Emergency medicine clinics of North America
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Sodium imbalances are a common occurrence in the emergency department. Although recognition and diagnosis are relatively straightforward, discovering the cause and management should be approached systematically. ⋯ Treatment rapidity depends on severity of symptoms with the most rapid treatment occurring in only the severely symptomatic. Overcorrection has dire consequences and must be approached in a careful and systematic fashion in order to prevent these devastating consequences.
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Endocrine diseases are rare and can present very subtly in the neonatal period. Most are diagnosed using newborn screening in the United States; however, some infants may present with false negatives or more subtle findings. Endocrine etiologies should be considered during the management of critically ill infants. This article will give an overview of endocrine emergencies encountered in the neonatal period, including disorders of glucose metabolism, thyroid disorders, adrenal disorders, and pituitary disorders.
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Abnormalities in serum potassium are commonly encountered in patients presenting to the emergency department. A variety of acute and chronic causes can lead to life-threatening illness in both hyperkalemia and hypokalemia. Here we summarize the relevant causes, risks, and treatment options for these frequently encountered disorders.
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Metabolic acid-base disturbances are frequently encountered in the emergency department, and many of these patients are critically ill. In the evaluation of patients with these maladies, it is important for the emergency clinician to determine the cause, which can usually be elicited from a thorough history and physical examination. There are several mnemonics that can be used to form an appropriate list of potential causes. Most of the time, the management of these patients requires no specific treatment of the acid-base status but, rather, requires treatment of the underlying disorder that is causing the acid-base disturbance.
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Hypoglycemia is commonly encountered in the emergency department. Patients can present with a myriad of symptoms and its presentation can mimic other more serious diagnoses. ⋯ Glucose is an important energy source for the brain and failing to recognize hypoglycemia or mismanaging it can lead to permanent neurologic disability or death. Although it is important to replenish glucose in a rapid fashion, it is equally important to discover and manage the underlying etiology to prevent further episodes of hypoglycemia.