We had an excellent series of lectures this week at our Grand Rounds to welcome in the New Year! The esteemed Drs. Calhoun and Stettler started us off with our Great Debate series pitting Ketofol against Ketamine or Propofol alone for procedural sedation. The winner of this debate? Definitely the audience who got to soak up the expertise from these clinical giants. Next up was Dr. Leenellett who guided us through some community ED cases of early pregnancy vaginal bleeding in our Discharge, Transfer, or Treat lecture series. Dr. Laurence then led us through a small group case based discussion on the indications for massive transfusions in trauma. Then a hush fell over the crowd as Dr. Iparraguierre laid down the CPC gauntlet with a presentation of Myasthenia Gravis for Dr. LaFollete who masterfully identified the Ice Pack Test as the diagnostic test of choice! Next up was Dr. Colmer who gave some tips for the management of severe alcohol withdrawal with his case follow-up lecture. There was no knocking this knowledge train off the tracks as Dr. Urbanowicz led us through a harrowing discussion on Weapons of Mass Destruction. To round out the day Drs. Klaszky, Gauger, and Murphy Crews led us through some small group exercises on the NIH stroke scale, CT angiography of the head and neck interpretation, neurological emergencies jeopardy, and indications for performing a burr hole with some hands on practice (simulation of course!).

We had a great Grand Rounds line-up this week - Dr. Whitford started us off with a challenging case of altered mental status that took a variety of twists and turns highlighting the need for reassessment flexibility in your differential diagnosis in the critically ill patient. Next up was Dr. Koehler and Dr. Betz who led us through a case of septic arthritis which presented atypically as altered mental status. Dr. Edmunds then provided us with emergency presentations of pediatric vomiting. Lastly, we closed the day with Dr. Roblee’s excellent case-based discussion on the evaluation and management of hypertension in pregnancy.

This weeks grand rounds started off with our combined Emergency Medicine and Neurology conference where Dr. Walsh provided us a summary of the current evidence surrounding ICH expansion and reversal of Warfarin and DOACs. This was followed by Dr. Summers who provided suggestions on how we can be more efficient providers in the ED. Dr. Irankunda then presented on the often missed diagnosis of abdominal compartment syndrome. Next up was Dr. Lang who summarized the current evidence for the various available modalities commonly used in treating back pain. Dr. Golden then finished the day with a couple of cases highlighting the challenges in managing the critically ill patient who presents with penetrating neck injuries.