Increased γ -glutamyl transferase levels predict early mortality in patients with acute pulmonary embolism Ali Zorlu, Hasan Yucel, Gokhan Bektasoglu, Kenan Ahmet Turkdogan, Umut Eryigit, Savas Sarikaya, Meltem Refiker Ege, Izzet Tandogan, and others
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajem.2011.12.040
The American Journal of Emergency Medicine , Vol. 30 , Issue 6 ,
Published online: March 2 2012
x Increased γ -glutamyl transferase (GGT) level is associated with increased oxidative stress, all-cause mortality, the development of cardiovascular disease, and metabolic syndrome. However, its role in acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is unknown. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between GGT and early mortality in patients with acute PE.
Gastric perforation after cardiopulmonary resuscitation Sayed Mahdi Jalali, Hassan Emami-Razavi, Asieh Mansouri
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajem.2011.12.032
The American Journal of Emergency Medicine , Vol. 30 , Issue 9 ,
Published online: August 6 2012
x Gastric rupture is a rare complication after cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). In most cases, incorrect management of airways during CPR is the main cause. Therefore, a medical emergency becomes a surgical emergency also. We present a case of gastric perforation in a middle-aged patient after CPR performed by his family. He eventually presented with bloody vomitus and a tympanic abdomen. When faced with a patient with abdominal signs post-CPR, surgical complications of CPR should be considered.
Cardiotoxicity associated with the synthetic cannabinoid, K9, with laboratory confirmation Amy C. Young, Evan Schwarz, Genevieve Medina, Adebisi Obafemi, Sing-Yi Feng, Colin Kane, Kurt Kleinschmidt
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajem.2011.05.013
The American Journal of Emergency Medicine , Vol. 30 , Issue 7 ,
Published online: August 1 2011
x Synthetic cannabinoids have been popular recreational drugs of abuse for their psychoactive properties. Five of the many synthetic cannabinoids have been recently banned in the United States because of their unknown and potentially harmful adverse effects. Little is known about these substances. They are thought to have natural cannabinoid-like effects but have different chemical structures. Adverse effects related to synthetic cannabinoids are not well known. We provide clinical effects and patient outcome following K9 use.
The cardiac literature 2010 Amal Mattu, Michael C. Bond, Semhar Z. Tewelde, William J. Brady
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajem.2011.02.023
The American Journal of Emergency Medicine , Vol. 30 , Issue 4 ,
Published online: May 2 2011
x A. Pokorna M, Necas E, Kratochvil J, et al. A sudden increase in partial pressure end-tidal carbon dioxide (PET CO2 ) at the moment of return of spontaneous circulation. J Emerg Med 2010;38:614-621 .
Gender differences in emergency stroke care and hospital outcome in acute ischemic stroke: a multicenter observational study Se Jin Park, Sang Do Shin, Young Sun Ro, Kyoung Jun Song, Juhwan Oh
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajem.2012.07.004
The American Journal of Emergency Medicine , Vol. 31 , Issue 1 ,
Published online: September 24 2012
x We aimed to investigate the effect of gender difference on the accessibility to emergency care, hospital mortality and disability in acute stroke care.
Magnitude of national ED visits and resource utilization by the uninsured Jestin N. Carlson, James J. Menegazzi, Clifton W. Callaway
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajem.2013.01.001
The American Journal of Emergency Medicine , Vol. 31 , Issue 4 ,
Published online: February 1 2013
x For nearly 51 million persons in the United States who lack health care insurance, the emergency department (ED) functions as a safety net where no patient is denied care based on ability to pay, and much public rhetoric has characterized ED utilization by uninsured patients. We estimated national ED utilization by uninsured patients and compared uninsured and insured ED patients in terms of demographics, diagnostic testing, disposition and final diagnoses.
Ultrasound assessment of optic disc edema in patients with headache Siri Daulaire, Lauren Fine, Margaret Salmon, Catherine Cummings, Otto Liebmann, Sachita Shah, Nathan Teismann
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajem.2011.06.030
The American Journal of Emergency Medicine , Vol. 30 , Issue 8 ,
Published online: October 26 2011
x Point-of-care ocular ultrasonography is emerging as a powerful tool to evaluate emergency department (ED) patients at risk for ophthalmologic and intracranial pathology. We present cases of 3 patients in whom optic disc swelling was identified using ocular ultrasound. Causes for optic disc swelling in our patients included idiopathic intracranial hypertension, secondary syphilis, and malignant hypertension with associated hypertensive retinopathy. Because direct visualization of the optic disc may be challenging in an ED setting, ultrasound examination of the optic disc may represent an important adjunct to fundoscopy when assessing patients with headache or visual complaints.
Hospital variation in risk-standardized hospital admission rates from US EDs among adults Roberta Capp, Joseph S. Ross, Justin P. Fox, Yongfei Wang, Mayur M. Desai, Arjun K. Venkatesh, Harlan M. Krumholz
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajem.2014.03.033
The American Journal of Emergency Medicine , Vol. 32 , Issue 8 ,
Published online: March 31 2014
x Variation in hospital admission rates of patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) may represent an opportunity to improve practice. We seek to describe national variation in hospital admission rates from the ED and to determine the degree to which variation is not explained by patient characteristics or hospital factors.
Toothpaste and shaving-induced bleeding and moreover… Marc E. Gentili
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajem.2014.08.070
The American Journal of Emergency Medicine , Vol. 32 , Issue 11 ,
Published online: August 28 2014
x Shaving is commonly practiced by men to remove their facial hair and by women to remove their leg and underarm hair. Shaving cuts caused by blade movement can bleed for approximately 15 minutes. Common methods used to stop shaving-induced bleeding include pressing onto the cut a cotton swab with any alcohol, a small piece of tissue or toilet paper, placing a small amount of petroleum jelly, or applying styptic pencils or a small amount of aluminum chlorohydrate commonly found in roll-on deodorants.
Do energy drinks cause epileptic seizure and ischemic stroke? Suber Dikici, Ayhan Saritas, Fahri Halit Besir, Ahmet Hakan Tasci, Hayati Kandis
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajem.2012.05.018
The American Journal of Emergency Medicine , Vol. 31 , Issue 1 ,
Published online: August 6 2012
x Energy drinks are popular among young individuals and marketed to college students, athletes, and active individuals between the ages of 21 and 35 years. We report a case that had ischemic stroke and epileptic seizure after intake of energy drink with alcohol. To the best of our knowledge, the following case is the first report of ischemic stroke after intake of energy drink. A previously healthy 37-year-old man was brought to the emergency department after a witnessed tonic-clonic seizure. According to his wife's testimony, just before loss of consciousness, the patient had been drinking 3 boxes of energy drinks (Redbull, Istanbul, Turkey, 250 mL) with vodka on an empty stomach.
Bilateral patellar tendon ruptures without predisposing systemic disease or steroid use: a case report and review of the literature Ted Sibley, D. Adam Algren, Stefanie Ellison
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajem.2010.11.011
The American Journal of Emergency Medicine , Vol. 30 , Issue 1 ,
Published online: December 27 2010
x Simultaneous bilateral patellar tendon rupture occurs rarely and is even rarer in patients without systemic disease or predisposing conditions. We present a case of bilateral, midsubstance patellar tendon ruptures along with a partial anterior cruciate ligament tear from a fall from a standing height in an otherwise healthy adult without any predisposing conditions. Most patients that sustain a tendon rupture have risk factors for tendonopathy including chronic renal disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, or exposure to medications (such as corticosteroids or fluoroquinolones).
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for refractory, life-threatening, and herpes simplex virus 1–induced acute respiratory distress syndrome. Our experience and literature review Massimo Bonacchi, Gabriella Di Lascio, Guy Harmelin, Andrea Pasquini, Adriano Peris, Guido Sani
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajem.2011.04.011
The American Journal of Emergency Medicine , Vol. 30 , Issue 6 ,
Published online: June 13 2011
x We report our first experience of treating an immunocompetent adult patient with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) due to type 1 herpes simplex (HSV1) pneumonitis, using extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Similar cases reported in literature are reviewed as well. The therapeutic options for this particular complication are discussed. Pneumonia caused by HSV1 is a rare finding in immunocompetent individuals; it occurs more often in immunosuppressed and ventilated patients. It is a severe illness; therefore, early diagnosis and initiation of treatment are imperative.
Two cases of disseminated intravascular coagulation due to “bath salts” resulting in fatalities, with laboratory confirmation Amy C. Young, Evan S. Schwarz, Larissa I. Velez, Melody Gardner
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajem.2012.05.032
The American Journal of Emergency Medicine , Vol. 31 , Issue 2 ,
Published online: August 6 2012
x Synthetic cathinones are phenylalkylamines developed for both medicinal use and as substances of abuse referred to as “bath salts.” The rapid emergence of these bath salts over the recent years has been concerning to the medical community and law enforcement. Widespread availability, legality, and desired amphetamine-like effects have dramatically increased sales of these compounds. Only recently has regulations on specific derivatives been enacted in the United States. The acute sympathomimetic toxidrome associated with bath salts by virtually any route can result in harmful effects.
The relationship between head injury and alcohol : Koga N, Ikeda H, Abe K, et al. Jpn J Acute Med 1987;11: 343–348
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0735-6757(87)90399-8
The American Journal of Emergency Medicine , Vol. 5 , Issue 5 ,
Published in issue: September 1987
Excessive alcohol consumption and aortic dissection: probable but unexplored relation Koracevic Pante Goran
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajem.2009.08.015
The American Journal of Emergency Medicine , Vol. 27 , Issue 9 ,
Published in issue: November 2009
x Alcohol misuse is important because more than 76 million people in the world have alcohol use disorders [1]. In Western countries, 10% of the general population older than 14 years are affected by alcohol abuse or dependence [2,3]. The lifetime risk of alcohol use disorders for men is greater than 20% [4]. Excessive alcohol consumption (EAC) is related to more than 60 different disorders and causes worldwide 1.8 million deaths a year (3.2% of total) [5,6]. In Switzerland, 5.2% of deaths in men and 1.4% deaths in women are related to EAC as well as 3% of all deaths in England [7,8].
Alcohol and motor vehicle-related deaths of children as passengers, pedestrians and bicyclists: Margolies LH, Foss RD, Dolbert WG. JAMA 2000;283:2245–2248.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0735-6757(01)80167-4
The American Journal of Emergency Medicine , Vol. 19 , Issue 5 ,
Published in issue: September 2001
The authors reply: alcohol, helmets and head injury Truman J. Milling Jr., Patrick Crocker
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajem.2010.03.008
The American Journal of Emergency Medicine , Vol. 28 , Issue 4 ,
Published in issue: May 2010
x The main point of the letter appears to be an attempt to control for alcohol when assessing the putative protective effect of helmets in bicycling head and brain injury. The problem here is that the study found no significant effect of helmets on head and brain injury; so controlling for alcohol, unless one expects alcohol to be protective, seems somewhat superfluous.
Methanol poisoning complicated by myoglobinuric renal failure Steven Grufferman, Deborah Morris, Jose Alvarez
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0735-6757(85)90006-3
The American Journal of Emergency Medicine , Vol. 3 , Issue 1 ,
Published in issue: January 1985
The generation of acetonemia/acetonuria following ingestion of a subtoxic dose of isopropyl alcohol Peter G. Lacouture, Douglas D. Heldreth, Michael Shannon, Frederick H. Lovejoy Jr
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0735-6757(89)90082-X
The American Journal of Emergency Medicine , Vol. 7 , Issue 1 ,
Published in issue: January 1989
x A subtoxic dose of isopropyl alcohol was ingested by three subjects to evaluate the time to and extent of acetone generation and to explore its detection in the urine. Maximal serum isopropyl alcohol concentrations were observed by 30 minutes after ingestion of approximately 1 oz 70% isopropyl alcohol (0.4 mL/kg), but maximal serum acetone concentrations were not recorded until at least four hours postingestion. Urine tested positive (small) for acetone within three hours of ingestion using Acetest urine testing tablets (Ames Labs, Elkhart, IN).
Geriatric trauma in the State of Illinois: Substance use and injury patterns John L. Zautcke, Steven B. Coker Jr, Ralph W. Morris, Leslee Stein-Spencer
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1053/ajem.2002.30107
The American Journal of Emergency Medicine , Vol. 20 , Issue 1 ,
Published in issue: January 2002
x As the elderly population increases and they lead more active and healthy lifestyles, their exposure to the threats of injury multiply. Undoubtedly, the geriatric population will comprise a growing percentage of trauma patients. The role of alcohol and drug use in geriatric trauma has not been clearly defined. The purpose of this study is to determine the incidence of alcohol and illicit drug use in association with mechanism of injury in all elderly trauma patients presenting to level I and II trauma centers in the State of Illinois over 3 years.
