The American journal of emergency medicine
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Superwarfarin, a common component of rat poison, can cause long-lasting, severe coagulopathy and life-threatening hemorrhage when ingested. We report a case of intentional rat poison consumption with subsequent hemorrhage and hypotension requiring rapid coagulopathy reversal and resuscitation in the emergency department. In addition to traditional blood products, prothrombin complex concentrate was administered. Although prothrombin complex concentrate is increasingly used for severe hemorrhage in anticoagulated patients, it may be particularly useful in superwarfarin ingestions given the extreme, persistent coagulapathies that can occur.
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Pediatric forearm fractures are a common presentation in emergency departments in Papua New Guinea. Often these children undergo "blind" closed reduction with reduction adequacy assessed by standard radiographs. This study aims to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of ultrasound (US) in guiding closed reduction of pediatric forearm fractures in a resource-limited setting. ⋯ This small-scale study has demonstrated the safe and efficacious use of US-guided close reduction of pediatric forearm fractures in a low-resource setting. Using US, real-time visualization of reduction efforts can reassure the clinician in decision making, thus reducing the rate of repeated reductions and allowing shorter hospital stay.
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Prolonged emergency department (ED) wait times could potentially lead to increased mortality. Studies have demonstrated that black patients waited significantly longer for ED care than nonblack patients. However, the disparity in wait times need not necessarily manifest across all illness severities. We hypothesize that, on average, black patients wait longer than nonblack patients and that the disparity is more pronounced as illness severity decreases. ⋯ Racial disparity in ED wait times between black and nonblack patients exists, and the size of the disparity is more pronounced as illness severity decreases. We do not find a racial disparity in wait times for critically ill patients.
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Multiple sclerosis affects many regions of the central nervous system and leads to visual, oculomotor, motor, sensorial, cerebellar, and cognitive disorders. In addition to classic clinical findings, sudden paroxysmal symptoms triggered by motion, hyperventilation, or sensory stimulus may occur. In this article, we present a case of convergence spasm attended by paroxysmal symptoms, a rarely observed situation but one which can have complete recovery through administration of 5-day intravenous (i.v.) methylprednisolone therapy, together with its imaging findings and video records.
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Current guideline recommends that immediate coronary angiography (CAG) should be considered in all postcardiac arrest patients in whom acute coronary syndrome is suspected. In the setting of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), obtaining clinical data such as chest discomfort and medical diseases associated with acute coronary syndrome can be difficult. ⋯ In clinical practice, the usefulness of emergency CAG evaluation of OHCA patients without ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction is debatable. We describe 2 OHCA patients who did not exhibit ST-segment elevation after ROSC and received underwent emergency CAG.