The American journal of emergency medicine
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During the current pandemic of COVID-19, a myriad of manifestations and complications has emerged and are being reported on. We are discovering patients with COVID-19 are at increased risk of acute cardiac injury, arrythmias, thromboembolic complications (pulmonary embolism and acute stroke), and secondary infection to name a few. ⋯ She was ultimately diagnosed with mucormycosis and orbital compartment syndrome, in addition to COVID-19. Early identification of these high morbidity conditions is key to allow for optimal treatment and improved outcomes.
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Case Reports
Usage of airway ultrasound as an assessment and prediction tool of a difficult airway management.
Airway assessment is important in emergency airway management. A difficult airway can lead to life-threatening complications. A perfect airway assessment tool does not exist and unanticipated difficulty will remain unforeseen. ⋯ Ultrasound predictors of the difficult airway include the inability to visualize the hyoid bone, short hyomental distance ratio, high pretracheal anterior neck thickness and large tongue size. Besides airway assessment, ultrasound can also help to predict endotracheal tube size, confirm intubation and guide emergency airway procedures such as cricothyroidotomy and tracheostomy. Point of care ultrasound of the upper airway can be used in airway assessment to identify distorted airway anatomy, pathological lesions and guide treatment decisions.
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Case Reports
Siblings with pediatric sodium chlorite toxicity causing methemoglobinemia, renal failure and hemolytic anemia.
Over the past decade, Miracle Mineral Solution (sodium chlorite) has been promoted as a cure-all for many conditions. ⋯ These are the 7th and 8th reported cases of sodium chlorite toxicity by ingestion and the second and third in children. Takeaway for Physicians: Miracle Mineral Solution is a commonly purchased potentially lethal compound that can cause methemoglobinemia with respiratory failure, hemolytic anemia requiring transfusion and renal failure requiring dialysis.