The American journal of emergency medicine
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Case Reports
Complications from bariatric medical tourism: Lessons for the emergency physician from selected case reports.
Each year, increasing numbers of Americans travel abroad to undergo bariatric surgery. When postoperative complications arise, these patients often present to domestic emergency departments for care. ⋯ The presentation of patients with complications from bariatric surgery abroad at emergency departments, particularly those located near ports of entry, is likely to become more frequent. Emergency physicians should familiarize themselves with the clinical and operational challenges they may face when caring for this population.
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Acute valvular emergencies, a time-sensitive diagnosis, are nearly impossible to diagnose without ultrasound, and missing the diagnosis can significantly impact patient outcomes. Many emergency physicians lack access to echo technicians and may be uncomfortable performing the ultrasound themselves. Approaching the paucity of review articles, none of which are focused for the emergency physician, can be quite daunting, even for those with extensive ultrasound training. ⋯ The use of ultrasound in the emergency department setting is a critical adjunct to care for patients with acute valvular emergencies. One should always consider a comprehensive, cardiology-performed echocardiogram in these scenarios.