European journal of emergency medicine : official journal of the European Society for Emergency Medicine
-
Hypokalemic periodic paralysis is a rare life-threatening syndrome, potentially reversible when detected at an early stage. Hypokalemia may also occur in other conditions characterized by muscle weakness. Acute myopathy associated with thyrotoxicosis has been described in Asian populations, although it seldom affects Caucasians or African-Americans. ⋯ Acute recurrent episodes of flaccid paralysis, symmetrically affecting the proximal muscles of the lower limbs, either following strenuous physical activity or carbohydrate overindulgence, is the usual presentation. Hypokalemia seems to result from transcellular shifts of potassium rather than losses. A case of thyrotoxic hypokalemic periodic paralysis occurring in a young Caucasian male diagnosed with Graves' disease is reported.
-
Emergency residency training programs, which have been developing in Turkey over the last 14 years, have been improving emergency health services by training each year a significant number of emergency medicine specialists. Sufficient data about these emergency residency training programs is not currently available. The purpose of this study is to determine (i) the structure of emergency residency training programs and (ii) trainer and resident views concerning these programs. ⋯ Most of the departments have developed the basic components for resident education. Residents and trainers frequently had different views on their own level of knowledge, practical skills, and the content of their training.
-
Case Reports
Metabolic acidosis in a patient with type 1 diabetes mellitus complicated by methanol and amitriptyline intoxication.
Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a widely known acute metabolic complication of diabetes mellitus (DM), which can be potentially fatal. It is not difficult to diagnose when a patient with DM comes with symptoms such as coma, fruity breath, hyperglycemia, acidosis, and tachypnea. If the patient has not been diagnosed with DM before, then other sicknesses characterized by an increased anion gap should be considered. ⋯ The patient underwent hemodialysis and recovered completely. This case illustrates that a seemingly obvious medical condition can mask serious intoxication. This report is the only publication on two different entities characterized by an increased anion gap and at the end the patient has been cured completely without any complications.