Emergency Medicine Alert articles from June 2004

Emergency Medicine Alert archives from June 2004

High-dose epinephrine in children: no benefit, maybe harmful.(Abstract & Commentary)
June 1, 2004... Source: Perondi MB, et al. A comparison of high-dose and standard-dose epinephrine in children with cardiac arrest. N Engl J Med 2004; 350:1722-1730. THE AUTHORS OF THIS BRAZILIAN STUDY ENROLLED CHILDREN sustaining witnessed, in-hospital...

Prehospital hypertonic saline resuscitation not helpful for hypotensive patients with severe traumatic brain injury.(Abstract & Commentary)
June 1, 2004... Source: Cooper DJ, et al for the HTS study investigators. Prehospital hypertonic saline resuscitation of patients with hypotension and severe traumatic brain injury--a randomized controlled trial. JAMA 2004;291:1350-1357. PATIENTS WITH...

Do all human bite wounds need antibiotics?(Abstract & Commentary)(influence of abtibiotic prophylaxis on human bites)
June 1, 2004... Source: Broder J, et al. Low risk of infection in selected human bites treated without antibiotics. Am J Emerg Med 2004;22:10-13. MOST EMERGENCY MEDICINE TEXTBOOKS AGREE that human bite wounds, as well as dog and cat bite wounds, require...

Comparing methods of loading phenytoin in seizure patients.(Abstract & Commentary)(drug dosage)
June 1, 2004... Source: Swadron SP, et al. A comparison of phenytoin-loading techniques in the emergency department. Acad Emerg Med 2004;11:244-252. THE AUTHORS HAVE TACKLED A COMMON PROBLEM IN the emergency department (ED): finding the most effective...

Rhabdomyolysis.(Special Feature)
June 1, 2004... RHABDOMYOLYSIS IS DEFINED AS INJURY TO skeletal muscle resulting in breakdown of muscle tissue with subsequent leakage of intracellular contents, including myoglobin, potassium and other electrolytes, creatine phosphokinase (CPK), and other...

Physician CME Questions.(continuing medical education program)
June 1, 2004... 1. Which of the following is the most reliable method of diagnosing rhabdomyolysis? a. A patient history of weakness and muscular aches b. Analysis of the urine demonstrating blood c. An elevated CPK value d. The absence of...

A special wave.(ECG Review)(diagnosis by using electrocardiaogram)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Clinical Scenario: The electrocardiogram (ECG) in the Figure was obtained from a 68-year-old man admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) for a drug overdose. In view of his ECG, what vital sign needs to be checked? How many ECG findings...