Browse Emergency Medicine Topics Articles by Topic

Evaluation and Management of Abnormal Uterine Bleeding in Nonpregnant Patients: A Detailed Review

Vaginal bleeding in the nonpregnant patient may be due to various etiologies, including structural abnormalities, dysfunctional bleeding, disorders of menstruation, trauma, or coagulopathy. Emergency department assessment and management includes a thorough history and physical examination, stabilization, diagnostic studies, treatment, and appropriate disposition.

Movement Disorder Emergencies: Serotonin Syndrome and Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome

Serotonin syndrome and neuroleptic malignant syndrome are both potentially life-threatening conditions caused by medications. They present with altered mental status, autonomic dysfunction, and neuromuscular abnormalities. Despite overlapping features, they differ in etiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and treatment.

Wrist and Finger Dislocations

Injuries to the wrist and fingers, although frequently overshadowed in polytrauma care, demand precise assessment and timely intervention to prevent long-term functional impairment. In this issue, the authors provide a thorough and clinically focused review of these often-complex dislocations, emphasizing both anatomical understanding and evidence-based management strategies relevant to emergency medicine providers.

An Approach to Palliative Care in the Emergency Department

Emergency physicians play a critical role in recognizing the need for and initiating early palliative care interventions, often at the most pivotal moments in a patient’s illness. By addressing symptoms such as dyspnea, pain, nausea, and constipation early and effectively, and by guiding conversations around goals of care, emergency providers can greatly enhance the quality of life for patients with serious or terminal illnesses.

Update on Emergency Department Sedation

Procedural sedation is an important and required skill for emergency medicine providers. Performing procedural sedation allows providers to safely perform multiple procedures, such as reductions, suturing, and cardioversion. Multiple agents can be used for procedural sedation and should be chosen based on desired length of sedation and comorbidities, as well as the physician’s level of comfort.

Outpatient Management of Venous Thromboembolism Diagnosed in the ED

Venous thromboembolism, which includes deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, is a common presentation in the emergency department. A systematic approach, incorporating the patient’s history, risk factors, physical examination findings, and validated risk stratification tools, can effectively guide diagnostic evaluation. Many patients with venous thromboembolism can be safely managed in the outpatient setting.

Review of the AHA Hypertension Update for Emergency Physicians

Hypertension is one of the most common complaints among adult patients presenting to the emergency department. The American Heart Association (AHA) issues periodic guidelines and recommendations for the management of hypertension. This article will focus on the recent AHA scientific statement on the management of hypertension in the acute care setting.

Tracheostomy Patients in the Emergency Department

Tracheostomies are prone to complications. Most complications are minor and can be readily treated. Serious and life-threatening complications require prompt recognition and expeditious management.

Spinal Cord Compression

Diagnosis and management of acute spinal cord compression can be a challenge for the emergency physician. The clinical presentation can range from intermittent, subtle symptoms to acute loss of motor and/or sensory function. Prompt diagnosis and definitive intervention are crucial to preventing long-term neurologic deficit.

Stroke in Young Adults

Although stroke once was considered primarily a disease of older adults, recent epidemiological data underscore a rising incidence in younger populations worldwide. This article will define the scope of young adult stroke, discuss its epidemiology and pathophysiology, highlight the wide etiological spectrum, delve into clinical diagnostic steps, offer a practical framework for management, and conclude with a summary that emphasizes the persistent practice gap.