The American journal of emergency medicine
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Train accidents involving motor vehicles and pedestrians can be devastating. Approximately 1,234 fatalities were recorded in the United States in 1989. The literature from the United States is sparse, prompting a 7-year review of 23 consecutive train accident victims. ⋯ Three (14%) patients died. Although alcohol use occurred in 16 (70%), there was no significance between alcohol use and amputation. Thus, non-railroad employed pedestrians, because of a lack of protection, are more prone to traumatic amputations, primarily of the lower extremities, than those involved in motor vehicle accidents.
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Comparative Study
Normal amylase levels in the presentation of acute pancreatitis.
Recent literature suggests that serum amylase levels are not an appropriate screen for the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis because specificity and sensitivity are poor. Evidence from several studies supports the use of lipase determinations to diagnose acute pancreatitis, and recent improvements in this assay have made it more readily available to the emergency physician. This retrospective review compares the use of serum amylase to lipase levels in the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis in 52 patients who presented to the emergency department, with the hospital discharge diagnosis serving as the gold standard to which the assays were compared. Serum lipase was found to be more sensitive than serum amylase (95% vs 79%); serum amylase levels decreased to normal significantly faster than lipase levels.
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An unusual case of acute appendicitis induced by a metal drill bit that was ingested by a 27-year-old man 3 years before presentation is reported. This foreign body lodged in the patient's appendix and developed a fecalith coating. When this fecalith coating enlarged enough to obstruct the appendiceal lumen, the patient presented with classic acute appendicitis. Foreign body-induced appendicitis is reviewed.
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Sodium bicarbonate is an extremely well-known agent that historically has been used for a variety of medical conditions. Despite the widespread use of oral bicarbonate, little documented toxicity has occurred, and the emergency medicine literature contains no reports of toxicity caused by the ingestion of baking soda. ⋯ The case of a patient with three hospital admissions in 4 months, all the result of excessive oral intake of bicarbonate for symptomatic relief of dyspepsia is reported. Evaluation and treatment of patients with acute bicarbonate ingestion is discussed.
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Review Case Reports
Diagnosis, complications, and treatment of dentoskeletal malocclusion.
The frequency of correctable malocclusion makes it imperative that the condition be diagnosed and referred for appropriate treatment. A complete dentofacial examination, which assesses facial symmetry and the dentition in the transverse, sagittal, and centric relations, is appropriate. ⋯ A combination of orthodontic treatment and orthognathic surgery will correct the dentoskeletal malocclusion and prevent any long-term complications. The purpose of this case report is to describe a patient with severe dentoskeletal malocclusion who benefitted from appropriate orthodontic treatment and orthognathic surgery.