J Emerg Med
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Pickleball is a paddle sport that combines many of the elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong. It is reported to be one of the faster growing sports in the United States and is popular among older adults. There is limited published information on pickleball-related injuries. ⋯ Based on NEISS data, pickleball-related injuries have been increasing in recent years. Although pickleball-related injuries have many similarities with those associated with other racquet sports, there were various differences (e.g., increasing trend and older patient age) that may need to be considered for the prevention and management of injuries related to the sport.
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Every emergency department (ED) faces both a rising tide and a revolving door of elderly patients. Unplanned short-term returns after a recent ED evaluation or hospital admission are sentinel events. Consequences include substantial functional decline, reduced health-related quality of life, and increased risk of dependency or death. Returning families, unaware of the significant likelihood of deterioration after an ED or hospital discharge, often harbor suspicions that something was missed. Literature describing the significant likelihood of functional decline in elderly patients after ED or hospital discharge is presented. Suggestions for incorporating the potential for subsequent deterioration into the evaluation of elderly ED patients and the discussions surrounding disposition decisions are included. ⋯ Currently, and for the foreseeable future, EDs are integral to predicting, identifying, and preventing functional decline in the elderly. For now, we are all Geriatric EDs.
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Case Reports
High-Dose Insulin for Toxin Induced Cardiogenic Shock: Experience at a New High and Overview of the Evidence.
High-dose insulin therapy is an effective treatment for cardiogenic shock caused by the overdose of particular medications. Other treatment options are usually of limited benefit. Consensus suggests that early initiation improves efficacy. No ceiling effect has been established at doses in the general range of 0.5-10 units/kg/hour. ⋯ A 79-year-old man presented in cardiogenic shock after an intentional overdose of numerous cardioactive medications 10 days after experiencing myocardial infarction. A high-dose insulin infusion was commenced. This was titrated up to a maximum of 20 units/kg/hour (1600 units/hour) and sustained for 32 h (61,334 units total). Minimal adverse events were seen despite this exceptional infusion rate (3 episodes of hypoglycemia and 2 episodes of hypokalemia). Concurrent catecholamine support was used, and cardiovascular function was maintained until all support was withdrawn 5 days after admission. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Emergency physicians are pivotal to the successful initiation/up-titration of high-dose insulin therapy. They must balance the potential for treatment failure with other treatment options, mitigate against adverse events in the initial phase of therapy, and coordinate care between other hospital specialties. This case shows that the relative safety and efficacy was extended to an infusion rate of 20 units/kg/hour, the highest recorded in the published literature. This information may help guide treatment of similar cases in the future.
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Methemoglobinemia and carbon monoxide poisoning are potentially life-threatening conditions that can present with nonspecific clinical features. This lack of specificity increases the probability of misdiagnosis or avoidable delays in diagnosis and management. These conditions are both treatable with antidotes of methylene blue and oxygen, respectively. Modern blood gas analyzers have the ability to measure carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) and methemoglobin (MetHb) levels without any additional resources. However, these results, although readily available from the machine used to perform the analysis, are not fully reported by some hospital clinical laboratories. ⋯ A 49-year-old male presented with shortness of breath and cyanosis after inhaling cocaine via a nasal route ("snorting"). Methemoglobinemia was not initially considered in the differential diagnosis. However, the diagnosis of methemoglobinemia was made once newly routinely reported laboratory results revealed an elevated MetHb level. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Routinely reporting MetHb and COHb levels with arterial and venous blood gas results will facilitate making the diagnoses of these infrequently diagnosed causes of hypoxia more quickly so that early treatment of these uncommon but potentially lethal conditions can be initiated promptly.
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Case Reports
Spontaneous Hemothorax Complicating von Recklinghausen Disease: Case Report and Treatment Algorithm.
Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is generally a benign disease but has the potential for rare and fatal complications. Vascular signs and symptoms associated with NF1 are reported in only 1-3% of patients. Pulmonary complications have been rarely described in the literature and spontaneous rupture of a major thoracic artery is, however, extremely uncommon. ⋯ We report the case of a patient with NF1 admitted to the emergency department for the management of a spontaneous life-threatening left hemothorax. The patient became hemodynamically unstable after thoracic drainage. Computed tomography angiography revealed extravasation at the level of the eighth intercostal artery. Digital angiography showed an intercostal aneurysm. Catheterization of the eighth intercostal artery was unsuccessful and an open surgery was finally performed. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: We highlight the importance of recognizing that patients with a benign disease like NF1 may present to the emergency department with a spontaneous life-threatening hemothorax. Immediate transfer for embolization is not always the best treatment management but thoracotomy is preferred in unstable patients.