Modified Valsava for SVT

Background: SVTs are commonly seen in the ED. Chemical cardioversion often takes several minutes to initiate because we have to get IV access and medication ready.  During this time, we can attempt some valsava maneuvers to cardiovert stabl…

BiPAP

What’s the difference between BiPAP vs. CPAP? CPAP stands for continuous positive airway pressure. In other words, there is a continuous pressure regardless whether the patient is breathing in or out. CPAP only has one pressure setting. BiP…

ADvISED Trial

Background: Acute aortic syndromes (AAS) include aortic dissection, intramural aortic hematoma, penetrating aortic ulcer and aortic rupture. AAS are rare but life threatening cardiovascular emergencies with non-specific clinical presentatio…

Hyponatremia

Clinical Scenario: 28 yo F with unknown medical history presents with multiple seizures. Routine BMP shows hyponatremia to 110. What is your next step for symptomatic hyponatremia? Causes of hyponatremia: Hypervolemic Hyponatremia: congesti…

Codeine is bad for children

Despite warnings by the FDA in 2013 to stop prescribing codeine to children due to the risk of respiratory depression and death, a study to be released this week in Pediatrics indicates that 5% of children post-tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy a…

Fight bite

21 yo male presents with laceration over his distal 4th metacarpal. Initially the patient doesn’t recall how the injury occurred, but with additional probing you discover he was in an altercation last night and punched another person in the…

Oculomotor palsy

A 74 yo female with hx of diabetes, HTN presents to the ED with new onset painless left sided diplopia for the last 24 hours. No change in visual acuity. The patient has no other symptoms. You examine the eye and left sided ptosis and a “do…

STEMI?

74 yo F with hx of CAD, afib, HLD, severe LV dysfunction is brought in by EMS as a notification for a STEMI. A 12-lead EKG in your ED shows the same as the EMS EKG. Should you activate the CATH lab?   Answer: Check an old EKG. An old E…

September 2024
M T W T F S S
 1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
30  

Archives