J Emerg Med
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Treatment of poisonings in children has been well studied, but few data are available on the various causes of the poisoning episodes in the pediatric population. ⋯ Children 1 year of age had the highest incidence of unintentional poisonings. Among all age groups, medications were the number one cause of unintentional poisonings. Other unintentional poisonings could be prevented if hazardous materials were out of reach of children; many of the cases in this study happened in front of the parent with the parent watching.
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Case Reports
"Forgettable" sex: a case of transient global amnesia presenting to the emergency department.
Transient global amnesia is characterized by the sudden development of dense anterograde amnesia, without alteration in level of consciousness and in the absence of focal neurologic deficits or seizure activity. Various precipitating causes have been reported in the medical literature. ⋯ Although rare, transient global amnesia may present in a dramatic fashion. The occurrence of a distinct precipitating event and repetitive questioning seem to be key features in making the diagnosis. Important differential considerations include transient ischemic attack, seizure, and subarachnoid hemorrhage. Brain imaging and specialty consultation are reserved primarily for patients with unclear circumstances, altered level of consciousness, focal neurologic findings, and persistent (or very brief) amnestic symptoms. Brain imaging may, however, relieve anxiety about more dangerous causes of the event.
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Coronary artery stent thrombosis is a rare but often fatal complication associated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) using both bare-metal stents and drug-eluting stents. Although strict adherence to dual anti-platelet therapy (aspirin plus clopidogrel) minimizes this risk, stent thrombosis will still occur in rare patients, leading to acute, subacute, or late life-threatening acute coronary syndromes. ⋯ Despite patient compliance with the currently recommended anti-platelet regimen after stent therapy for coronary artery disease, acute stent thrombosis remains a rare but life-threatening risk in both the immediate and delayed post-intervention period. In addition, premature cessation of this anti-platelet therapy stands as the greatest risk factor for such thrombotic events. This case is presented to inform emergency physicians of the current post-PCI anticoagulation recommendations to help mitigate the risk of such complications.
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Acute abdominal pain is a very common presenting complaint in the Emergency Department (ED). Making the correct diagnosis may be very complicated and difficult. It is even more difficult and complicated in the postpartum period, because other less common but important diagnoses must be considered. One of these potentially life-threatening diagnoses for which patients should be evaluated is uterine rupture. ⋯ Uterine perforation should be considered in any postpartum patient that presents with acute abdominal pain, especially if there are risk factors, such as previous C-sections. Appropriate evaluation, consultations, and management should be done expeditiously to avoid increased morbidity and mortality.