The American journal of emergency medicine
-
Electrical cardioversion of ED patients is a well-described treatment strategy for certain patients presenting with atrial fibrillation (AF). The objective of this study was to describe the safety and outcomes of this practice in a cohort of patients undergoing ED electrical cardioversion for AF. ⋯ In this cohort of ED patients with atrial fibrillation, ED electrical cardioversion followed by discharge to home was largely safe and effective. Most complications were transient and mild. There were remarkably few serious complications.
-
A 24-year-old male was brought to our emergency with complaints of abdominal pain for two days. There was a history of foreign body ingestion five days earlier, details of which he refused to reveal. ⋯ The patient underwent endoscopy for removal of the mobile phone. The case shows the importance of thorough investigation and prompt attempt at endoscopic removal in the event of ingestion of foreign bodies containing batteries.
-
Observational Study
Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on visits of an urban emergency department.
The aim of this study was to reveal how the pandemic process affected the number of ED visits and the reasons for application. ⋯ Number of ED visits during the pandemic were decreased by half when compared to the previous year. It was an advantage of the pandemic to decrease ED visits due to "nonemergent" complaints, and thus, unnecessary patient burden. However, on the other hand, patients avoided seeking medical attention, even for life-threatening conditions which led to increased mortality and morbidity.