European journal of emergency medicine : official journal of the European Society for Emergency Medicine
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Review Case Reports
Keep off the grass: marijuana use and acute cardiovascular events.
Marijuana is one of the most widely used recreational substances in the world, considered by many consumers as a relatively safe drug with few significant side-effects. We report the case of a 21-year-old man who suffered an acute myocardial infarction following the use of marijuana, despite having no other identifiable risk factors for an acute cardiovascular event. We review the published medical literature regarding acute cardiovascular events following marijuana use and postulate a possible mechanism for this unusual pathological consequence of marijuana use.
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The aim of this study was to identify pitfalls in the acute management of ankle fractures which were referred to a regional orthopaedic unit. This unit provides orthopaedic services for the catchment area of the Waterford Emergency Department together with three additional emergency units in the south-eastern region of Ireland. ⋯ Ankle fractures are a common musculoskeletal injury seen in emergency departments and minor injury units. Long-term disability resulting from ankle fractures can be reduced by optimal early management procedures. This is an important area for consideration in education programmes in emergency medicine.
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To investigate whether co-existing medical disorders, summed up in a comorbidity index, in nonsurgical patients attending the emergency department could predict short-term and long-term mortality, and whether the index could add prognostic information to the Rapid Emergency Medicine Score. ⋯ Information on coexisting disorders (Charlson Comorbidity Index) can prognosticate both short-term and long-term mortality in the nonsurgical emergency department. It can also add prognostic information to the Rapid Emergency Medicine Score as a predictor of long-term mortality.
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To raise awareness of the possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning as a diagnosis in the emergency department and to present the little known fact that it is possible to diagnose carbon monoxide poisoning retrospectively. ⋯ Carbon monoxide poisoning is common but often goes unrecognized. This method may help to decrease the number of overlooked cases and thereby possibly prevent further exposure and acute or chronic sequelae.