J Emerg Med
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Accidents associated with magnets as foreign bodies pose a serious threat to the health of children and adolescents. Prompt management and removal of the magnet is important to avoid life-threatening complications. ⋯ As children experiment with toys and products containing detachable magnetic balls, more cases will likely present to emergency departments. Increased awareness and preventive measures should be undertaken to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with magnets.
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Ethylene glycol is a toxic organic solvent implicated in thousands of accidental and intentional poisonings each year. Osmotic demyelination syndrome (ODS) is traditionally known as a complication of the rapid correction of hyponatremia. ⋯ Rapid changes in serum osmolality from ethylene glycol toxicity or its subsequent treatment can cause ODS independent of serum sodium levels.
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Splenic artery aneurysm ruptures are rare and highly morbid events that are frequently associated with pregnancy. However, approximately 15% may occur in men, and it is important to have this possibility in the differential diagnosis in cases of hemoperitoneum and hemorrhagic shock. Rapid diagnosis and treatment is essential to survival. ⋯ Splenic artery aneurysm ruptures should be considered in the differential diagnosis in any patient with undifferentiated shock. Early diagnosis and treatment can save lives.
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The Emergency Medicine In-Training Examination (EMITE) is one of the only valid tools for medical knowledge assessment in current use by emergency medicine (EM) residencies. However, EMITE results return late in the academic year, providing little time to institute potential remediation. ⋯ Faculty possess only moderate accuracy at predicting resident EMITE scores. We recommend a multicenter study to evaluate the generalizability of the present results.
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Delayed aortic injuries are a rare, but well-recognized complication of spinal surgery. They are a result of slow erosion of osteosynthesis material into the aorta. Although this is a life-threatening complication, patients might present years later with nonspecific symptoms. ⋯ The close proximity of the aorta and spine entertains the risk of aortic injury associated with vertebral osteosynthesis. Long-term complications of slow aortic erosion are extremely difficult to diagnose. The presented patient suffered from an undetected bronchio-aortic fistula with consecutive pseudoaneurysm formation and rupture. Awareness of slow aortic erosion is important for correct diagnostic pathways and subsequent early diagnosis to ensure a positive outcome for the patient.