This week, Dr. Boyer led us through his R4 case follow up. Drs. Baez and Summers dove deep into the literature on sepsis. Dr. Gauger reviewed toxicologic syndromes. Dr. Axelson hit us with some trauma pearls and we worked through sick respiratory cases during our combined Peds-EM sim.
Read MoreThis week we got put in the hot seat with oral boards on AAA rupture, SVT and eclampsia, a simulation with end-of-life discussions, a critical beta blocker overdose from Dr. Lagasse and some Peds EM tips on conscious sedation from Cincinnati Children's PEM Fellow Dr. Lee. Click to check out more highlights from this week's Grand Rounds!
Read MoreElbow injuries account for 2-3% of all emergency department visits across the nation (1). Yet, because of the elbow’s complex anatomy and the presence of numerous ossification centers in children, elbow fractures are the third most commonly missed fracture group in the ED (1). Here are some tools to help ED physicians read elbow x-rays more effectively and hopefully identify abnormalities more easily...
Read MoreImagine it’s your first moonlighting shift at a small rural community hospital. The nearest referral center for both adults and children is 90-minutes away by ground. The annual census of the emergency department is 15,000 patients per year, of which only 5% is pediatric. There are 2 hours left in your 12-hour shift and your energy is all but spent. You are looking forward to winding down at home after an extremely busy and high-acuity shift when your 35th patient of the day checks in. The patient’s chief complaint is fever. You give yourself an internal fist pump thinking that you’re about to see your 12th viral URI of the day and that you’ll be in-and-out of that room no in time. In the midst of your premature celebration you scan the nursing note and see the age of the patient: 6 weeks…You’re hopes of a quick and easy disposition suddenly melt away leaving you with many more questions regarding this patient’s care than answers…You muster your remaining energy and make your way toward the patient’s room.
Read MoreWe presented a case of a 42 y/o female who presented with altered mental status, hypotension and bradycardia. She was ultimately found to have an unintentional labetalol overdose which she had been taking PRN for headache.
Beta-Blocker Overdose Take-Home Points...
Read MoreRemember the "I's" when looking for cause of DKA/HHS: Infection, Insulin lack, Infarction (MI, CVA, Ischemic gut), Indiscretion (EtOH, cocaine), Infant (pregnancy).
After 2L NS fluid bolus in the hemodynamically stable patient, the corrected sodium should guide fluid choice for further therapy.
Venous pH, HCO3 and base excess have sufficient agreement to be interchangeable with ABG in the ED.
Read MoreThe patient is a healthy 3 week old male with no past medical history. He was born full term via uncomplicated Cesarean Section who presents with increased fussiness. His mother states the patient has simply not been acting like himself. He was taken home on hospital day 1 without issues, but in the last 24 hours, he has been quite fussy. His mother became concerned when he was unable to take his bottle today. The child has been refusing to eat and has been increasingly difficult to console. He has also had less wet diapers than normal today. Mom has not noticed cyanosis during feeding, recent illnesses or fevers. She also denies the presence of emesis, diarrhea, rashes, congestion, or cough.
Read MoreThis is our final recap of our "Out on a Limb" Case Series! If you missed the initial "Moonlighter" case and discussion you can check it out here. There were a number of great responses to the questions which we'll recap below.
You have a few options in handling this situation. As many of the respondents chimed in, the wound definitely needs to be cleaned out and closed and the patient requires antibiotics as soon as is reasonably and safely possible, especially since the injury is already 6 hours old. The first option is to complete a sedation and multilayer repair in the ED yourself. As many people point out, this is not an excellent proposition unless there are extreme extenuating circumstances.
Read MoreThanks to everybody who commented and contributed to the discussion on our final “Flight!” If you missed out on the case, check it out here. Below you’ll find a curation of the comments to each question and a podcast with expert commentary from Jenn Lakeberg, APRN. This was the final “Flight” for this spring/summer. Look for the cases to return again in January 2016 as we begin Flight MD Orientation with the next class of future Air Care Flight Docs.
Read MoreR4 Simulation Series: Genitourinary Emergencies with Dr. Moschella and Dr. Verzwyvelt
SRU (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.
