J Emerg Med
-
The digital rectal examination (DRE) has been reflexively performed to evaluate common chief complaints in the Emergency Department without knowing its true utility in diagnosis. ⋯ We found the DRE to have a limited role in the diagnosis of acute, undifferentiated abdominal pain and acute appendicitis. Stool obtained by DRE doesn't seem to increase the false-positive rate of FOBTs, and the DRE correlated moderately well with anal manometric measurements in determining anal sphincter tone.
-
Review Case Reports
Tension viscerothorax after blunt abdominal trauma: a case report and review of the literature.
Tension viscerothorax is herniation of abdominal viscera into the thorax. Tension viscerothorax can simulate tension pneumothorax. Immediate decompression with a nasogastric tube is required for hemodynamic stabilization. ⋯ Acute tension viscerothorax should be considered in the differential diagnosis of tension pneumothorax, and its initial resuscitation should include nasogastric tube insertion for immediate decompression.
-
Alteplase (tPA) is a United States (US) Food and Drug Administration-approved treatment for acute ischemic stroke, though there are significant barriers to thrombolytic use, including Emergency Physicians' (EPs') concern for level of supporting evidence. ⋯ tPA is an effective treatment for stroke when given in prepared stroke centers; EPs and hospitals treating stroke patients with tPA need to have the necessary resources in place and a specific plan for timely care of patients with acute stroke.
-
Comparative Study
ER vs. ED: a comparison of televised and real-life emergency medicine.
Although accurate health-related representations of medical situations on television can be valuable, inaccurate portrayals can engender misinformation. ⋯ Comparison of represented and actual characteristics of ED patients may be valuable in helping us determine what types of patient misperceptions may exist, as well as what types of interventions may be beneficial in correcting that potential misinformation.