The American journal of emergency medicine
-
Approximately 7% of the US population abuses or is dependent on alcohol. Patients with alcohol disorders often seek medical attention in Emergency Departments (EDs) for complications directly related to alcohol use or due to other medical issues associated with alcohol use. ⋯ This article reviews the physiology of alcohol withdrawal as well as the symptoms of this potentially deadly illness for the practicing emergency physician (EP). We provide evidence-based guidelines for the appropriate ED treatment of moderate to severe AWS, including pharmacologic interventions, adjunctive therapies, and disposition of these patients.
-
Stroke is the second common cause of death and the primary cause of early invalidity worldwide. Different from other diseases is the time sensitivity related to stroke. In case of an ischemic event occluding a brain artery, 2000000 neurons die every minute. ⋯ Beyond its diagnostic use, first clinical trials as well as numerous preclinical work demonstrate that ultrasound can be used to accelerate clot lysis (sonothrombolysis) in presence as well as in absence of tissue plasminogen activator. Hence, the use of transcranial ultrasound for diagnosis and possibly treatment of stroke bares the potential to add to current stroke care paradigms significantly. The purpose of this concept article is to describe the opportunities presented by recent advances in transcranial ultrasound to diagnose and potentially treat large vessel embolic stroke in the prehospital environment.