The American journal of emergency medicine
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Unintentional, non-fire-related (UNFR) carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is a leading cause of poisoning in the United States, but the overall hospital burden is unknown. This study presents patient characteristics and the most recent comprehensive national estimates of UNFR CO-related emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations. ⋯ Unintentional, non-fire-related CO poisonings pose significant economic and health burden; continuous monitoring and surveillance of CO poisoning are needed to guide prevention efforts. Public health programs should emphasize CO alarm use at home as the main prevention strategy.
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The aim of this study was to describe a case of a large traumatic pneumothorax (>55%) that resolved completely without intervention. A pneumothorax is the accumulation of air between the visceral and parietal pleura. It can occur spontaneously or be traumatic. ⋯ She was not treated at another facility during that time. This is a typical manifestation of a traumatic pneumothorax but with an atypical course and outcome. It raises the question of whether, even in the case of traumatic pneumothorax, the threshold for placement of chest tubes could be reconsidered in stable patients.
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Therapeutic hypothermia (TH) has gained popularity as a brain-protective strategy for victims of sudden cardiac death in whom return of spontaneous circulation has been achieved but coma persists. Trials have also demonstrated some advantageous effects of lowering core body temperature after stroke and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy of the newborn. In a variety of clinical conditions, TH is still being studied (eg, hepatic encephalopathy and traumatic brain injury). This study describes the historical development of TH, its current applications in emergency medicine, and its potential future uses.
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Case Reports
Subacute anterior wall myocardial infarction complicated by intramyocardial dissection.
Myocardial dissection is a rare but fatal complication of myocardial infarction requiring urgent surgical treatment to avoid complete rupture. We report a case of intramyocardial dissecting hematoma treated with supportive pharmacologic therapy for 9 months of follow-up without surgical intervention.