The American journal of emergency medicine
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Oral anticoagulant therapy with warfarin is commonly used to prevent thromboembolic event in patients at risk with atrial fibrillation [1]. Spontaneous intramural hematoma of small intestine is rare complication of anticoagulant therapy and occurs in patient who receives excessive warfarin that may result in potentially serious complications. ⋯ In the present report, we report an unusual case of small bowel intramural hemorrhage secondary to anticoagulant therapy after abdominal massage. The emergency physicians should be aware that the potential spontaneous small bowel intramural hemorrhage in the patients has a high index of suspicion because most patients are treated nonoperatively with a good outcome.
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Snorting or smoking heroin is a known trigger of acute asthma exacerbation. Heroin abuse may be a risk factor for more severe asthma exacerbations and intubation. Heroin and other opioids provoke pulmonary bronchoconstriction. Naloxone may play a role in decreasing opioid-induced bronchospasm. There are no known clinical cases describing the effect of naloxone on opioid-induced bronchospasm. ⋯ Naloxone may play a role in reducing acute opioid-induced bronchoconstriction, either alone or in combination with albuterol. Future controlled studies should be conducted to determine if the addition of naloxone to standard treatment improves bronchospasm without causing adverse effects.
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Myeloperoxidase (MPO) and C-reactive protein (CRP) are markers of inflammation and elevated levels have been found in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) unrelated to cocaine. We evaluated the utility of MPO and CRP for diagnosis of ACS and the prediction of 30-day adverse cardiovascular events in patients with cocaine-related chest pain. ⋯ Myeloperoxidase and CRP are not useful for diagnosis or prognosis of patients with cocaine-associated chest pain.
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Acute poisoning with organophosphate compounds can cause chronic neuropsychological disabilities not prevented by standard antidotes of atropine and pralidoxime. We determine the efficacy of naltrexone in preventing delayed encephalopathy after poisoning with the sarin analogue diisofluorophosphate (DFP) in rats. ⋯ Naltrexone protected against impairment of spatial learning from acute poisoning with DFP in rats.