J Emerg Med
-
Observational Study
Factors associated with adverse events resulting from medical errors in the emergency department: two work better than one.
The Emergency Department (ED) is an environment at risk for medical errors. ⋯ In our study, the involvement of more than one physician was associated with a lower risk of adverse events.
-
Commonly used abortion agents carry potentially serious side effects for the mother. It is important for emergency physicians to be aware of the medications used in elective abortions from the late first trimester to term. If digoxin is used as an abortifacient, it is injected intrafetally or intraplacentally. With this method there is a chance of extraplacental injection, resulting in maternal systemic digoxin toxicity and serious morbidity or death. ⋯ It is important for emergency physicians to be aware of the various late first-trimester to term abortifacient agents and procedures being used in obstetrical/gynecological practice, and the potential risks of these interventions. Digoxin toxicity or hyperkalemia should be suspected when a patient presents with severe weakness and respiratory distress after an attempted abortion.
-
Practice Guideline
Customizing anaphylaxis guidelines for emergency medicine.
Most episodes of anaphylaxis are managed in emergency medical settings, where the cardinal signs and symptoms often differ from those observed in the allergy clinic. Data suggest that low recognition of anaphylaxis in the emergency setting may relate to inaccurate coding and lack of a standard, practical definition. ⋯ We believe that this working definition and the supporting Consensus Statements are a first step to better management of anaphylaxis in the emergency medical setting.