A large proportion of patients who suffer from traumatic brain injury also have facial injuries. Due to the anatomical proximity of the face and skull, patients with facial injuries are expected to be at higher risk for brain injuries. The present study was performed with the aim of investigating the relationship between facial and cranial fractures and brain consequence in head trauma patients.

 This is an analytical cross-sectional study. The study population consisted of patients with skull and facial injuries due to head trauma. Fractures of the skull and face were classified into two categories: mandibular and middle part of the face. Brain consequence was considered as intracranial concussion and injury. Age, sex, mechanism of trauma, time and type of fracture, associated clinical symptoms, and level of consciousness of patients were recorded. Data were analyzed using STATA software.

Out of 1625 patients with head injuries, 958 (60%) suffered facial and skull fractures. 700 people (71%) suffered brain injuries following a head injury, of which only 29% had no brain consequences. 50% of brain outcomes following facial and cranial bone fractures together, cranial bone fractures accounted for 29%, and facial fractures accounted for 21% of total brain outcomes. Most patients had brain concussions. Local pain was the most common symptom (75.2%). Overall, 36% of all facial fractures and 88% of skull fractures resulted in brain outcome.

 There is a direct relationship between cranial and facial bone fractures and brain consequences in head trauma patients and concussion was the most common brain outcome in these patients. Urgent and timely measures are required in patients with skull and facial bone fractures to reduce the consequences and brain damage.

Traumatic brain injuries are one of the main causes of death and disability worldwide. Anemia may lead to worse outcomes in patients with traumatic brain injury. Considering that there have been limited studies on the role of anemia and blood transfusion in primary resuscitation of patients with traumatic brain injuries, the purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between hemoglobin level and mortality rate in patients suffering from this condition.

This is a retrospective analytical cross-sectional study. The study population consisted of patients with traumatic brain injuries admitted to the emergency department of Poursina Hospital in Rasht, Iran, in 2017. Patients were classified into two groups, according to blood hemoglobin level, anemic (Hb ≤10) and non-anemic (Hb>10). Age, sex, clinical information, treatment measures, duration of hospitalization, and mortality rate in these two groups were recorded and compared. Also, in order to determine the risk factors for mortality in patients with traumatic brain injury, the above variables, along with laboratory findings, were compared in the two groups of patients with survival and death. Data were analyzed using SPSS21 software, and descriptive and inferential statistical tests.

The total number of participants in the study was 297 (249 (83.8%) male and 48 (16.2%) female), with a mean age of 41.8 ± 22.3 years. 120 (40.4%) patients had anemia. Patients without anemia had higher levels of consciousness than those with anemia (P <0.001). There was a statistically significant difference between the anemic and non-anemic patients in terms of the use of vasopressor and patient status at discharge (P <0.0001). The number of packed cells received showed a statistically significant difference between the patients with and without anemia (P <0.0001). Multivariate analysis based on logistic regression model showed that the duration of hospitalization, hypotension, blood transfusion, and hypothermia are risk factors associated with mortality.

The results of this study showed that although anemia is not a predictor of mortality, but blood transfusion is one of the most important factors associated with mortality in patients with traumatic brain injury.

: In the last two decades, the lack of facilities has been one of the reasons that has increased the average triage time. This delay prolongs the patient’s waiting time and increases the likelihood of errors and mortality. Limited studies have been conducted on the type of facilities required for a fast triage. The purpose of this study is to express the opinions of physicians and nurses regarding the necessary facilities for a rapid triage in Poursina Hospital, Rasht, Iran, in 2021.

This was a qualitative study using conventional content analysismethod, which was performed on the opinions of twenty people in the fields of emergencymedicine, generalmedicine, and nursing. The four Guba and Lincoln criteria were used for strengthening the data.

The opinions of 20 participants resulted in 4 categories and 17 subcategories under the titles: providing human resources, empowering human resources, improvement of triage process, and provision of physical necessities.

Human resources is a valuable component in triage. Careful planning is needed for the growth and development of this valuable asset. By providing the required staff and upgrading their capabilities through training and experience, the speed of triage can be increased. Giving employees a proper understanding of triage is also effective in accelerating the triage process. The provision of physical resources has also been identified as a facilitator, and those in charge should seek solutions for providing them.

Despite the advances in medical technology and preventive programs, the incidence of pressure ulcers during hospitalization is increasing. This study aimed at evaluating the prevalence of bedsores among hospitalized patients in a hospital in the north of Iran.

This analytical cross-sectional study was conducted on all patients (n=244) with pressure ulcers admitted to Poursina Hospital, Rasht, Iran, within more than 48 h. The information of patients, such as age, gender, history of hypertension, history of diabetes, length of hospital stay, and body mass index were gathered from the patientchr('39')s hospital records. Ulcer evaluation was performed using the Braden Scale. The collected data were analyzed in Stata software version 14.1 using mean and standard deviation to describe the quantitative variables and numbers and percentages for qualitative variables.

Based on the findings, among all patients, 1.2%of the cases had pressure ulcers. The mean age of patients was obtained at 61.7±18.6 years. It was revealed that the frequency of pressure ulcers was higher in elderly patients. The history of diabetes had a significant positive relationship with pressure ulcers and Braden score. However, no significant relationship was observed between the history of smoking and ulcers. There was a significant inverse relationship between hypertension history and pressure ulcers and Braden score, meaning that the score was lower in patients with hypertension history. It was also found that patients with high BMI had a lower and significant score than patients with low BMI. A significant relationship was present between the length of hospitalization and the degree of bedsores. In the ulcers of the scapula, the Braden score was significantly higher.

Pressure ulcer was more common in patients aged over 60 years. The subjects with diabetes had a 5 times higher degree of pressure ulcers, and the prolonged hospitalization increased the degree of ulcer. Patients with high BMI had less, while significant pressure ulcers, compared to patients with low BMI.

Biochemical markers of myocardial injuries have radical importance in diagnosis or dismissing cardiac events, especially in cases that electrocardiographic findings are not present. Therefore, this study was designed aiming to appraise 1-month outcome of patients presenting to emergency department (ED) following acute coronary syndrome (ACS) with positive creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) and negative troponin.
This prospective cross - sectional study was done on patients presenting to ED with complaint of acute chest pain and diagnosis of ACS. Patients who did not have a clear electrocardiographic finding indicating acute myocardial infarction (MI) (ST segment elevation) and had positive CK - MB and negative troponin in laboratory tests of serum were included. Demographic data and baseline characteristics, CK serum level, CK-MB, troponin, and 30-day outcome of the patients were analyzed using SPSS version 19.
13759 patients had visited the ED with complaint of chest pain during the study period (57% f emale). 1003 (7.3%) patients had positive troponin test and 12704 (92.3%) had negative CK - MB index and were therefore eliminated from the study. Finally, 52 (0.4%) had both positive CK - MB and negative troponin indices. 35 (67.3%) of them were discharged fr om ED after serial electrocardiography and negative troponin test. 11 (21.2%) were admitted to critical care unit but were discharged due to having 2 negative troponin tests in 12 hours and normal serial electrocardiogram. 6 (11.5%) were referred for surgi cal interventions. No mortality was seen in 1-month follow-up.
Based on the results of the present study, only 0.4% of ACS patients presenting to the studied ED had positive CK - MB and negative troponin indices. During 1 - month follow - up, no case of mortality or MI was observed among them. Only 2 (3.8%) cases needed surgical intervention.

Although vertigo alone is not counted as a disease, it is one of the most common complaints of patients presenting to emergency departments (ED). Considering that in facing peripheral vertigo a single treatment has not been agreed upon, we decided to evaluate the effectiveness and side effects of intravenous (IV) methyl prednisolone and diazepam in treating acute peripheral vertigo in a clinical trial.
This double blind clinical trial was done to compare the effectiveness of IV methyl prednisolone and diazepam in controlling acute peripheral vertigo in patients visiting ED. Patients were allocated to one of the 2 groups using simple randomization, and vertigo severity (based on VAS score), hemodynamic changes, level of consciousness, changes in blood sugar and the side effects were compared between the 2 groups 30, 60, and 120 minutes after injection.
The study was done on 113 patients with the mean age of 41.8 ± 10.4 years (20-60) (58.4 male). Patients were divided into 2 groups of IV diazepam (51 patients) and IV methyl prednisolone (62 patients). A significant difference was not found between the 2 groups regarding age (p = 0.83), sex (p = 0.339), vertigo severity (p = 0.337) and vital signs (p = 0.986) on arrival. Vertigo severity only showed significant difference between the groups after 120 minutes of drug administration (p = 0.003). No case of low blood pressure, loss of consciousness, or hemodynamic instability was seen in either group during 120 minutes. Dry mouth was significantly higher in the group receiving IV diazepam (p =0.007). Mean blood sugar for diazepam and methyl prednisolone groups after 60 and 120 minutes were 120.6 ± 36.2 and 143.1 ± 51.2 (p = 0.009) and 119.5 ± 35.1 and 162.9 ± 50.9 (p In conclusion, considering the higher effectiveness and non-significant side effects of IV diazepam, it seems to be better than IV methyl prednisolone for symptom control in patients presenting with acute peripheral vertigo.

Midazolam has turned into a common drug for pediatric procedural sedation and analgesia. However, there is not much data regarding its proper dose and potential side effects in the Iranian children population. Therefore, the present study was done to compare 2 doses of IV midazolam in this regard.
The present clinical trial was performed to compare 0.1 and 0.3 mg/kg doses of IV midazolam in induction of sedation for head trauma infant patients in need of brain computed tomography (CT) scan. Conscious infants under 2 years old, with stable hemodynamics were included. Onset and duration of action as well as probable side effects were compared between the two groups using SPSS version 22.
110 infants with the mean age of 14.0 §5.9 months (range: 4–24) and mean weight of 9.7±2 kg (range: 5–15) were randomly allocated to one of the 2 study groups (54.6% female). Success rate in 0.1 and 0.3 mg /kg groups were 38.2% (21 patients)and 60% (33 patients), respectively (p=0.018). Overall, 56 (50.9%) patients did not reach proper sedation and were sedated receiving ketamine (22 patients) or another dose of midazolam (34 patients, mean additional dose needed was 2.1±1.1 mg).
The results of the present study demonstrated the higher success rate and longer duration of action for 0.3 mg /kg midazolam compared to 0.1 mg /kg. The groups were equal regarding onset of action, effect on vital signs and probable side effects.

Determining the proper angle for inserting central venous catheter (CV line) is of great importance for decreasing the complications and increasing success rate. The present study was designed to determine the proper angle of needle insertion for internal jugular vein catheterization.
In the present case series study, candidate patients for catheterization of the right internal jugular vein under guidance of ultrasonography were studied. At the time of proper placing of the catheter, photograph was taken and Auto Cad 2014 software was used to measure the angles of the needle in the sagittal and axial planes, as well as patient’s head rotation.
114 patients with the mean age of 56.96 ± 14.71 years were evaluated (68.4% male). The most common indications of catheterization were hemodialysis (55.3%) and shock state (24.6%). The mean angles of needle insertion were 102.15 ± 6.80 for axial plane, 36.21 ± 3.12 for sagittal plane and the mean head rotation angle was 40.49 ± 5.09.
Based on the results of the present study it seems that CV line insertion under the angles 102.15 ± 6.80 degrees in the axial plane, 36.21 ± 3.12 in the sagittal plane and 40.49 ± 5.09 head rotation yield satisfactory results.

Traffic accidents are the 8th cause of mortality in different countries and are expected to rise to the 3rd rank by 2020. Based on the Haddon matrix numerous factors such as environment, host, and agent can affect the severity of traffic-related traumas. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the effective factors in severity of these traumas based on Haddon matrix.
In the present 1-month cross-sectional study, all the patients injured in traffic accidents, who were referred to the ED of Imam Khomeini and Golestan Hospitals, Ahvaz, Iran, during March 2013 were evaluated. Based on the Haddon matrix, effective factors in accident occurrence were defined in 3 groups of host, agent, and environment. Demographic data of the patients and data regarding Haddon risk factors were extracted and analyzed using SPSS version 20.
700 injured people with the mean age of 29.66 ± 12.64 years (3-82) were evaluated (92.4% male). Trauma mechanism was car-pedestrian in 308 (44%) of the cases and car-motorcycle in 175 (25%). 610 (87.1%) cases were traffic accidents and 371 (53%) occurred in the time between 2 pm and 8 pm. Violation of speed limit was the most common violation with 570 (81.4%) cases, followed by violation of right-of-way in 57 (8.1%) patients. 59.9% of the severe and critical injuries had occurred on road accidents, while 61.3% of the injuries caused by traffic accidents were mild to moderate (p Based on the results of the present study, the most important effective factors in severity of traffic accident-related traumas were age over 50, not using safety tools, and undertaking among host-related factors; insufficient environment safety, road accidents and time between 2 pm and 8 pm among environmental factors; and finally, rollover, car-pedestrian, and motorcycle-pedestrian accidents among the agent factors.

Low back pain is the most common skeletal disorder worldwide that 50% to 80% of people experience it at least once in their lifetime. Physical and psychological factors in the work environment can relatively contribute to low back pain. In this study, we examined the prevalence of low back pain and influential factors in its development among nursing staff. In this cross-sectional study we assessed the prevalence of low back pain among nurses working in Poursina hospital, Rasht, Iran, during March and April 2012. Demographic data and information on the status of skeletal pain, as well as, associated factors were collected using a pre-designed check list. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16. A total of 350 nurses with a mean age of 32.00 ± 8.24 years (minimum 22 and maximum 56 years) were studied (90.3% female). 246 participants (70.3%) had a history of low back pain. There was no significant difference between gender and the incidence of low back pain, (P = 0.286). 96 participants (27.4%) aged 27 to 31 had the highest rate of low back pain and 11 participants (3.1%) aged 52 to 56 were the least frequent age group. Low back pain significantly differed by age (P = 0.001), body mass index (BMI) (P = 0.222), and physical activity (P = 0.050). The results of this study showed a prevalence of 70% for low back pain among nurses working in Poursina hospital in Rasht, in Gilan province. Age, BMI, and physical activity were significantly associated with the prevalence of low back pain. However, gender, occupation, marital status, smoking, family history, frequency of lifting heavy things, work experience, and workplace did not show a significant relationship

Considering the importance of an early diagnosis and proper decision-making in regards to the treatment of pediatric distal radius and elbow fractures, this study examines emergency medicine specialists’ accuracy in the diagnosis and treatment of these patients. From 2012 and 2013, children less than 14 years old who were referred to an academic hospital emergency department with elbow or distal radius fractures were enrolled. Initially, patients were examined by an emergency medicine specialist and then they were referred to an orthopedic surgeon. Type of fracture and the proposed treatment of two specialists were compared. In total, there were 108 patients (54 patients in each group) with a mean age of 8.1+3.3 years. Identical diagnosis in 48 cases (88.9%) of distal radius and 36 cases (66.7%) of elbow trauma were observed. We found a difference between diagnosis of the two specialists in diagnosing lateral condyle of the humerus fracture in the elbow group and growth plate fracture in the distal radius fracture group, but the differences were not significant. Among 108 patients, 70 patients (64.8%) received identical treatment. Although the emergency medicine specialists responded similarly to the orthopedic specialists in the diagnosis of pediatric distal radius and elbow fractures, diagnosis of more complicated fractures such as lateral condylar humoral fractures, distal radius growth plate and for choosing the proper treatment option, merits further education.

Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are one of the most important causes of death in patients under the age of 25 years and is responsible for one third of total deaths caused by trauma. Therefore, knowing its epidemiologic pattern in different populations seems vital. Therefore, this study aims to examine the epidemiologic pattern of TBI in emergency department. In this cross-sectional study, the profiles of 1000 patients affected by TBI were selected using simple random sampling. The examined variables in this study included demographic, season, mechanism of injury, accompanying injuries, level of consciousness, hospitalization duration, computed tomography (CT) scan results, needing surgery, admission to intensive care unit, and outcome of the patient. In the end, independent risk factors for the death of patients were determined. 1000 patients suffering from were studied (81.8% male; mean age 38.5±21.7 years). The frequency of their referral to hospital in spring (31.4%) was more (p<0.01). 45.9% of the patients had a level of consciousness less than 9 based on the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). Subdural (45.9%) and epidural bleeding (23.7%) were the most common findings in CT scans in this study (p<0.001). Finally, 233 (23.3%) of the patients were dead. Over 60 years of age, falling and motorcycle accidents, intracranial hemorrhage accompanied by brain contusion, subdural bleeding, a GCS of less than 9, and the need to be admitted to intensive care unit were independent risk factors of death in TBI. Age Over 60 years, falling and motorcycle accidents, intracranial hemorrhage accompanied by brain contusion, subdural bleeding, a GCS of less than 9, and need to be admitted to intensive care unit were independent risk factors for the death in TBI patients.

Previous studies have shown that there is a probability of seizure even with therapeutic doses of tramadol. Yet, no accurate data exist regarding this problem in Iran. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of tramadol consumption in patients with first seizure referred to the emergency department (ED). In the present retrospective one-year cross-sectional study, all patients who were referred to the ED of Poursina Hospital, Rasht, Iran, with the complaint of first seizure were evaluated. Demographic data and data regarding history of tramadol consumption, duration, total dose, last dose, and time passed from the last dose of consumption were recorded and analyzed regarding the study questions using SPSS 20. 383 (68.9%) out of the 556 patients referred to the ED, were experiencing their first seizure (mean age 26.43 ± 6.48 years; 70.5% male). 84 (21.9%) patients had recently used tramadol. History of seizure in the family of tramadol consumers was significantly lower (3.6% compared to 11%; p = 0.036). Mean total tramadol consumption dose in the last 24 hours was 140.17 ± 73.53 mg (range: 50-300 mg). Duration of tramadol consumption was less than 10 days in 84.5% (df: 2; χ2 = 96.1; p < 0.001). In addition, 62 (73.8%) patients had seizure within 6 hours of consumption (df: 3; χ2 = 29.5; p < 0.001). Results of the present study showed that 21.9% of the patients with first seizure had a history of tramadol consumption. Seizure following tramadol consumption is more prevalent in the initial 10 days and within 6 hours of consumption. In addition, it seems that lower doses of tramadol may also induce seizure.

Colloid cysts are mucous-filled masses with an outer fibrous layer. These cysts are rare developmental malformation and not a true neoplasm. They usually found incidentally and are asymptomatic; but in some cases may associate with rapid neurologic deterioration, herniation, and sudden death. Recognition of this rare but important diagnosis may result in decreasing mortality. In this report, we presented a 13-year-old boy with complaint of two times drop attack and final diagnosis of colloid cyst in the third brain ventricle.

Hanging is one of the most commonly used way to commit suicide in many countries. This method used in suicide is considered a problem in Iran too, but no clear data exists regarding hanging in different regions or the country as a whole. Because of the epidemiologic differences in non-judicial hanging in different regions, this study aimed to assess it in Gilan province, Iran between 2011 and 2013. In this cross-sectional study, profiles of hanging cases registered in Poorsina hospital in Gilan, Iran between 2011 and 2013 were evaluated. Age, sex, marital status, place of residency, level of education, occupation, history of suicide, history of clinical illness, season of suicide and hanging outcome were evaluated. 59 cases of hanging (mean age 31.4 ± 13.1 years and 83.0% male) were evaluated. 12 (20.34%) suffered from psychological disorders, and 9 (15.2%) confessed to substance abuse. 7 (11.9%) had a history of suicide attempts by hanging. Hanging was significantly higher in men (p<0.001), people with an education level of less than high school diploma (p=0.02) and the unemployed (p<0.05) patients. In the end, 20 (33.9%) of these attempts resulted in death. The results of this study showed that in 2 years, 59 cases committed suicide by hanging themselves, 33.9% of which finally died. Committing suicide by hanging was significantly more prevalent in men, people with an education level of less than high school diploma and the unemployed.

Discharge against medical advice (AMA) is the patient voluntarily leaving the hospital against the physician’s advice, which might indicate a problem in the hospital or the quality of care in it. This study aimed to evaluate the frequency and reasons of AMA in the emergency department (ED).
The present cross-sectional study evaluated the reasons of AMA in the ED of Poursina Hospital, Rasht, Iran. The studied population included all the discharged AMA patients from April 2012 to March 2013. Demographic data and data regarding insurance status, insurance provider, number of hospitalization days, admission shift (morning, evening, night), type of disease or reason for referral (multiple trauma, surgery, orthopedics, neurosurgery, neurology), probable readmission in the next 15 days, and reasons for discharge AMA were gathered using a pre-designed checklist. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20 and chi square test. p 3367 patients were admitted to ED over the course of the study, 1060 (31.4%) of which were discharged AMA (62.92% male). Most discharged AMA patients were married and 20-30 years old. Most had neurological problems and surgery, and were referred in the evening or night shifts. 62.17% of the patients were insured by Ta’min Ejtema’i insurance company. The reasons for discharge AMA was patient related in 1009 (95.19%) cases, medical staff related in 35 cases (3.3%), and hospitalization related in 16 (1.51%) cases. Readmission in the next 15 days was seen in 9.06% of those who were discharged AMA.
Based on the results of the present study, most cases of discharge AMA were patient related. Increasing the knowledge of the patients regarding probable consequences, designing outpatient management programs for these patients and improving the quality of medical services can help decrease discharge AMA cases.

Traumatic brain injuries are among the most important causes of mortality and disability. Since there is a lot of controversy regarding discharge of head trauma patients, especially those with mild traumatic brain injuries, this study was designed aiming to evaluate traumatic brain injuries from an epidemiologic point of view.
In this retrospective cross-sectional study, patients with isolated head trauma, and all those who underwent computed tomography (CT) were included using convenience sampling. Demographic data and final diagnosis of the patients were extracted from their medical profile, and were analyzed using SPSS 21 and appropriate statistical tests.
786 patients with the mean age of 24 ± 16.8 years (range: 0.5 – 75) were evaluated (67.8% male). 42 patients (5.3%) had abnormal CT scan and were hospitalized. 7 of them (16.7% of hospitalized, 3.3% of low-risk, and 0.9% of all patients) were in the group categorized as low-risk regarding probability of brain injuries. 12 (1.5%) participants needed surgery, 2 of which (0.9%) were initially categorized as low-risk. Vomiting was significantly more in patients with abnormal CT scan (45.2%) compared to those who had normal CT scan (19.6%) (p = 0.0001). No significant difference was detected between the 2 groups in other symptoms.
The results of this study indicate that by making decisions based on clinical findings alone, there is a probability of about 3.3% error in management of head trauma patients. In addition, 0.9% of the patients initially categorized as low-risk, needed surgical intervention in the end.

Both midazolam and promethazine are recommended to be used as sedatives in many studies but each have some side effects that limits their use. Combination therapy as an alternative method, may decreases these limitations. Therefore, this study aimed to compare midazolam with midazolam-promethazine regarding induction, maintenance, and recovery characteristics following pediatric procedural sedation and analgesia. Children under 7 years old who needed sedation for being CT scanned were included in this double-blind randomized clinical trial. The patients were randomly divided into 2 groups: one only received midazolam (0.5 mg/kg), while the other group received a combination of midazolam (0.5 mg/kg) and promethazine (1.25 mg/kg). University of Michigan Sedation Scale (UMSS) was used to assess sedation induction. In addition to demographic data, the child’s vital signs were evaluated before prescribing the drugs and after inducing sedation (reaching UMSS level 2). The primary outcomes in the present study were onset of action after administration and duration of the drugs’ effect. 107 patients were included in the study. Mean onset of action was 55.4±20.3 minutes for midazolam and 32.5±11.1 minutes for midazolam-promethazine combination (p<0.001). But duration of effect was not different between the 2 groups (p=0.36). 8 (7.5%) patients were unresponsive to the medication, all 8 of which were in the midazolam treated group (p=0.006). Also in 18 (16.8%) cases a rescue dose was prescribed, 14 (25.9%) were in the midazolam group and 4 (7.5%) were in the midazolam-promethazine group (p=0.02). Comparing systolic (p=0.20) and diastolic (p=0.34) blood pressure, heart rate (p=0.16), respiratory rate (p=0.17) and arterial oxygen saturation level (p=0.91) showed no significant difference between the 2 groups after intervention. Based on the findings of this study, it seems that using a combination of midazolam and promethazine not only speeds up the sedation induction, but also decreases unresponsiveness to the treatment and the need for a rescue dose.

Stroke is recognized as the third cause of mortality after cardiovascular and cancer diseases, so that lead to death of about 5 million people, annually. There are several scales to early prediction of at risk patients and decreasing the rate of mortality by transferring them to the stroke center. In the present study, the accuracy of Cincinnati pre-hospital stroke scale was assessed. This was a retrospective cross-sectional study done to assess accuracy of Cincinnati scale in prediction of stroke probability in patients referred to the emergency department of Poursina Hospital, Rasht, Iran, 2013 with neurologic symptoms. Three criteria of Cincinnati scale including facial droop, dysarthria, and upper extremity weakness as well as the final diagnosis of patients were gathered. Sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, and likelihood ratios of Cincinnati scale were calculated using SPSS version 20. 448 patients were assessed. The agreement rate of Cincinnati scale and final diagnosis was 0.483 ± 0.055 (p<0.0001). The sensitivity of 93.19% (95% Cl: 90.11-95.54), specificity of 51.85% (95% Cl: 40.47-63.10), positive predictive value of 89.76% (95% Cl: 86.27-92.62), negative predictive value of 62.69% (95% Cl: 55.52-72.45), positive likelihood ratio of 1.94% (95% Cl: 1.54-2.43), and negative likelihood ratio of 0.13% (95% Cl: 0.09-0.20) were calculated. It seems that pre-hospital Cincinnati scale can be an appropriate screening tool in prediction of stroke in patients with acute neurologic syndromes.

Shoulder dislocation is identified as displacement of humerus head from the glenoid cavity of scapula bone, which makes up about 50% of total joint dislocations. Taking into account the importance of the side effects and disabilities caused by this type of dislocation and that it can be prevented, the present study was designed aiming to evaluate the epidemiologic characteristics of the patients with shoulder dislocation. In this retrospective cross-sectional study, all the patients referred to the emergency department (ED) with complaint of shoulder dislocation throughout one year were evaluated. Demographic data and characteristics regarding the type of dislocation, presence of accompanying fractures, mechanism of dislocation, history of dislocation and the method of reduction were extracted from the patients’ profiles and recorded in a checklist designed for this purpose. Data were then statistically analyzed using SPSS version 19. Statistics showed that 120 patients with the mean age of 39.3 ± 21.2 years had been admitted to ED of the studied center in one year (79.2% male). The most common type of dislocation was anterior dislocation (95.8%) and in the right shoulder (52.5%) and the most common cause was falling on open arm (34.2%). Reduction method was non-operative in 93.3% of the cases and surgery in 6.7%. Based on the results of this study, in the studied population, most patients with shoulder dislocation were young men who had an anterior dislocation in their right shoulder because of falling on out stretched hand and treated with close reduction.

Elderly diabetic patients are prone to trauma due to background illnesses or physical disabilities. In the present epidemiologic study,we aimed to evaluate pattern of trauma in elderly diabetic patients referred to the emergency department of Poorsina Hospital, Rasht, Iran, 2011.
This cross-sectional study was performed on the diabetic patients over 60 years old. Demographic data, trauma characteristics, mortality, need for blood transfusion, and the time interval between admission and death, were gathered. Finally, the risk factors of the mortality were evaluated. P268 patients with mean age of 69.94±7.18 years were evaluated (58.6% female). Most common trauma mechanism was same level falling (40.3%); most common location for trauma was urban streets (35.8%); most common anatomic site were extremities (45.6%); and the season with highest trauma occurrence was winter (28%). 14.2% of the patients needed blood transfusion and 6.3% of the patients finally died. Mean hospitalization duration in the department was 3.72±5.14 days (between 6 hours to 53 days). There was a significant correlation between mortality of the elderly diabetic patients and sex(p=0.012), anatomic site of trauma (p=0.047), number of injured site (p=0.030), need for blood transfusion (p100/minute (pThe results of this study, show that the most common trauma mechanism was same level falling, the most common site of trauma was streets and other places in the city, most common anatomic site for trauma were extremities; the s eason with highest trauma occurrence was winter. There was a significant correlation between mortality of patients and sex , anatomic site of trauma , number of injured site , need for blood transfusion , systolic blood pressure 100 /minute.

Trauma is one of the most important causes of death in patients under 40 years of age and the third common cause of death regardless of age. Rib cage damages are one of the major reasons for death in the early minutes post - trauma. Therefore, the present study aim ed to evaluate the frequency of intra - abdomi nal injury in the patients with rib fracture who were referred to emergency department .
This cross - sectional study included 60 patients with rib fractures who were admitted to the emergency department of Poorsina Hospital , Rasht, Iran , from March 2011 to March2012. A checklist was filled out for all the patients including age, sex, trauma mechanism, side and site of fracture , the number of broken ribs, the results of abdominal ultra sonography, the need for laparotomy and mortality . The collected data were classified based on descriptive statistics and analyzed using SPSS 1 6 .
60 patients with the mean age of 47.26±13.71 years were admitted to the emergency department during this time (81.7% male). The most common mechanism of trauma was car accident [ 22 ( 36.7% ] . Among these 60 patients, 71 rib fractures in 3 levels of chest (upper, middle, lower) were detected and 50 (83.3%) in the same area. Mean number of fractured ribs was 2.85±2.2 (minimum: 1, maximum10). In 3 (5%) patients,fracture was on both sides. Theresults of a bdominal ultra sonography in 7 (11.7%) patients were positive. The number of fractured ribs (p=0.017) and the area of the fracture (p=0.048) show eda significant correlation with the presence of intra-abdominal free fluid. The fracture of more than 2 ribs directly correlated with the possibility of intra-abdominal hemorrhage (pBased on the results of this study, it seems that the number and area of the fractured ribs directly and significantly correlate with the probability of abdominal trauma based on the results of abdominal ultra sonography.

Emergency department (ED) as the fundamental part of hospital has a specific importance due to admitting the most various and sensitive group of patients. The aim of the ED is presenting services with highest quality in the least time . To reach this goal establishment of an emergency medicine specialist who performs assessment, resuscitation, stabilization, detection, and maintenance of emergency patients is noteworthy. The aim of this study was evaluating the effect of establishing the emergency medicine specialists on the performance of ED in Poursina Hospital, Rasht, Iran.
In t his cross - sectional study files of all patients hospitalized in the ED of Poursina, Rasht, Iran, through 2005 - 2012 were evaluated . Variables such as age, gender, cause of refer and number of hospitalization, number of discharging from department, percentage of bed occupation and daily bed occupation, time of hospitalization, number of dischargin g under six hours, number of transportation to other wards or hospitals, and the rate of bed circulation in the ED were assessed, too. Data was gathered through hospital information system and analyzed using SPSS 20.
Through 2005 to 2012 number of admitted patients in the ED has increased so that the most admitted number was related to 2012 (p=0.0001) . The present of discharged patients under six hours and the rate of direct discharging before the presence of emergency medicine specialists have inc reased from 15.5% and 58.9% to 23.4% and 61.2% in after their presence, respectively (p=0.001) . Transporting to other wards and hospitals were also decreased from 41.1% to 38.8% (p=0.00 0 1). The occupied beds percentage after presenting of emergency medicine specialists has noticeably decreased compared to the past, while bed turnover rate increased. In other words, the bed turnover mean has increased from 354.5±108.4 during 2005 - 2008 to 637.7±30.8 through 2009 - 2012 (p=0.002). Also, during 2005 - 2008 the hospi talization mean of the patient has remarkably decreased from 1.08±0.44 days to 0.35±0.05 days in 2009 - 2012 (p=0.021). The occupied bed mean before and after the presence of emergency medicine specialists were 12173±3453 and 6217±219, respectively, showed a descending trend into the past (p=0.018).
It seems that p resenting of emergency medicine specialists in health system leads to improve the service delivery to patients and decrease the waiting time. Also w ith decreasing the waiting time of pa tients and timely disposition, more prepared beds can be accessible in the ED for future admission.