Defining and Diagnosing Sepsis
Sepsis is a heterogeneous clinical syndrome that encompasses infections of many different types and severity. Not surprisingly, it has confounded most attempts to apply a single definition, which has also…
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The New Usual Care
Key points • Current sepsis trials have not shown a benefit from protocolized early goal-directed care, as opposed to usual care. • Early recognition of sepsis, fluid resuscitation, appropriate antibiotic…
Appropriate Antibiotic Therapy
Prescribing antibiotics is an essential component of initial therapy in sepsis. Early antibiotics are an important component of therapy, but speed of administration should not overshadow the patient-specific characteristics that…
An Introduction to the Most Complex Disease in Emergency Medicine
Jack Perkins, MD, FACEP, FAAEM, FACP, Editor Michael E. Winters, MD, FACEP, FAAEM, Editor Sepsis is one of the most complex and challenging diseases in medicine. Timely diagnosis and initiation…
Severe Sepsis Care in the Emergency Department
EMERGENCY MEDICINE CLINICS OF NORTH AMERICA www.emed.theclinics.com Consulting Editor AMAL MATTU February 2017 • Volume 35 • Number 1
Wilderness Emergency Medical Services Systems
Wilderness emergency medical services (WEMS) are designed to provide high quality health care in wilderness environments. A WEMS program should have oversight by a qualified physician responsible for protocol development,…
Arthropod Envenomation in North America
Arthropods (phylum Arthopoda) account for a higher percentage of morbidity and mortality to humans than do mammalian bites, snake bites, or marine envenomation. They are ubiquitous in domestic dwellings, caves,…
North American Snake Envenomation
Native US snakes that produce clinically significant envenomation can be divided into 2 groups, crotalids and elapids. The crotalids include rattlesnakes, cottonmouths, and copperheads. Crotalid envenomation can result in significant…
Preparing for International Travel and Global Medical Care
Thorough pretravel preparation and medical consultation can mitigate avoidable health and safety risks. A comprehensive pretravel medical consultation should include an individualized risk assessment, immunization review, and discussion of arthropod…
Is There a Doctor Onboard? Medical Emergencies at 40,000 Feet
It is estimated 2.75 billion people travel aboard commercial airlines every year and 44,000 in-flight medical emergencies occur worldwide each year. Wilderness medicine requires a commonsense and improvisational approach to…
