Faculty Bibliography

The emergency department is the focal point for many social ills, not the least of which is substance abuse. We conducted a study to determine to what degree substance abuse education is taught in emergency medicine residency training programs. A set of educational objectives was developed by a task force composed of representatives of the American College of Emergency Physicians, the Society of Teachers of Emergency Medicine, and the University Association for Emergency Medicine. A questionnaire then was sent to the directors of all emergency medicine residency programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education to determine the degree to which those objectives are covered in residency training. A 62% response rate was achieved. The data revealed that such topics as narcotic prescription law, patterns of risk, and issues pertaining to substance abuse by physicians were covered by fewer than half of the programs responding. Respondents were generally satisfied with the adequacy of training of residents and faculty in the area of substance abuse; however, they were dissatisfied with the adequacy of available training materials. Recommendations for changes in graduate curriculum as well as avenues for further research are provided

The ingestion of alcohol, both intermittently and habitually, results in significant patient morbidity and mortality and stresses an already compromised socioeconomic system. Ethanol can interact with normal metabolic pathways to produce a variety of life-threatening abnormalities, particularly in those with underlying poor nutritional status, as is found in many alcohol users. Once identified, the metabolic derangements associated with alcohol use generally respond well to therapeutic interventions. The recurrence rate, however, is extremely high. Any attempt at long-term solutions must involve extensive rehabilitative services. Current research is directed largely toward improving survival from alcohol-related illnesses such as cirrhosis and cardiac disease. We must focus our efforts on the social implications of alcoholism, providing medical support, counseling, and rehabilitation to affected persons. Since alcohol-related problems present most frequently to the Emergency Department, it is appropriate that the emergency physician take the first step in attacking this disease, a step that may be as simple as a referral for detoxification or social services support

Exposure to caustic agents is a common problem, affecting thousands of individuals annually. Despite this incidence, the factors responsible for the production of injury remain poorly defined. Although extremes of pH seem to correlate well with the production of esophageal lesions, pH alone fails to explain the damage resulting from exposure to agents with near neutral pH, such as soldering flux containing zinc chloride. We determined titratable acid/alkaline reserve (TAR) in 38 potentially caustic household agents. A subset of these products was evaluated in an in-vitro canine esophageal model to determine whether TAR correlated with esophageal injury. The results indicate that for the products evaluated TAR correlated better than pH with the production of caustic esophageal injury

Newer Rodenticides of the long-acting anticoagulant or 'superwarfarin' class are gaining popularity. Since few cases of severe, prolonged anticoagulation after ingestion have been reported, the course of toxicity is not precisely understood. In this case of an intentional ingestion of brodifacoum, a longitudinal analysis of specific coagulation factor derangements was carried out in an attempt to guide a future treatment strategy for this type of toxicity. Results of this analysis demonstrated a profound decrease in levels of factors II, VII, IX, and X, lasting at least 43 days post ingestion. Treatment with subcutaneous vitamin K1 in doses up to 100 milligrams per day was without complication and was effective in reversing the coagulopathy produced by brodifacoum