Practical Summaries in Acute Care Archives – August 1, 2004

August 1, 2004

• Fondaparinux: An Alternative Treatment for Deep Vein Thrombosis

  Fondaparinux, a synthetic polysaccharide, represents a new class of anti-thrombotic agents that specifically inhibit factor Xa of the clotting cascade and lack activity against thrombin.

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• Rocuronium Appears to Be a Good Alternative to Succinylcholine in RSI

  This paper reports the University of California at Davis Medical Centers emergency department experience with rocuronium, a rapid-onset, non-depolarizing paralytic agent available as an alternative to succinylcholine for rapid sequence intubation (RSI).

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• New Products Show Promise in the Control of Field Hemorrhage

  Control of hemorrhage in the field is of utmost importance in improving survival from trauma. Although this is not possible for internal bleeding, a substance that can be applied to external wounds and control bleedingin a manner that outperforms direct pressure or bandageswould be enormously useful.

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• Is Biafine an Alternative to Silver Sulfadizine for the Treatment of Burns?

  This Israeli study was a randomized, controlled trial comparing SSD, biafine, and saline-soaked gauze in the treatment of inflicted superficial partial-thickness burns in pigs.

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• Special Feature: Quinolone Wars in the ED: Which Bomb for Which Battle?

  Fluoroquinolones are precise and powerful agents against infectious diseases. By inhibition of DNA gyrase leading to rapid bactericidal activity, these drugs are smart bombs of great value in fighting an array of gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial pathogens.

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• ECG Review: What Might the Echo Show?

  The echocardiogram (ECG) in the Figure was obtained from a 55-year-old man with a history of heart failure and emphysema. What might his ECG show?

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