Patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) frequently present to the emergency department. Life-threatening infections and cerebrovascular accidents remain a constant threat throughout the lifetime of individuals with SCD.
One of the most challenging evaluations that an emergency department (ED) physician is asked to perform is the examination of a child with potential child abuse. The majority of ED physicians feel overwhelmed, and although they would like to perform the "ideal" history and physical examination, they find themselves feeling inadequate in these situations.
In a child who is critically injured there is the potential for many serious or life-threatening injuries. The initial focus must always be to stabilize the child's airway and breathing and, then, rapidly identify shock and aggressively correct volume deficits.
Sexually active adolescents are commonly seen and evaluated in the emergency department (ED), although they are often not straightforward about the reason for their visit.
Few health concerns raise as many biopsychosocial issues as a pregnant teenager presenting to the emergency department (ED).
There are two types of noninvasive ventilation: positive pressure and negative pressure. Negative pressure ventilation is not commonly used and will be only briefly described.
