Amitraz is an insecticide/acaricide of formamidine pesticides used worldwide for ectoparasites in animals. Because of its widespread use, amitraz poisoning is frequently encountered in Turkey. Case report: A 36-year-old, comatose female was admitted to the hospital. Although it was stated that she had taken a glass of water containing amitraz, the exact volume of the substance was unknown. On admission, her Glasgow Coma Scale score was 10/15. Clinical findings were vomiting, miosis, bradycardia and hypotension. The patient's vital signs were body temperature 37.28C, pulse 54 bpm, blood pressure 80/50 mmHg and pulse-oximetry 84%. Supportive treatment consisting of oxygen, fluid replacement and gastric lavage, activated charcoal and atropine was administered. On the second day, signs of Ogilvie's syndrome characterized by severe tenderness, distension and pain in the abdomen were seen. On the third day, the patient's condition improved except for abdominal distension and pain, inability to pass faeces or flatus through the anus. Although continuous nasogastric tube decompression was performed, her complaints were not resolved completely. Neostigmine was administered on the fourth day. On the fifth day, abdominal pain and distension were decreased, and stool passage began. She had a complete clinical and laboratory improvement, which warranted her discharge on the seventh day of admission.

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Air guns and blank guns may appear relatively harmless at first glance, but they are, in fact, potentially destructive, even lethal, weapons. Approximately 2 to 2.5 million nonpowder firearms are sold annually, and again approximately 12.9 per 100,000 population are treated for such injuries in hospital emergency departments each year in the United States. Unfortunately, these guns are considered to be a toy for children. Therefore, incidents of air gun injuries are gradually increasing. Although such injuries may initially be considered trivial, it may signify severe internal tissue pathologies. These apparently trivial injuries may have catastrophic consequences if unnoticed. In this study, we report 4 cases with head injury due to a shot by these guns. The cases indicate that these people had used the guns belonging to their parents for the purpose of suicide. The cases also show that these machines are not innocent.

BACKGROUNDDuring the Eid al-Adha (“Sacrifice Feast”) religious holiday in Muslim communities animal sacrifices are made over a period of 3 days every year.OBJECTIVESThe aim of this study was to determine the type of sacrifice-related injuries, the characteristics of patients, treatments for injuries, and relationships between these factors to determine precautions that could be taken to avoid or mitigate sacrifice-related injuries.DESIGNRetrospective study of medical records.SETTINGEmergency units at two hospitals from 2010 to 2013.PATIENTS AND METHODSPatients admitted for treatment for injuries associated with sacrificial cutting during the four annual sacrifice feasts were classified as professional butchers, apprentice butchers, and third persons who were neither professional butchers nor apprentices.MAIN OUTOME MEASRE(S)Injuries associated with animal sacrifice.RESULTSOf 592 patients, 22 (3.7%) were professional butchers, 149 (25.2%) apprentice butchers, and 421 (71.1%) third persons. Significant relationships were found between the profession of the injured person and the injury and subsequent treatment (P<.05).CONCLUSIONTo prevent and minimize the injuries associated with sacrificial cutting, there should be an area designated for sacrificing animals. Moreover, sacrifices should be performed by professionals in possession of a sacrificial cutting certificate. If owners of sacrificial animals insist on slaughtering animals, they should be trained by professional butchers who have a teaching certificate. To deal with an increasing number of such injuries during the sacrifice feast, hospital emergency units need to be adequately resourced with adequate equipment and staff.LIMITATIONSRegional and local data could not be assessed completely. Patients who presented on the 4th day were not included in the study.

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Splenic artery aneurysms are rare and occur predominantly in women. Most of them are asymptomatic until the aneurysms rupture. We report a previously healthy 46-year-old female who attended emergency department with abdominal pain for four hours. She had left upper quadrant tenderness and pulsatile mass. Laboratory tests showed her haematocrit 29.8%. Subsequent examinations with ultrasound and computed tomography (CT) showed a large aneurysm of the splenic artery and a heterogeneous hypodense shadows around the aneurysmal sac and perihepatic area. Just after CT scan she collapsed and was taken into emergency surgery. Splenectomy was performed following the ligation of splenic artery proximal to lesion. On the fifth day, she was discharged from the hospital with complete recovery. This case report highlights that rapid resuscitation, diagnostic imaging, surgical consultation, and subsequent laparotomy remain the priorities in patient management.

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