EMERGENCY MEDICINE
Should Kidney Stone Patients With Diagnosis by Ultrasonography Be Prescribed Tamsulosin?
The recently published study by Wang et al revealed that medical expulsive therapy is highly effective for patients with large, distal ureteral stones. The study was well conducted and overcame limitations…
Young Woman With Epigastric Pain
A 21-year-old woman who had intermittent history of acid-related dyspeptic pain presented to the emergency department with 5 days of worsening colicky epigastric pain and occasional vomiting. The patient had…
Sedating the Agitated Patient: A Moving Target?
The latest trial by Taylor et al provides further support for the efficacy of droperidol and midazolam coadministration in sedating agitated emergency department (ED) patients. The authors’ detailed reporting of randomization…
Just How Good Are Handheld Metal Detectors for Ingested Foreign Bodies?
SEE RELATED ARTICLE, P. 515 . Annals Case An otherwise healthy 9-year-old boy presented with a 5-day history of abdominal pain, low-grade fever, and bilious emesis. He was admitted and…
In-Flight Emergency
Last month I was called to assist a passenger on a flight from Toronto to Los Angeles. The passenger was a woman in her early 60s who was feeling weak…
Boy With Fever and Abdominal Pain
A 9-year-old previously healthy boy presented with 5 days of low-grade fever, bilious emesis, and intermittent abdominal pain. He was initially admitted for suspected gastroenteritis and treated with intravenous fluids….
One and Done: Steroids for Adult Asthma
Discussion Points 1. Rehrer et al performed a randomized clinical trial to compare two corticosteroid regimens for treating adult patients in the emergency department (ED) presenting with acute asthma exacerbations. A….
Man With Throat Pain
A 55-year-old man presented to the emergency department (ED) with a 2-day history of severe, sharp pain on the right side of the throat. He also reported being unable to…
A Man With Severe Back Pain
A 63-year-old man with rheumatoid arthritis presented to the emergency department with new-onset severe low back pain starting 6 hours before presentation. Vital signs were normal and physical examination revealed a…