Pediatric Burns
HIGH-YIELD FACTS Print Section Listen Burns are the fifth leading cause of unintentional injury–related death in children. Children younger than 4 years typically suffer scald-related burns, whereas older children typically…
EMERGENCY MEDICINE
Dysbaric Injuries
HIGH-YIELD FACTS Print Section Listen An air embolism is the most serious dysbaric injury and requires aggressive care, which includes 100% oxygen, intravenous fluids, and hyperbaric treatment. Patients with suspected…
Methemoglobinemia
HIGH-YIELD FACTS Print Section Listen Suspect methemoglobinemia in patients with cyanosis unresponsive to 100% oxygen. The antidote for methemoglobinemia is methylene blue. In patients with methemoglobinemia, conventional pulse oximetry produces…
Human and Animal Bites
HIGH-YIELD FACTS Print Section Listen Pasteurella species are common in dog and cat bite wound infections. Eikenella corrodens is a common pathogen in human bite wounds. Rabies and tetanus prophylaxis…
Hydrocarbons
HIGH-YIELD FACTS Print Section Listen The primary concern after hydrocarbon ingestion is pulmonary toxicity. Viscosity, surface tension, and volatility are three important properties to assess the toxicity of liquid hydrocarbons….
Organophosphates and Carbamates
HIGH-YIELD FACTS Print Section Listen Organophosphate and carbamate insecticides inactivate the enzyme acetylcholinesterase producing a cholinergic crisis, with the immediate threat to life being respiratory failure. The diagnosis of organophosphate…
Recreational Substances
HIGH-YIELD FACTS Print Section Listen Bidirectional nystagmus is a unique finding of phencyclidine and ketamine toxicity. Myocardial ischemia and cerebral vascular accidents are potential significant morbidities of cocaine toxicity. There…
Plants and Mushrooms
HIGH-YIELD FACTS Print Section Listen The vast majority of plant exposures are unintentional, involve small quantities, and the patients are typically asymptomatic. Gastrointestinal upset is the most common manifestation of…
Carbon Monoxide, Cyanide, and Smoke Inhalation
HIGH-YIELD FACTS Print Section Listen Smoke inhalation victims may have concomitant carbon monoxide and cyanide poisoning. Clinical signs and symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are notoriously nonspecific and may not…
