The American journal of emergency medicine
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Acquired palpebral ptosis (also called blepharoptosis, or ptosis) is an abnormally low-positioned upper eyelid and occasionally presents as a chief complaint to the emergency department. Due to the wide range of causes and spectrum of severity, emergency physicians must recognize and initiate appropriate diagnostic and treatment pathways to limit the risk of long-term complications in those affected. ⋯ He was treated with intravenous antibiotics, admitted to the hospital, and discharged home after 7 days. This uncommon cause of ptosis highlights the need for a broad differential diagnosis for this condition and recognition of uncommon complications of invasive sinusitis.
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The opioid epidemic remains a major public health issue in the U. S., with over 100,000 overdose deaths in 2022, many linked to synthetic opioids. Emergency medicine plays a vital role in managing opioid overdoses, which typically cause CNS depression and respiratory failure. ⋯ Given the rise of opioid use, emergency physicians are likely to encounter more cases with similar presentations. MRI imaging should be considered in patients who do not recover as expected following an opioid overdose. Early identification of complications like CHANTER syndrome can lead to closer neurologic monitoring and neurosurgical intervention that may prevent decompensation or even death.