[Elderly patients in the emergency department: a selection of some recent publications]. / Gériatrie aux urgences: une sélection de publications récentes.

Geriatric patients presenting to the ED are at high risk of mortality as well as of cognitive or functional decline. Thus, ED is an ideal spot for interventions that can improve their outcome. In this article, we summarize six recent studies, regarding the utilization of prognostic evaluation scores in geriatric patients presenting to the ED, adverse drug reactions, the significance of elevated troponin in patients who have remained on the ground after a fall, the rationale of performing head CT in patients without focal neurologic findings after a fall, the ideal treatment of a proximal femoral fracture and the excessive use of urinary catheters in the ED.

[Splenic abscess: etiology, diagnosis and possible therapeutics]. / Abcès splénique: etiologie, diagnostic et possibilités thérapeutiques.

We report the case of a 28-year-old intravenous drug abuser under quadritherapy for stage C3 AIDS and with past history of infectious endocarditis. He was admitted with a diminished general condition, weight loss, progressive unbearable abdominal pain and vomiting, without fever. An inflammatory syndrome is noted and imaging reveals a voluminous splenic abscess. Conservative treatment is initiated with repetitive drainages and intravenous antibiotics. Aetiologies, diagnosis and possible therapeutics of splenic abscesses are discussed.