Emergency medicine clinics of North America
-
The workup and diagnosis of cardiovascular emergencies represent the present and future risk to emergency physicians. Eliciting and documenting key details of a cardiovascular complaint, as well as following established standards for accurate and timely diagnosis of emergencies, is central to the medico-legal aspects of cardiovascular emergencies. ⋯ Key elements of medical malpractice include the existence of a legal duty, breach of the legal duty, causation, and presence of damages. All 4 legal elements must be present for medical malpractice to be proven in a court of law.
-
Pharmacologic therapy is an integral component in the management of most cardiovascular emergencies. This article reviews the pharmacotherapy involved in the treatment of acute coronary syndromes, acute heart failure, and various arrhythmias. The focus will be to provide practical pearls that can be applied at the bedside in the Emergency Department.
-
The electrocardiogram (EKG) is a useful diagnostic tool that allows clinicians to rapidly evaluate patients for acute coronary syndrome. With the high prevalence of heart disease in society, the EKG is crucial in the evaluation of chest pain and diagnosis of ischemia. ⋯ Not all ischemic patterns requiring emergent management present within the classic definition of an STEMI. It is critical for clinicians to be able to accurately recognize these ischemic patterns to allow timely and appropriate cardiovascular care.
-
Emerg. Med. Clin. North Am. · Nov 2022
ReviewEmergency Department Evaluation and Management of Patients with Left Ventricular Assist Devices.
With the increasing use of left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) as destination therapy in patients with severe left heart failure, emergency physicians are more likely to encounter patients with LVAD in their emergency department (ED). Emergency physicians should have a basic understanding of LVAD mechanics, a specific approach to LVAD patient evaluation, and awareness of the must-not-miss LVAD therapy complications and their management to optimize outcomes in this patient population.