When a child walks into the ED with an abnormal gait, the challenge begins—not just in identifying the cause, but in knowing which limps signal something more serious. Join Dr Huang as she walks us through a structured approach to the limping child, highlighting key history and exam findings, critical diagnoses you can’t afford to miss, and the importance of considering non-accidental trauma in your workup.
Read MoreThe cornea is the window to the soul and/or retina. Given this importance it is a critical aspect of Emergency Care and why you should join Dr. Carroll on a dive into corneal pathologies you need to know.
Read MoreDr. Gabor reviews normal anatomy and pathology of the Bartholin gland, and discusses multiple treatment strategies to manage this condition.
Read MoreLung-protective ventilation (LPV), characterized by low tidal volumes and appropriate PEEP, is a cornerstone in managing patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). However, its application in patients with severe acute brain injury raises concerns. The potential for lung protective ventilation to increase intracranial pressure due to hypercapnia and elevated PEEP levels necessitates a closer examination of its safety and efficacy in this unique patient population.
Read MoreJoin Dr Amin as she describes the challenges, treatment, and sometimes life-saving interventions for patients presenting with caustic ingestions in the emergency department. From rapid assessment to tailored treatment strategies, she breaks down the essentials every clinician must know.
Read MoreIntimate partner violence (IPV) is a widespread public health problem. By definition, IPV refers to actual or threatened psychological, physical, or sexual harm by a current or former partner or spouse. The exact scope of the issue is difficult to ascertain given that a large proportion of incidents go unreported but is estimated to affect over 12 million people in the United States every year. The Emergency Department often serves as a first point of contact for survivors of intimate partner violence. Studies have shown that women experiencing intimate partner violence are more likely to seek medical care than to seek assistance from social services or criminal justice agencies, and it is estimated that approximately 6% of patients presenting to the Emergency Department have experienced IPV within the past year.
Read MoreMany clinical decision rules exclude elderly patients from the derivation cohorts. So the question remains unanswered do all elderly patients need cervical spine CTs in the setting of trauma? What if they have no symptoms? This recap of a journal club article explores the incidence of significant cervical spine fractures in elderly patients.
Read MoreIt is well known that ultrasound has exploded in its application in both diagnostics and procedures and has ultimately revolutionized the way we practice medicine. With its growing use, more and more providers are comfortable using ultrasound for both identification of anatomy/pathology and to guide procedures that were previously only done with landmarks. While having the skills to perform landmark guided procedures is incredibly important, there is much value in being able to visually confirm anatomy to avoid procedure complications, especially when landmarks are difficult to palpate / identify in certain individuals. This recap of a recent journal club article covers a paper looking into the use of POCUS to help perform cricothyrotomy.
Read MoreDr. Pawlik walks us in depth through the evaluation, diagnosis and management of traumatic injuries to the eye.
Read MoreWhen I began my clinical informatics elective I planned to spend my time taking online courses on how to improve my Epic efficiency. After a day or so of online sessions I realized that (a) I’m already an Epic master (sort of) and (b) I hoped there was more to “clinical informatics” than faster documentation. So let’s begin at the beginning: what is clinical informatics?
Read MoreMore than 1.5 million critically ill adults undergo tracheal intubation each year in the United States. Hypoxemia is a common and serious complication during tracheal intubation in critically ill adults, occurring up to 10-20% of intubations in the emergency department (ED) or intensive care unit (ICU). Hypoxemia increases the risk of cardiac arrest and death. The effect of preoxygenation with noninvasive ventilation, as compared with preoxygenation with an oxygen mask, on the incidence of hypoxemia during tracheal intubation is uncertain. In this breakdown of a Journal Club article, Dr de Castro will cover a recent paper comparing NIPPV to oxygen mask only during preoxygenation for intubation.
Read MoreJoin Dr Haupt as she discusses the adrenal glands, their role in hormone production and other functions throughout the body, and common problems that can occur when the adrenal glands are not working properly. Although most of these issues are non emergent problems, occasionally they will be seen in some sort of acute adrenal crisis in the emergency department and ER physicians should be well versed in their often subtle presentations!
Read MoreSevere trauma is the leading cause of death worldwide for adults younger than 50 years of age. Acute traumatic life support (ATLS) guidelines endorse early and aggressive usage of supplemental oxygen in patients with severe trauma, at least until abnormalities of airway or breathing can be safely ruled out. However, unclear target concentration, duration or saturation goals often leads to hyperoxemia. Emerging studies in the intensive care unit (ICU) setting suggest that liberal supplemental oxygen therapy and hyperoxemia is associated with increased mortality. Limited evidence in the trauma population suggests similar outcomes.
Read MoreWe know that the d-dimer can be a helpful test for patients who have a low pre-test probability of pulmonary embolism. But can the test be pushed into use for higher risk patients? Will it still have useful negative predictive value or will we risk missing too many PEs?
Read MoreDr. Guay walks us through pathology unique to patients with a history of bariatric surgery. From surgical complications to vitamin deficiencies, there is a lot to consider in the care of this population.
Read MoreSRU (pronounced "shrew") = Shock Resuscitation Unit
Training in, and managing, the SRU is one of the crown jewels of our residency. It is where the sickest of the sick patients are found in our ED. It is a crucible, a test of knowledge and strength, and a true manifestation of the tripartite mission of our department: Leadership, Excellence, and Opportunity.
Training in, and managing, the SRU is one of the crown jewels of our residency. It is where the sickest of the sick patients are found in our ED. It is a crucible, a test of knowledge and strength, and a true manifestation of the tripartite mission of our department: Leadership, Excellence, and Opportunity.
