Emergency medicine clinics of North America
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Pediatric patients often present to the emergency department with orthopedic pathology that can challenge the emergency department physician. This article focuses on key diagnoses that are frequently mismanaged. ⋯ Pediatric fractures, compartmental syndrome, bone and joint infection, limp and non-accidental trauma are reviewed. Approach to the workup of these patients and treatment algorithms are discussed.
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Pediatric disorders that involve actual or potential airway compromise are among the most challenging cases that emergency department providers face. This article discusses the diagnosis and management of common and uncommon conditions in infants and children who may present with airway obstruction.
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Emerg. Med. Clin. North Am. · Feb 2010
Review Case ReportsPitfalls in the evaluation of shortness of breath.
This article illustrates the challenges practitioners face evaluating shortness of breath, a common emergency department complaint. Through a series of patient encounters, pitfalls in the evaluation of shortness of breath are reviewed and discussed.
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Emerg. Med. Clin. North Am. · Feb 2010
ReviewEarly identification of shock in critically ill patients.
Emergency providers must be experts in the resuscitation and stabilization of critically ill patients, and the rapid recognition of shock is crucial to allow aggressive targeted intervention and reduce morbidity and mortality. This article reviews the physiologic definition of shock, the importance of early intervention, and the clinical and diagnostic signs that emergency department providers can use to identify patients in shock.
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There are few conditions in emergency medicine as potentially challenging and high-risk as the difficult or failed airway. The emergency physician must be able to anticipate the difficult or failed airway, recognize associated physiologic deficits, and plan accordingly. ⋯ There are a myriad of airway devices new to emergency medicine, which can increase the chance of successful airway management and rescue. Understanding why the airway is potentially difficult and assessing whether oxygenation can be maintained can guide the clinician's strategy and technique for successful management of the high-risk airway.