Emergency Medicine Reports
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Arterial Ischemic Stroke: Mechanisms and Management
Stroke is a common problem, affecting nearly 800,000 people annually in the United States and serving as a leading cause of significant long-term disability. This article begins with a brief discussion of stroke epidemiology and then provides an overview of the various stroke mechanisms, setting a framework for which to consider etiology-specific stroke management.
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Management of Problem Wounds in the Emergency Department
Most acute wounds will heal with good topical care. However, some wounds, especially chronic ones occurring in impaired hosts, are more problematic. To properly manage these types of wounds and optimize healing, there should be an evidence-based approach to wound care in the emergency department.
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Heated High-Flow Nasal Cannula Oxygen Therapy and Noninvasive Positive Pressure Ventilation
Adequate oxygenation is a priority in all acutely ill emergency department patients. Oxygen may be delivered through a variety of devices, including low-flow systems or high-flow systems.
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Diagnosis and Management of Supraventricular Tachycardia
Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) usually presents to the emergency department as a result of a combination of symptoms, including palpitations, dyspnea, and chest pain. Less frequent symptoms include lightheadedness, near-syncope, or syncope due to reduced cerebral perfusion. Accurate diagnosis of SVT guides acute treatment. Although many doctors are good at pattern recognition on electrocardiograms (ECGs), having a methodical approach to think through SVT is extremely helpful.
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Emergencies in the Second and Third Trimesters of Pregnancy
Common emergencies specific to the second and third trimesters will be reviewed in this paper, including preterm labor, causes of antepartum bleeding in late pregnancy, and the hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. It is important to emphasize that obstetrics consultation is recommended in most emergencies that occur in the second and third trimesters prior to initiating therapies.
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Rapid Diagnostic Testing in the ED for Mononucleosis, Strep Pharyngitis, Influenza, Respiratory Syncytial Virus, and Procalcitonin
Clinicians strive to use the most accurate tests available while also considering other factors, such as cost, ease of use, and turnaround time for results. It is important to understand the limitations of a test while interpreting the results. This issue will deal with a few of the most common rapid or point-of-care tests used in the emergency department.
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About Face: A Review of Facial Paralysis for Emergency Clinicians
Emergency medicine clinicians routinely encounter patients with facial paralysis and need a straightforward way to filter through the wide range of differential diagnoses. This article reviews the fundamentals of facial paralysis, including its epidemiology, anatomy, and differential diagnosis.
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Ketamine Use in Emergency Medicine
Ketamine is a medication traditionally used by emergency physicians for intubation and procedural sedation. This article will discuss many common and accepted uses of ketamine, primarily for agitation, rapid sequence intubation (RSI), sedation, and pain management.
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Pediatric Readiness: A Safeguard for Emergency Department Patients and Providers
Pediatric readiness involves the inclusion of pediatric-specific needs into all aspects of emergency department care.
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Vomiting and Diarrhea in Immunocompromised Patients
Patients who are immunosuppressed may exhibit subtle or atypical presentations of gastrointestinal infection, as well as complications of their underlying disease processes or treatments. Emergency physicians should maintain a high level of suspicion for life-threatening pathology and evaluate these patients using broad differentials.