J Emerg Med
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Review Case Reports Comparative Study
Rocuronium vs. succinylcholine in the emergency department: a critical appraisal.
Two methods of paralysis are available for rapid sequence intubation (RSI) in the emergency department (ED): depolarizing agents such as succinylcholine, and non-depolarizing drugs such as rocuronium. Rocuronium is a useful alternative when succinylcholine is contraindicated. Contraindications to succinylcholine include allergy, history of malignant hyperthermia, denervation syndromes, and patients who are 24-48 h post burn or crush injury. Non-depolarizing drugs have the advantage of causing less pain due to post-paralysis myalgias. ⋯ Succinylcholine remains the drug of choice for ED RSI unless there is a contraindication to its usage.
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Rural Emergency Medicine: patient volume and training opportunities.
A paucity of board-certified Emergency Physicians practice in rural Emergency Departments (EDs). One proposed solution has been to train residents in rural EDs to increase the likelihood that they would continue to practice in rural EDs. Some within academic Emergency Medicine question whether rural hospital EDs can provide adequate patient volume for training an Emergency Medicine (EM) resident. ⋯ Patient volumes per physician FTE do not differ in rural vs. urban OK hospital EDs, suggesting that an adequate volume of patients exists in rural EDs to support EM resident education. Proportionately fewer board-certified Emergency Physicians staff rural EDs. Opportunities to increase rural ED-based EM resident training should be explored.
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Review Case Reports
An unusual cause of postpartum abdominal pain: case report.
Abdominal pain is a common presenting complaint in the Emergency Department. It extends to all populations regardless of age, sex, or socioeconomic status. ⋯ However, in the postpartum woman, additional causes must be considered and treated accordingly, knowing that there are consequences for both mother and child. We present a case of a postpartum woman presenting with right-sided abdominal pain, the cause of which, although atypical, has potential for significant morbidity and mortality if it goes undiscovered.
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Review Case Reports
Lemierre's syndrome: methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) finds a new home.
Lemierre's syndrome is septic thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein, arising as a complication of an oropharyngeal infection. This thrombophlebitis frequently results in septic emboli to organs such as the lungs. The causative agent in most previously described cases is Fusobacterium necrophorum, an anaerobic Gram-negative organism. ⋯ MRSA has not previously been described in Lemierre's syndrome in the Emergency Medicine literature. The clinical presentation, findings, and management of the syndrome are discussed. Regardless of etiology, once the diagnosis of Lemierre's syndrome is made, long-term broad-spectrum intravenous therapy will be necessary.
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Studies of trauma systems have identified traumatic brain injury as a frequent cause of death or disability. Due to the heterogeneity of patient presentations, practice variations, and potential for secondary brain injury, the importance of early neurosurgical procedures upon survival remains controversial. Traditional observational outcome studies have been biased because injury severity and clinical prognosis are associated with use of such interventions. ⋯ Analysis of observational data after adjustment using the propensity score for a neurosurgical procedure in the first 24 h supports the association of early neurosurgical intervention and patient survival in the setting of significant blunt, traumatic brain injury. Transfer of at-risk head-injured patients to facilities with high-level neurosurgical capabilities seems warranted.