Emergency Medicine Alert articles from February 2005

Emergency Medicine Alert archives from February 2005

Potential role for leukotriene inhibitors in asthma management.(Abstract & Commentary)
February 1, 2005... Source: Silverman RA, et al. Zafirlukast treatment for acute asthma: Evaluation in a randomized, double-blind, multicenter trial. Chest 2004;126:1480-1489. THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS STUDY WAS TO DETERMINE THE EFFECT of zafirlukast, an oral...

Self-administered antidysrhythmics for perceived episodes of atrial fibrillation.(Abstract & Commentary)
February 1, 2005... Source: Alboni P, et al. Outpatient treatment of recent-onset atrial fibrillation with the "pill-in-the-pocket" approach. N Engl J Med 2004;351:2384-2391. DEPENDING ON THE CLINICAL PRESENTATION, THERE is currently a wide range of treatment...

Utility of serum electolyte determination in dehydrated pediatric patients.(Commentary)
February 1, 2005... Source: Wathen JE, et al. Usefulness of the serum electrolyte panel in the management of pediatric dehydration treated with intravenously administered fluids. Pediatrics 2004; 114:1227-1234. A SERUM ELECTROLYTE PANEL (SEP) OFTEN IS obtained...

Acute compartment syndrome.(Special Feature)
February 1, 2005... Introduction COMPARTMENT SYNDROME IS A SERIOUS LIMB- AND life-threatening complication of extremity trauma. Fractures, crush injuries, bums, and arterial injuries all can result in an acute compartment syndrome. It develops when there is...

Physician CME questions.
February 1, 2005... 11. In the study by Alboni et al, exclusion criteria for outpatient pill-in-the-pocket treatment of recent-onset atrial fibrillation included all of the following, except: a. preexcitation. b. ischemic heart disease. c. heart failure. d....

Typical LBBB? LVH? Acute MI?(ECG Review)(Left bundle-branch block)(Myocardial infarction)
February 1, 2005... Clinical Scenario: The electrocardiogram (ECG) in the figure was obtained from a 63 year old woman with a history of hypertension, heart failure, and atypical chest pain. The ECG shows normal sinus rhythm at a rate of 85 beats/minute. The QRS...