Traumatic Lingual Hematoma Resulting in Bilateral Temporal Mandibular Joint Dislocations.

BACKGROUND: Lingual hematoma (LH) is a relatively uncommon entity seen after both medical and traumatic etiologies. Regardless of the cause, the feared complication is acute airway obstruction. CASE REPORT: Our case involves a 39-year-old man who presented to the Emergency Department via emergency medical services with an enlarging LH after an unwitnessed fall, suspected to be an alcohol withdrawal seizure. The bleeding was likely exacerbated by previously undiagnosed thrombocytopenia. Airway stabilization was rapidly established via nasotracheal intubation after standard intubation techniques were deemed unfeasible. Despite correction of the coagulopathy, the LH continued to expand, resulting in bilateral tympanomandibular joint (TMJ) dislocations. To our knowledge, this complication has not been previously reported as a complication of LH. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Despite being a relatively uncommon condition, LH has the potential to result in life-threatening airway obstruction with limited airway options. Prompt airway stabilization should be the first priority upon diagnosis. A rapidly evolving LH can limit standard orotracheal rapid sequence intubation options, and may require alternative airway procedures. Additionally, ongoing lingual swelling after airway stabilization has now been shown in our case to result in bilateral TMJ dislocations. Concurrent management of reversible coagulopathy may help prevent this complication or reduce its severity.

Pneumococcal vaccination in the emergency department: an assessment of need.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Immunization against Streptococcus pneumoniae with the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine has been shown to be cost-effective for prevention of invasive pneumococcal disease. Yet 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine is widely underused, particularly among ethnic minorities. The objectives of this survey are to determine the rate of 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine vaccination among all adult patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) of a county-based, urban, tertiary care medical center; the willingness of patients to receive 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine; and reasons for nonvaccination. METHODS: A quality assurance survey was performed in the ED during 3 days in September 2002. A survey was developed to determine 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine vaccination rates and eligibility according to indications and contraindications established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Descriptive statistics were performed to quantify the proportion of patients who were immunized, eligible, and willing to receive 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine and reasons for nonvaccination. RESULTS: A total of 250 patients of 1,535 registered in the ED were surveyed during the 3-day period. Only 48 (19%) had a primary care provider. The majority of patients were Hispanic (73%). Only 22 (9%) patients had received the vaccine. A total of 66 (26%) patients fit the CDC eligibility criteria for 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine, and 59 (89%) of these patients were willing to receive the vaccine during their ED visit. Most patients (79%) were eligible to receive 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine due to their comorbid illnesses. CONCLUSION: In the ED of our county-based urban medical center, 26% of patients were eligible for 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine; the majority of patients were Hispanic, unaware of the vaccine's existence, and willing to receive it during their ED visit. These data underscore a large unmet public health need among ethnic minorities in the ED.