This two-part series presents a review of the current evidence on atrial fibrillation. The first part includes its definition, classification, risk factors, comorbidities, evaluation, and acute management of newly diagnosed patients. The second part will focus on long-term management, including risk factor modification, rate and rhythm control measures, stroke risk stratification, and anticoagulation management.
Concussion is now known to be a significant public health issue, with high rates of emergency department visits and hospitalizations. Much of the current concern surrounding concussions revolves around recognition, early diagnosis, treatment modalities, return-to-play, and prevention of recurrent concussions.
For emergency physicians, anaphylaxis can be a challenging diagnosis to make. This article will present the most current information for diagnosing allergic reactions and anaphylaxis, and how to treat them properly.
Penetrating extremity trauma is a potentially devastating injury that must be identified and managed expeditiously. Early hemorrhage control may be life-saving. This two-part article comprehensively addresses the approach and management of penetrating extremity trauma, highlighting controversies and advances.
Ectopic pregnancy has significant health consequences and represents an important cause of morbidity and mortality for women of reproductive age. Making the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy expeditiously is critical to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with the condition.
Emergency department providers should be familiar with the correct procedures to manage pregnancies, births, and subsequent neonatal resuscitations when they occur unexpectedly in the ED.
This article will focus primarily on the important aspects of acute decompensated heart failure in the emergency setting. The authors will include a brief synopsis of noncardiogenic pulmonary edema to highlight key principles in the diagnosis and management.
All emergency providers should be familiar with hypothermia regardless of the climate in which they practice. Hypothermia can occur in a variety of climates, indoors or outdoors, and in patients of all ages regardless of health status. Frostbite, chilblains, trench foot, and cold urticaria are cold-related injuries that may present to any emergency department during any time of year.
Cancer patients undergoing treatment are immunocompromised and at high risk for developing early complications leading to critical illness. Compared to complications encountered with conventional chemotherapy, new-generation immunotherapies pose unique diagnostic challenges because their presentation can be vague and nonspecific or can mimic autoimmune diseases.
