Emergency medicine clinics of North America
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Emerg. Med. Clin. North Am. · Aug 2009
ReviewManagement of acquired bleeding problems in cancer patients.
Cancer patients can have acquired bleeding problems for many reasons. In this review, an approach to the bleeding patient in the Emergency Department is discussed. Specific issue including coagulation defects, thrombocytopenia, platelet dysfunction, bleeding complications of specific hematological malignancies and due to anticoagulation, are discussed.
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Emerg. Med. Clin. North Am. · Aug 2009
Management of pediatric tumor lysis syndrome in the emergency department.
Tumor lysis syndrome is most often seen after the treatment of blood and solid malignancies. The resultant hyperkalemia, hyperphosphatemia, hypocalcemia, and hyperuricemia can lead to life threatening complications. Expeditious evaluation and therapy are paramount in preventing the most serious sequelae of acute renal failure and fatal dysrhythmias.
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Neutropenic enterocolitis, also known as typhlitis or ileocecal syndrome, is a rare but important complication of neutropenia associated with malignancy. It occurs as a result of chemotherapeutic damage to the intestinal mucosa in the context of an absolute neutropenia, and can rapidly progress to intestinal perforation, multisystem organ failure, and sepsis. Presenting signs and symptoms may include fever, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Rapid identification by emergency physicians and timely, aggressive medical and/or surgical intervention are the cornerstones of survival for these patients.