CJEM Articles: R. Douglas McKnight

Displaying 1-3 of 3 results

  • May 2002 4 3
    Andreas Laupacis, Brian Holroyd, Brian Rowe, Catherine M. Clement, Daniel Cass, Gary H. Greenberg, George A. Wells, Glen Bandiera, Howard Lesiuk, Iain MacPhail, Ian G. Stiell, James Worthington, Jonathan Dreyer, Laurie Morrison, Mark Reardon, Mary A. Eisenhauer, Michael Schull, R. Douglas McKnight, Richard Verbeek, Robert Brison

    Clinical prediction rules are decision-making tools that incorporate three or more variables from the history, physical examination or simple tests. They help clinicians make diagnostic or therapeutic decisions by standardizing the collection and interpretation of clinical data. There is growing interest in the methodological standards for their development and validation. This article describes the methods used to derive the Canadian C-Spine Rule and provides a valuable reference for investigators planning to develop future clinical prediction rules.

  • March 2002 4 2
    Andreas Laupacis, Brian Holroyd, Brian Rowe, Catherine M. Clement, Daniel Cass, Gary H. Greenberg, George A. Wells, Glen Bandiera, Howard Lesiuk, Iain MacPhail, Ian G. Stiell, James Worthington, Jonathan Dreyer, Laurie Morrison, Mark Reardon, Mary A. Eisenhauer, Michael Schull, R. Douglas McKnight, Richard Verbeek, Robert Brison

    This paper is Part I of a 2-part series to describe the background and methodology for the Canadian C-Spine Rule study to develop a clinical decision rule for rational imaging in alert and stable trauma patients. Current use of radiography is inefficient and variable, in part because there has been a lack of evidence-based guidelines to assist emergency physicians. Clinical decision rules are research-based decision-making tools that incorporate 3 or more variables from the history, physical examination or simple tests. The Canadian CT Head and C-Spine (CCC) Study is a large collaborative effort to develop clinical decision rules for the use of CT head in minor head injury and for the use of cervical spine radiography in alert and stable trauma victims. Part I details the background and rationale for the development of the Canadian C-Spine Rule. Part II will describe in detail the objectives and methods of the Canadian C-Spine Rule study.

  • April 2000 2 2
    Grant D. Innes, James M. Christenson, Mary Lesperance, R. Douglas McKnight, Victor M. Wood

    Objectives: Intravenous (IV) opioid titration is an accepted method of relieving acute renal colic. Studies have shown that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are also effective in this setting. Our objective was to compare single-dose ketorolac and titrated meperidine, both administered intravenously, with respect to speed and degree of analgesia, adverse effects and functional status. Our primary hypothesis was that these agents provide equivalent analgesia within 60 minutes. Our secondary hypotheses were that ketorolac-treated patients would experience fewer adverse effects and would be better able to resume usual activity.
    Methods: This was a multicentre, double-blind randomized equivalence trial in a convenience sample of patients age 18–65 with moderate or severe renal colic, documented by intravenous pyelogram, ultrasound or stone passage. Meperidine-treated patients received 50 mg IV meperidine at 0 minutes, then 25–50 mg every 15 minutes as needed for ongoing pain. Ketorolac-treated patients received 30 mg IV ketorolac at 0 minutes and placebo injections every 15 minutes as needed. Pain levels and adverse effects were assessed every 15 minutes, and functional status was evaluated at 60 minutes. Our primary outcome was the proportion of patients with mild or no pain at 60 minutes.
    Results: Overall, 49 of 77 meperidine-treated patients (64%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 53%–75%) and 47 of 65 ketorolac-treated patients (72%; 95% CI, 61%–83%) achieved successful pain relief at 60 minutes (p value for equivalence = 0.002). Ten percent of meperidine-treated patients and 44% of ketorolac-treated patients were able to resume usual activity at 60 minutes (p = 0.001).
    Conclusions: In the doses studied, single-dose IV ketorolac is as effective as titrated IV meperidine for the relief of acute renal colic and causes less functional impairment.