Archives

Cardiac Standstill With Intracardiac Clot Formation

Sakamoto, MD, et al.

This case describes and depicts cardiac standstill with thrombosed blood within the chambers of the heart. This was likely due to stasis of blood from a prolonged no-flow state. After viewing this ultrasound finding, the decision was made to halt resuscitative efforts in this case of a patient in cardiac arrest.

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Retained Catheter in the Aorta

Huang, MD, et al.

Due to the recent increase in endovascular procedures, retained foreign bodies such as stents and catheters in vasculature have become a common and serious complication. Treatments for these complications vary depending on the acuity and stability of the foreign body in the vessel. We discuss a rare case of an adult found to have an incidental retained umbilical artery catheter in the aorta.

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Monocular Vision Loss: A Rare Cause

Lane, PA-C, et al.

A 62-year-old woman with a history of metastatic breast cancer and known meningioma presented with unilateral vision loss associated with anisocoria and an afferent pupillary defect. On magnetic resonance imaging we found the cause to be optic nerve compression by a right frontal meningioma.

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Sonographic Detection of Cutaneous Myiasis

Nicholas, MD, et al.

Cutaneous maggots are occasionally encountered in the emergency department. We present a case in which maggots were visually identified and ultrasound was used to detect additional maggots below the skin crevices in a patient with elephantiasis nostras verrucosa.

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Opioid Overdose With Parkinsonian Features

Cohen, MD, et al.

A 54-year-old man presented to the emergency department with confusion and Parkinsonian features after suspected heroin snorting. He had magnetic resonance imaging of the brain demonstrating isolated symmetric bilateral globus pallidus (GP) restricted diffusion and edema consistent with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy.

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An Unusual Case of Unilateral Papilledema

Quesada, MD, et al.

Neuroretinitis from neurosyphilis is an uncommon finding in previously healthy young individuals. A 37-year-old presented with three days of painless, unilateral vision loss with an associated diffuse erythematous non-pruritic truncal rash.

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Young Man With Suspected Foreign Body Ingestion

Shufflebarger, MD, et al.

We report the case of a 26-year-old man who was transported to the ED for suspected drug smuggling. Abdominal computed tomography was notable for the presence of multiple tubular foreign bodies throughout the colon that were later identified as packets containing heroin.

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Man With Bilateral Leg Swelling

Toy, DO, et al.

This case demonstrates how POCUS was valuable in rapidly diagnosing this rare cause of lower extremity edema and its usefulness in directing the initial ED management of this patient.

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Acute Auricular Perichondritis With an Effusion

Usoro, MD, et al.

A 62-year-old man presented to the emergency department with acute, atraumatic, swelling of his left ear. Incision and drainage revealed serous fluid without blood or purulence. He was diagnosed with acute perichondritis with an effusion and managed with oral antibiotics.

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Contact Information

WestJEM/ Department of Emergency Medicine
UC Irvine Health

3800 W Chapman Ave Ste 3200
Orange, CA 92868, USA
Phone: 1-714-456-6389
Email: editor@westjem.org

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WestJEM
ISSN: 1936-900X
e-ISSN: 1936-9018

CPC-EM
ISSN: 2474-252X

Our Philosophy

Emergency Medicine is a specialty which closely reflects societal challenges and consequences of public policy decisions. The emergency department specifically deals with social injustice, health and economic disparities, violence, substance abuse, and disaster preparedness and response. This journal focuses on how emergency care affects the health of the community and population, and conversely, how these societal challenges affect the composition of the patient population who seek care in the emergency department. The development of better systems to provide emergency care, including technology solutions, is critical to enhancing population health.