The American journal of emergency medicine
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Case Reports
COVID-19 pneumonia with hemoptysis: Acute segmental pulmonary emboli associated with novel coronavirus infection.
Recent retrospective studies from Wuhan, China suggest Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) may be associated with a hypercoagulable state and increased risk for venous thromboembolism. The overlap in the signs and symptoms of COVID-19 associated Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) and COVID-19 with concurrent pulmonary embolism creates a diagnostic challenge for emergency medicine physicians in patients already at risk for renal impairment. ⋯ Hemoptysis is seen in roughly 13% of pulmonary embolism cases and infrequently reported among COVID-19 infections. Additionally, the presence of right heart strain on electrocardiography (EKG) is a well described clinical presentations of pulmonary embolism not reported commonly with COVID-19 infections.
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Case Reports
High-dose adenosine for treatment of refractory paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia.
Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) is one of the more common arrhythmias requiring treatment in the emergency department. Intravenous adenosine is recommended as the initial medication of choice for treatment of PSVT, given in escalating doses up to a maximum of 12 mg. With a serum half-life of less than 10 s, adenosine must be given rapidly to allow for adequate time for it to reach the heart via venous return. ⋯ The patient had a history of pulmonary hypertension with resultant right heart failure at the time of presentation. We believe the higher dose of adenosine was necessary in this patient because of the impaired venous return to her right heart. This case indicates that patients with impaired venous return to the right heart may require higher-than-recommended doses of adenosine for effective termination of PSVT.
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Anaplasma phagocytophilum (AP) is the causative agent of human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA), a tick-borne illness with highest incidence in north-eastern regions of the United States. This condition presents with vague constitutional symptoms and has been associated with laboratory derangements such as leukopenia, thrombocytopenia and transaminitis1. Rhabdomyolysis, however, is not one of these associations. ⋯ A presumptive diagnosis of HGA can be made in the presence of fever, non-specific symptoms such as myalgias, laboratory derangements such as leukopenia and thrombocytopenia in an individual residing in an endemic area3. Serological confirmation should not delay treatment, given the rapid progression of this dangerous infection. Rhabdomyolysis should also be considered as part of supporting data in the diagnostic consideration for HGA.
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Review Meta Analysis
Comparing the analgesic effect of intravenous paracetamol with morphine on patients with renal colic pain: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies.
The choice of intravenous paracetamol or morphine for the pain control of renal colic remains controversial. We conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare the analgesic efficacy and safety of intravenous paracetamol with morphine for renal colic pain. ⋯ Intravenous paracetamol may result in lower pain scores at 30 min than morphine for renal colic pain, and more studies should be conducted to compare their analgesic efficacy.