The American journal of emergency medicine
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Case Reports
Bodybuilding supplements leading to copper toxicity, encephalopathy, fulminant hepatic failure and rhabdomyolysis.
Millions of people worldwide use nutritional and dietary supplements, such as vitamins and minerals. These and other performance-enhancing substances are also used by high school, college, and professional athletes, bodybuilders, and amateur sports enthusiasts. ⋯ Emergency physicians and nurses should be aware of these potential deleterious effects and inquire about supplement use by patients with unexplained multiorgan failure. Family, friends, or acquaintances should be asked to bring the actual products to the hospital for analysis.
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Tattooing is associated with a handful of potential complications. Short-term complications such as pain, pruritus, erythema, or swelling at the tattoo-site commonly occur from local skin trauma. ⋯ However, in a small number of individuals, the granulomatous change in the tattoo and uveitis occur in the absence of any evidence of sarcoidosis. A case is presented of a tattoo granuloma with uveitis (TAGU) without sarcoidosis.
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Observational Study
Rapid correction of hyperkalemia is associated with reduced mortality in ED patients.
Hyperkalemia (HK) is common and associated with mortality. Our purpose was to determine if the rapid correction of elevated serum potassium level (K+) was associated with reduced mortality in emergency department (ED) patients. ⋯ Normalization of K+ during the ED stay in patients with HK is associated with a 50% mortality reduction. Efforts to rapidly identify and treat HK in the ED are needed.