The American journal of emergency medicine
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Rotating residents (RRs) were surveyed to determine their impressions of an emergency department (ED) run by career emergency physicians (EPs), in the hope of generating insights into controversies that occur between the ED and other hospital departments. A questionnaire was distributed to RRs at Taipei Veterans General Hospital in September 1993. The questionnaire inquired about basic data, workload, and ED training and teaching, and also asked respondents for their overall evaluation of emergency medicine and EPs. ⋯ Fear of malpractice suits and difficult interaction with patients and patients' families were also cited as stressful factors. All RRs considered ED training important; self-learning and the accumulation of ED experience, as well as the conference on emergency pitfalls, were the two aspects of training most favored, garnering approval by 92% and 80%, respectively. The overall impression of the RRs on emergency medicine and the performance of EPs was favorable.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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The cases of two asthmatic patients who became hypokalemic after inhalation of normal doses of albuterol are presented. One patient was symptomatic and the other had only electrocardiographic changes. Both were treated successfully with oral potassium. Albuterol-induced hypokalemia and its potential cardiac toxicity are discussed briefly.