Imaging of Acute Pancreatitis: to Image or Not to Image

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Acute Pancreatitis - Causes, Pathology, Symptoms and Signs, Investigations, Management and Complications

In patients with typical symptoms and diagnostic laboratory tests, CT or MR imaging is not required to confirm the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis. CT or MR imaging are primarily used to detect complications of acute pancreatitis...

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Boerhaave Syndrome: Not all Life-threatening Chest Pain Involves the Heart and Lungs

Read more about the article Boerhaave Syndrome: Not all Life-threatening Chest Pain Involves the Heart and Lungs
Boerhaave Syndrome - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment

Boerhaave syndrome is a spontaneous rupture of the esophagus. It usually results from barotrauma related to retching or any sudden increase in intraabdominal pressure against a closed glottis.

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Shortness of Breath (Dyspnea): Differential Diagnosis, Examination and Investigations

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The Causes of Shortness of Breath (Dyspnea)

Shortness of breath (dyspnea) is the subjective sensation of breathlessness which is excessive for any given level of activity. It is important to remember that any component of the respiratory system can cause dyspnea.

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Beyond Diuresis – Treatment Adjuncts in Cardiogenic Pulmonary Edema

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The emergency management of patients with cardiogenic shock, acute pulmonary edema, or both

Diuretics may not be the preferred initial therapy, however, for those patients with vascular failure, who are often euvolemic, or those with cardiogenic shock, who are often hypovolemic. In these patients, the emergency provider should first optimize preload and afterload reduction with the use of noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV), nitrates, or inotropes as indicated.

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Aggresive Nitroglycerin Usage in Acute Decompensated Heart Failure (ADHF)

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Phenotypes of Acute Decompensated Heart Failure (ADHF), their Presentations, and Suggested Therapy

In recent years, there are increasing data that support the use of high-dose vasodilator therapy as the initial treatment for patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF)

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Pitfalls in Hypertensive Emergencies

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Drugs for hypertensive emergencies and urgencies

Approximately 1% to 2% of patients with hypertension will present with a hypertensive emergency, defined as organ dysfunction due to an elevated blood pressure. Importantly, there is no specific blood pressure threshold that identifies a patient with a hypertensive emergency.

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