The American journal of emergency medicine
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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.
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Case Reports
Bottle it up: Prehospital management of an AV fistula bleed using a bottle cap: A case report.
Hemorrhage from arteriovenous fistula sites is a known complication with potentially fatal consequences. The management of AV fistula hemorrhage has historically included direct pressure, tourniquet use, and/or surgical management. We describe a case of a 71-year-old female with hemorrhage from an AV fistula site that was successfully managed in the prehospital setting using a simple bottle cap.