Hemoptysis

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Hemoptysis

What is it?  Bleeding below the cords

More specifically, it may be subdivided into Massive and Non-Massive hemoptysis.  And while the definitions of massive vary from paper to paper, it is generally agreed that increasing volume over 24 hours is associated with increased mortality.  However, the literature consistently concludes that patients and providers are poor, at best, at estimating volume.  Thus, the simplest and most effective definition for massive hemoptysis is as such: expectoration of blood causing hemodynamic instability or abnormal gas exchange / airway obstruction.

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Grand Rounds Recap - 2/18/2015

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Grand Rounds Recap - 2/18/2015

Hyperthyroidism: 1.3% of the US population has hyperthyroid. Thyrotoxicosis = too much thyroid hormone activity. Remember, T4 is a prohormone and T3 is the bioactive form. Causes of hyperthyroidism are broad and include: inappropriate thyroid stimulation, autonomous release of excess thyroid hormone, excessive release of thyroid stores, extra-thyroid sources of hormone. Hyperthyroidism increases risk of all-cause cardiovascular mortality and incidence of Afib. Diagnosis of hyperthyroid made by TSH <0.1 and high free T4. Iodine uptake test helps to find nodules and differentiate from thyroiditis. 

Thyroid Storm: an exacerbation of thyrotoxicosis leading to multi-organ failure. Mortality is high at 10-30%. Precipitating factors include: thyroid surgery, radioiodine treatment, medication and medication adjustment. Symptoms: febrile, tachycardic, agitation, seizures, psychosis, delirium, transaminitis. Diagnostic scoring system based upon signs and symptoms, not lab values. Treatment: propylthiouricil is available but not commonly recommended due to hepatic toxicity. Methimazole is preferred, but takes several hours to work. In the mean-time, use propanolol to decrease the effects of the hormone (the only beta blocker that crosses the BBB so is ideal at treating CNS symptoms). 1 hour after giving methimazole, can give iodine. 

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Flights - One Road too Far

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Flights - One Road too Far

You are working as the UH-doc.  Driving into your shift with the windows down and music playing, you figured the first warm day of the year would result in a busy day for you and the rest of the Air Care 1 crew.  You arrive for your shift, grabbing the radio from the Pod doc when the tones go off for your first flight of the day.  You grab the blood cooler head to helipad, checking your pager you find you’ll be responding to Southeastern Indiana for a “MVC rollover, entraped.”

You strap into the helicopter and fly over the city and to the rolling hills of Southeastern Indiana.  Landing on the 4 lane divided state road, you unstrap and head to your patient who is waiting with the BLS squad.

You open the side door of the EMS truck and head to the head of the bed to assess your patient...

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The Approach to the Foot X-ray

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The Approach to the Foot X-ray

Any way you slice it, foot x-rays are a pain to read.  Complicated by a number of overlapping bones, joints, the presence of multiple sesamoid bones, and multiple radiographic views, it's easy to get lost in the weeds trying to sort out normal variant from pathology.  Take a look at this short Blendspace module by PGY-1 Lauren Titone, MD and get a better understanding of the normal anatomy and a systematic approach to reading foot x-rays.

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Grand Rounds Recap - 2/11/15

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Grand Rounds Recap - 2/11/15

Repeat 6 Hour Head CT in Mild TBI Patients with Dr. Kreitzer

Mild TBI = GCS > or = 13

  • Incidence of NSG intervention 0.9%
  • Mortality 0.1%

Why Consider a 6 hour CT scan?

  • Pros: quicker disposition, avoidance of unnecessary admission
  • Cons: extra radiation, does not address post concussive symptoms

ACEP policy: mild TBI patients with normal head CT and normal mental status can be discharged home

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Grand Rounds Recap: Critical Care Symposium - 2/4/15

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Grand Rounds Recap: Critical Care Symposium - 2/4/15

Pressor Primer with Dr. Hebbeler-Clark

  • Norepinephrine seems to be on top in terms of vasopressor of choice currently (consider it your "easy button")
  • Per Surviving Sepsis Guidelines, Norepi has level 1B evidence as a first line pressor, while Epi is your second line with level 2B evidence and Vasopressin is currently ungraded in terms of evidence level
  • There have been 4 RCT's confirming that Norepi has no mortality difference from Epi and given it's safer side effect profile, use it regularly
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Ketamine Fight Club: Ketamine in TBI

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Ketamine Fight Club: Ketamine in TBI

There has long been a concern for increases in ICP with administration of ketamine primarily stemming from reports of increased ICP in the Neurosurgery and Neuroanesthesia literature.  These increases were described primarily in patients usually with CSF outflow obstruction undergoing elective neurosurgical procedures.  In the time since these articles were published, the use of ketamine in a wide variety of patients with neurologic compromise has been reported.  In fact, there have been a couple of recent systematic reviews and meta-analyses on this topic.  These systematic reviews and meta-analyses have essentially analyzing all the same existing literature (which is generally poor in quality).  

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Grand Rounds Recap - 1/28/15

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Grand Rounds Recap - 1/28/15

Mortality & Morbidity Conference with Dr. Bohanske

When volumes are high, remember the patient experience can be improved by acknowledging wait times when entering the room and apologizing for their wait.

Transverse myelitis is a result of partial inflammation of the spinal cord that can sometimes lead to necrosis.

  • The disease process is often progressive and function does not always return after treatment.
  • Most commonly this is idiopathic in nature but it is often attributed to a post-infectious inflammatory state.
  • Differential diagnosis should always include cord ischemia versus compression, and diagnosis hinges on a T2-weighted MRI.
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Annals of B Pod: Winter 2015 Issue!

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B Pod and the land of clinical uncertainty

This season's issue of Annals of B Pod we highlight clinical cases from our ED's B Pod to feature some complex cases starting with simple chief complaints, emphasizing the point that the sickest patients evolve from the mundane. Flu season continues to plague us and every day we face the question of how far to take the clinical evaluation when we see generic complaints. The decision comes partly from objective data, partly clinical decision rules, and mostly from a non-quantifiable summation that is clinical gestalt. 

The Search for the Holy Grail: Assessment of Fluid Responsiveness

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The Search for the Holy Grail: Assessment of Fluid Responsiveness

Last week our residents and faculty met for journal club in search of the holy grail.. err.. I mean, to talk about ways to assess volume responsiveness.  A couple of weeks back the PGY-1 and 2  residents met and discussed a number of questions they had about the care and management of patients with sepsis.  The discussion hit on a number of key topics: empiric antibiotic selection, timing of antibiotics, choice of vasopressors, etc.  Ultimately the group decided they wanted to take a closer look at non-invasive ways to assess volume responsiveness and guide resuscitation in septic patients.

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Approach to Reading MRI of the Spine

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Approach to Reading MRI of the Spine

It's another back pain type of day in Minor Care.  3 hours into your shift and you've seen 6 patient's with back pain.  You quickly evaluate them asking them about red flag symptoms, searching for signs of neurologic injury on your physical exam.  As you talk to Jane, your next patient, you get worried she doesn't have simple musculo-ligamentous back pain.  Jane has a history of IVDU and states her last use was 3 months ago.  She cites some subjective fever and chills over the past several days along with aching low back pain which has been getting steadily worse.  On exam, you find she is febrile with a temperature of 101.4, tachycardic to 110, with a normal blood pressure.  She has midline upper lumbar and lower thoracic spinal tenderness to palpation.

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Grand Rounds Recap - 1/21/15

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Grand Rounds Recap - 1/21/15

Evidence-Based Emergency Medicine: Accidental Hypothermia with Drs. Mudd & Riddle

Grading the Severity of Hypothermia

  • Mild hypothermia is defined as 32-35 °C and symptoms include confusion and diuresis
  • Moderate hypothermia occurs from 28-31°C and is associated with lack of shivering, atrial arrhythmias, and worsening changes in mental status (including paradoxical undressing)
  • Severe hypothermia happens when core body temperature is less then 28 °C and is associated with coma, significant decreases in metabolism, and a very low threshold for V-fib
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Grand Rounds Recap - 1/14/15

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Grand Rounds Recap - 1/14/15

Oral Boards with Dr. Roche

Case 1 - 37 yo F, G3P2, no prenatal care, somewhere around 3rd trimester, presents with vaginal bleeding. She endorses feeling weak and dizzy and had 1 syncopal episode at home. On arrival, she is tachycardic and hypotensive (80s/60s), has cool extremities with weak peripheral pulse. Fundus is a few cm below xyphoid process. On a sterile speculum exam she has a large amount of bleeding and cervix is dilated to 3 cm. US shows IUP with good cardiac activity. She requires blood rescuscitation and admission to OB for delivery due to placenta previa.

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“I Don’t Care What You Say. I’m Out of Here Doc…”

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“I Don’t Care What You Say. I’m Out of Here Doc…”

You take a big breath and walk out of the SRU.  After having just spent the last hour and a half caring for a hypotensive, actively vomiting variceal bleeder, a full arrest that you had to pronounce, and a GSW to the chest that went quickly to the OR, you are dreading to see the state of your Pod.  As you are just about to sneak into your workstation to get your bearings, you’re flagged down by Mr. Finch, the patient in bed 2.

“What can I help you with sir?” <you>

“What do you mean, what can you help me with?  Man just get my paperwork and let me get out of here.  I’ve had it with this place.  I’m tired of being a pin cushion and I’m not going to take this crap anymore.” <Mr. Finch>

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Grand Rounds Recap 1/7/14

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Grand Rounds Recap 1/7/14

CPC with Dr. Boyer vs. Dr. Steuerwald

16yoF with 4 days of bilateral lower quadrant abdominal pain and diarrhea that was tachy, dry, and with a diffusely tender abdomen and some right-sided discomfort on pelvic exam with a mild leukocytosis.

Dr. Steuerwald's approach to listening to patient presentations: Pick out the main symptoms, get a time course, and listen for any other true "weirdness" then build your own timeline of events.

  • Don't forget about the "sexy numbers" in everyone, these include the vitals and also key aspects of a disease process (i.e. the EF in a patient with CHF)
  • DDx included appendicitis, PID, TOA, Fitz-Hugh Curtis, Ovarian Torsion, Yersinia enterocolitis
  • Dr. Steuerwald correctly identified the need to get a RLQ US to assess for appendicitis!
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