Annals of emergency medicine
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Sulfur mustard is a chemical warfare agent of historical and current interest. Favored militarily because of its ability to incapacitate rather than its ability to kill, its use results in large numbers of casualties requiring prolonged, intensive care. In light of recent threats of chemical warfare and the possibilities of chemical acts of terrorism, North American physicians should be knowledgeable of its effects and the care of its victims.
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To test the hypothesis that residency-trained emergency physicians who left the practice of emergency medicine do not differ significantly from those who continue to practice. ⋯ Career longevity of residency-trained emergency physicians has been greater than early predictions. Interactions with residents, higher income, satisfaction with training decision, and board certification in emergency medicine are variables associated with a higher retention rate.
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Diphenhydramine poisoning is characterized most often by anticholinergic effects. Cardiotoxicity and circulatory collapse have rarely been reported after massive ingestions of diphenhydramine and other H1-receptor-blocking agents, although these substances have local anesthetic properties and have been studied as antiarrhythmics. We report the case of a patient who developed a wide-complex tachycardia as a complication of acute diphenhydramine poisoning that responded to IV sodium bicarbonate.
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Emergency medicine faculty have 24-hour clinical responsibilities in addition to the academic requirements of research and administration/teaching. This study was undertaken to determine the existing and ideal work style of such faculty by professional rank, administrative title, and/or tenure versus clinical track. ⋯ Emergency medicine faculty accomplish the clinical, research, and teaching/administrative demands of academia by increasing the number of faculty, varying the faculty responsibilities by rank and title, and shortening the total work week. Research time is extremely limited.