A 25 y F g1p0 @8wks pregnant presents to ED complaining of SOB. Clinical suspicion for PE with a positive dimer to 0.68. Assuming lower extremity dopplers and chest x ray are unremarkable. How will you further workup this patient? CTA or V…
Asking an anesthesiologist or EM doc their choice of paralytic can spark heated debate. What do you prefer? Succinylcholine: -depolarizing agent -30-60 sec onset -8-15 min duration -adverse reactions: bradycardia, hyperK, fasciculations, m…
You’re rotating in the RICU and while there one of your patients develops respiratory distress requiring intubation. As you are preparing your equipment you notice that the intern on the team, who is trying to be helpful, is holding t…
This recent meta-analysis in the BMJ found that paracetamol (acetaminophen) was no better than placebo for the treatment of low back pain.
32 yo overweight female presents with a headache. This headache is similar to prior headaches, which she gets frequently. The rest of her story seems consistent with a migraine and her physical exam, including a through neuro exam, is nor…
24 y/o male working at the local aquarium presents with right hand redness, pain, and swelling after handling an exotic fish. He is able to snap a picture of the fish before presenting to the ED. What’s your diagnosis?
A 50 y/o M with a PMH of hypertension presents to the emergency department with epistaxis. A rhino rocket is placed. You note the patient’s blood pressure to be 196/100. He is A&Ox3 and denies any other symptoms. Should you treat…
A 2 year old male presents with his mother with after mom saw him put something metallic in his mouth. He has no past medical problems and does not appear in any distress. His lung sounds are clear bilaterally, SpO2 99% on room air. You obt…
62 y/o M PMH of hep C cirrhosis, HTN, and anemia presents with fever to 101.6 and diffuse abdominal pain. Your patient has jaundice and abdominal distension and tenderness with shifting fluid wave. You work him up with labs, including a tap…
You have to close a laceration in a 5 year old and you’re preparing your local anesthesia. It’s been shown that buffering lidocaine with bicarbonate decreases the acidity of the solution and improves patient comfort during infiltration, but…
59 y/o M presents to the cardiac room after cardiac arrest. EMS reports a downtime of 5 minutes with immediate bystander CPR. The initial rhythm was vifb that responded to two EMS shocks and CPR. The patient arrived with ROSC. Soon after th…
A 29 y/o F 20 weeks pregnant presents with fever, dysuria, and left flank pain. She has some CVA tenderness on the right. WBC is elevated to 15. UA shows both blood and leukocytes in the urine. You are concerned about pyelonephritis vs. and…
4 month-old M PMH low birth weight presents with a 3 day history cough and runny nose. Today his mother reports a low grade fever. His immunizations are up to date. He has no known sick contacts, but he attends day care. His respiratory r…
53 y/o M PMD ESRD on dialysis presents with mild chest pain, now resolved. His EKG is unremarkable and trop is mildly elevated. There are no signs of overt heart failure. You call his cardiologist who tells you he has a “chronic troponin le…
Vascular access in ill neonates who present to the ED can be challenging. Umbilical vein catheterization can be a life-saving option. The umbilical vein remains patent and viable for cannulation until approximately 1 week after birth.
