Ken Grauer, MD
FEBRUARY 23, 2024
The ECG in Figure-1 was obtained from a previously healthy man in his 40s — who presented to the ED ( E mergency D epartment ) with new-onset CP ( C hest P ain ) that awakened him from sleep. ECG #1 was recorded ~90 minutes after the patient was awakened from sleep. He was still having CP. QUESTIONS: In view of this history — How would YOU interpret the ECG in Figure-1 ?
The Trauma Pro
FEBRUARY 27, 2024
Intraosseous (IO) lines are a godsend when we are faced with a patient who desperately needs access but has no veins. The tibia is generally easy to locate and the landmarks for insertion are straightforward. They are so easy to insert and use, we sometimes “set it and forget it”, in the words of infomercial guru Ron Popeil. But complications are possible.
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Pediatric EM Morsels
FEBRUARY 2, 2024
There have been many times I have encountered a triage note which states “ patient recently returned from … (insert awesome foreign country) … ” Not only does this leave me daydreaming about my future travel adventures, but has often caused me to take pause. Thoughts of what endemic illnesses could this child potentially have been exposed to in their travels?
Science Based Medicine
FEBRUARY 26, 2024
Antivaxxers have weaponized a huge multinational vaccine safety study of 99 million patient records that found rare adverse events and concluded that the benefits of COVID-19 vaccines outweigh the risks. How? A combination of the Nirvana fallacy and spin. The post How antivaxxers weaponize vaccine safety studies to falsely portray vaccines as dangerous first appeared on Science-Based Medicine.
Sensible Medicine
FEBRUARY 15, 2024
It’s been a few years since I first heard about the Galleri test produced by the Menlo Park startup Grail. Galleri is a blood-based screening test for cancer. I think I first heard about it from doctors in concierge practices; next I heard whispers from my own better-off patients who brought me results or asked what I thought of the test. Sensible Medicine is a reader-supported publication.
Dr. Smith's ECG Blog
FEBRUARY 22, 2024
Written by Pendell Meyers A woman in her 30s called EMS for acute symptoms including near-syncope, nausea, diaphoresis, and abdominal pain. EMS arrived and found her to appear altered, critically ill, and hypotensive. An ECG was performed: What do you think? Extremely wide complex monomorphic rhythm just over 100 bpm. The QRS is so wide and sinusoidal that the only real possibilities left are hyperkalemia or Na channel blockade.
Ken Grauer, MD
FEBRUARY 3, 2024
Today’s patient is an older woman who experienced a number of fainting epiodes over the previous week. No CP ( C hest P ain ). Shortly after arrival in the ED ( E mergency D epartment ) — she suffered a cardiac arrest. The ECG in Figure-1 was obtained following successful resuscitation. Stat Echo — obtained shortly after successful resuscitation revealed anterior wall akinesis.
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RebelEM
FEBRUARY 15, 2024
Background: Patients with decreased level of consciousness due to alcohol, drugs, or medications commonly present to the ED. These patients can be at risk of vomiting and aspiration and often prompts clinicians to pursue definitive airway management to avoid pneumonia and other complications. It is unclear, though, if the risks of intubation (including ventilator associated pneumonia) outweighs the benefits.
Science Based Medicine
FEBRUARY 7, 2024
Wellness influencers are often also conspiracy theorists, as both mindsets rely upon the same underlying methods, motivation, and narrative. The post The Menace of Wellness Influencers first appeared on Science-Based Medicine.
Sensible Medicine
FEBRUARY 9, 2024
You can only listen to, or read, what doctors have to say for so long. Today, in our Friday, “reflective writing” slot, an essay from someone in the bed rather than beside it. Adam Cifu Sensible Medicine is a reader-supported publication. If you appreciate our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. After ten days tethered to an IV of cyclosporine, the surgeon explained that he would remove my colon, create a stoma, and hitch a colostomy bag to my abdomen.
Dr. Smith's ECG Blog
FEBRUARY 2, 2024
Written by Pendell Meyers First try to interpret this ECG with no clinical context: The ECG shows an irregularly irregular rhythm, therefore almost certainly atrial fibrillation. After an initially narrow QRS, there is a very large abnormal extra wave at the end of the QRS complex. These are Osborn waves usually associated with hypothermia. There is also large T wave inversion and long QT.
Ken Grauer, MD
FEBRUARY 15, 2024
The ECG in Figure-1 was obtained from a previously healthy middle-aged man — who presented to the ED ( E mergency D epartment ) for shortness of breath. QUESTIONS: How would YOU interpret the ECG shown in Figure-1 ? Given the irregular irregularity of beats #4-through 17 — Is this a run of AFib ( A trial Fib rillation ) with aberrant conduction? Figure-1: The initial ECG in today's case.
The Trauma Pro
FEBRUARY 23, 2024
Kids are frequent flyers when it comes to abdominal injury, with about 15% of their injuries involving this anatomic area. Solid organ injuries, mainly the liver and spleen, are the most prevalent ones. The American Pediatric Surgical Association (APSA) published a practice guideline way back in 2000 that outlined a consistent way to care for children with solid organ injuries.
RebelEM
FEBRUARY 19, 2024
Background: Use of vasopressors is a common practice to support hemodynamics and optimization of tissue perfusion in patients presenting with shock. Historically the administration of vasopressors was restricted to central venous catheters (CVC) due to concerns for local tissue injury resulting from vasoconstriction if extravasation occurred from a peripheral IV.
Science Based Medicine
FEBRUARY 5, 2024
A year ago, I noticed that COVID-19 quacks were touting the "repurposing" of ivermectin to treat cancer. Now, familiar COVID-19 antivaxxers—cough, cough, FLCCC—have turbocharged this quackery. The post COVID-19 antivax quacks are now “repurposing” ivermectin for cancer first appeared on Science-Based Medicine.
Sensible Medicine
FEBRUARY 22, 2024
Last week I wrote about Grail’s Galleri test; a test marketed as a single blood test that screens for 50 cancers. Last week’s article outlined my pretty dim view of the test. I referenced a Wall Street Journal Opinion piece, Who’s Afraid of Early Cancer Detection? One answer to the question posed by the WSJ piece is: me. Sensible Medicine is a reader-supported publication.
Dr. Smith's ECG Blog
FEBRUARY 16, 2024
Written by Pendell Meyers A teenager was playing basketball when he suddenly developed palpitations and lightheadedness. He presented soon afterward at the Emergency Department with ongoing symptoms. Mentation and blood pressure were normal. He had no chest pain or shortness of breath. Heart rates on the monitor fluctuated from 180-250 bpm. Here is his triage ECG: What do you think?
Ken Grauer, MD
FEBRUARY 9, 2024
Imagine the only information provided for the ECG in Figure-1 — is that it was obtained from a 60-year old man with new CP ( C hest P ain ). QUESTIONS: In view of this brief history — How would YOU interpret this ECG in Figure-1 ? Is the cardiac rhythm related to the 12-lead ECG? Figure-1: The initial ECG in today’s case. MY Thoughts on the ECG in Figure-1: The goal of practicing clinicians is to interpret both parts of the tracing in Figure-1 ( = the cardiac rhythm and the 12-lead ECG ) — in an
The Trauma Pro
FEBRUARY 16, 2024
Here’s a post from my archive describing a different way to remove the foreign body. This is the technique I used, instead of the standard neck incision. The final incision was just a slight extension of the puncture wound, measuring only 1cm. I was able to grasp the head and pull it out without difficulty. The surprising thing to me was the amount of force I needed to apply to actually pull it out!
St. Emlyn
FEBRUARY 6, 2024
St.Emlyn's - Emergency Medicine #FOAMed This week I am in Zermatt, Switzerland for ‘The Big Sick’ conference. This is something I have been looking forward to years, but major heart surgery (valves not pipes) and […] The post Top resus papers for TBS. St Emlyn’s appeared first on St.Emlyn's.
Science Based Medicine
FEBRUARY 21, 2024
You know the rule about headlines - if there is a question in a headline the answer is almost always "no". This article is no exception. The post Pesticide in Oat Products – Should You Worry? first appeared on Science-Based Medicine.
Sensible Medicine
FEBRUARY 12, 2024
Academic medicine sometimes gets it right. This is a positive story about a negative trial. Neurologist Hooman Kamel from the Weil Cornell Medical Center in NY had an idea about atrial fibrillation and stroke. Old thinking held that clots formed in the left atrium during periods of irregular rapid fibrillatory activity. Stroke came when these clots moved northward to the brain.
Dr. Smith's ECG Blog
FEBRUARY 20, 2024
A 20-something type, 1 diabetic presented by EMS with altered mental status. Blood pressure was 117/80, pulse 161, Resp 45, SpO2 100 on oxygen. Here is the 12-lead ECG: Wide complex tachycardia What do you think? The providers thought that this wide QRS was purely due to (severe) hyperkalemia. They treated with 4 ampules (200 mL) of bicarb and 1 gram of calcium gluconate.
First 10 EM
FEBRUARY 8, 2024
Long time readers will know that I generally dislike guidelines. Although there are exceptions, I think that guidelines are often more problematic than helpful. However, I know that many people work in places that have medicolegal structures that leave them feeling completely paralyzed, and unable to practice in the absence of a relevant guideline. The […] The post ACEP says its OK to use topical anesthetics for simple corneal abrasions appeared first on First10EM.
The Trauma Pro
FEBRUARY 9, 2024
This case involves an accidental nail gun injury to the neck. The patient is hemodynamically stable, neurologically intact, the airway is patent and not threatened, and there is no apparent hematoma. There is a small puncture near the sternocleidomastoid muscle on the right, fairly high on the neck. The nail is not palpable on either side. And the patient only complains of a little discomfort when he swallows.
RebelEM
FEBRUARY 29, 2024
Background: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), or what the CDC recently renamed infection-related ventilator-associated complication (IVAC), is defined as a nosocomial pneumonia occurring on day 3 of mechanical ventilation that was preceded by 2 days of stable or decreasing ventilator requirements. 1, 2 Its occurrence often portends worse outcomes in intubated patients, whose projected hospital course was already tenuous. 3, 4 It is the most common nosocomial infection in patients on m
St. Emlyn
FEBRUARY 27, 2024
St.Emlyn's - Emergency Medicine #FOAMed A review of Acute on Chronic Liver Disease (ACLD / decompensated liver disease) in the ED. How we can improve patient outcomes. #FOAMed @stemlyns The post Decompensated. Liver disease in the ED. St Emlyn’s appeared first on St.Emlyn's.
EM Ottawa
FEBRUARY 15, 2024
We’re increasingly cognizant of the physiological importance of maintaining specific hemodynamics during resuscitation. Practice patterns vary broadly, so we’ve done a deep dive into the various evidence around the use of ketamine and etomidate in specific clinical scenarios. Physiology of the rapid sequence intubation Rapid sequence intubation (RSI) is the nearly simultaneous administration […] The post Ketamine and Etimodate: Into the Void appeared first on EMOttawa Blog.
Science Based Medicine
FEBRUARY 23, 2024
The authors of the GBD advised and influenced many politicians at the highest level. They claim to have delineated many practical policies to protect the vulnerable, and they said it would’ve been possible, certainly. So an obvious question emerges. Why didn’t they protect the vulnerable? The post The Great Barrington Declaration Wasn’t a Plan For Public Health Officials.
First 10 EM
FEBRUARY 5, 2024
In the Rapid Review series, I briefly review the key points of a clinical review paper (which often extends to multiple papers because I can’t help myself). The topic this time: Propofol Related Infusion Syndrome (PRIS). Like many rapid review topics, this was chosen for my own education because I have next to no experience […] The post Propofol Related Infusion Syndrome (PRIS) appeared first on First10EM.
The Trauma Pro
FEBRUARY 6, 2024
Here’s a very interesting case for you. A construction worker was carrying an object inside a building WHILE HOLDING HIS NAIL GUN! As he passed through the door, his elbow hit the frame and he brushed his neck with the business end of the gun. Guess what happened? He experienced sharp pain, then noted pain every time he swallowed. He checked himself out in the mirror, and there was a small puncture wound in the right side of his neck.
RebelEM
FEBRUARY 8, 2024
Background: Patients with shock frequently present with hypotension. Many of these patients are started on vasopressor and inopressor medications to assist in efforts to normalize blood pressure to help improve organ perfusion. In shocky patients, arterial lines are often used to monitor hemodynamic parameters and inform treatment decisions. However, there is limited data on the benefit of invasive blood pressure monitoring over non-invasive blood pressure monitoring.
Sensible Medicine
FEBRUARY 16, 2024
It is July 1 st , 1988, Cara’s first day as a medicine intern on my ward team. She meets her existing patients and picks up a new one, Bill. Bill is 35 and has a severe cardiomyopathy. He is waiting a heart transplant but has been having worsening episodes of ventricular tachycardia (VT). He was a direct admission after an electrophysiologic (EP) study.
The Skeptics' Guide to EM
FEBRUARY 11, 2024
Reference: McLatchie et al and DAShED investigators. Diagnosis of Acute Aortic Syndrome in the Emergency Department (DAShED) study: an observational cohort study of people attending the emergency department with symptoms consistent with acute aortic syndrome. EMJ Nov 2023. Date: February 11, 2024 Guest Skeptic: Nirdosh Ashok Kumar, Emergency Medicine Specialist – Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan. […] The post SGEM#430: De Do Do Do, De Dash, Dash DAShED – Diagnosing Acute Aortic Sy
Dr. Smith's ECG Blog
FEBRUARY 9, 2024
Written by Jesse McLaren A 65 year old with a history of atrial flutter, CABG and end-stage renal disease on dialysis presented with 3 days of fluctuating chest pain, which was ongoing at triage. What do you think? Do you need posterior leads? There’s atrial flutter with controlled ventricular response, a non-specific intra-ventricular conduction delay, borderline right axis, normal R wave progression and normal voltages.
First 10 EM
FEBRUARY 19, 2024
Nail bed injuries aren’t quite common enough to cause the same debates as TXA, or IV antibiotics, or tPa, but talk to 10 different emergency doctors and you are likely to get 10 different opinions about the management of these injuries. Therefore, even though the NINJA study doesn’t answer the most important question (in my […] The post The NINJA trial: Do you replace the fingernail after nail bed repair?
The Bottom Line
FEBRUARY 7, 2024
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