Toxicology
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Drugs and Toxins that Produce Delayed Toxicities
Drug overdose is a common chief complaint in the emergency department. Overdose of certain medications or ingestions of toxins should prompt the emergency physician to carefully deliberate on the appropriate next steps and disposition. Furthermore, delayed toxicity may be under-recognized, and delayed management can lead to life-threatening complications, such as arrhythmias and seizures. Managing the poisoned patient can be challenging because clinical effects often are difficult to predict in circumstances that produce toxicity.
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Cirrhosis and Infections
Infections in patients with cirrhosis are frequent and potentially lethal, with pneumonia associated with the highest risk for mortality.
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EPA, FDA Partner on Safer Medical Device Sterilization
Agencies seek cuts to ethylene oxide emissions, safe alternatives.
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Prosecution for Excessive Painkillers Tough Case to Make
A recent case may have generated a fresh conversation about medical aid in dying and physician-assisted suicide.
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Not If, But When: Preparing a Proper Defense After Medication Mistakes
ED nurses should not hesitate to contact a defense attorney if a patient is harmed by a medication error. The interest of the hospital often is different from the healthcare provider. Do not assume the hospital will provide a defense for taking a shortcut. More likely, administrators will testify protocols were put into place, and place blame on the ED nurse for taking the shortcut.
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Toxic Alcohols: Mechanisms, Presentation, Evaluation, and Management
Exposure to toxic alcohols can lead to serious morbidity and mortality; thus, awareness of these substances, their clinical presentation, and treatment options is critical to prevent poor outcomes.
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Cannabis-Related Visits Surge, Especially Among Children and Older Adults
When a patient presents to the ED with a cannabis-associated visit, this is a chance for providers to offer more education to prevent future problems.
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Emergency Nurses Aim to Improve Care of OUD Patients
When armed with appropriate screening questions, nurses can better identify and assist patients with opioid use disorder. Because nurses often are the first care team member a patient sees, an interdisciplinary approach makes sense to ensure all components of a patient’s health are addressed.
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As Opioid Epidemic Continues Unabated, EDs Mobilize to Save Lives
Investigators have made remarkable progress in identifying patients with opioid use disorder when they present to the ED, and convincing frontline providers to initiate these patients on medication-assisted treatment. Further, they have been regularly documenting their ongoing improvement efforts to offer other EDs a potential roadmap for how to improve in this area and sustain that progress.
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More U.S. Trauma Centers Offering Screening, Intervention Programs
Integrated mental health approach includes addressing PTSD, alcohol, opioids, firearms, and suicidal ideation.