Emergency
RSSArticles
-
Evidence-Based Management of Arrhythmic Medications for the Emergency Department
Medications are frequently used in the emergency department to help restore conduction of normal cardiac electrophysiology. This article will briefly review arrhythmias and discuss commonly used and new medications with their indications, side effect profile, and contraindications to use.
-
Temperature Trajectories to Find Sepsis Subphenotypes
The authors of this study used development and validation cohorts to retrospectively identify temperature trajectories over the first 72 hours from presentation in the setting of sepsis. Patients presenting with hyperthermia that resolved quickly (within the first 24 hours) had lower mortality compared to those with slow resolution or those presenting with hypothermia.
-
Vasopressin Use in Septic Shock
Current management of septic shock includes early administration of intravenous fluids, antimicrobial agents, and vasopressor support. While norepinephrine is recommended as the first-line vasopressor for septic shock in the 2016 Surviving Sepsis Campaign guidelines, vasopressin is a second-line vasopressor option that may be added.
-
Measles and Mumps: Old Diseases, New Outbreaks
Measles and mumps are back ... and not in a good way. Until now, many clinicians had only heard of these almost-eradicated diseases. Unfortunately, the reality is clinicians may see children with these diseases. It is critical to identify them early, recognize potential high-risk exposures, and manage the disease and its complications effectively. Involvement of public health resources and early appropriate isolation are necessary to limit the spread of these two infections. The author provides a timely review of all critical aspects of both of these diseases.
-
Plaintiff Expert Looks for ‘Smoking Gun,’ But Often Finds No Evidence of Malpractice
Often, plaintiff experts are viewed as people who are out to get the EP. In reality, most of the time they find no evidence of malpractice.
-
Venting to Colleague About Med/Mal Case Can Trigger Subpoena
A more realistic instruction might be: Don’t tell anyone anything about an active lawsuit that you wouldn’t want the jury to hear.
-
Consults, Studies Recommended By Others Carry Med/Mal Implications for EPs
Somewhere in the ED chart, somebody recommends involvement of a particular specialist, or that a specific study should be conducted. When this kind of recommendation is documented but never acted on, it can mean legal trouble for the EP.
-
Study: 1 in 5 EMTALA Settlements Involves Psychiatric Emergencies
One expert says EDs should address mental health emergencies with the same vigor as trauma, cardiac, and stroke episodes.
-
It Was Too Early to Detect Sepsis: Can Defense Team Prove It?
Sepsis is not always diagnosable, or even present, at the time of an ED visit. All testing performed in the ED may provide negative results. Despite these facts, plaintiffs still may prevail in a missed sepsis lawsuit. -
Emergency Medicine Residency Programs Devote Little Time to Malpractice Education
Only 18% of emergency medicine (EM) residency programs offer more than four hours a year of medical malpractice/risk management education, according to the authors of a recent study.