This Tuesday, the New York Times reported that 33 patients from the same Brooklyn neighborhood were transported to the ED due to a “bad batch” of K2. But what is a “bad batch,” and what does it mean in terms of treat…
Abdominal pain is the most common chief complaint in the emergency room, yet up to 40% of these patients are discharged without a definitive diagnosis. In cases of nonspecific abdominal pain, it is crucial to have a meaningful discussion ab…
On account of the holidays, we’re starting July off with a bang with a Triple Pearl. There is a significant increase in firework-related injuries this time of year, but the distribution of injuries may surprise you. If you’re expectin…
Congratulations to the graduates of the Class of 2016! –On behalf of the attendings for whom you lightened the burden, the residents for whom you paved the way, and the patients for whom you cared. Best wishes. Don’t forget to v…
In preparation for July 4th weekend and upcoming beach season…let’s review a quick-to-read basic management of a jellyfish sting (not including those pesky Australian Irukandji jellyfish): To inactivate nematocysts: Pour …
In light of a recent patient in our ED with a femoral neck fracture… Rather than dose and re-dose opioids, consider an US-guided femoral nerve block for safer, longer, and more effective analgesia [1-3]. Courtesy of Robe…
As the Teaching Resident in the ED this month, I have been asked to assist with a range of aspiration procedures, from peritonsillar abscess to paracentesis to priapism. Here is a procedural complication witnessed particularly for smaller r…
Ellis Classification System Ellis I: extends through enamel (radiopaque) Ellis II: extends through dentin (less radiopaque; similar to bone) tender to touch/air visible yellow layer of dentin Ellis III: extends through pulp (radiolucent) te…
Inspired by the procedural skills of Dr.’s Lazarciuc, Milliner, and Rajpal… In brief, step by-by-step: Sterile field Dorsal penile nerve block: 2 cc of Lidocaine w/o Epi injected close to penile base, from 2 and 10 o’clock…
After pulling in a spectacular toe-tapping sideline-hugging outstretched 30-yard bomb just milliseconds before a crushing hit by multiple defenders (a Pearl unto itself), one of our own right-handed residents came down the next day with red…
In light of the horrific mass casualty attack in Orlando, here is a review of the medical triage system for mass casualty events. Thoughts and prayers to the victims, their families, and all those affected. Triage is used to determin…
Here are some very-quick and easy-to-read pearls to remember for the dangerous immediate postpartum complication of postpartum hemorrhage. Most common causes Uterine atony (by far) Trauma (i.e. lacerations, surgical incisions, uterin…
Taken from the American Burn Association’s Burn Center Referral Criteria: Partial thickness burns >10% TBSA Burns involving face, hands, feet, genitalia, perineum, or major joints Third degree burns (whitish, charred or translucent…
In light of this morning’s toilet-related malfunction and Noah’s Ark-like flooding of the PA Conference Room……here are a few quick-to-read pearls about the drowning patient. Epidemiology Leading cause of death…
The American Academy of Pediatrics has recently released new guidelines attempting to replace the term apparent-life threatening event (ALTE) with brief resolved unexplained event (BRUE). The term ALTE was somewhat subjectively defined and…
