The western journal of emergency medicine
Audio Summaries

Association of Shock Index and Variants with Mortality in Acute Pulmonary Embolism

Jan 19, 2026

The authors aimed to evaluate the association between early emergency department measurements of the shock index (SI) and its variants with 30-day mortality in patients diagnosed with acute pulmonary embolism (PE). Their findings indicated that the age-adjusted SI demonstrated the highest discriminatory efficiency for predicting mortality compared to other SI variants and established risk stratification tools. The study suggests the need for further research on the age-adjusted SI's potential role in improving prognostication and management of acute PE.

Assessment of Mental Health in Healthcare Workers Involved in Care of Victims of the 2017 Las Vegas Mass Shooting

Jan 19, 2026

This study investigates the mental health impact of work-related stress on healthcare workers who cared for victims of the 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting, specifically examining symptoms of depression, anxiety, and PTSD. The findings indicate that higher work-related stress is significantly associated with increased symptoms of depression and PTSD, while healthcare workers reported greater depression and lower anxiety compared to the general population. The authors highlight the need for further research on the mental health of healthcare workers involved in mass shooting incidents.

First-Generation Antihistamine Use in Geriatric Emergency Department Patients: Retrospective Review

Jan 19, 2026

The authors aimed to evaluate the frequency of use, indications, and adverse drug effects of first-generation antihistamines in older adults visiting the emergency department (ED). Their retrospective study found that these medications were administered in 3% of geriatric ED encounters, with 92% of uses deemed potentially inappropriate and a 15% incidence of adverse effects, particularly in patients aged 85 and older or with cognitive impairment. The findings highlight the need for caution in prescribing these medications to older adults in the ED setting.

Women with Suicidal Ideation, Substance Use Disorder, or Intimate Partner Violence in the Emergency Department: Retrospective Analysis of Contraceptive Documentation

Jan 19, 2026

The authors aimed to investigate the contraceptive documentation practices in the emergency department (ED) for women of reproductive age experiencing suicidal ideation, substance use disorder, or intimate partner violence. Their retrospective analysis revealed that these women had significantly lower rates of contraceptive status documentation and faced greater barriers to care, including higher rates of uninsurance and longer ED stays, highlighting a critical gap in addressing their reproductive health needs. The findings suggest that improving contraceptive inquiry in this vulnerable population could help reduce the incidence of unintended pregnancies and enhance overall health outcomes.

Prehospital and Emergency Care Perspectives to Define Pediatric Critical Illness and Injury

Jan 19, 2026

The authors aimed to explore clinician perspectives in prehospital and emergency settings to develop a consensus-driven definition of pediatric critical illness and injury, addressing the challenges of identifying critically ill children. Through qualitative interviews and focus groups, they identified key themes related to indicators of critical illness, perceptions of existing triage tools, and the variability in assessment approaches among different healthcare roles. The findings highlight significant gaps in current pediatric triage systems and emphasize the need for a multidisciplinary approach to improve decision-making in both prehospital and hospital environments.

Incidence of Solar Retinopathy and Photokeratitis in US Emergency Departments Surrounding the April 2024 Total Solar Eclipse

Jan 19, 2026

The authors aimed to assess the incidence of solar retinopathy and photokeratitis-related emergency department visits surrounding the April 2024 total solar eclipse. Their analysis of 1,774 eye injury visits revealed no statistically significant increase in cases after the eclipse compared to before, suggesting that public education on safe eclipse viewing may have effectively mitigated potential eye injuries.

Case Study and Qualitative Analysis of Emergency Department Community Advisory Council on Intimate Partner Violence

Jan 19, 2026

The authors aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a community advisory council formed between an emergency department (ED) and community-based organizations (CBOs) serving survivors of intimate partner violence. Through qualitative interviews, they identified key factors that facilitated and hindered engagement in this partnership, highlighting the importance of relationship-building behaviors and the impact of collaborative efforts on both tangible projects and cultural shifts within the ED. The study underscores the potential of ED-CBO partnerships to enhance survivor-centered care and improve the continuum of support for individuals experiencing intimate partner violence.

Mapping Five Years of #FOAMed: Trends, Engagement, and Shifting Topics on Twitter/X

Jan 19, 2026

This study aimed to analyze the evolution of thematic content and user engagement trends in #FOAMed tweets over a five-year period on Twitter/X. By employing natural language processing and bibliometric methods on 6,000 high-engagement tweets, the authors identified ten distinct topics and observed a shift in focus from COVID-19 and critical care to areas like prehospital care and point-of-care ultrasound. The findings highlight the dynamic nature of FOAMed discourse and underscore the importance of content quality in driving engagement within digital medical education.

External Validation of a Novel Lung Injury Prevention Score for the Emergency Department

Jan 19, 2026

The authors aimed to externally validate the Emergency Department Lung Injury Prevention Score (EDLIPS) for identifying patients at risk of developing acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) upon hospital admission. Using data from the VIOLET trial, they found that EDLIPS effectively discriminated between patients who developed ARDS and those who did not, achieving an area under the curve of 0.786, similar to its original validation. This study highlights the potential of EDLIPS as a tool for early identification of at-risk patients in the emergency department, facilitating timely intervention and future ARDS prevention trials.

Emergency Department Presentations of West Nile Virus

Jan 19, 2026

The authors aimed to describe the initial presentations of patients diagnosed with West Nile virus in the emergency department during a significant outbreak in Maricopa County, Arizona, and to assess the frequency of missed diagnoses. They found that emergency physicians did not initiate testing for West Nile virus in 57.1% of cases, particularly in older patients presenting with less typical symptoms like generalized weakness. The study highlights the need for increased vigilance among emergency physicians for atypical presentations during outbreaks to prevent delayed diagnoses.