Emergency medicine clinics of North America
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Emerg. Med. Clin. North Am. · Feb 2013
Critical skills and procedures in emergency medicine: vascular access skills and procedures.
The venous and/or arterial vasculature may be accessed for fluid resuscitation, testing and monitoring, administration of blood product or medication, or procedural reasons, such as the implantation of cardiac pacemaker wires. Accessing the vascular system is a common and often critically important step in emergency patient care. This article reviews methods for peripheral, central venous, and arterial access and discusses adjunct skills for vascular access such as the use of ultrasound guidance, and other forms of vascular access such as intraosseus and umbilical cannulation, and peripheral venous cut-down. Mastery of these skills is critical for the emergency medicine provider.
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Emerg. Med. Clin. North Am. · Feb 2013
Critical obstetric and gynecologic procedures in the emergency department.
Obstetric and gynecologic emergencies are common reasons for emergency department visits. Therefore, emergency physicians must be proficient in the management and treatment of these emergencies. This article reviews critical procedures and provides an overview of each procedure and the indications, contraindications, technique, and potential complications.
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Musculoskeletal injury and diseases are common presentations in the Emergency Department. Emergency physicians must be versed in the critical procedural skills necessary to diagnose joint infection, manage fractures and dislocations, and assess for compartment syndrome. Arthrocentesis, splinting, dislocation reduction, and the evaluation of limb compartment syndrome are reviewed.