Items tagged “emergency”

A submassive pulmonary embolism refers to an acute pulmonary embolism with evidence of myocardial necrosis or right ventricular dysfunction in the absence of systemic hypotension. An elevation in troponin I or T provides evidence of myocardial necrosis. Right ventricular dysfunction is defined b...

Abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) is a disease defined by the presence of new end-organ dysfunction secondary to elevated intra-abdominal pressure (IAP). Radiological diagnosis is difficult and usually suggested when a collection of imaging findings are present in the appropriate clinical set...

An electrocardiographic finding suggestive of impending myocardial infarction, the de Winter's pattern (or "de Winter's T-waves") describes an abnormality thought to be indicative of acute occlusion of the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) 2. Timely recognition of this patt...

An ocular foreign body occurs when an orbital foreign body intrudes into the globe itself, often threatening vision, and requiring urgent surgical removal. Clinical presentation Patients present in a highly variable manner based on the precise intraocular location and properties of the foreign...

Dental trauma is common, affecting up to one-third of the population. While often clinically apparent, they may be overlooked in the setting of severe trauma.  Pathology The maxillary incisors are the most commonly injured tooth. Dental trauma is commonly classified as 1,2: luxation ​concuss...

Subglottic stenosis is a condition characterized by narrowing of the subglottic airway (region below the vocal cords). It can be congenital or acquired 1. Epidemiology Subglottic stenosis is the third most common congenital airway abnormality. The incidence of subglottic stenosis has decreased...

Median nerve block is a technique used for providing anesthesia to the median nerve territory, it may be performed at the level of the arm, elbow, forearm or the wrist. Indications fracture reductions surgical repair of fractures incision and drainage of cysts and abscesses post-operative a...

Abnormal testicular Doppler flow (arterial, venous, or both) can be a differential challenge. Always remember that the patient's presenting history helps quite a bit in narrowing the differential. Reduced flow partial testicular torsion (<360 degrees) venous outflow is obstructed first, resul...

Pyogenic flexor tenosynovitis is a serious infection of the flexor tendon sheath of a finger that can lead to devastating consequences if delayed 1,2. With the early diagnosis and treatment of pyogenic flexor tenosynovitis, the serious sequelae of infection are markedly decreased. In a large ser...

Pericardiocentesis is a procedure that can be performed to withdraw pericardial fluid as a therapeutic intervention or a diagnostic modality. Indications diagnostic pericardial effusion of an unknown etiology therapeutic relief of pericardial tamponade Contraindications absolute none (gi...

The stroke volume (SV) is referred to as the volume of blood ejected into the aorta or main pulmonary artery during each cardiac cycle. The stroke volume index (SVI) is the stroke volume corrected for the body surface area (BSA). Usage The stroke volume is another integral parameter used for t...

Fecal impaction is the inability to spontaneously evacuate solid feces. It is common in the elderly population. A severe form of fecal impaction is often referred to as a fecaloma.  Terminology Fecal loading is a poorly defined term but generally refers to the volume of fecal material in the c...

Splenic volvulus (rare plural: volvuli) also called splenic torsion may be seen as a complication of a wandering spleen due to weakness of the splenic ligaments 1. Clinical presentation abdominal pain: mild to severe in intensity which depends on the degree of torsion 4-6 abdominal mass 5 ab...

Hematemesis is the vomiting of blood, it is an indication of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Mortality is generally near to 10% 1,2,4. Please see the main article on upper gastrointestinal bleeding for more detail.  Treatment and prognosis In patients with moderate to severe hematemesis, life...