The American journal of emergency medicine
-
Emergency neurology is a complex and rapidly changing field. Its evolution can be attributed in part to increased imaging options, debates about optimal treatment, and simply the growth of emergency medicine as a specialty. ⋯ This review summarizes neurology articles published in 2016, which the authors consider crucial to the practice of emergency medicine. The articles are categorized according to disease process, with the understanding that there can be significant overlap among articles.
-
Pulmonary embolism is a relatively common clinical presentation of venous thromboembolism, which develops in relation to acute pulmonary arterial occlusion mostly caused by thrombi of the lower limbs. ⋯ We know that exogenous estrogen increase the risk of venous thromboembolism in therapeutic use. It should be kept in mind that even single ingestion of a single high-dose exogenous estrogen intake may induce pulmonary thromboembolism.
-
To evaluate the impact of a rivaroxaban discharge initiative on the efficacy and safety of acute venous thromboembolism treatment in emergency department patients. ⋯ Home treatment of acute VTE, facilitated by medication dose pack, is a promising tactic to ensure both immediate and long-term treatment efficacy and safety. Further studies are warranted to demonstrate clinical superiority of this intervention.
-
This is the first study to evaluate the association between the serially measured RDW values and clinical severity in patients surviving >24 h after sustaining trauma. We evaluated the serial measurement and cut-off values of RDW to determine its significance as a prognostic marker of early mortality in patients with suspected severe trauma. ⋯ An increased RDW value is an independent predictor of 28-day mortality in patients with suspected severe trauma. The RDW, routinely obtained as part of the complete blood count without added cost or time, can be serially measured as indicator of severity after trauma.