The American journal of emergency medicine
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Comparative Study
Predictors of clinically relevant differences between noninvasive versus arterial blood pressure.
Blood pressure (BP) measurements are important for managing patients with hypertensive emergencies (HE). Previous studies showed that there was significant difference between IABP and NIBP but no information whether these differences changed management. Our study investigated the factors associated with the differences affecting BP management of patients with HE. ⋯ There was a large difference between IABP and NIBP among patients with hypertensive emergencies. Up to 30% of patients had clinically relevant differences. Patients with sICH were more likely to have differences affecting BP management. Further studies are needed to confirm our observation.
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This study aimed to determine whether the blood urea nitrogen to serum albumin (B/A) ratio is a useful prognostic factor of mortality in patients with aspiration pneumonia. ⋯ The B/A ratio is a simple and potentially useful prognostic factor of mortality in aspiration pneumonia patients.
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Observational Study
Extreme weather conditions as a gender-specific risk factor for acute myocardial infarction.
Acute coronary syndrome is a disease with high prevalence and high mortality. Exposure to heat or cold increases the risks of myocardial infarction significantly. Gender-specific effects of this have not yet been examined. Our goal was to determine whether extreme weather conditions, which become more and more frequent, are gender-specific risk factors for myocardial infarction, in order to help provide faster diagnosis and revascularization therapy for patients. ⋯ Low perceived temperature pronouncedly increases the already elevated risk for STEMI in males. Whether this effect is based on gender alone, or on one of the cardiovascular risk factors which are more common in men, is up to further study.
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Case Reports
Cholesterol embolization and arterial occlusion from the Heimlich maneuver: A case report.
The Heimlich maneuver is a lifesaving bystander intervention to assist an individual with airway obstruction however, cholesterol embolization syndrome is a rare, but serious potential complication of the Heimlich maneuver. We present the case of the 56-year-old female presenting to the emergency department with acute right foot pain following performance of the Heimlich maneuver who was found to have distal arterial occlusion resulting from cholesterol embolization syndrome. The patient underwent right popliteal artery exploration, right popliteal and tibial thrombectomy, and popliteal patch angioplasty resulting in restoration of blood flow to her right foot.
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Case Reports
Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome associated with Henoch Schonlein Purpura in a pediatric patient.
Henoch Schonlein Purpura is a rare hypersensitivity vasculitis that is commonly associated with pediatric patients. It typically presents with purpuric rash to the lower extremities, abdominal pain and microscopic hematuria; however, it may also be associated with intussusception, glomerulonephritis and hypertension. ⋯ Typically characterized by headaches, seizures, and visual changes, which is presumed to be associated with rapid increases in blood pressure. We present the case of a 6-year-old female who developed Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome as a complication from Henoch Schonlein Purpura.