The American journal of emergency medicine
-
Assessing the effectiveness of empiric antimicrobial regimens in cases of septic/infected abortions.
Infected abortion is a life-threatening condition that requires immediate surgical and medical interventions. We aimed to assess the common pathogens associated with infected abortion and to test the microbial coverage of various empiric antimicrobial regimens based on the bacteriological susceptibility results in women with infected abortions. ⋯ A combination of ampicillin, gentamicin, and metronidazole had a better spectrum of coverage as a first-line empiric choice for patients with infected abortion.
-
This study first aims to assess the utility of ETCO2 levels in evaluating the severity of dehydration in adult patients that present to the ED with acute gastroenteritis. AGE. Second, it intends to evaluate the correlation between ETCO2 and several metabolic parameters: creatinine, pH, bicarbonate (HCO3), and bases excessive (BE). ⋯ ETCO2 levels decreased in the non-mild group of AGE patients; it could be useful to distinguish the mild group from the non-mild group. ETCO2 could be a reliable marker in predicting AKI in the management of AGE patients.
-
Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is one of the leading causes of preventable death in the world. Our primary objective was to identify and treat individuals who are unaware of their exposure to carbon monoxide in emergency departments (EDs). Our secondary goal was to reduce the costs of diagnosis and treatment by preventing unnecessary diagnostic testing in EDs. ⋯ The use of noninvasive pulse CO-oxymeter might reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with occult CO poisoning in patients presented with suspected CO poisoning in emergency settings.
-
A previously healthy 60-year-old man presented to our emergency department with anaphylactic shock. We initiated fluid resuscitation with Ringer's lactate solution; injected 0.3 mg epinephrine intramuscularly; and administered d-chlorpheniramine maleate 5 mg, famotidine 20 mg, and methylprednisolone 80 mg intravenously. His symptoms resolved within 10 min. ⋯ Thus, physicians should not hesitate to use epinephrine for patients who present with life-threatening conditions due to suspected anaphylaxis. Physicians should observe patients closely following epinephrine administration, and if they develop some symptoms, should carefully examine the patients because the treatments of anaphylaxis and myocardial ischemia differs. Physicians should be alert to the risk of myocardial ischemia after treatment of anaphylaxis, especially following epinephrine administration.
-
The aim was to determine the effect on end-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2) of spinal immobilization (SI) at a conventional 0° angle and to investigate the usefulness of immobilization at a 20° angle for preventing possible hypoventilation. ⋯ Conventional SI with an angle of 0° led to an increase in ETCO2 while subjects immobilization at a 20° angle maintained their initial ETCO2 values. Immobilization at 20° may prevent decompensation in patients who have thoracic trauma or lung diseases or those who are elderly, pregnant, or obese.