Critical Conditions Handled

• Cardiac Arrest

  Critical conditions are managed cardiac arrest, it may occur in the emergency room, or a patient may be transported to the emergency room by ambulance while still in this state.

  Treatment consists of basic life support and advanced life support such as Advanced Life Support and Advanced Cardiac Life Support.

• Myocardial Infarction

  When you go to the emergency room with a myocardial infarction (heart attack), you will likely be classified in the resuscitation area.

  You will be given oxygen and monitored, and an early ECG will be done, aspirin given if not contraindicated, or not already managed by the ambulance team; morphine or diamorphine is given for pain; Glyceryl trinitrate (nitroglycerin) is administered sublingually (under the tongue) or buccally (between the cheek and gums) unless the presence of other medications is contraindicated.

  An ECG showing ST segment elevation suggests a complete blockage of a large coronary artery. These patients require immediate reperfusion (reopening) of the occluded vessel.

  This can be accomplished in two ways: thrombolysis (anticoagulant medication) or percutaneous Trans luminal coronary angioplasty.

  Both are effective in significantly reducing mortality from myocardial infarction. Many centers are now switching to using PTCA unmodified slightly more effective than thrombolysis if it can be given early. This may include a transfer to a nearby center with angioplasty facilities.

• Trauma

  Major trauma, the term for patients with multiple injuries, often from a car accident or a serious fall, is initially treated in the emergency room.

  However, trauma is a separate (surgical) specialty from emergency medicine. Trauma is treated by trauma teams trained in the principles taught in the internationally recognized Advanced Trauma basics.

  The services provided in an emergency department can range from X-rays and fixing broken bones to those of a full-fledged trauma center.

  A patient's chances of survival are greatly improved when the patient receives definitive treatment (e.g. Surgery or reperfusion) within one hour of an accident (e.g. a car accident) or the onset of an acute illness (e.g. a heart attack).

  Some emergency rooms in hospitals are located near a helipad, which is used by helicopters to transport a patient to a trauma center.

  This transfer between hospitals is common when a patient needs advanced medical care that is not available at the local facility. In such cases, the emergency department can only stabilize the patient for transport.

• Mental Illness

  Some patients come to the emergency department with complaints of mental illness. Many times, patients who appear to be mentally ill and pose a danger to themselves or others may be involuntarily taken to an emergency department by police officers for a psychiatric evaluation.

  The ER performs a medical evaluation rather than treating acute behavioral disorders. From the emergency department, patients with severe mental illness can be transferred (in many cases involuntarily) to a psychiatric unit.

  In recent years, special units have been developed to relieve hospital emergency services and improve the treatment of psychiatric emergencies.

  Emergencies are often the first port of call for medical care for people who self-harm. As such, they are critical to support and can play a role in suicide prevention.

  At the same time, according to a study conducted in England, People who self-injure often experience inadequate care in the emergency room.