Avoiding Common Errors in the Emergency Department

Amal Mattu, MD

Professor and Vice Chair
Department of Emergency Medicine
University of Maryland School of Medicine
Baltimore, Maryland

Arjun Chanmugam, MD, MBA

Professor and Vice Chair
Department of Emergency Medicine
Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimore, Maryland

Stuart Swadron, MD, FRCPC

Professor
Department of Emergency Medicine
Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California

Dale P. Woolridge, MD, PhD

Professor of Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics
Department of Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics
University of Arizona College of Medicine
Tucson, Arizona

Michael E. Winters, MD

Associate Professor
Department of Emergency Medicine
University of Maryland School of Medicine
Baltimore, Maryland

Lisa MarcucciSeries Editor , MD

InsideSurgery, LLC
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2nd edition

Copyright 2017 Wolters Kluwer

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Mattu, Amal, editor. | Chanmugam, Arjun S., editor. | Swadron, Stuart P., editor. | Woolridge, Dale, editor. | Winters, Michael E., editor.

Title: Avoiding common errors in the emergency department / [edited by] Amal

Mattu, Arjun Chanmugam, Stuart Swadron, Dale P. Woolridge, Michael E. Winters.

Description: Second edition. | Philadelphia : Wolters Kluwer, [2017] | Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2016054696 | ISBN 9781496320742 (paperback)

Subjects: | MESH: Critical Caremethods | Emergency Service, Hospital | Medical Errorsprevention & control

Classification: LCC RC86.7 | NLM WX 215 | DDC 616.02/5dc23

2016054696

This work is provided as is, and the publisher disclaims any and all warranties, express or implied, including any warranties as to accuracy, comprehensiveness, or currency of the content of this work.

This work is no substitute for individual patient assessment based upon healthcare professionals examination of each patient and consideration of, among other things, age, weight, gender, current or prior medical conditions, medication history, laboratory data and other factors unique to the patient. The publisher does not provide medical advice or guidance and this work is merely a reference tool. Healthcare professionals, and not the publisher, are solely responsible for the use of this work including all medical judgments and for any resulting diagnosis and treatments.

Given continuous, rapid advances in medical science and health information, independent professional verification of medical diagnoses, indications, appropriate pharmaceutical selections and dosages, and treatment options should be made and healthcare professionals should consult a variety of sources. When prescribing medication, healthcare professionals are advised to consult the product information sheet (the manufacturers package insert) accompanying each drug to verify, among other things, conditions of use, warnings and side effects and identify any changes in dosage schedule or contraindications, particularly if the medication to be administered is new, infrequently used or has a narrow therapeutic range. To the maximum extent permitted under applicable law, no responsibility is assumed by the publisher for any injury and/or damage to persons or property, as a matter of products liability, negligence law or otherwise, or from any reference to or use by any person of this work.

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The editors and authors of this textbook strongly believe that the complex practice of medicine, the vagaries of human diseases, the unpredictability of pathologic conditions, and the functions, dysfunctions, and responses of the human body cannot be defined, explained, or rigidly categorized by any written document. It is neither the purpose nor the intent of our textbook to serve as a final authoritative source on any medical condition, treatment plan, or clinical intervention, nor should our textbooks be used to rigorously define a rigid standard of care that should be practiced by all clinicians.

Every medical encounter must be individualized, and every patient must be approached on a case-by-case basis. At any given moment in time, a physicians actions and interventions should be guided by real-time, unique circumstances, the current clinical and historical milieu, available resources, his or her individual experience, and, most importantly, clinical judgment.

Every attempt has been made to ensure the accuracy of management recommendations and medication dosages. However, the reader is urged to consult other resources for confirmation of recommendations and medication dosages.

The editors are pleased to accept comments, corrections, and suggestions. Please send them to

Amin Anton Abdi , MD

Clinical Assistant Professor of Emergency
Medicine
Department of Emergency Medicine
LAC + USC Medical Center
Los Angeles, California

Kristin Berona , MD

Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine
Department of Emergency Medicine
Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California
LAC + USC Medical Center
Los Angeles, California

Rahul Bhat , MD, FACEP

Associate Program Director
Assistant Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine
Washington Hospital Center Emergency Medicine Residency Program
Georgetown University Hospital
Washington, District of Columbia

Paul Blackburn , DO

Clinical Associate Professor
Department of Emergency Medicine
University of Arizona College of MedicinePhoenix
Attending Physician
Department of Emergency Medicine
Maricopa Medical Center
Phoenix, Arizona

William J. Brady , MD, FACEP, FAAEM

Professor of Emergency Medicine and The David A. Harrison Distinguished Educator
University of Virginia School of Medicine
Charlottesville, Virginia

Ilene Claudius , MD

Associate Professor
Department of Emergency Medicine
Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California

Lillian L. Emlet , MD, MS

Assistant Professor
Department of Critical Care Medicine and Emergency Medicine