The American journal of emergency medicine
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
Basic life support training: Demonstration versus lecture - A randomised controlled trial.
Basic life support (BLS) and the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) improve survival from cardiac arrest. The gold standard for teaching BLS/AED is yet to be identified. The aim of this study was to compare the learning outcome of an instructor-led demonstration with a formal lecture for introducing BLS/AED skills. We hypothesized that a demonstration was superior to a lecture. ⋯ There was no statistically significant difference in pass rate when comparing a demonstration with a lecture for introducing BLS/AED. The lecture group was slightly faster at initiating BLS. Most participants preferred a demonstration as introduction.
-
To the majority of health care professionals, burns present as a challenging and potentially distracting diagnosis. Because of their perceived complexity, they often eclipse other medical problems which can often be life threatening. Pressure related injuries, in rare instances can mimic and be mistaken for full thickness burns. Long lies may cause pressure necrosis of decubitus areas and compartment syndrome of vulnerable areas. Compartment syndrome, is a surgical emergency requiring prompt diagnosis and intervention. It may be missed in the context of a long lie after a collapse and maybe detrimental to patients' prognosis. ⋯ Pattern analysis and recognition are very important diagnostic tools in medicine. Detailed history taking and examination cannot be emphasised enough. Training both emergency departments and plastic surgeons in recognising long lie related injuries will decrease possible associated dangers such as missing a compartment syndrome.
-
Case Reports
A knack for "NAC": Treatment for heat stroke induced acute liver injury: A case report.
Heat stroke occurs when the body's core temperature becomes elevated above 40 °C, which may impact multiple organ systems. We present a case of heat stroke resulting in acute liver injury (ALI) successfully treated with intravenous N-acetylcysteine (NAC). ⋯ Hepatocellular injury is one of the most serious complications of heat stroke. We discuss the incidence and outcomes for patients who develop acute liver injury secondary to heat stroke and the use of NAC as an early potential therapeutic option.
-
We present the case of a patient who presented to the emergency department complaining of diffuse myalgias, severe jaw pain and chills. She met criteria for severe sepsis and received treatment including analgesia, antibiotics, intravenous fluids, and antipyretics. Workup revealed an elevated lactate and leukocytosis however, did not reveal any infectious source. ⋯ The key to the treatment of this patient was steroids, antihistamines, and supportive treatment. Emergency physicians do not often encounter infliximab infusion reactions because they occur so infrequently. Along with more common diagnoses such as sepsis, emergency physicians should include infliximab infusion reactions on the differential diagnosis in patients receiving this medication.