Chest pain in pediatric patients in the emergency department- Presentation, risk factors and outcomes-A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess and determine the presentation, risk factors, and outcomes of pediatric patients who were admitted for cardiac-related chest pain. BACKGROUND: Although chest pain is common in children, most cases are due to non-cardiac etiology. The risk of misdiagnosis and the pressure of potentially adverse outcomes can lead to unnecessary diagnostic testing and overall poorer patient experiences. Additionally, this can lead to a depletion of resources that could be better allocated towards patients who are truly suffering from cardiac-related pathology. METHODS: This review was conducted per PRISMA guidelines. This systematic review used several databases including MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science to obtain its articles for review. RESULTS: A total of 6,520 articles were identified, and 11 articles were included in the study. 2.5% of our study population was found to have cardiac-related chest pain (prevalence = 0.025, 95% CI [0.013, 0.038]). The most commonly reported location of pain was retrosternal chest pain. 97.5% of the study population had a non-cardiac cause of chest pain, with musculoskeletal pain being identified as the most common cause (prevalence = 0.357, 95% CI [0.202, 0.512]), followed by idiopathic (prevalence = 0.352, 95% CI [0.258, 0.446]) and then gastrointestinal causes (prevalence = 0.053, 95% CI [0.039, 0.067]). CONCLUSIONS: The overwhelming majority of pediatric chest pain cases stem from benign origins. This comprehensive analysis found musculoskeletal pain as the predominant culprit behind chest discomfort in children. Scrutinizing our study cohort revealed that retrosternal chest pain stands as the unequivocal epicenter of this affliction. Thorough evaluation of pediatric patients manifesting with chest pain is paramount for the delivery of unparalleled care, especially in the context of potential cardiac risks in the emergency department.

Emergency airway management in resource limited setting.

BACKGROUND: Emergency airway management in resource-limited settings presents multifaceted challenges due to shortages in essential medical resources, healthcare professionals, and infrastructure. METHODS: We conducted a literature search using keywords "Emergency Airway Management" "Low Resource" "Africa" "Asia" from databases such as Pubmed, and Google Scholar, from where we extracted relevant literature for our study. FINDINGS: These limitations resulted in delayed interventions, suboptimal care, and higher complication rates during intubation procedures. However, innovative solutions have emerged to address these challenges, including cost-effective airway management devices and training programs tailored for non-medical personnel. Capacity building and local empowerment are critical components of improving emergency airway management in these settings. Additionally, advocating for policy support and investment in healthcare infrastructure is essential to ensure access to essential equipment and adequate staffing. Collaboration and knowledge-sharing networks among healthcare professionals and organisations are pivotal in disseminating best practices and advancing healthcare delivery in resource-limited regions. CONCLUSION: Future efforts should focus on tailored training programs, rigorous research, innovative device development, telemedicine solutions, sustainable capacity building, and advocacy to enhance emergency airway management in resource-limited settings.

Video laryngoscopy versus direct laryngoscopy in achieving successful emergency endotracheal intubations: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Intubating a patient in an emergent setting presents significant challenges compared to planned intubation in an operating room. This study aims to compare video laryngoscopy versus direct laryngoscopy in achieving successful endotracheal intubation on the first attempt in emergency intubations, irrespective of the clinical setting. METHODS: We systematically searched PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from inception until 27 February 2023. We included only randomized controlled trials that included patients who had undergone emergent endotracheal intubation for any indication, regardless of the clinical setting. We used the Cochrane risk-of-bias assessment tool 2 (ROB2) to assess the included studies. We used the mean difference (MD) and risk ratio (RR), with the corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI), to pool the continuous and dichotomous variables, respectively. RESULTS: Fourteen studies were included with a total of 2470 patients. The overall analysis favored video laryngoscopy over direct laryngoscopy in first-attempt success rate (RR = 1.09, 95% CI [1.02, 1.18], P = 0.02), first-attempt intubation time (MD = - 6.92, 95% CI [- 12.86, - 0.99], P = 0.02), intubation difficulty score (MD = - 0.62, 95% CI [- 0.86, - 0.37], P < 0.001), peri-intubation percentage of glottis opening (MD = 24.91, 95% CI [11.18, 38.64], P < 0.001), upper airway injuries (RR = 0.15, 95% CI [0.04, 0.56], P = 0.005), and esophageal intubation (RR = 0.37, 95% CI [0.15, 0.94], P = 0.04). However, no difference between the two groups was found regarding the overall intubation success rate (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: In emergency intubations, video laryngoscopy is preferred to direct laryngoscopy in achieving successful intubation on the first attempt and was associated with a lower incidence of complications.

Medication Errors in Pediatric Emergency Departments: A Systematic Review and Recommendations for Enhancing Medication Safety.

OBJECTIVE: This systematic review aims to investigate the prevalence, preventability, and severity of medication errors in pediatric emergency departments (P-EDs). It also aims to identify common types of medication errors, implicated medications, risk factors, and evaluate the effectiveness of interventions in preventing these errors. METHODS: A systematic review analyzed 6 primary studies with sample sizes ranging from 96 to 5000 pediatric patients in P-EDs. The review followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines and included observational studies and randomized controlled trials involving patients aged 18 years and younger. Comprehensive searches in biomedical databases were conducted, and conflicts in record screening were resolved by a third reviewer using systematic review software. RESULTS: Medication errors in P-EDs are prevalent, ranging from 10% to 15%, with dosing errors being the most common, accounting for 39% to 49% of reported errors. These errors primarily stem from inaccurate weight estimations or dosage miscalculations. Inadequate dosing frequency and documentation also contribute significantly to medication errors. Commonly implicated medications include acetaminophen, analgesics, corticosteroids, antibiotics, bronchodilators, and intravenous fluids. Most errors are categorized as insignificant/mild (51.7% to 94.5%) or moderate (47.5%). Risk factors associated with medication errors in P-EDs include less experienced physicians, severely ill patients, and weekend/specific-hour ordering. Human factors such as noncompliance with procedures and communication failures further contribute to medication errors. Interventions such as health information technology solutions like ParentLink and electronic medical alert systems, as well as structured ordering systems, have shown promise in reducing these errors, although their effectiveness varies. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, this systematic review provides valuable insights into the complexity of medication errors in the P-ED, emphasizes the need for targeted interventions, and offers recommendations to enhance medication safety and reduce preventable errors in this critical health care setting.

Healthcare workers' compliance with the catheter associated urinary tract infection prevention guidelines: an observational study in Yemen.

BACKGROUND: Catheter-associated urinary tract infection is a global problem but it can be prevented with the appropriate implementation of evidence-based guidelines. This study was conducted to assess the level of compliance of healthcare workers with the catheter-associated urinary tract infection prevention guidelines during the insertion of a urinary catheter. METHODS: An observational study using a descriptive cross-sectional design was conducted at Sana'a City hospitals, Yemen. All the nurses and physicians from the governmental, teaching, and private hospitals were eligible to participate in the study. The data collection was performed through convenience sampling from March 2020 to December 2020, using a structured observational checklist prepared specifically for this study. RESULTS: The majority of the urinary catheter insertions were performed by nurses. There were no written policy or procedures for an urinary catheter insertion and no in-service education or training departments in the majority of the hospitals. The overall mean score of compliance was 7.31 of 10. About 71% of the healthcare workers had a high or acceptable level of compliance and 29% had an unsafe level of compliance. Compliance was low for maintaining aseptic technique throughout the insertion procedure, using a single use packet of lubricant jelly, performing hand hygiene immediately before insertion, and securing the urinary catheter once inserted. Factors affecting the healthcare workers compliance were gender, the working ward/unit of the healthcare workers, the availability of a written policy/procedure and a department or unit for in-service education. CONCLUSION: Yemeni healthcare workers' overall compliance was acceptable but it was unsafe in several critical measures. There is an urgent need for developing, implementing, and monitoring national guidelines and institutional policy and procedures for catheter-associated urinary tract infection prevention. Periodical in-service education and training programs and adequate access to the necessary materials and supplies are paramount.

Misdiagnosed metabolic bone abnormality: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic bone disease causes significant morbidity and mortality, especially when misdiagnosed. With genetic testing, multiple disease pathologies can be analyzed. CASE PRESENTATION: A 5-year and 9-month-old otherwise healthy Yemeni girl presented to her Yemen physician for evaluation of inward bending of her right knee and short stature. After extensive medical testing, she was given a diagnosis of hypophosphatemic rickets and growth hormone deficiency and started on treatment. Despite appropriate treatment, however, her condition continued to progress, prompting her family to pursue additional workup including genetic testing outside of Yemen. Genetic testing ultimately revealed a variation of unknown significance associated with amelogenesis imperfecta. CONCLUSIONS: Hypophosphatemic rickets secondary to renal tubular acidosis was the working diagnosis. However, the patient's condition did not improve. Further genetic testing revealed a variation of unknown significance associated with amelogenesis imperfecta. We aim to present this case, provide an overview of the causes, and diagnostic metabolic bone health evaluation.

More than Meets the Eye: Orbital Swelling in an Adolescent with Sickle Cell Disease.

Periorbital swelling is a clinical presentation with a broad differential and potentially deleterious consequence. Causes range from benign, including allergic reaction, to vision- and life-threatening, including orbital cellulitis and orbital infarction. The recent climate of SARS-CoV-2 has further complicated this differential, as the virus poses broad clinical presentations with new manifestations reported frequently. Rapid identification of the underlying etiology is crucial, as treatment approaches diverge greatly. Here, we report the case of an African American adolescent male with a history of homozygous sickle cell anemia presenting to an inner city hospital with bilateral periorbital swelling amid the coronavirus pandemic. Differentials, including orbital cellulitis, COVID-MIS-C, orbital inflammatory syndrome, Hoagland sign, and orbital infarction secondary to sickle cell crisis are contrasted. We contrast our case with 12 case reports of orbital infarction in the setting of sickle cell crisis within the past 10 years, highlighting how these presentations, along with commonly reported findings of orbital infarction, compare with our patient.

Evaluating the Safety and Efficacy of Ketamine as a Bronchodilator in Pediatric Patients With Acute Asthma Exacerbation: A Review.

Ketamine has emerged as a potential treatment option for pediatric patients with acute asthma exacerbation who do not respond to standard therapy. This review aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ketamine in this population and provide an overview of the current literature. A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed and Google Scholar, resulting in the identification of four relevant studies. The studies demonstrated that ketamine administration led to improvements in respiratory parameters, including a decrease in clinical asthma scores (CASs) and respiratory rates, and an increase in peak expiratory flow and oxygen saturation. Ketamine infusion also showed promise in obviating the need for intubation in patients with severe wheezing due to bronchiolitis. The most common side effects observed were increased tracheobronchial secretions and hallucinations, which were manageable through discontinuation or additional medication. No significant changes in heart rate and blood pressure were reported, indicating hemodynamic stability. Long-term complications of ketamine use were minimal, with no reports of nightmares or dysphoria. In conclusion, ketamine shows potential as a bronchodilator for pediatric patients with acute asthma exacerbation, although further research is needed to fully evaluate its effectiveness and long-term effects. The use of ketamine should be considered in carefully selected cases and closely monitored for adverse events.

The Association between Emergency Department Length of Stay and In-Hospital Mortality in Older Patients Using Machine Learning: An Observational Cohort Study.

The association between emergency department (ED) length of stay (EDLOS) with in-hospital mortality (IHM) in older patients remains unclear. This retrospective study aims to delineate the relationship between EDLOS and IHM in elderly patients. From the ED patients (n = 383,586) who visited an urban academic tertiary care medical center from January 2010 to December 2016, 78,478 older patients (age ≥60 years) were identified and stratified into three age subgroups: 60-74 (early elderly), 75-89 (late elderly), and ≥90 years (longevous elderly). We applied multiple machine learning approaches to identify the risk correlation trends between EDLOS and IHM, as well as boarding time (BT) and IHM. The incidence of IHM increased with age: 60-74 (2.7%), 75-89 (4.5%), and ≥90 years (6.3%). The best area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was obtained by Light Gradient Boosting Machine model for age groups 60-74, 75-89, and ≥90 years, which were 0.892 (95% CI, 0.870-0.916), 0.886 (95% CI, 0.861-0.911), and 0.838 (95% CI, 0.782-0.887), respectively. Our study showed that EDLOS and BT were statistically correlated with IHM (p < 0.001), and a significantly higher risk of IHM was found in low EDLOS and high BT. The flagged rate of quality assurance issues was higher in lower EDLOS ≤1 h (9.96%) vs. higher EDLOS 7 h

Complementary and alternative medicine for children with sickle cell disease: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is a popular alternative to opioid and other analgesics in sickle cell disease (SCD). We review the effectiveness, prevalence, and factors associated with CAM use in the pediatric SCD population. METHODS: The review protocol was created based on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. A literature search was conducted in MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Web of Science. RESULTS: Twenty-four studies were examined. The prevalence of CAM use in pediatric patients with SCD ranged from 36 to 84.5%. Common inpatient CAM interventions were yoga, virtual reality, and acupuncture, which decreased pain scale scores. Outpatient CAMs were consisted of cognitive behavioral therapy, massage therapy, and guided-imagery, which increased pain tolerability and decreased pain scale scores. CONCLUSIONS: CAM modalities can decrease pain scale scores. However, the impact of specific CAM modalities on emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and school absences were inconclusive.

Psychosocial Effects of COVID-19 pandemic on Yemeni healthcare workers: A Web-based, Cross-sectional Survey.

Yemeni healthcare workers (HCWs) experience high levels of psychosocial stress. The current study provides a psychosocial assessment of Yemeni HCWs during the COVID19 pandemic and the factors that influence this. Between 6 November 2020, and 3 April 2021, 1220 HCWs inside Yemen self-reported levels of stress, anxiety, insomnia, depression and quality of life using a web-based, cross-sectional survey. According to the findings, 73.0%, 57.3%, 49.8%, 53.2%, and 85.2% of all HCWs reported moderate or severe stress, insomnia, anxiety, depression, and a lower quality of life, respectively. Significant positive correlations were found between stress and anxiety, insomnia, and depression scores, as well as anxiety and insomnia and depression, and insomnia and depression (p < 0.001). There was also a significant inverse relationship between wellbeing scores and stress, anxiety, insomnia, and depression scores (p < 0.001). A high percentage of respondents (85.8%) were 40 years old or younger and 72.7% had fewer than 10 years' experience, suggesting that experienced medics leave Yemen for safer and more secure jobs elsewhere. Psychosocial support to assist in building resilience to the prevailing conditions may need to be embedded in medical school training and continuing professional development to help support HCWs within Yemen and prevent even more from leaving the country.

COVID-19 Vaccination Knowledge, Perception, and Reason for Adherence and nonadherence Among Nursing Students in Egypt.

Introduction: Vaccines are considered preventive measures to reduce coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) spread around the world. There are many factors for adherence and acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination. Objectives: The study aimed to investigate nursing students' knowledge, perception, and factors that influence their adherence to COVID-19 vaccines. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was conducted among nursing students at the Faculty of Nursing, Mansoura University, Egypt, during the period between September 1 and November 30, 2021. Results: Of the total of 500 participants, 76% took a COVID-19 vaccination. About 89% of participants rated the correct answer related to COVID-19 vaccination. Obligatory to enter the faculty, protect family and friends, and protect myself were the most reasons of adherence (80.3, 73.7, and 70.8%, respectively) while fear of adverse events and lack of information about vaccine were the most reasons of nonadherence (87.5 and 79.2%, respectively) to COVID-19 vaccination. The majority of participants (62%) had expressed positive perception toward COVID-19 vaccination. Education level, training program about COVID-19, previous infection with COVID-19, perception toward COVID-19 vaccination, and knowledge toward COVID-19 vaccination were significantly (p = .035, p = .027, p = .009, p = .008 and p = .033, respectively) associated with students' adherence to take COVID-19 vaccines. Conclusion: Accurate knowledge and perception about COVID-19 vaccines are the stronger predictors of vaccine hesitance or acceptance among nursing students in Egypt. Campaigns to increase knowledge and perception of COVID-19 and its vaccines among nursing students are needed to improve vaccine acceptance and reduce vaccine hesitance.

Outcomes of complete surgical repair versus palliative intervention in neonates with Tetralogy of Fallot.

Using the US National Inpatient Sample dataset (2010 to 2018), we compared outcomes of neonates with Tetralogy of Fallot who had early primary surgical repair (1726 neonate) and those who had staged palliative intervention with transcatheter (1702 neonate) or surgical palliative shunt (2661 neonate).

Health-Related Quality of Life in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients: A Narrative Review.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic autoimmune condition that can have a wide range of symptoms among pediatric patients. Although clinical symptoms like hematochezia, diarrhea, and abdominal pain are commonly addressed, health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is often overlooked in patients with IBD and pediatric patients with chronic disease in general. Examining HRQOL can help improve patient outcomes, but it has been studied sparingly. In this review, we aim to compare HRQOL between pediatric patients suffering from IBD and healthy children, as well as those suffering from other illnesses. We searched through peer-reviewed primary literature related to IBD and HRQOL and selected 10 articles from the PubMed database to be reviewed. Our inclusion criteria included articles published after the year 2000 in English, primary studies, and those that corresponded to the aim of this review. Case reports and secondary and tertiary articles were excluded from our review. We found that patients with IBD reported worse HRQOL in terms of overall health and in various subdomains, including physical health and fatigue, compared to their healthy counterparts. However, children with IBD demonstrated a comparable HRQOL with children suffering from functional abdominal pain (FAP) and obesity. Additionally, children with IBD displayed a greater HRQOL than pediatric patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and chronic constipation. In addressing the aim of this review, we found that children with IBD had a lower HRQOL when compared to healthy children, but a comparable or greater HRQOL than other sick children. Some factors associated with a reduced HRQOL include disease activity, age, fatigue, gender, psychological variables, and associated symptoms. Going forward, HRQOL should be considered by practitioners when caring for pediatric IBD patients in a clinical setting as it can help improve patient care. More studies need to be conducted to further explore HRQOL in pediatric patients. This can help implement early psychosocial interventions in children to reduce the disease burden.

Asthma Outcome Measures Before and After the COVID-19 Outbreak Among the Pediatric Population in a Community Hospital.

Background The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic is a global health threat that has affected patient care enormously. Moderate to severe asthma was listed as a risk factor for severe SARS-CoV-2 disease by the Centers for Disease Control. Little is known about the impact of the pandemic on asthma control in children, particularly African American children. Objective The present study sought to determine how changes during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic affected asthma metrics in a majority African American pediatric population at a pediatric pulmonology clinic in a community hospital in New York. Methods This is a retrospective, pre-post, comparative cross-sectional study that included children three to 18 years of age with a known diagnosis of asthma followed in a pulmonary clinic. Data were gathered from electronic medical records. Subjects were selected if they presented to a pulmonology clinic within a certain time window both before and after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Outcome variables included asthma medication statistics and healthcare utilization statistics. Results Inclusion criteria were met by 104 pediatric patients. The majority were African American. Emergency department visits, primary physician visits, and hospitalizations significantly decreased in the post-COVID study group compared to the pre-COVID control group. Conclusion Among a majority African American pediatric population, there were significant improvements in asthma outcomes after COVID-19 societal changes when compared to before COVID-19 based on outcome variables.

Basic life support knowledge in a war-torn country: a survey of nurses in Yemen.

BACKGROUND: Successful implementation of Basic life support (BLS) is critical to improving survival rates and outcomes, especially among healthcare workers. To our knowledge, there is no available literature pertaining to the level of BLS knowledge of health care professionals in Yemen. METHODS: Data was collected for this cross-sectional descriptive study from June to August 2020, using a 10-item questionnaire related to cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and BLS, along with questions on socio-demographic characteristics. Participants were nurses in public and private hospitals located in Al-Rahida and Al-dimna cities, Taiz governance and Hodeidah city, Hodeidah governance in Yemen. RESULTS: Out of 220 distributed questionnaires, 200 were returned with a response rate of 90.9%. More than a half (53.65%) of answer choices for BLS knowledge were correct. There was a significant difference in knowledge score based on level of education where those who had Bachelor degree had more knowledge (P = 0.000). Those who said they had received training in CPR or received information about CPR had significantly higher scores than those who did not receive (P = 0.000). CONCLUSIONS: BLS knowledge among nurses in Yemen is below an acceptable level to ensure maximum survival in the event of cardiac arrest. Disseminating BLS information and training in a cost effective and efficient manner will provide a large benefit in terms of lives saved with minimal costs.

Prehospital Care (EMS) in Yemen: Brief Report.

OBJECTIVE: A well-organized emergency medical system with adequate prehospital care can save lives and prevent disability. In Yemen, there are no data available about its prehospital care system. This qualitative, cross-sectional study aims to assess the status of prehospital care or emergency medical services in Yemen. METHODS: Data were collected from January to February 2019 through interviews and a questionnaire obtained from the Prehospital Trauma Care Systems Guideline published by the World Health Organization (WHO). Respondents were key representatives of the Ministry of Public Health and Population (MoPHP), Civil Defense/Police departments, and Yemeni Red Crescent Association (YRCA). RESULTS: Overall, based on 153 responses, it was found that, despite the availability of some formal services, the prehospital care system in Yemen is uncoordinated, fragmented, and insufficient. CONCLUSIONS: Given the importance of regulation, legislation, and funding support in the establishment of an effective prehospital care system, these areas merit the greatest attention and efforts. Future policies and strategies should also strive to improve communication and coordination between existing prehospital care providers, to establish a lead agency, and to increase accessibility to training.

Congenital cardiac masses: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac tumors in infants and children are rare. The most common cardiac tumor is rhabdomyoma, which may be associated with tuberous sclerosis. However, not all cardiac rhabdomyomas are pathognomonic for tuberous sclerosis, and not all congenital cardiac tumors are rhabdomyomas. During the prenatal period, early cardiac tumor detection provides important information about fetal wellbeing, delivery planning, and necessary postnatal care. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a 36-year-old African American pregnant women. At 32 weeks 5 days gestational age, the male fetus had a fetal echocardiogram due to fetal arrhythmia. The fetal echocardiogram showed two small echogenic, RV apex and septal masses, suspicious of rhabdomyomas. After a routine pregnancy and a normal spontaneous vaginal delivery (39 weeks 1 day), the male baby was admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit for further monitoring and postnatal evaluation. CONCLUSIONS: Rhabdomyomas are extremely rare and unique tumors. These tumors are very dangerous, but they usually regress after birth. During the prenatal period, early cardiac tumor detection provides important information about fetal wellbeing, delivery planning, and necessary postnatal care. We present this case to share our findings with our pediatric colleagues. Although a rarely reported case, we hope this cardiac rhabdomyoma case report and literature review can increase cardiac tumor awareness.

Chronic Health Crises and Emergency Medicine in War-torn Yemen, Exacerbated by the COVID-19 Pandemic.

INTRODUCTION: Much of Yemen's infrastructure and healthcare system has been destroyed by the ongoing civil war that began in late 2014. This has created a dire situation that has led to food insecurity, water shortages, uncontrolled outbreaks of infectious disease and further failings within the healthcare system. This has greatly impacted the practice of emergency medicine (EM), and is now compounded by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review of the current state of emergency and disaster medicine in Yemen, followed by unstructured qualitative interviews with EM workers, performed by either direct discussion or via phone calls, to capture their lived experience, observations on and perceptions of the challenges facing EM in Yemen. We summarize and present our findings in this paper. RESULTS: Emergency medical services (EMS) in Yemen are severely depleted. Across the country as a whole, there are only 10 healthcare workers for every 10,000 people - less than half of the WHO benchmark for basic health coverage - and only five physicians, less than one third the world average; 18% of the country's 333 districts have no qualified physicians at all. Ambulances and basic medical equipment are in short supply. As a result of the ongoing war, only 50% of the 5056 pre-war hospitals and health facilities are functional. In June 2020, Yemen recorded a 27% mortality rate of Yemenis who were confirmed to have COVID-19, more than five times the global average and among the highest in the world at that time. CONCLUSION: In recent years, serious efforts to develop an advanced EM presence in Yemen and cultivate improvements in EMS have been stymied or have failed outright due to the ongoing challenges. Yemen's chronically under-resourced healthcare sector is ill-equipped to deal with the additional strain of COVID-19.

Length-of-Stay in the Emergency Department and In-Hospital Mortality: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The effect of emergency department (ED) length of stay (EDLOS) on in-hospital mortality (IHM) remains unclear. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine the association between EDLOS and IHM. We searched the PubMed, Medline, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Controlled Register of Trials, CINAHL, PsycInfo, and Scopus databases from their inception until 14−15 January 2022. We included studies reporting the association between EDLOS and IHM. A total of 11,337 references were identified, and 52 studies (total of 1,718,518 ED patients) were included in the systematic review and 33 in the meta-analysis. A statistically significant association between EDLOS and IHM was observed for EDLOS over 24 h in patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) (OR = 1.396, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.147 to 1.701; p < 0.001, I2 = 0%) and for low EDLOS in non-ICU-admitted patients (OR = 0.583, 95% CI: 0.453 to 0.745; p < 0.001, I2 = 0%). No associations were detected for the other cut-offs. Our findings suggest that there is an association between IHM low EDLOS and EDLOS exceeding 24 h and IHM. Long stays in the ED should not be allowed and special attention should be given to patients admitted after a short stay in the ED.