A Finger on the Pulse or An Ultrasound Probe on the Pulse?
/Does the patient need a pause? Is an ultrasound better than palpation? Join us as we review recent literature review comparing the two
Read MoreA Life Saving Bolus? IV Fluids at the Time of Intubation
/
In this podcast, Dr. Courtney Kein breaks down a recently published article examining the effects of a bolus of IVF at the time of intubation. Does a push of fluid prevent peri-intubation hemodynamic collapse?
Read MoreBougie so Bougie
/
In this Journal Club paper breakdown, Dr Bailee Stark recaps the findings of a recently published study by Driver et al looking at the effect of bougie aided intubation vs standard stylet intubation.
Read MoreTube Thoracostomy for Hemothorax - Is a Tiny Tube Just Fine?
/
In this Journal Club podcast, PGY-3 Tony Fabiano breaks down a paper from the Journal of Trauma comparing the effectiveness and patient perception of pigtail catheters versus standard chest tubes for hemothorax in the setting of trauma. Is a tiny tube effective at all in draining blood from the chest?
Read MoreEKG to Activation - A Quality, Quality Metric?
/
Time is myocardium, and minimizing door-to-activation time improves outcomes in patients with acute coronary occlusion. There are a number of existing quality metrics used to help drive improvements in the time-based care of STEMI patients. Could a new quality metric help the decision making time of Emergency Physicians?
Read MoreThe Dangers of the OMI
/
The paradigm of STEMI vs NSTEMI is one of the most well known in Emergency Medicine. Could a change in thinking shift this paradigm to OMI vs NOMI and result in a more complete identification of patients with significant morbidity and mortality?
Read MoreIs a STEMI a STEMI in Post-ROSC Patients?
/
One of the first tests ordered for a patient with ROSC following cardiac arrest is an EKG. Many of these EKGs are profoundly abnormal. Current practice is to evaluate for STEMI and to activate the cardiac cath lab if one is found. But, the test characteristics (sensitivity and specificity) of post-ROSC EKGs are likely different than the test characteristics for patients presenting to the ED with complaints of chest pain/symptoms concerning for ACS. This meta-analysis looked to pull together the existing literature and determine those test characteristics for this critically ill patient population. Read the summary after the link and listen to the podcast to hear a breakdown of this study.
Read MoreDroperidol for Agitation in the ED - No Danger to the Dangerous?
/
Droperidol is a versatile medication with a number of potential uses for patients in the Emergency Department. It is also a medication surrounded in some degree of mystique because of the decision by the FDA in 2001 to issue a black box warning for its use in response to reports of QT prolongation and torsades de pointes. Many at the time (and since) have argued that, despite these case reports, droperidol is a safe and effective medication that can be used for the treatment of agitation, nausea and vomiting, and migraine. We have previously covered much of this background in a previous blog post. In our most recent journal club, we discussed 3 articles that looked at the safety and efficacy of droperidol for treating acutely agitated patients. Take a read and listen below for an in depth look at each of these papers.
Read MoreOld News and New News for Cardiac Arrest
/
Anyone who’s faced a patient with refractory V fib or V Tac, knows the certain pang of hopelessness that strikes when round and round of epi, CPR, and shocks fails to deliver a return to organized rhythm. ECMO is an option. Baring the availability of perhaps one of the most resource-intensive procedures in medicine, what option does one have? If nothing is working what do you change? Beta blockers? Change up the shocks? Is that bicarb you’re giving doing any good? This post and the affiliated podcast will cover 3 articles looking at the evidence for these new and old treatments for cardiac arrest.
Read MoreTrio of Trauma - Journal Club Recap
/
The care of trauma patients is constantly evolving. From the time of injury to OR or ICU, there are dozens of management decisions that can improve the care and outcome for your patients. In our most recent journal club we took a look at 3 articles that looked at the management of trauma patients in the ED and ICU. Should we be adding vasopressin to our massive transfusion protocols? Is DL dead for trauma patients? Should we move to use IO’s early in traumatic arrests?
Read MoreKetamine Potpourri
/
In our most recent journal club, we took a look at 3 articles focused on the use of ketamine in the Emergency Department. When treating pain with ketamine, does a rapid administration of ketamine result in more dysphoria? When used for RSI, is ketamine more hemodynamically stable than etomidate? When using ketamine for procedural sedation in adult patients, does pre-treatment with versed or haldol decrease clinically significant emergence agitation?
Read MoreUpdates in Pediatric Cardiac Arrest
/
Pediatric cardiac arrests are, potentially, some of the most challenging patients for an emergency physician to care for. Cognitively, emotionally; these patients push us to our very limits. In this journal club recap, we cover 3 recently published articles looking at the care of these patients. Should survivors be cooled? Is Epi any good? Which is better amiodarone or lidocaine?
Read MoreWhat to do about the Flu?
/
It’s the height of flu season and our most recent Journal. Club focused on a couple of papers digging into the treatment of influenza as well as the association of cardiovascular events with influenza infections. Take a read and a listen to hear about the utility (or potential lack thereof) of oseltamivir as well as the evidence behind a newer medication for treatment of influenza, baloxavir.
Read MoreSepsis Journal Club Roundup
/
The management of patients with sepsis can be exceptionally complex. As with many patient’s with complex critical illnesses, often times attention to seemingly minor aspects of the patient’s management can have significant impacts on the patient’s course of illness. In this recap of our most recent journal club, we review 3 such aspects of the care of patients with sepsis. Does the type of IV fluids really make a difference? Are steroids a friend or foe in the care of these patients? And can the simple bedside assessment of capillary refill replace serial measurements of lactate?
Read MoreControversies in Kidney Stones
/
Flank pain and pain due to ureterolithiasis are common ED presentations. There exist, however, a number of controversies when you dive into the literature addressing the diagnosis and treatment of nephrology/ureterolithiasis. Is IV lidocaine effective at treating pain in these patients? Is there a way to avoid CT scans? What about tamsulosin? Is it only good for big stones/small stones? Is there a benefit at all. For our most recent Journal Club, we tackled several of these controversies. Take a listen to the podcast below or over on iTunes.
Read More
