Acupuncture for Back and Neck Pain in an Emergency Room Setting
Back PainNeck Pain2 moreThis study aims to examine the efficacy of an Integrative approach utilizing Acupuncture as an add-on therapy for the treatment back and neck pain in an emergency department setting Acupuncture is well established as an effective treatment for back pain. The investigators cumulative experience in Asaf Harofeh Medical Center has shown Acupuncture to be an Effective therapy for simple back and neck pain in an ER setting. This study will examine weather Acupuncture can decrease pain, increase range of motion and decrease anxiety in patients admitted to the Emergency Room with simple back and neck pain without neurological findings. Acupuncture will be performed as an add on therapy on top of analgesic therapy.
Evaluation of Intravenous Cardene(Nicardipine)and Labetalol Use in the Emergency Department
Hypertensive UrgencyThe purpose of this study is to compare the safety and efficacy of Cardene I.V. to labetalol administered intravenously for the management of hypertension in the emergency department setting.
Models of Screening, Brief Intervention With a Facilitated Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) for Opioid...
Opiate AddictionPatients with heroin and prescription opioid dependence are at increased risk for adverse health consequences and often utilize the Emergency Department (ED) as their source of medical care. Screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment has been effective in decreasing high risk behaviors such as alcohol and tobacco use, and unsafe sexual practices. The data on the effectiveness of brief interventions with opioid dependence is limited. This prospective, randomized controlled trial of opioid dependent subjects (N=360) will compare two models of brief intervention with a control condition. ED patients with opioid dependence will be randomized to either: (1)Screening, Brief Intervention with a Facilitated Referral to Treatment (SBIRT); (2) Screening, Brief Intervention with ED initiated Buprenorphine Treatment (SBI+Bup); or (3) standard care (SC) which includes a handout detailing substance abuse treatment centers in the area. The primary outcome will be self-reported engagement in formal substance abuse treatment at 30 days, verified by contact with the treatment program. Other outcomes measured at 30 days, 2, 6 and 12 months include changes in opioid use (self-report and urine toxicology analysis), HIV risk behaviors, and health care service utilization. The three interventions will also be compared on their cost-effectiveness. We will test the hypotheses that SBI+Bup will be superior to SBIRT and SC, and SBIRT will be superior to SC in (1)increasing the proportion of patients engaged in formal substance abuse treatment at 30 days; (2) reducing illicit opioid use; (3) reducing HIV risk behaviors; and (4) reducing health care service utilization. In addition, we hypothesize that the societal costs of SBI+Bup, per number of days of opioid abstinence, will be cost effective relative to SBIRT or SC; and that SBIRT will be cost effective relative to SC. Data analyses will be conducted on the intention to treat sample of randomized patients. This study, conducted by a research team with extensive experience evaluating brief interventions and treatments for opioid dependence, will be unique in its: (1) comparison of two models of brief intervention with standard care; (2) inclusion of an ED initiated treatment arm; (3) use of manual-guided interventions with systematic assessment of adherence and competence; and (4)collection of detailed cost data to help guide future healthcare policy.
Painful Procedures in the Emergency Department: A Distraction Intervention
Pediatric Pain and AnxietyThis study is designed to assess the effectiveness of the video-based intervention over and above current standard practice for pain control in the pediatric emergency department (ED). This is a single-center trial based at the IWK Health Centre. The primary outcome will be based on the CAMPIS coding of the video-taped pain response of the research participants.
Management of Diabetes in the Emergency Room: a Randomized Trial of an Insulin Protocol.
Type 2 Diabetes MellitusThis study will examine two questions: 1. Whether insulin treatment of high blood sugar in patients with diabetes while they are in the emergency room will improve how quickly they recover from illness if they need to be hospitalized. 2. Whether immediately beginning long lasting insulin detemir in patients with diabetes when they are admitted to hospital from the emergency room will improve how quickly they recover from the illness which necessitated hospitalization.
IV Keppra in the Emergency Department for Prevention of Early Recurrent Seizures
Tonic-clonic SeizureThis study is looking at three seizure medicines. Patients with seizures are usually treated with phenytoin (Dilantin) or Fosphenytoin. These medicines can be given intravenously (IV)or by mouth. Another seizure medicine, levetiracetam (Keppra) can now be given this way also. This study will compare IV phenytoin (Dilantin) and IV fosphenytoin to levetiracetam (Keppra) in patients who have had a recent seizure. Only patients with a history of seizures can be involved. The patient must present to the emergency department within 4 hours of a seizure. The purpose of this study is to compare these three drugs, phenytoin (Dilantin), fosphenytoin, and levetiracetam (Keppra). The investigators are looking to see if these drugs can prevent another seizure in the next 24 hours. We are also looking for any possible side effects.
A Study of Risperidone in Combination With Lorazepam Compared With Standard Therapy for Emergency...
SchizophreniaPsychotic Disorders1 moreThe purpose of the study is to show that risperidone (an antipsychotic medication) combined with lorazepam (an anti-anxiety medication) is more effective than conventional therapy administered by intramuscular injection for emergency treatment of patients with schizophrenia.
Emergency Linkage to Outpatient Psychiatric Services
Emergency ServicesPsychiatricThe purpose of this study is to compare two different kinds of follow-up care and their effects on psychiatric service use and psychological well-being. This randomized, controlled trial of subjects discharged from the psychiatric emergency services to outpatient care receive traditional hospital-based outpatient clinic referrals (treatment as usual) or appointments for community-based follow-up by a mobile crisis team.
Transthoracic Incremental Monophasic Versus Biphasic by Emergency Responders (TIMBER)
Cardiac ArrestThe study compares the effectiveness of two fully approved shock waveforms (monophasic and biphasic shock) commonly used to defibrillate (shock) patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest due to a highly lethal rhythm problem (ventricular fibrillation). The purpose of the study (hypothesis) is to determine if one waveform results in improved resuscitation, admission alive to hospital, and discharge alive from hospital compared with the other.
Emergency Use of Voriconazole in Patients With Life-Threatening Invasive Fungal Infections
MycosesThis protocol provides for emergency treatment with the experimental anti-fungal drug voriconazole for patients with life-threatening invasive fungal infections. The increase in the number of patients whose immune function is suppressed because of chemotherapy, tissue or organ transplantation, or HIV infection has led to an increase in fungal infections. New drugs are needed to combat these infections in patients who do not respond to or cannot tolerate standard treatments. Patients on other primary NIH protocols who have an invasive life-threatening fungal infection that does not respond to currently available treatments or who cannot tolerate these treatments may be eligible for this study. Participants will have a blood test and a physical examination before receiving voriconazole. They will receive voriconazole twice a day either as an infusion into a vein or as tablets taken by mouth. Adult patients will be asked to provide a blood sample any time after the first dose of voriconazole to be used for developing a test to measure voriconazole concentration in the blood. Patients will be evaluated about 10 days after starting treatment and then at least once every 4 weeks with a symptom check and blood test.