Clinical trials

This will be a prospective, observational, case-control study of adult patients presenting to the WellSpan York Hospital Emergency Department (YHED) with signs and symptoms of esophageal food or foreign body impaction. Point of care ultrasound (POCUS) will then be performed by a trained emergency physician to collect ultrasound data, including the presence or absence of direct visualization food bolus/foreign body, as well as secondary markers of dilatation, such as maximal esophageal area. Investigators will also enroll an age/sex-matched control group of asymptomatic individuals to establish baseline esophageal measurements. Patients will otherwise receive medical treatment per standard of care. Subsequent interventions will also be documented, including glucagon, carbonated beverages, and esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). If patients remain in the ED and improve without need for EGD they will undergo repeat ultrasound. Chart review at 1 month will be performed to establish results of EGD including improvement, recurrence, or presence of pathologic abnormalities. The investigators aim to establish normal and abnormal parameters to aid in the diagnosis of esophageal food impactions to predict need for definitive EGD management.

This study is an observational, prospective study examining the role point-of-care echocardiography of predicting short term adverse outcomes in emergency department patients with acute pulmonary embolism. The primary objective is to assess the diagnostic performance of ultrasound-guided measures of right ventricular dilation (RVD) and strain in predicting clinical outcomes in acute PE. The secondary objective is to investigate the utility of combining ultrasound-guided measures of RVD and the pulmonary embolism severity index (PESI) score in predicting adverse outcomes in acute PE.

Cancer affects millions of people worldwide and can significantly impact not only survival, but also day-to-day quality of life. Treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation can cause side effects like fatigue, pain, and neuropathy, which may affect physical function, emotional well-being, and social relationships. While many studies have examined factors that influence quality of life; such as age, type and stage of cancer, and treatment-related symptoms; there is still a need for tools that more fully reflect patients' lived experiences. This study aims to develop and implement a patient-centered quality of life (QOL) survey designed specifically for individuals with cancer. By directly involving patients in sharing what matters most to them, the survey seeks to provide a more complete and accurate understanding of how cancer and its treatment affect daily life. The results will help patients, families, and healthcare providers better identify needs, guide supportive care, and improve overall well-being throughout the cancer journey.

This study is a single center, randomized controlled trial examining the effect of serratus anterior plane block (SAPB) on pain, PIC scores and other clinical outcomes in emergency department patients with multiple rib fractures in comparison to the use of analgesic medication alone. Objectives 1. Compare SAPB performed in the ED setting to analgesic medication alone with regard to pain, respiratory status and PIC score of patients with multiple rib fractures. 2. Assess the safety and feasibility of performing ultrasound-guided SAPB in the ED. 3. Evaluate outcomes of patients receiving the SAPB in the ED including amount of analgesic medications used, level of care required, need for upgrading level of care, and length of stay.

The purpose of this clinical trial is to compare the analgesic effects (relief of pain) of glucocorticoids (steroids) and pain medication versus pain medication alone in adult patients presenting to the emergency department with joint pain due to osteoarthritis. Steroids are drugs that can reduce inflammation and are used commonly for many different medical conditions. In brief, the central aims of the study are to: 1. Assess the efficacy of adding oral glucocorticoid medications to the standard pain medications used to treat the pain of osteoarthritis. 2. Assess the safety and tolerability of oral glucocorticoid medication for the short-term treatment of osteoarthritis pain. We hypothesize that: 1) The addition of glucocorticoids to standard pain medications will improve reported pain scores at 3 days following the initiation of treatment compared to standard pain medications alone and 2) The use of glucocorticoids will be well tolerated. Participants in the study will be randomized (like flipping a coin) into one of three groups: 1. Study Group 1 (Control) receiving placebo pills (no active ingredient) once a day for 5 days, plus ibuprofen (pain medication) for 5 days. 2. Study Group 2 (Intervention A) who will receive prednisone (steroid) once a day for 5 days, plus ibuprofen (pain medication) for 5 days. 3. Study Group 3 (Intervention B) who will receive one dose of dexamethasone (steroid) followed by placebo pills (no active ingredient) once a day for 4 days, plus ibuprofen (pain medication) for 5 days. In all groups, acetaminophen (a different pain medication) can be taken as needed for pain that is not controlled with ibuprofen. Participants will: * Receive follow up phone calls at 1, 3, 7 and 14 days. * Report pain scores related to joint pain. * Report the number of pills taken of the various medications used in the study. * Report any adverse events incurred during the follow up period.

This study aims to answer whether use of a Vcare® intrauterine manipulator leads to an increased incidence of positive peritoneal cytology in patients undergoing surgical management of early stage (FIGO stage I/II) endometrial cancer.