European journal of emergency medicine : official journal of the European Society for Emergency Medicine
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The objectives of the present study were to examine the degree and the sources of mental distress and the coping strategies adopted by healthcare workers (HCW) of emergency departments (ED) in Hong Kong during the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). ⋯ SARS had caused a significant level of distress among ED staff. The distress level was highest for nurses, followed by doctors and HCA. The three most important variables that could account for the distress level were loss of control/vulnerability, fear for self-health and spread of the virus. Overall, the more frequently adopted coping strategies were acceptance, active coping, and positive framing.
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Ecstasy is a very popular and widely used party drug with known complications such as agitation, hyperpyrexia, rhabdomyolysis or renal failure. A 16-year-old boy was admitted to our Emergency Department with a spontaneous pneumomediastinum (SPM) after Ecstasy ingestion, complicated by myocarditis. To our knowledge this is the first case described with the combination of Ecstasy ingestion, SPM and myocarditis. ⋯ The course is usually benign, with spontaneous resorption. Emergency physicians should be aware of the risk, especially if a drug user presents with neck emphysema, difficulty in swallowing, and precordial crepitations or thoracic pain. Ecstasy, similarly to cocaine, can induce cardiac symptoms.
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Frequent emergency department (ED) users are a nebulous group of patients. A high degree of psychiatric problems and higher than expected mortality from medical illness have been reported in this population. ⋯ These data show that there is a high incidence of medical problems in frequent ED users and a high incidence of mortality in patients with heavy ED use.
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Bilateral anterior shoulder dislocation is a very rare clinical entity. All the cases reported so far highlight a simultaneous bilateral shoulder dislocation. We report an unusual case, where the left shoulder dislocated first due to trauma followed by atraumatic dislocation of the right shoulder. A new manoeuvre--the Spaso Technique was used to reduce the dislocation.
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To describe the epidemiology, injuries sustained and outcomes of patients presenting to an emergency department after a bicycle accident in Cambridge, England. ⋯ Although it is recognized that the use of bicycle helmets contributes to a decrease in mortality from head injuries, this should not be the only focus for decreasing the morbidity associated with cycling accidents. Campaigns for safer cycling practice, more dedicated cycle routes and to discourage cyclists from drinking and cycling are essential to decrease the numbers of these injuries.