The American journal of emergency medicine
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Observational Study
The effects of case management program completion on suicide risk among suicide attempters: A 5-year observational study.
A prior suicide attempt is known to be the most important risk factor for suicide. Case management programs provide psychosocial support and rehabilitation for suicide attempters. This study aimed to determine whether case management completion is associated with good clinical outcomes for suicide attempters visiting the emergency department (ED). ⋯ Completion of a case management program was associated with reduction of suicide risk. Multicomponent strategies to increase compliance with a case management program are needed to prevent suicide reattempt and reduce the health burden of suicide.
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Pneumatosis intestinalis (PI) refers to the presence of gas within the wall of the small or large intestine. PI can be both asymptomatic and life-threatening. The patient was a 50-year-old man with previous cervical spine abscess and osteomyelitis post debridement 4 years ago, with a heroin abuse history. ⋯ Finally, he was discharged 5 days later with a nasojejunal and drainage tubes and was arranged for OPD follow-up. PI can be asymptomatic or life-threatening, and patient management varies based on the clinical condition. Although in this case PI was found in the emergency department, a patient's past history of underlying disease and medication should be reviewed to find the most possible etiology.
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Emergency department presentations of syncope can vary from benign to life-threatening etiologies. Older patients are at increased risk of cardiac causes of syncope. ⋯ He was transferred to the ICU and underwent pacemaker implantation. A high index of suspicion for dysrhythmias should be maintained for any patient presenting to the ED with high-risk syncope.
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No definitive experimental or clinical evidence exists whether brain hypothermia before, rather than during or after, resuscitation can reduce hypoxic-ischemic brain injury following cardiac arrest/cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CA/CPR) and improve outcomes. We examined the effects of moderate brain hypothermia before resuscitation on survival and histopathological and neurobehavioral outcomes in a mouse model. ⋯ Moderate brain hypothermia before resuscitation improved survival and reduced histological neuronal injury, spatial memory impairment, and anxiety-like behaviours after CA/CPR in mice.