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Falling Out - Syncope Evaluation in the Emergency Department
Diagnostics, Grand Rounds Jeffery Hill, MD M.Ed Diagnostics, Grand Rounds Jeffery Hill, MD M.Ed

Falling Out - Syncope Evaluation in the Emergency Department

Syncope is a common presenting complaint to the emergency department. Estimates suggest that 1- 3 percent of ED visits are for syncope.(1) While the large majority of these episodes are often benign, they can suggest underlying life-threatening etiologies such as arrhythmias, pulmonary embolism, and stroke. The disposition of these patients can represent a difficult quandary at times. In fact, emergency physicians are only able to establish a clear underlying diagnosis in approximately 50% of syncope patients after obtaining an HPI, physical exam and ECG. (2) 

Should these patients be observed in the ED? And, if so, for how long? Should they be admitted to the hospital for further workup and observation? Should they instead be discharged home with close follow-up? 

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Grand Rounds Recap 9.18.19
Grand Rounds Guest User Grand Rounds Guest User

Grand Rounds Recap 9.18.19

This was a great week of Grand Rounds with a number of interdisciplinary presentations. The week started off with Dr. Neel presenting about common neurologic complaints in the ED in our first EM-Neurology combined lecture for the year. Dr. Jarrell then presented her R4 Case Follow Up lecture on a case of blunt pancreatic injury in non-accidental trauma. Dr. Wyrick, from the Department of Orthopedics, talked about his experiences on his global health trip to Tanzania. Finally, the week wrapped up with Drs. Iparraguirre, Jensen, and Lane leading small group workshops on orthopedic injuries.

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Is a Bag Enough?
Prehospital Medicine Jeffery Hill, MD M.Ed Prehospital Medicine Jeffery Hill, MD M.Ed

Is a Bag Enough?

Trauma scene flights are often the first thing people think of when they think of Helicopter EMS. Although we know that HEMS and Critical Care Transport involves much more than just scene flights, they are still a critical part of most HEMS programs’ mission and capabilities. In addition, many flights are “modified scenes” or “scene intercepts,” meaning the HEMS crew meets the EMS crew at an outlying hospital helipad, or arrives shortly after the patient’s arrival to an under-resourced ED. Many of these patients are critically ill, and a subset will require intubation and ventilation. Once intubated is bag valve ventilation enough? Or should all these patient’s be placed on a mechanical ventilator?

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