Emergency medicine journal : EMJ
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Mad honey poisoning is well known in the eastern Black Sea region of Turkey. The cause of the poisoning is the toxin grayanotoxin, found in honey obtained from the nectar of Rhododendron species on the mountains in the region. A 60-year-old man was brought to the emergency department with dizziness and syncope after eating a few spoonfuls of honey. ⋯ The patient was given 0.5 mg of atropine, and asystole began and ended. The patient was transferred to the catheter laboratory and a temporary pacemaker was implanted. Mad honey poisoning related asystole has not been previously reported, and the rapid response to atropine is significant.
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To determine if peripheral intravenous cannula dead space is taken into account when setting up intravenous infusions (in particular nitrate infusions) in the emergency department. ⋯ Knowledge of peripheral intravenous cannula dead space in UK emergency departments is very poor and, as a result, there is probably significant widespread under treatment of patients in severe cardiogenic pulmonary oedema. Departments should amend their treatment guidelines to take account of peripheral cannula dead space.
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A case of pulsation in the abdomen induced by a maladjusted cardiac pacemaker-CRT (cardiac resynchronisation therapy) with an implantable defibrillator is presented. The CRT stimulated the diaphragm causing a repetitive contraction synchronised with the heart beat, giving the picture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm.
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At 8:52 am on 8 October 2005 a massive earthquake wracked northern Pakistan and Kashmir. Various teams were sent to Islamabad and the disaster region from the UK. We discuss the types of injury patterns seen and recommend that a central register of volunteers should be created to deal with similar situations in the future.
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The Livingston Paediatric Dose Calculator is presented and its use explained. It may be of benefit in emergency departments that do not regularly see large numbers of children requiring drug treatment.