The American journal of emergency medicine
-
Heatstroke is one of the most common clinical emergencies. Heatstroke that occurred in a dry-heat environment such as desert is usually more seriously effective and often leads to death. However, the report of the pathophysiologic mechanisms about heatstroke in dry-heat environment of desert has not been seen. ⋯ We have successfully established the rat heatstroke model of dry-heat environment of desert. We have identified heatstroke rats that presented changing characteristics on physiological indicators and varying degrees of organ damage, which are aggravated by the evolution of heatstroke in dry-heat environment of desert. We have preliminarily discussed the mechanism of heatstroke in dry-heat environment of desert.
-
Various emergency department (ED) HIV testing models are reported in the literature but may not all be sustainable. We sought to determine whether changing an ED rapid HIV testing program from counselor-based to ED technician-based resulted in more testing. ⋯ We present a novel approach to HIV testing using existing staff within the ED. This new ED technician-based model led to large increases in rates of testing.
-
We encountered a case of severe acute respiratory distress syndrome in late pregnancy due to influenza (H1N1) with refractory hypoxemia to conventional mechanical ventilation. Ventilation in prone position rescued this patient by maintaining oxygenation and sustaining improvement thereafter. ⋯ It requires frequent monitoring of possible complications due to prone position and highly dedicated supporting staffs. More data are required on safety of proning in the late pregnancy.
-
Pericardial effusion is commonly detected in patients with severe hypothyroidism and is typically mild; rarely, it may lead to cardiac tamponade. Cardiac tamponade with myxedema coma as initial presenting feature of previously unrecognized hypothyroidism is rare. This case highlights that previously undiagnosed hypothyroidism can manifest as myxedema coma with shock due to pericardial tamponade particularly in winters because a cold environment can precipitate myxedema. ⋯ Cardiac tamponade and myxedema coma as presenting features of previously unrecognized primary hypothyroidism are extremely rare. Urgent bedside echocardiography with pericardiocentesis along with thyroxine therapy is the treatment of choice. It is important to include hypothyroidism as the differential diagnosis in patients with cardiac tamponade and altered level of consciousness especially in winter months.
-
Transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) is usually necessary in the management of hemodynamically unstable patients with concomitant pelvic fractures. Given the critical conditions of such patients, TAE is at times performed only according to the results of a primary evaluation without computed tomographic (CT) imaging. Therefore, the evaluation of associated intra-abdominal injuries (IAIs) might be insufficient. Clinically, some patients have required post-TAE laparotomy due to further deterioration. In this study, we attempted to determine a feasible protocol for post-TAE observation. ⋯ In the management of hemodynamically unstable patients with concomitant pelvic fractures, greater attention should be paid to associated IAIs. Early CT imaging is encouraged after the patient's hemodynamic status is stabilized with TAE.