Emergency medicine Australasia : EMA
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Thyrotoxic, hypokalaemic periodic paralysis is an uncommon, potentially life-threatening endocrine emergency. Because of the acute onset of neurological symptoms patients often initially present to hospital ED. To reduce patient morbidity and costs of unnecessary investigations, early recognition and appropriate treatment is required. The case of a young man of Singaporean origin is presented to highlight current treatment, management and pathophysiology of this condition.
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To evaluate the precipitants, subject characteristics, nature and outcomes of unarmed threats in the ED. ⋯ Acutely agitated subjects pose a threat to themselves and the staff caring for them. The reason for the agitation is multifactorial and the majority arrive in a behaviourally disturbed state requiring early intervention. The times most likely to result in a Code Grey coincide with least available resources: ED and hospital risk management policies must account for this. A coherent approach by ED to this population is required to optimize patient and staff outcomes.
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Emerg Med Australas · Aug 2005
Diagnostic use of C-reactive protein in bacteraemic emergency department patients.
To assess C-reactive protein (CRP) as a marker of bacteraemia in ED patients. ⋯ Although the present study has limitations, it appears to show that CRP has limited diagnostic utility for the detection of bacteraemia in ED patients.