An unexpected computed tomography finding in a suspected body packer.

Introduction: Computed tomography can be used to screen and diagnose the presence of drug-filled packets in the body. We present an unusual computed tomography finding in a suspected body packer.

Case Summary: A traveller suspected of being a body packer was brought to the emergency department complaining of low back pain.

Perioral Paresthesia, Generalize Muscle Cramps, and Rhabdomyolysis After a Socotra Island Blue Baboon Tarantula (Monocentropus Balfouri) Bite.

Background: Literature on systemic envenomation caused by tarantula bites, particularly from the Theraphosidae family, is relatively scarce. This case report provides a formal description of the first known instance of systemic envenomation caused by the Socotra Island Blue Baboon Tarantula (Monocentropus balfouri).

Case Report: In this case, a 23-year-old employee of an exotic pet shop suffered from perioral paresthesia, generalized muscle cramps, and rhabdomyolysis because of a Monocentropus balfouri bite.

Use of high flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy for patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 outside intensive care setting.

Background: In early 2022, there was a sudden surge of patients infected by the Omicron variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) in Hong Kong (HK), resulting in 9,163 deaths as of 29 May 2022. Many of the local population had not been vaccinated before this wave. The number of patients who developed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) related respiratory failure outnumbered the capacity of intensive care unit (ICU) beds.

Attitudes and educational needs of emergency doctors providing palliative and end-of-life care in Hong Kong: a cross-sectional analysis based on a self-report study.

Background: Due to the ageing population in Hong Kong, the importance and need of palliative care and end-of-life (EOL) care are coming under the spotlight. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the attitudes of emergency doctors in providing palliative and EOL care in Hong Kong, and to investigate the educational needs of emergency doctors in these areas.

Methods: A questionnaire was used to study the attitudes of ED doctors of six different hospitals in Hong Kong.

Predictive model integrating dynamic parameters for massive blood transfusion in major trauma patients: The Dynamic MBT score.

Background: Currently existing predictive models for massive blood transfusion in major trauma patients had limitations for sequential evaluation of patients and lack of dynamic parameters.

Objective: To establish a predictive model for predicting the need of massive blood transfusion major trauma patients, integrating dynamic parameters.

Design: Multi-center retrospective cohort study.

Local antivenom treatment for ophthalmic injuries caused by a Naja atra.

We report a case of local antivenom therapy for ocular exposure to the venom of Naja atra. An 83-year-old woman sustained conjunctival and corneal injuries by the venom of a spitting N. atra.

Hemolytic anemia after zopiclone overdose.

Introduction: Zopiclone is associated with methemoglobinemia. We report a case of zopiclone overdose manifested with another hematological complication, hemolysis.

Case: A 46-year-old woman overdosed with 50-100 tablets of 7.

A preliminary survey of Hong Kong snake shops and the potential snake bite risks for the healthcare system.

Consumption of snakes is a traditional part of Chinese life. Snake shops, which provide both the food products and live snakes to the public, are believed by the medical community to stock only local species. The medical risk posed by these live snakes is therefore regarded as manageable as they are indigenous and thus effective anti-snake venom (ASV) is believed to be available.

Two cases of methemoglobinemia following zopiclone ingestion.

Introduction: Most cases of methemoglobinemia result from exposure to certain medications and chemicals such as nitrates, nitrites, aniline, dapsone, phenazopyridine, benzocaine, and chlorates which oxidize the iron from the ferrous state. Intoxication with zopiclone is expected to produce drowsiness, confusion and coma but not methemoglobinemia. We report two cases of zopiclone overdose with methemoglobinemia.