Don't Kill the Beans: The Specter of Contrast-Induced Nephropathy

Don't Kill the Beans: The Specter of Contrast-Induced Nephropathy

Working in the Emergency Department, we often encounter patients with either pre-existing renal disease or an acute compromise of their renal function who also have a disease process necessitating a contrasted radiology study.  So what do we do with that patient with a creatinine of 1.8 who has a possible vascular dissection/traumatic injury/infection? What is the risk of contrast to that patient?  Should you compromise your diagnostic evaluation to avoid a harm to the patient's renal function?  Dr. Nick Ludmer, Dr Michael Miller, and Dr. Amanda Polsinelli recap 3 articles recently published looking into contrast induced nephropathy.  Take a listen to the podcast and read the blog post to get yourself acquainted with the current state of the literature.

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Grand Rounds Recap 12/9/15

Grand Rounds Recap 12/9/15

Glucose Emergencies

Remember 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.

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