Sengstaken-Blakemore Tube Placement for Bleeding Esophageal Varices

Before placementof your Sengstaken-Blakemore tube, your patient should be intubated to prevent aspiration. As this is only a temporizing measure, other services (GI, ICU, Maybe IR) should be notified and start mobilizing for definitive management. Equipement Sengstaken-Blakemore Tube 60 cc syringe Salem Sump Kelly Clamp 2 Three-way stopcocks with caps Lubricant Manometer Water Sharpie Suction […]

Serotonin Syndrome

Agents that Can Precipitate Serotonin Syndrome Cocaine MDMA Tramadol Cyclobenzaprine Dextromethorphan St. John’s Wort MAOI Fentanyl Treatment for serotonin syndrome involves supportive care, discontinuing the offending agent, and providing the antidote. Sedation with benzodiazepines is important for controlling agitation as well as correcting mild increases in blood pressure and heart rate. Haloperidol and Droperidol should […]

work of breathing

All of this discussion hinges on understanding the origins of air FLOW. A pressure differential or gradient is the key requirement. Tachypnea is the expected response to lung inflammation that produces stimulation of irritant, stretch, and J receptors. Respiratory rates of 25 to 35 breaths per minute should not be viewed as ipso facto justification […]

renal handling of water

If you were on a tea & toast diet, how much water would you need to drink before you develop hyponatremia? I haven’t seen anyone work out the numbers before so here are my calculations. And the key to understanding hyponatremia is the renal handling of water. Take-home points #1: water follows solutes ⟶ need solutes […]

acute acidemia physiology

As alluded to in the first post, don’t be fooled by a “normal” potassium in the setting of DKA because osmotic diuresis and H+/K+ exchange means that total body potassium is actually LOW. You all know this, but don’t forget to check the potassium before starting insulin. But what about the acidemia? How does that affect physiology? (reminder: […]