The American journal of emergency medicine
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That the bladder can be compressed by extraperitoneal hematoma induced by obstetrics and gynecologic diseases, is well known. However, there have been no reports on the clinical significance of compressed bladder induced by pelvic fracture (PF). We therefore retrospectively investigated the clinical features of compressed bladder induced by the PF. ⋯ The present study showed that bladder deformity induced by PF tended to be a poor physiological sign that was associated with severe anatomical abnormality, unstable circulation requiring transfusion, and long hospitalization. Accordingly, physicians should evaluate shape of bladder when treating PF.
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Compare heart rate control between parenteral metoprolol and diltiazem and identify safety outcomes in the acute management of atrial fibrillation (AFib) with rapid ventricular response (RVR) in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). ⋯ Our study provides further evidence that short term use of diltiazem is likely as safe and effective as metoprolol in the acute management of HFrEF patients with AFib RVR and provides support for the use of non-dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers (non-DHP CCBs) in this patient population.
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Antimuscarinic delirium (AD), a potentially life-threatening condition frequently encountered by emergency physicians, results from poisoning with antimuscarinic agents. Treatment with physostigmine and benzodiazepines is the mainstay of pharmacotherapy, and use of dexmedetomidine and non-physostigmine centrally-acting acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (cAChEi) such as rivastigmine has also been described. Unfortunately, these medications are subject to drug shortages which negatively impact the ability to provide appropriate pharmacologic treatment of patients with AD. ⋯ Shortages of agents used in the treatment of AD were common during the study period and affected all agent classes. Shortages were often prolonged and multiple shortages were ongoing at study period end. Multiple concurrent shortages involving different agents occurred, which could hamper substitution as a means of mitigating shortage. Healthcare stakeholders must develop innovative patient- and institution-specific solutions in times of shortage and work to build resilience into the medical product supply chain to minimize future shortages of drugs used for treatment of AD.
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Observational Study
Safety and effectiveness of benzodiazepines and antipsychotics for agitation in older adults in the emergency department.
To examine the safety and effectiveness of benzodiazepines (BZD) as compared to antipsychotics for the management of acute agitation in older adults in the emergency department (ED). ⋯ Overall there are high rates of treatment failure among agitated older adults receiving pharmacological treatment for agitation in the emergency department. The optimal selection of pharmacological treatment for agitation in older adults should be made considering patient-specific factors that could increase the risk of adverse effects or treatment failure.
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Tumor Lysis Syndrome (TLS) is a metabolic emergency seen in patients who receive cytotoxic chemotherapy and can result in significant morbidity and mortality, especially in those patients with high tumor burden. Spontaneous tumor lysis syndrome (STLS) occurs in patients without preceding chemotherapy but may occur in the setting of glucocorticoid administration. We present a case of a 75-year-old male with a history of myelodysplastic syndrome who presented with shortness of breath and developed acute renal failure due to tumor lysis syndrome, likely triggered by candidemia. To our knowledge, this is the first known case of STLS in a patient with high tumor burden who did not receive corticosteroids but likely developed this condition in the setting of infection.