Emergency Medicine
Latest articles on Emergency Medicine
We usually cool down by sweating, but when it's too hot or humid, or in situations that put us at risk for overheating, our internal temperature control system can become overloaded. Knowing the signs can prevent emergencies.
This has already been a deadly weather season - and it's just getting started. You can't stay safe from all storms, but you can stay smart about what to do if and when they strike.
"Health care surge is an important issue," says Ralph Schapira, MD. A natural disaster or a terrorism event could bring hundreds or even thousands of patients to a few hospitals, quickly overwhelming the healthcare system.
"One of the lessons learned from those earlier flu episodes was the importance of being prepared for future public health disasters that challenge the medical system's ability to provide care," says Ralph M. Schapira, MD.
A CPR research study starting in February will include all adult victims of cardiac arrest in whom paramedics from the Milwaukee County Emergency Medical Services System attempt resuscitation.
"The accomplishments to date by our nationally recognized physicians and scientists in biomechanics, epidemiology and health services research have been a major factor in the renewal," said Stephen W. Hargarten, MD, MPH.
"Traumatic Brain Injury is more common than most people think," says Dr. Mark Klingbeil. While some patients go on to make a full recovery, more than five million Americans currently live with disabilities due to TBI.
Symptoms of heat illness might include fatigue, dizziness, headache, nausea, and confusion. High body temperature, changes in pulse or consciousness, and alterations in sweating - especially when it actually stops - require immediate medical attention.
More than 5 million Americans alive today have had a TBI resulting in a permanent need for help in performing daily activities. They are often left with significant cognitive, behavioral, and communicative disabilities.
All systems have errors, but in the field of medicine, events such as miscommunication between staff members or between patients and their health care providers can have serious or even fatal consequences.
In a study of emergency departments, African American males were 25 to 30% less likely than non-African American males to receive non-invasive diagnostic tests.
The Wingspan stent is a tiny tube used to prop open the area of blockage. But it is thinner and far more flexible than the others, made of a metal alloy mesh with enough "give" to navigate the fragility of brain arteries.
Rodney Willoughby, MD, led the team that, for the first time, saved the life of an un-immunized rabies patient. "The sense is that we're very close to a second survivor," he says.
"The practical aspect of this study is that you want to set your head restraint so that it's very close to the back of your head," suggests Dr. Brian Stemper.
Medical College of Wisconsin researchers are finding ways to improve outcomes for car crash victims. "The more units that we can get out there with advanced training, the higher your chances of surviving," says Frank A. Pintar, PhD.
Normal cooling mechanisms don't work as well in persons who are very young or of advanced age, or who have heart disease or other chronic health problems, explains Dr. Julie Mitchell. Know your limits.
In severe stroke cases, "You need to give the patient the benefit of all the treatment modalities," says Dr. Sam O. Zaidat.
Intensive care units are the ultimate in high-stress work situations, but a medical innovation known as the Electronic Intensive Care Unit provides a constant flow of information to help nurses and doctors make decisions.
Studies have shown angioplasty to be superior to clot-busters in reducing repeated cardiac events and death. "Simply put, there's a greater likelihood of getting the blood vessel open and keeping it open with angioplasty," says David L. Rutlen, MD, FACP, FACC.
Currently, few medical treatments are available to counter radiological and nuclear threats. At the Medical College, Dr. John Moulder and his colleagues are studying the use of agents to mitigate and treat the effects of radiation.
|
