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FOAMED

Unexplained abnormal vital signs on discharge / unexplained deaths after discharge: what can we do better?

Death after discharge from the Emergency Department (ED) is an uncommon but nonetheless highly concerning event. Discharge from the ED, on the other-hand, is a frequent event, with over 80% of ED visits culminating in discharge to home or non-acute care. (1) That number may be increasing with more pressure to find alternatives to inpatient admissions. (1,2) Discharge from the ED is a vulnerable time for patients, and it is a high-stakes time for both patients and providers.

FOAMED

Management of the Trauma Patient’s Airway – Pearls and Pitfalls

Airway management is one of the most challenging and critical skills that the emergency medicine physician must master. This is particularly true in the setting of the trauma patient, where the ABCs of trauma evaluation begin with establishing the patency of the airway and ensuring adequate oxygenation and ventilation before moving through the remainder of the trauma algorithm. It is well known that delays in adequate airway management are one of the most common causes of preventable death in both the prehospital and emergency department setting.