Case Studies in Emergency Medicine

Book Preface

Welcome to Case Studies in Emergency Medicine. This case-based book is designed to help medical students, physicians-in training, and practicing clinicians learn many of the fundamentals of emergency medicine in a chief complaint, case-based format. Each of the ten chapters corresponds to one of the top ten chief complaints seen in emergency medicine, and is filled with cases of patients presenting with that chief complaint.The cases are presented as “unknowns,” and the reader is provided with the information necessary to evaluate and treat each patient in a manner similar to that which occurs in clinical practice. Each case is then followed by information regarding the presentation, evaluation, treatment, and follow-up of patients with the disease described.

The cases in this book are all real, written by the healthcare providers who saw these patients. Because of this, the cases are not “textbook” cases, but contain the subtle clinical nuances and diagnostic challenges of real practice.The authors of the cases come from a broad range of specialties, and include physicians-in-training, academicians, and clinical physicians.

Through this format, you will gain an appreciation of the variety of presentations of disease processes, a good understanding of the pathophysiology of common acute disease entities, and a rational approach to the evaluation of the major complaints seen in the emergency department. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to read many interesting, educational, and sometimes eye-opening cases of real patients evaluated in the emergency department. Enjoy!