The American journal of emergency medicine
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Otalgia with mastoiditis is an infrequently encountered complication of acute otitis media (Pfaff and Moore, 2018). Even more rare is the development of infected jugular venous thrombosis, Lemierre's disease. ⋯ The true prevalence of Lemierre's from mastoiditis is difficult to discern. This clinical case highlights the importance of the consideration of these pathologies by the emergency physician.
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Blood gas analyzers can be alternatives to laboratory autoanalyzers for obtaining test results in just a few minutes. We aimed to find out whether the results from blood gas analyzers are reliable when compared to results of core laboratory autoanalyzers. ⋯ The two types of measurements showed a moderate correlation for sodium and potassium levels and a strong correlation for glucose, hemoglobin, and hematocrit levels, but none of the levels had acceptable agreement limits. Clinicians should be aware of the limitations of blood gas analyzer results.
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Ultrasound-guided nerve blocks (UGNBs) allow emergency physicians an opportunity to provide optimal pain management for acute traumatic conditions. Over the past decade, a growing body of literature has detailed the novel ways clinicians have incorporated UGNBs for analgesia and an alternative to procedural sedation. ⋯ Even with the presumed level of increased safety, we recommend that any clinician who performs ultrasound-guided nerve blocks be aware of complications that could arise during and after the procedure. Peripheral nerve injury (PNI) post block, local anesthetic systemic toxicity (LAST) and the role of single peripheral nerve blocks in patients with a risk for compartment syndrome are common safety issues discussed when performing ultrasound-guided nerve blocks.