The American journal of emergency medicine
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Emergency physicians frequently treat hyperemesis gravidarum and should be aware of possible complications. Wernicke encephalopathy secondary to thiamine deficiency should be considered in the differential diagnosis of acute encephalopathy in pregnant women. A seventeen-week pregnant 27-year-old woman presented to the Emergency Department with nausea, emesis, and right upper quadrant abdominal pain. ⋯ Emergency physicians frequently treat hyperemesis gravidarum. Nutritional status should be evaluated in patients who are unable to take neonatal vitamins. Awareness should exist of possible complications, including Wernicke encephalopathy secondary to thiamine deficiency.
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Review Meta Analysis
Ketamine for emergency sedation of agitated patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Prior studies suggest that ketamine is effective for acute agitation in the emergency department (ED) and prehospital settings. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to evaluate the rate of sedation and need for airway management in patients given ketamine for management of acute agitation. Methods: We performed a systematic review of publications describing the use of ketamine to control agitation in the ED and prehospital settings. ⋯ The estimate of the proportion of subjects that achieved sedation was 85% (95% CI = 0.71-0.93). After synthesizing data from the four studies that compared ketamine to controls, ketamine was associated with increased rates of sedation (RR, 1.95 [CI, 0.47-8.1]) and increased need for intubation (RR, 2.44 [CI, 0.75-7.91]). The differences were not significant by random effects model.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Comparing intranasal ketamine with intravenous fentanyl in reducing pain in patients with renal colic: A double-blind randomized clinical trial.
Kidney stones are a fairly common problem that manifests itself as symptoms of acute abdominal and flank pains in patients presenting to emergency departments. ⋯ Ketamine was found to be less effective than fentanyl in controlling renal colic-induced pain, and to be associated with a higher prevalence of side-effects; nevertheless, ketamine can be effective in controlling this pain in conjunction with other medications.
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Dual Sequential Defibrillation (DSD) has shown promise in the management of refractory ventricular fibrillation (RVF). In the recent past, there have been a number of reports on the topic with varying results. Some studies have concluded that DSD provides no benefit over standard defibrillation therapy of RVF in terms of survival and neurological outcome. ⋯ It is suggested that earlier use of DSD can potentially improve ROSC, ultimate survival, and neurological outcome. After a review of the existing literature on the topic, we will propose that DSD be considered for use at a much earlier time in the resuscitation of patients with RVF. In addition to the consideration of its use in resuscitation, clinicians and device manufacturers must also address the impact on the two defibrillation devices employed in DSD due to the potential for damage and resultant defibrillator dysfunction.
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Assessment of dextrose 50 bolus versus dextrose 10 infusion in the management of hyperkalemia in the emergency department.
Hypoglycemia is a common adverse effect when intravenous (IV) insulin is administered for hyperkalemia. A prolonged infusion of dextrose 10% (D10) may mitigate hypoglycemia compared to dextrose 50% (D50) bolus. Our objective was to evaluate whether D10 infusion is a safe and effective alternative to D50 bolus for hypoglycemia prevention in hyperkalemic patients receiving IV insulin. ⋯ In our study, D10 infusions appeared to be at least as effective as D50 bolus in preventing hypoglycemia in hyperkalemic patients receiving IV insulin. In context of ongoing D50 injection shortages, D10 infusions should be a therapeutic strategy in this patient population.