Browse Emergency Medicine General Articles by Topic

Pediatric Musculoskeletal Point-of-Care Ultrasound: Everything but the Bones

Ultrasound is an incredible tool that keeps becoming more valuable. In this article, the authors show how point-of-care ultrasound of the musculoskeletal system can help clinicians identify a diversity of diseases, including soft tissue infections, abscesses, and foreign bodies! In a later issue, the authors explore the use of ultrasound to identify bone and joint issues.

Health System Improves Stroke-to-Treatment, Door-to-Groin Times

University of Michigan Health in Grand Rapids has dramatically improved metrics for stroke treatment, using communication tools to connect EMS teams with specialists in neurology, radiology, nursing, laboratory, and pharmacy. The improved communication makes it possible for the hospital to activate the appropriate personnel in the ED before stroke patients arrive.

COVID-19 Lockdown Measures May Have Prevented 530 Million Additional Infections

Researchers studied actions taken in six countries and the resulting outcomes.

Poll: COVID-19 Leads Some Americans to Delay Medical Care

Nearly one-third of respondents said they are avoiding care over fears of contracting the virus.

Beating the Pandemic: What Emergency Providers Should Know About COVID-19

The disease associated with the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is now a significant event in world history, with uncertain but likely major consequences for individuals, families, healthcare workers, health systems, and the global economy. Although COVID-19 appears to pose only a limited danger to children, older adults face the possibility of much more serious manifestations. At this time it seems COVID-19 will demand the attention of most practitioners and allied health providers over the next year. Thus, familiarization with what is known so far about its pathophysiology, epidemiologic risk factors, treatment, and future directions for research is important as we face and fight this crisis united as healthcare providers.

Diabetes in Pediatric ED Patients

Emergency medicine providers commonly will encounter children with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Unfortunately, the incidence of both is increasing, and the acute care provider must be able to recognize the subtle and dramatic presentations of both diseases. Early recognition and management of both the disease and its complications — diabetic ketoacidosis, hyperglycemic hyperosmolar state, and cerebral edema — are critical to ensure an optimal outcome.

Diagnosis and Management of Infants With Critical Congenital Heart Disease in the Emergency Department

Critical congenital heart disease (CCHD) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in children. When children with undiagnosed congenital heart disease (CHD) present acutely, the challenge of diagnosis and the importance of timely management can be daunting for any physician in an emergency setting. The children with the highest morbidity and mortality from critical congenital heart disease are infants younger than 1 year of age.

Penetrating Thoracic Trauma

Trauma continues to be a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Accidental death remained the fifth most common cause of death for all ages in 2009. Thoracic injuries reportedly have been involved in up to 75% of all deaths related to trauma and may be directly responsible in up to 25% of these deaths.

Abstract & Commentary: Hospital Organizational Characteristics Associated with Use of Daily Sedation Interruption in Mechanically Ventilated Patients

Miller and colleagues conducted a survey of daily interruption of sedation (DIS) in U.S. hospitals and sought to determine whether organizational features were associated with DIS use. The survey was mailed to a stratified random sample of non-federal U.S. acute-care hospitals with more than 50 beds.

Clinical Briefs in Primary Care supplement