emergency medicine cardiology: Recent Episodes
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There are many nuances in the management of patients with pulmonary embolism in cardiac arrest, peri-arrest or simply in shock: We need to optimize oxygenation and airway management, hemodynamic support, acid/base management, thrombolysis and/or catheter-directed therapies that Anton dives into with guest experts Dr. Lauren Westafer, Dr. Bourke Tillmann and Dr. Justin Morgenstern... EM Cases is proudly FOAMEd - Please consider a donation: https://emergencymedicinecases.com/donation/
The post Ep 204 High Risk Pulmonary Embolism Management appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In this ECG Cases blog Dr. Jesse McLaren guides us through 6 illustrative cases delving into overall impression in identifying occlusion MI. He discusses how using multiple OMI findings such as acute Q wave, subtle STE, reciprocal STD, hyperacute T waves, and reciprocal TWI to contribute to your overall impression, can double the sensitivity of STEMI criteria for acute coronary occlusion...
The post ECG Cases 55 The Art of Occlusion MI Part 3 – Impression appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In this month's EM Quick Hits podcast: Zafar Qasim & Andrew Petrosoniak on whole blood transfusion in trauma, Justin Morgenstern on calcium pre-treatment to prevent diltiazem-induced hypotension, Kiran Rikhraj on dynamic LV outflow tract obstruction, Anand Swaminathan on resuscitative thoracotomy, Andrew Tagg on uterine casts, and Jesse McLaren on scale & proportionality in occlusion MI ECG interpretation. **Please support EM Cases to continue to be free open access by making a donation: https://emergencymedicinecases.com/donation/
The post EM Quick Hits 64 Whole Blood Transfusions, Calcium Before Diltiazem in Afib, Thoracotomy Pearls, Uterine Casts, OMI Scale & Proportionality appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
On this month's ECG Cases, Dr. Jesse McLaren explains how STEMI criteria can be false positive with large scale QRS and proportional ST elevation, or false negative with low/normal scale QRS and disproportionate ST elevation and hyperacute T waves, and that rules for subtle occlusion using proportionality can help differentiate LBBB with or without Occlusion MI, or LV aneurysm vs anterior STEMI with Q waves...
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The post ECG Cases 54 The Art of Occlusion MI: Scale and Proportionality appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
On this month's EM Quick Hits podcast: Anand Swaminathan on optimizing RSI medication timing, Brittany Ellis on ED boarding challenges in older patients and solutions to ED crowding and flow, Dave Jerome on managing prolonged tourniquet application, Nour Khatib and Phil Gillick on a rural peer support case, Jesse McLaren on ECG reciprocal changes in acute coronary occlusion, and Melody Ng on practical nutrition tips for shift workers...
The post EM Quick Hits 62 Optimizing RSI Medication Timing, ED Boarding of Older Patients, Prolonged Tourniquet Use, Rural Peer Support Programs, ECG Reciprocal Changes, Nutrition Tips for Shift Workers appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
On this month's EM Quick Hits podcast: Ross Prager on TEE in cardiac arrest, Justin Morgenstern on nebulized ketamine for analgesia in the ED, Hans Rosenberg & Krishin Yadav on standardizing cellulitis management, Mathew McArther on latest studies on subcutaneous insulin protocols in DKA, Jennifer C. Tang on documenting differential diagnoses medicolegal tips...
The post EM Quick Hits 61 TEE in Cardiac Arrest, Nebulized Ketamine, Cellulitis Update, SQ Insulin for DKA, Medicolegal DDx Documentation Tips appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In this month's ECG Cases Jesse McLaren takes us through 6 cases highlighting important mirror concepts in ECG interpretation including: which leads are reciprocal to each other, how to identify which is the main ST/T change and which is the mirror, reciprocal changes highlighting subtle inferior, lateral and posterior OMI, ST elevation in aVR as a mirror to widespread ST depression and more...
The post ECG Cases 52 – The Art of Occlusion MI, part 1: Mirror Image appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
On this month's EM Quick Hits podcast: Kevin Wasko on post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage management, Brit Long on assessment and management of post-CABG surgical incision infections, Anand Swaminathan on evidence, pitfalls and tips on using Bougies, Leah Flannigan on when to suspect vascular injury in patients with low energy mechanism pelvic fractures, Andrew Petrosoniak on debriefing after cases: why, when and how...
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The post EM Quick Hits 60 Post-Tonsillectomy Hemorrhage, Post-CABG Infections, Bougie Tips, Pelvic Fracture Bleeds, Debriefing: Why, When & How appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In this ECG Cases Dr. Jesse McLaren outlines why not to trust the ECG interpretation, even if normal, because it can miss critical findings. He explores how to independently and systematically interpret every ECG so that when the computer ECG interpretation says "normal" you don't miss key findings...
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The post ECG Cases 51 – ECGs falsely labeled “normal” appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
On this month's EM Quick Hits podcast: Ian Chernoff on the often elusive diagnosis of traumatic coronary artery dissection, Anand Swaminathan on proper use of insulin in DKA and in hyperkalemia, Brit Long and Hans Rosenberg on mesenteric ischemia pearls and pitfalls in diagnosis and management, Dave Jerome on recognition and management exercise-associated hyponatremia and heat illness and Jesse McLaren on the Queen of Hearts AI model in helping identify occlusion MI on ECG...
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The post EM Quick Hits 59 Traumatic Coronary Artery Dissection, Proper Use of Insulin, Mesenteric Ischemia, Exercise Associated Hyponatremia, AI for OMI appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
We over-admit low risk acute heart failure patients and under-admit high risk heart failure patients. In this podcast we discuss the diagnostic accuracy of various clinical features, lab tests and imaging modalities for acute heart failure, the 3 validated risk stratification tools and a simple approach to PoCUS for the diagnosis and prognostication of acute heart failure in the ED to improve our diagnostic accuracy and disposition decisions for patients with acute heart failure...
The post Ep 197 Acute Heart Failure Risk Stratification and Disposition appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
ECG artifact and lead reversal can mimic tachy-arrhythmia, infarct or Brugada. Learn how to identify these errors to prevent misdiagnosis on this month's ECG Cases with Dr. Jesse McLaren...
The post ECG Cases 51 – Artifact and Lead Misplacement appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In this month's EM Quick Hits podcast: Megan Landes on the importance of diagnosing HIV in the ED, Jesse McLaren on the failed paradigm of STEMI criteria and ECG tips to identify acute coronary occlusion, Anand Swaminathan on evidence for non-invasive airway management in the poisoned patient, Brit Long and Hans Rosenberg on the identification, workup and management of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, Matt Poyner on the most lucrative side-gig, DIY investing.
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The post EM Quick Hits 57 – HIV Diagnosis, Failed Paradigm of STEMI Criteria, Poisoned Patient Airway Management, Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis, DIY Investments appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
Dr. Jesse McLaren illustrates the paradigm shift from STEMI to Occlusion MI (OMI) through 9 cases, and drives home the points that if there is STEMI criteria, consider false positives (eg. secondary and proportional to LVH or BER); if there is no STEMI criteria, consider false negatives and look for other signs of occlusion (eg. acute Q waves or loss of R waves, hyperacute T waves, or reciprocal STD/TWI) and if the ECG is nondiagnostic, consider other OMI signs including clinical (refractory ischemia, hemodynamic/electrical instability) and POCUS (new regional wall motion abnormalities).
The post ECG Cases 50 – STEMI: A Failed Paradigm, Enter Occlusion MI appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In this ECG Cases blog, Jesse McLaren and Rajiv Thavanathan explore how ECG and POCUS complement each other for patients presenting to the emergency department with shortness of breath or chest pain. They explain complementary diagnostic insights into pericardial effusion and cardiac tamponade, occlusion MI and RV strain...
The post ECG Cases 49 – ECG and POCUS for Dyspnea and Chest Pain appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In this month's ECG Cases blog Dr. Jesse McLaren reviews interpretation of the pre-arrest ECG: identifying high risk ECGs requiring empiric treatment like calcium for hyperkalemia, magnesium for long QT, or reperfusion for Occlusion MI; the intra-arrest ECG: identifying pseudo-PEA; and post-arrest ECG: the importance of serial ECGs to reduce false positive STEMI, role of POCUS to help with the differential of diffuse ST depression with reciprocal ST elevation in aVR, and identifying signs of Occlusion MI/ false negative STEMI...
The post ECG Cases 48 – ECG Interpretation in Cardiac Arrest appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
Olivia Ostrow on the management of button battery ingestions, Brit Long on C difficile infection, Jesse McLaren on an approach to ECG's in the tox patient, Joe Mullally on the identification and treatment of bed bug bites, Andrew Petrosoniak on fibrinogen replacement in bleeding trauma patients, Justin Morganstern on Cold Air for Croup... https://emergencymedicinecases.com/donation/
The post EM Quick Hits 54 Button Battery Ingestion, C. difficile, ECG in Tox, Bed Bugs, Fibrinogen in Trauma, Cold Air for Croup appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In this ECG Cases Dr. Jesse McLaren delves into ECG interpretation in toxicology and the poisoned patient using his HEARTS approach in 7 case examples. Heart rate/rhythm: consider antidotes for brady/tachy-arrhythmias, and for sinus tachycardia consider fluids for vasodilation and benzodiazepines for agitation. Electrical conduction and axis: consider sodium bicarb for QRS > 100 especially if RBBB or terminal rightward shift, and magnesium for QTc> 500. ST/T changes: consider the differential including demand ischemia, associated electrolyte abnormalities, Brugada pattern from sodium channel blockade, and acute coronary occlusion vs vasospasm from cocaine...
The post ECG Cases 47 – ECG Interpretation in Toxicology appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In this ECG Cases blog Dr. Jesse McLaren guides us through 10 cases, driving home the points that sepsis is a common cause of rapid Afib and diffuse ST depression with reciprocal ST elevation in aVR, myo/pericarditis is a diagnosis of exclusion, endocarditis or lyme carditis can cause AV block, PE can cause low grade fever and ECG signs of acute RV strain and that fever can unmask Brugada syndrome...
The post ECG Cases 46 ECG in Fever and Infectious Disease appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In this ECG Cases blog Dr. Jesse MacLaren guides us through 10 cases of patients who present with generalized weakness or acute neurologic symptoms and discusses how to look for ECG signs of dysrhythmias, electrolyte emergencies, acute coronary occlusion, and demand ischemia in patients with generalized weakness and in patients with neurologic symptoms, to consider predisposing factors like LVH; seizure-like activity from cardiac syncope; TIA/CVA embolic sources like atrial fibrillation or LV thrombus; or cardiac complications like stress-induced cardiomyopathy...
The post ECG Cases 45 ECG in Weakness and Neurological Symptoms appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In this ECG Cases blog with Dr. Jesse McLaren we interpret 10 ECG cases and explore cardiac, metabolic and GI causes:
We consider anginal equivalents, and look for ECG signs of Occlusion MI, including subacute occlusion from delayed presentations. We consider electrolyte disturbances and look for ECG signs of hyperkalemia or hypokalemia/hypomagnesemia, and we consider the differential of diffuse ST depression with reciprocal ST elevation in aVR, and false positive STEMI...
The post ECG Cases 44 ECG Interpretation in Epigastric pain, Vomiting appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
On this month's EM Quick Hits podcast David Carr on differential diagnosis of normal unenhanced CT renal colic, Leeor Sommer on recognition and management of perichondritis and auricular abscess, Suzanne Schuh on IV magnesium sulphate for pediatric asthma, Jess McLaren on Occlusion MI ECG interpretation requiring cath lab activation and Justin Morgenstern on update on steroids for pneumonia...
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The post EM Quick Hits 50 Normal Unenhanced CT Renal Colic DDx, Perichondritis, Magnesium in Pediatric Asthma, Steroids for Pneumonia, OMI Cath Lab Activation appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
We miss potentially dangerous and even lethal drug interactions in EM more often than we realize. In this main episode EM Cases podcast with Dr. David Juurlink and Dr. Walter Himmel we review the common categories of drugs, the high risk patients and the key drug interactions that we need to know about in Emergency Medicine...
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The post Ep 184 Must Know Drug Interactions in Emergency Medicine appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In this ECG Cases blog we look at 10 patients with shortness of breath, and discuss how the ECG can be used to help diagnose cardiac, respiratory and metabolic emergencies. We discover that for STEMI/OMI vs subendocardial ischemia, we should look for STEMI(-)OMI, subacute OMI, and OMI in the presence of LBBB and RBBB, and consider the differential for diffuse ST depression with reciprocal ST elevation in aVR. For RV strain, acute vs chronic, we should look for signs of acute RV strain and chronic pulmonary hypertension. for low voltages we should consider pericardial effusion and other causes, and for hyperkalemia we should look for multiple signs of hyperkalemia as a guide for empiric calcium...
The post ECG Cases 43 – ECG Interpretation in Shortness of Breath appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In this ECG Cases blog we look at 10 cases of patients with chest pain, including false positive STEMI, false negative STEMI, and other causes to help hone your ECG interpretation skills in time-sensitive cases where those very ECG skills might save a life...
The post ECG Cases 42 – Approach to ECG Interpretation in Patients with Chest Pain: OMI, False Positive & Negative STEMI & Other Causes appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
How can we use the awareness of complications to identify false positive STEMI and Occlusion MI that doesn’t meet classic STEMI criteria, and consider specific treatment? Dr. Jesse McLaren reviews the complications of MI through 10 ECG cases and how they alter management...
The post ECG Cases 41 – STEMI, Occlusion MI Complications appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
Dr. Jesse McLaren on when to consider Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD), which patients are at risk for reocclusion, and the challenges of diagnosing SCAD in patients who have nonischemic ECGs despite silent occlusion, occlusions perfused by collaterals, or from non-occlusive MI on this ECG Cases...
The post ECG Cases 40 – Approach to Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD) appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In this EM Quick Hits podcast: Justin Hensley and Aaron Billin on Wilderness Medicine, Elisha Targonsky on Bowel Prep Hyponatremia, Brit Long on Non-Convulsive Status Epilepticus, Andrew Petrosoniak on Morel Lavallee Lesions, Jesse McLaren on Pacemaker ECGs and Matt Poyner on paying off loans vs investing... https://emergencymedicinecases.com/donation/
The post EM Quick Hits 46 – Wilderness Medicine, Bowel Prep Hyponatremia, Non-Convulsive Status Epilepticus, Morel Lavallee Lesions, Pacemaker ECGs, Loans vs Investing appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
Is low dose diltiazem as effective and safer than standard dose diltiazem for rate control in patients with atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular response? Dr. Rohit Mohindra and Dr. Shelley McLeod critically appraise the latest study on diltiazem dosing and deliver a research methodology hot take on this month's EM Cases Journal Club...
The post Journal Club 2 – Diltiazem Dosing in Atrial Fibrillation with Rapid Ventricular Response appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In this ECG Cases blog we look at 9 patients with possible transient STEMI and discuss pitfalls and pearls in ECG interpretation and management...
The post ECG Cases 39 – Transient STEMI Pitfalls and Pearls appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
Dr. Jesse McLaren discusses some key aspects of cocaine chest pain ECG interpretation in this month's blog including: Patients with cocaine-associated chest pain require benzodiazepines +/- nitroglycerine for symptom relief, aspirin and ECG to look for signs of occlusion and reperfusion. In patients with chest pain + ST elevation, consider false positive STEMI including early repolarization, LVH and Brugada-pattern. In patients with cocaine chest pain who are STEMI negative, beware STEMI(-)OMI including subtle ST elevation, hyperacute T waves, reciprocal change, and refractory ischemia. For cocaine chest pain patients who's chest pain has resolved, look for reperfusion T wave inversion, as this may put them at risk for reocclusion.
The post ECG Cases 38 – ECG Interpretation in Cocaine Chest Pain appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In this EM Quick Hits podcast: Justin Morgenstern on fluids in pancreatitis, Leeor Sommer on nasal fractures, Christina Shenvi on delirium, Sheldon Cheskes and Rohit Mohindra on Dose VF, and Noor Khatib and Kari Sampsel on intimate partner violence...
The post EM Quick Hits 44 Fluids in Pancreatitis, Nasal Fractures, Delirium, DOSE VF, Intimate Partner Violence appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
While most of us have a clear algorithm in our minds for the management of life-threatening hyperkalemia, the same may not be said about the other life-threatening electrolyte abnormalities. In this ECG Cases blog Dr. Jesse MacLaren gives us an approach to potassium, calcium and magnesium abnormalities including risk factor assessment, ECG interpretation and management pearls...
The post ECG Cases 37 ECG interpretation in electrolyte emergencies appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
On this month's EM Quick Hits podcast: Best of University of Toronto EM with Yaron Finkelstein on pediatric cannabis poisoning pitfalls, Brit Long on recognition and management of esophageal perforation, Jesse McLaren on 3 questions to diagnose Brugada Syndrome, Tahara Bhate on QI Corner, Constance Leblanc on maintaining wellness in career transitions from CAEP 2022...
The post EM Quick Hits 43 Pediatric Cannabis Poisoning, Esophageal Perforation, Brugada, Career Transitions in EM appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In this month's ECG Cases blog Dr. McLaren explains the PACER mnemonic approach to patients with pacemakers: Pacemaker spike: is it appropriately presence/absent, is there pacemaker-mediated tachycardia (apply magnet) or is there failure to pace (apply magnet to stop sensing, cardio consult)? Aware (sensing): is it normal, is there oversensing (underpacing: apply magnet) or undersensing (treat reversible causes, cardio consult). Capture: if there are pacemaker spikes is there capture, or failure to capture (treat reversible causes, cardio consult). ECG 12 lead: are there signs of hyperkalemia (extra wide QRS, peaked T) or Occlusion MI (Modified Sgarbossa Criteria) that need immediate treatment. Rest of patient: is there a complication of pacemaker insertion related to the pocket (hematoma, infection), lead (pneumothorax, DVT), or heart (pericardial perforation), or is there an emergency unrelated to the pacemaker (eg dehydration, sepsis, GI bleed)...
The post ECG Cases 36 – PACER Mnemonic for Approach to Pacemaker Patients appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
Takotsubo Syndrome is usually triggered by an emotional or physical stress leading to acute catecholaminergic myocardial stunning. The initial ST elevation phase of Takotsubo Syndrome mimics Occlusion MI, can not be distinguished by patient factors or POCUS findings, and requires immediate angiogram. The subsequent phase of Takotsubo Syndrome has T wave inversion in an apical distribution, which can mimic reperfusion, but often has very deep T wave inversions and a very long QT interval. Takotsubo Syndrome is a retrospective diagnosis of exclusion—with an angiogram ruling out occlusion, a ventriculogram showing apical ballooning, and a follow up echo showing recovery of LV function. Complications of Takotsubo Syndrome include LV failure, apical thrombus, and polymorphic VT from long QT. Jesse McLaren guides us through 10 ECGs to elucidate these important take home points...
The post ECG Cases 35 – ECG Approach to Takotsubo Syndrome appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
Which patients with ECG evidence of coronary occlusion require a CT scan to rule out aortic dissection? What are the range of ECG findings in acute aortic dissection and how do they change management? Dr. Jesse McLaren guides us through 9 cases to answer these and other questions on ECG interpretation in aortic dissection...
The post ECG Cases 34 – ECG Interpretation in Aortic Dissection appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In this main episode podcast, Dr. David Carr joins Anton to give us his simplified approach to syncope based solely on history, physical and ECG to help guide disposition decisions. We answer questions such as: What features have the best likelihood ratios to help distinguish syncope from seizure? What key clinical features on history and physical exam can help us distinguish orthostatic and reflex syncope from the more sinister cardiac syncope? What is the best approach to ECG interpretation for the patient who has presents with syncope? Are syncope clinical decision tools any better than physician gestalt? and many more....
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The post Ep 172 Syncope Simplified with David Carr appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In this month's EM Quick Hits podcast: Anand Swaminathan on GI balloon tamponade preparation and indications, Jesse McLaren on why troponin is rarely useful in SVT, Christina Shenvi on why we should not use the term "mechanical fall" in older patients, Nour Khatib & Jonathan Wallace on rural vertical vertigo case and Reuben Strayer on VAFEI - Video-Assisted Flexible Endoscopic Intubation for the anatomically challenging airway...
The post EM Quick Hits 40 – GI Balloon Tamponade, SVT and Troponin, Falls in Older Patients, Vertical Vertigo, VAFEI Airway appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
Jesse McLaren guides us through 7 cases and explains his 3-step approach to diagnosing and managing Brugada syndrome in this month's ECG Cases blog...
The post ECG Cases 33 Brugada Syndrome: 3-Step Approach to Diagnosis and Management appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In this special edition main EM Cases podcast episode we feature the highlights from live podcasts recorded at Calgary EM during their annual Hodsman Lecture Day, covering a variety of current EM topics: The challenges of posterior circulation stroke (PCIS); Emergency Physician Lead to improve ED overcrowding, access block and job satisfaction; When not to order a troponin - The HEAR Score; Ketamine to relieve suicidal ideation and reduce acute risk; Peer Support Workers for ED patients with mental health issues and substance use disorder, plus a description of the Pathway to Peers program...
The post Ep 171 Posterior Stroke, EP Lead, HEAR Score, Ketamine for Suicidal Ideation, Peer Support Workers – Highlights from Calgary EM Hodsman Lecture Day appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In this month's EM Quick Hits podcast Justin Morgenstern & Eddy Lang discuss the problem of overdiagnosis in EM, Anand Swaminathan's approach to indications and dosing of thrombolytics for submassive (intermediate risk) pulmonary embolism, Tahara Bhate's QI Corner on a patient with unexplained shortness of breath, Brit Long on emergency treatment of the bleeding hemophilia patient...
The post EM Quick Hits 39 Overdiagnosis, Lytics for Submassive PE, Pericardial Effusion, Hemophilia Treatment appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In this ECG Cases blog we review 8 cases of patients with prehospital ECGs and explore prehospital ECGs for diagnosing STEMI, Occlusion MI, false STEMI, code STEMI, dynamic ischemic changes, truncated voltages. Can you avoid the pitfalls and spot the pearls that help to make the diagnosis?
The post ECG Cases 32 Prehospital ECG pearls and pitfalls appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In this part 2 of our 2-part podcast series on Cardiac Arrest - The When, Why & How, we discuss some of the finer art of cardiac arrest care and answer questions such as: how should we best communicate to EMS, the ED team and the family of the patient to keep the team focused, garner the most important info and keep the flow of the code going? How should we integrate PoCUS into cardiac arrest care so we do not interrupt the core components, yet we gain valuable data? What are the indications for consideration of ECPR/ECMO in cardiac arrest? What factors need to be taken into consideration to decide on when to terminate resuscitation of the cardiac arrest patient - when to call the code? and many more...
The post Ep 170 Cardiac Arrest – PoCUS Integration, Communication Strategies, E-CPR, Calling the Code appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In this first part of our 2-part series on Cardiac Arrest Controversies Rob Simard, Bourke Tillman, Sara Gray and Scott Weingart discuss with Anton how best to ensure high quality chest compressions, the pros and cons of mechanical CPR, the literature on dual sequential defibrillation and optimizing pad placement, epinephrine vs vasopressin, amiodarone vs lidocaine, when to consider IV calcium and sodium bicarbonate, esmolol, airway considerations, sedation in cardiac arrest, the pros and cons of end-tidal CO2 and more...
The post Ep 169 Cardiac Arrest Controversies – Chest Compressions, Dual Defibrillation, Medications and Airway appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
Is 15 lead ECG better than 12 lead for diagnosing posterior MI or right ventricular infarction? When do you need a 15 lead ECG? Jesse McLaren guides us through 8 cases to highlight the steps and pitfalls in diagnosing posterior MI and RVMI in light of recent ECG literature...
The post ECG Cases 31 Is a 15 lead ECG better than 12? Diagnosing Posterior MI and RVMI appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
On this month's EM Quick Hits: Christina Shenvi on ACS in older people, Nour Khatib on rural NRP, Jess McLaren on how not to get fooled by ECG computer interpretation, Brit Long on hemophilia recognition and workup, Maria Ivankovic on persistent and intractable hiccups from EM Cases Summit 2021...
The post EM Quick Hits 38 ACS in Older Patients, Rural Neonatal Resuscitation, Hemophilia, Hiccups, ECG Computer Interpretation appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
Computer interpretation of the ECG has been called a double-edged sword: when correct, it increases physician accuracy, but when incorrect it increases errors. This is especially problematic in the emergency department, where computer accuracy drops as clinical significance increases—with common errors for arrhythmias and ischemia. Jesse McLaren guides us through 10 cases where the computer interpretation misguides us and how to avoid these pitfalls...
The post ECG Cases 30 Beware Computer Interpretation Errors appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
Tahara Bhate's new QI corner Quick Hits series, Hans Rosenberg & Michael Gottlieb on the evidence around ED diagnosis and management of skin abscesses using PoCUS, Anand Swaminathan on what the oxygen saturation monitor can tell you besides oxygen saturation, Sarah Reid on how to pick up infantile spasms and prevent poor neurologic outcomes, Elisha Targonsky on battle of the ED rate control medications for rapid atrial fibrillation...
The post EM Quick Hits 37 Introducing QI Corner, Skin Abscess, O2 Sat Monitor Pearls, Infantile Spasms, Atrial Fibrillation Rate Control appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In this ECG Cases blog we review 10 cases of possible artifact, lead reversal and lead misplacement. Can you spot the abnormalities and avoid the misdiagnosis?...
The post ECG Cases 29 Misdiagnosis from Lead Misplacement, Artifact and Lead Reversal appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
Why does myocarditis often present a diagnostic challenge? What are the range of ECG findings in myocarditis? Does a negative high sensitivity troponin or CRP rule out myocarditis? What is the role of PoCUS in the diagnosis and prognosis of myocarditis? When should we consider myocarditis or pericarditis in patients with recent COVID-19 infection or COVID mRNA vaccination, and which of these patients require workups? Anton joins Dr. Paul Dorian and Dr. Walter Himmel to answer these and more...
The post Ep 167 Myocarditis – A Diagnostic Challenge appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
Why should pericarditis be considered a diagnosis of exclusion? Which clinical features are most useful in the diagnosis of pericarditis? What are the most common pitfalls in the ECG interpretation? What are the best ways to differentiate the ECG of pericarditis from that of MI and early repolarization? How is uncomplicated viral pericarditis treated differently compared to pericarditis with other etiologies? Why is it so important to include colchicine as part of the treatment of pericarditis? Which patients with pericarditis require admission? and many more...
The post Ep 166 Pericarditis and Cardiac Tamponade appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In this months EM Quick Hits podcast: Ken Milne expertly walks us through the 10 biggest EM papers of 2021, Brit Long on a careful structured approach to Febrile Neutropenia to improve outcomes, Catherine Varner on how not to miss Peripartum Cardiomyopathy, Joe Nemeth on Anaphylaxis update and Anand Swaminathan gives us his approach to the Crashing Asthmatic...
The post EM Quick Hits 35 – 10 Best Papers of 2021, Peripartum Cardiomyopathy, Crashing Asthmatic, Febrile Neutropenia, Anaphylaxis update appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
What is the preferred order of vasopressors and ionotropes in the management of cardiogenic shock? In which patients would dobutamine be preferred over milrinone and vice versa? How can we best pick up occult cardiogenic shock before it floured shock kicks in? What are the best strategies to efficiently get the patient in cardiogenic shock to definitive care, whether that be the cath lab or the operating room? What is the evidence for intra-aortic balloon pumps, percutaneous ventricular assist devices and ECMO in the patient with cardiogenic shock? Which patients with acute heart are safe to send home in general? How useful is the Ottawa Heart Failure Risk Score in aiding in disposition decisions?...
The post Ep 164 Cardiogenic Shock Simplified appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In this Part 1 of our two-part series on acute heart failure, Anton is joined by Dr. Tarlan Hedayati and Dr. Bourke Tillman to answer such questions as: how does PoCUS compare with clinical assessment and CXR in diagnostic accuracy for acute heart failure? How do we best integrate PoCUS in the our assessment and management of the patient with acute heart failure? What is PPV HAVoC and how can we use it to optimize acute heart failure management goals? What should be our specific goals of management in the acute heart failure depending on the underlying cause? How does high flow nasal cannula (HFNC) compare to non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) in the management of acute heart failure? How should we interpret the C3PO trial in the context of the world's literature on NIPPV in acute heart failure? How should we dose nitroglycerin to maximize its effects without dumping the blood pressure in patients with SCAPE and those without SCAPE? How should we best time and dose furosemide in the acute heart failure patient with renal insufficiency? Is there any role for morphine or ACEi in the ED management of acute heart failure? What are best anxiolytic medication choices in acute heart failure? Is there any role for second line diuretics in the management of acute heart failure in the ED? and many more...
The post Ep 163 Acute Heart Failure ED Management – PoCUS, Oxygenation Strategies, Medication Strategies, PPV HAVoC and SCAPE appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
Jesse McLaren guides us through 9 cases and explains how pericarditis is a diagnosis of exclusion through 3 simple steps: 1. Exclude more serious causes of chest pain, eg wraparound LAD occlusion, inferior OMI 2. Exclude complications of pericarditis, eg myocarditis, large pericardial effusion
- Exclude normal variant ST elevation presenting with benign chest pain on this month's ECG Cases blog...
The post ECG Cases 27 Pericarditis – Diagnosis of Exclusion appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In this month's EM Quick Hits podcast, Anand Swaminathan on tips and tricks in polytrauma, Rohit Mohindra on diagnosis and management of toxic megacolon, Jesse McLaren on ECG in pulmonary embolism, Victoria Myers on approach to the patch call for cardiac arrest, Brit Long on when to do a CT head before LP, Salim Rezaie on nebulized ketamine - the ketaBAN study...
The post EM Quick Hits 33 Polytrauma Tips & Tricks, Toxic Megacolon, ECG in PE, Patch Calls, CT Before LP, Nebulized Ketamine appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In this month's ECG Cases Dr. Jesse McLaren runs through 10 cases and explains how the ECG can be integral in the diagnosis and management of pulmonary embolism, even though it is not incorporated into any of the commonly used decision tools for diagnosis of pulmonary embolism...
The post ECG Cases 26: Pulmonary Embolism and Acute RV Strain appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In this ECG Cases blog we look at 10 patients with potentially ischemic symptoms. Which had a coronary occlusion, and how acute were they? Jesse McLaren explains 'Late STEMI' and how reperfusion strategies should not be based on time of symptom onset...
The post ECG Cases 25: ‘Late STEMI’ – How acute is the coronary occlusion? appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In this month's EM Quick Hits podcast: Justin Morgenstern on the evidence for NG tubes in SBO, Jesse MacLaren on recognition of hyperacute T-waves vs other causes of tall T-waves, Brit Long on malignant otitis externa clinical pearls, Salim Rezaie on the value of CCTA in NSTEMI, Justin Morgenstern on the value of CCTA in low-risk chest pain, Hans Rosenberg on how to use the Canadian Syncope Score and it's validation in Canada...
The post EM Quick Hits 31 NG Tubes in SBO, Hyperacute T-Waves, Malignant Otitis Externa, CCTA in NSTEMI and Low-risk Chest Pain, Canadian Syncope Score appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
Dr. Jesse MacLaren reviews 10 ECG cases highlighting how reciprocal change can be secondary to LBBB/LVH, primary changes, or both, how it can be the first and remain the dominant sign of occlusion, pointing to subtle ST elevation or hyperacute T waves, how it can can highlight subtle inferior, lateral or proximal LAD occlusions, how it can be the only sign of posterior OMI; and how it can be absent in mid-distal LAD occlusion...
The post ECG Cases 24 Reciprocal Change and Occlusion MI appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
Eight patients presented with potentially ischemic symptoms and T-wave inversions. Which had occlusion MI, which were reperfused and which were reoccluded? Jesse McLaren helps you discover the nuances of Wellens syndrome and T-wave inversions on this month's ECG Cases blog...
The post ECG Cases 23 – Wellens syndrome, reperfusion and reocclusion MI appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In this month's EM Quick Hits podcast: Anand Swaminathan on vasopressor failure, Brit Long and Michael Gottlieb on aspleic considerations, Sarah Reid on a bronchiolitis update and evolving patterns in the COVID era, Hans Rosenberg and Lindsay Cheskes on ICD electrical storm, Justin Morgenstern on night shift tips...
The post EM Quick Hits 29 Vasopressor Failure, Asplenic Considerations, Bronchiolitis Update, ICD Electrical Storm, Night Shift Tips appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
The differential for T-wave INVERSION includes: Incorrect lead placement, No bundle (RBBB, LBBB), Ventricular hypertrophy (LVH, RVH), Embolism, Reciprocal/refractory/reperfused occlusion MI, Sudden death (ARVD), Iatrogenic (digoxin), Obtunded (eg SAH), and Normal variant. Jesse McLaren runs through 10 cases of patients who present to the ED who have T-wave inversions on their ECGs...
The post ECG Cases 22: T-wave INVERSION mnemonic appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In this month's EM Quick Hits podcast: Anand Swaminathan on the approach to cardiogenic shock, Hania Bielawska on the myths of radiation dose in pregnant patients, Hans Rosenberg & Michael Gottlieb on PoCUS in airway management, Menaka Pai on VIPIT following AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccination, Brit Long & Michael Gottlieb on Angiotensin II for emergency clinicians, Michael Schull on tips on the safety of short-term steroid use....
The post EM Quick Hits 28 Cardiogenic Shock, Radiation Dose in Pregnancy, PoCUS in Airway Management, VIPIT, Angiotensin II, Short-Term Steroid Safety appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In this month's ECG Cases blog, Dr. Jesse MacLaren guides us through 10 cases of patients whose ECGs show tall T-waves and gives us the tools to distinguish the hyperacute T-waves of occlusion MI from other causes of tall T-waves....
The post ECG Cases 21: Hyperacute T-waves and Occlusion MI appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In Part 1 of our 2-part series on bradycardia and bradydysrhythmias we discussed a practical approach with electrophysiologist Paul Dorian and EM doc Tarlan Hedayati. In this, part 2, we discuss details of treatment. We answer questions such as: When should pacing be prioritized over medications and vice versa? What are the latest recommendations about dosing of atropine and when is atropine likely to be detrimental? How is the treatment of bradycardia different in the patient with hypothermia? Cardiac ischemia? Myxedema coma? AV nodal blocker overdose? What are the most common pitfalls in utilizing transcutaneous and transvenous pacing? and many more...
The post Ep 155 Treatment of Bradycardia and Bradydysrhythmias appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
How do we figure out when bradycardia is due to a medical illness and when it is a primary cardiac problem? What are the 4 immediate life threatening diagnosis that we have to entertain and address in the first few minutes of the sick bradycardic patients? What are some key ECG patterns that are sometimes missed by ED docs that can have devastating consequences? How can we better understand Torsades de Pointes by understanding AV blocks? How can we better understand Mobitz l and ll using 'The Dorian' approach? What is BRASH syndrome and how can we recognize it? In this main episode podcast 4-step Approach to Bradycardia and Bradydysrhythmias with electrophysiologist, educator and researcher Dr. Paul Dorian and Chair of Education for the ED at Cook County Hospital Dr. Tarlan Hedayati, we dig deep into bradycardia...
The post Ep 154: 4-Step Approach to Bradycardia and Bradydysrhythmias appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In this ECG Cases we review 10 patients who presented with bradycardia, introduce an approach to reversible causes using the BRADI mnemonic and guide you through how to use the ECG to guide management...
The post ECG Cases 20 – Approach to Bradycardia and the BRADI Mnemonic appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In this month's EM Quick Hits podcast: Justin Morgenstern on colchicine for COVID pneumonia, Victoria Myers on sodium bicarbonate in cardiac arrest, Brit Long on troponin in chronic kidney disease, Michelle Klaiman on GHB overdose, Ian Walker on iloprost for frostbite, Sarah Reid on tips on avoiding patient and parent complaints....
The post EM Quick Hits 27 Colchicine for COVID, Bicarb in Cardiac Arrest, Troponin in CKD, GHB Withdrawal, Iloprost for Frostbite, Patient Complaints appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In this ECG Cases blog Jesse McLaren review an approach to tachycardia, explore the WIDER mnemonic for wide SVT differential diagnosis, and how to distinguish VT from SVT with 10 cases...
The post ECG Cases 19 Tachycardias – Approach, WIDER Mnemonic for Wide SVT DDx, VT vs SVT appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
Anand Swaminathan on LAST prevention, recognition and management, Emily Austin on sodium nitrite suicide kit poisoning, methemoglobinemia and methylene blue, Hans & Erin Rosenberg on post-intubation analgesia and sedation, Salim Rezaie on short-term tetracaine for corneal abrasions new evidence, Jesse MacLaren on differentiating ST deviation in occlusion MI from other causes, Robert Maunder on a 3 step approach to coping and building resilience during the COVID pandemic...
The post EM Quick Hits 26 LAST, Sodium Nitrite Poisoning, Post-intubation Care, Tetracaine for Corneal Abrasion, ST Segment in Occlusion MI, Coping with COVID appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In this ECG Cases blog we look at 10 patients who presented with potentially ischemic symptoms and ST depression. Which had occlusion MI?
The post ECG Cases 18 – ST DEPRESSED Mnemonic and Occlusion MI appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In this ECG Cases blog we look at 10 patients who presented with ST elevation, and review the differential diagnosis of ST elevation using the ELEVATIONS mnemonic. Which had occlusion MI?
The post ECG Cases 17 – ST ELEVATIONS mnemonic and Occlusion MI appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In this month's EM Quick Hits podcast: Anand Swaminathan on lateral canthotomy, Emily Austin on pediatric cannabis poisoning, Reuben Strayer on an approach to hyperthermia, Brit Long on diagnosis and management of malignant otitis externa, Jesse McLaren on ECG diagnosis of occlusion MI in patients with BBB and Peter Brindley on prone CPR...
The post EM Quick Hits 24 Lateral Canthotomy, Cannabis Poisoning, Hyperthermia, Malignant Otitis Externa, BBB in Occlusion MI, Prone CPR appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In this ECG Cases blog we examine 6 patients who presented with poor R wave progression, and the LATE mnemonic for the differential...
The post ECG Cases 16: Poor R-wave progression – The LATE mnemonic appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
8 patients presented with ECGs showing a tall R wave in V1. What was the diagnosis? Jesse MacLaren reviews ECG interpretation of a tall R wave in V1 in this month's ECG Cases...
The post ECG Cases 15: Tall R Wave in V1 appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
9 patients presented with potentially ischemic symptoms and Q-waves. Which had Occlusion MI? What is the differential diagnosis of Q-waves? How can one distinguish MI vs LV aneurysm on ECG?...
The post ECG Cases 14: Q-wave and Occlusion MI appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
LVH produces secondary repolarization abnormalities that can mimic STEMI. Signs of occlusion MI in patients with LVH include: new Q waves/loss of R waves, disproportionate and dynamic ST elevation (or ST depression from posterior MI), and hyperacute T waves. In this ECG Cases blog we look at 6 patients who presented with potentially ischemic symptoms and LVH on their ECG. Which had an acute coronary occlusion?
The post ECG Cases 13: LVH and Occlusion MI appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In this ECG Cases blog we look at 7 patients with RBBB and potentially ischemic symptoms. Which had RBBB and occlusion MI?...
The post ECG Cases 12: RBBB and Occlusion MI appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In ECG Cases 11 - LBBB + Occlusion MI Jesse McLaren runs through 5 patients who present with potentially ischemic symptoms and LBBB and explains the evolution of decision making for cath lab activation criteria. The two most important points are that we should always use the Smith-modified Sgarbossa Criteria to identify occlusion MI in the patient with ischemic symptoms and LBBB, whether old or new, and that those with refractory ischemia and hemodynamic instability from suspected occlusion MI require cath lab activation regardless of the ECG....
The post ECG Cases 11: LBBB + Occlusion MI appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
Justin Morgenstern on imaging choices in renal colic, Hanni Stoklosa on recognition and management of human trafficking, Rohit Mohindra on management of atrial fibrillation during COVID-19, Anand Swaminathan on transvenous pacemaker placement, Rob Simard on COVID-19 lung POCUS, Brit Long on COVID-19 dermatology and Sarah Foohey & Paul Koblic on virtual simulation...
The post EM Quick Hits 20 Imaging Renal Colic, Human Trafficking, Atrial Fibrillation During COVID, Transvenous Pacemaker Placement, COVID Lung POCUS, COVID Derm, Virtual Simulation appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
Seven patients with ischemic symptoms, none meeting STEMI criteria but all identified by a specific pattern of first diagonal branch occlusion are explored in this ECG Cases blog with Jesse MacLaren who also explains The South African Flag Sign...
The post ECG Cases 9 – First Diagonal Occlusion appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
Anand Swaminathan on recognition and ED management of adrenal crisis, Maria Ivankovic on indications for antibiotics in strep throat from EM Cases Course 2020, Jesse McLaren on recognition of posterior MI from ECG Cases, Justin Yan & Hans Rosenberg on just the facts of approach to DKA, Brit Long on ovarian torsion imaging myths, Walter Himmel on how to use the HINTS exam properly, and Ian Stiell on how to use Canadian CT head rules properly...
The post EM Quick Hits 17 Adrenal Crisis, Strep Throat, Posterior MI, DKA Just the Facts, Ovarian Torsion Imaging, HINTS Exam, Canadian CT Head Rule appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
This EMU365 video features EM cardiology guru Dr. Amal Mattu on killer ECGs associated with pericardial effusions. He eloquently explains the utility of electrical alternans, specific lead and voltage criteria required to make the diagnosis of low voltage and more...
The post EMU365 Amal Mattu on Killer ECGs and Pericardial Effusions appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
Anand Swaminathan on oxygenation strategies for COVID-19 learned from the New York experience, Andrew Petrosoniak on trauma care modifications in the COVID-19 era, Michelle Klaiman on addiction medicine considerations, Brit Long & Michael Gottlieb on cardiac complications of COVID-19 and Leeor Sommer on physician compassion and preserving patients' humanity...
The post EM Quick Hits 16 COVID-19 Oxygenation Strategies, Trauma Care, Addictions Considerations, Cardiovascular Complications and Compassionate Care appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
10 patients presented with the "STEMI-equivalent" ST elevation in aVR with diffuse ST depression. Which had acute coronary occlusion? Jesse McLaren guides us through the differential diagnosis of ST elevation in aVR with diffuse ST depression in this ECG Cases blog...
The post ECG cases 7: ST elevation in aVR, STEMI-equivalent? appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
Salim Rezaie on single syringe adenosine for SVT, Sarah Reid on pertussis pearls, Elisha Targonsky on management of hyperemesis gravidarum , Joe Nemeth on the utility of hypertension as a risk factor in EM, Justin Morgenstern on tramadol myths, Reuben Strayer on ketamine only breathing intubation (KOBI)...
The post EM Quick Hits 13 – One Syringe Adenosine, Pertussis Pearls, Hyperemesis Gravidarum, Tramadol, Hypertension Myths, KOBI appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In this ECG Cases blog we look at 8 patients with potentially ischemic symptoms, none of whom had STEMI on the 12 lead ECG. Which had occlusion MI?...
The post ECG cases 6: Posterior MI – Still Under-recognized appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
Does heparin - LMWH or unfractionated heparin - benefit the patient with a pretty good story for angina with a bump in their troponin and some ST depression in the lateral leads? We’re expected to routinely give heparin for all these NSTEMI and unstable angina patients with any ischemic changes seen on the ECG, right? And for STEMI too. But should we?....
The post JJ 16 Heparin for ACS and STEMI appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
This EMU365 Video features Dr. Salim Rezaie of REBEL EM presenting his approach to airway management and epinephrine dosing in cardiac arrest based on the latest evidence...
The post EMU 365 A New Frontier in Cardiac Arrest Management with Salim Rezaie appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In this EM Quick Hits podcast we have Paul Dorion on immediate cardioversion vs rate control/delayed cardioversion for atrial fibrillation, Justin Morgenstern & Justin Hensley on emergency management of snake bites, Brit Long on reliability of clinical features in the diagnosis of ovarian torsion, Michelle Klaiman on emergency management of crystal methamphetamine use disorder, Hans Rosenberg & Rob Ohle on workup of suspected aortic dissection, and Anand Swaminathan on epinephrine and magnesium sulphate in severe asthma...
The post EM Quick Hits 12 AFib Early vs Delayed Cardioversion, Snake Bites, Ovarian Torsion Myths, Crystal Meth, Aortic Dissection, Severe Asthma Meds appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In this ECG Cases blog we look at seven patients with cardiac syncope, and a systematic approach to ECG interpretation...
The post ECG Cases 5: Cardiac Syncope appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In this ECG Cases blog we look at seven patients with potentially ischemic symptoms and subtle ECG changes in the lateral leads. Which had acute coronary occlusion? Introducing the concept of Occlusion MI - a paradigm shift in ECG diagnosis of MI...
The post ECG Cases 4: Lateral STEMI or Occlusion MI? appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In this ECG Cases blog we look at 8 patients with potentially ischemic symptoms, to highlight pearls and pitfalls of inferior MI. Can you identify which ones had acute coronary occlusion?...
The post ECG Cases 3: Can you find the subtle inferior MI? appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
Sarah Reid on pediatric appendicitis risk calculator, Sheldon Cheskes & Mark Ramzy on double defibrillation for refractory ventricular fibrillation, Hans Rosenberg & Krishan Yadav on cellulitis clinical pearls, Anand Swaminathan on serratus anterior block, Brit Long on recognition of toxic shock syndrome, Justin Morgenstern on tranexamic acid in head injury and CRASH-3...
The post EM Quick Hits 10 – TXA CRASH-3, CJEM Cellulitis, Double Defib, Serratus Anterior Block, PARC score, Toxic Shock Syndrome appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
Rob Simard of POCUS Cases fame and Scott Weingart go beyond ACLS and guide you through the complex world of PEA. We discuss that the palpation technique is poor at determining whether or not a patient has a pulse, that the POCUS pulse is more accurate and as rapid compared to the palpation technique at determining whether or not a patient has a pulse, the difference between true PEA arrest, PseudoPEA and PREM, why epinephrine may be harmful in PEA, Weingart's chain of survival approach from PEA arrest to ROSC, four tools to help differentiate true PEA arrest from PseudoPEA, how to prevent long pauses in chest compressions using POCUS, EM Cases PEA arrest and PseudoPEA suggested dynamic algorithm, vasopressor choices in PseudoPEA, whether the "QRS wide vs narrow width" approach to PEA arrest underlying cause is useful or not and much more...
The post Ep 131 PEA Arrest, PseudoPEA and PREM – With Simard and Weingart appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In this ECG Cases blog we present ECGs from 7 patients who presented with chest pain and mild anterior ST elevation. Can you identify which were early repolarization and which were anterior STEMI?
The post ECG Cases 2: Early Repolarization or Anterior STEMI? appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
Justin Morgenstern on the lack of evidence for burn debridement, Jesse MacLaren on ECG Cases - missed ischemia and pitfalls of "normal" computer ECG interpretations, Arun Sayal on clinical diagnosis pitfalls of compartment syndrome, Sarah Reid on pediatric asthma pitfalls and myths, Andrew Petrosoniak on T-spine and L-spine fracture work-up, Michelle Klaiman & Taryn Lloyd on motivational interviewing part 2...
The post EM Quick Hits 9 Burn Blister Debridement, ECG Cases, Compartment Syndrome, Pediatric Asthma, Spinal Trauma, Motivational Interviewing P2 appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In EM Cases' first ECG Cases blog we review 7 examples of ECGs of patients presenting to the ED with chest pain, who's ECG were read as normal by the computer. And guess what...they all show acute ischemia!
The post ECG Cases 1: Missed Ischemia – Never Trust the ECG Computer Interpretation appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In this Rapid Reviews Video Nick Clarridge covers an approach to the bradycardic and hypotensive patient as well as the recognition, management and controversies of digoxin overdose...
The post Rapid Reviews Video – Low and Slow Poisoning Part 2: Digoxin Overdose appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
Anand Swaminathan on a simple approach to status epilepticus, David Juurlink on codeine and tramadol interactions: nasty drugs with nastier drug interactions, Brit Long on DOACS in patients with malignancy: which patient's with cancer can be safely prescribed DOACs? Ian Stiell on atrial fibrillation rate vs rhythm control controversy, Justin Morgenstern on peripheral vasopressors: safe or unsafe? Michelle Klaiman, Taryn Lloyd on motivational interviewing that makes a difference to patient's lives...
The post EM Quick Hits 7 Approach to Status Epilepticus, Codeine Interactions, Anticoagulation in Malignancy, Atrial Fibrillation Rate vs Rhythm Control, Peripheral Vasopressors, Motivational Interviewing appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In this EM Cases Best Case Ever podcast Rajiv interviews Dr. Eric Russell, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the Baylor College of Medicine, Pediatric Emergency Medicine attending physician at the Texas Children's Hospital, and editor at the Human Diagnosis Project. They discuss a challenging case of a pediatric patient who presents with what at first appears to be bronchiolitis...
The post BCE 80 Pediatric Respiratory Failure appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In the age of high sensitivity troponins and the HEART pathway, which patients are safe to discharge home from the ED? What are the most useful historical factors to increase and decrease your pretest probability for ACS? Which cardiac risk factors have predictive value for ACS? Why should the words "troponitis" and "troponemia" be banned? How should high sensitivity troponin be interpreted differently than conventional troponin? Which is better for delta troponin interpretation - an absolute change in troponin or a percentage change? Which delta troponin is best - 1hr, 2hr or 3hr? What are the limitations of the HEART pathway? and many more....
The post Ep 128 Low Risk Chest Pain and High Sensitivity Troponin – A Paradigm Shift appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In this EM Quick Hits episode: Andrew Petrosoniak on diagnosis and risk stratification of blunt cardiac trauma, Clare Atzema on latest guidelines for anticoagulation in atrial fibrillation, Maria Ivankovic on hydromorphone vs morphine for acute pain, Brit Long on clinical pearls in the diagnosis of myasthenia gravis, Anand Swaminathan on venous access tips and tricks, and bonus material from EM Cases Course June 2018 with Walter Himmel and Barbara Tatham on Physician Compassion and tools to prevent burnout...
The post EM Quick Hits 6 Blunt Cardiac Trauma, Atrial Fibrillation Anticoagulation, Hydromorphone vs Morphine, Myasthenia Gravis, Venous Access appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In this Quick Hits Podcast: David Juurlink on acetaminophen and warfarin drug interaction, Hans Rosenberg on management of dental infections, Emily Austin on dialysis in massive acetaminophen overdose, Andrew Petrosoniak on MTP decisions and the RABT score in trauma , Joel Yaphe on statins for STEMI from Whistler's Update in EM Conference, and George Kovacs on how to maximize success of a cricothyrotomy from EM Cases Course 2019...
The post EM Quick Hits 4 Acetaminophen Overdose & Warfarin Interaction, Dental Infections, MTP RABT Score, Statins for STEMI, Cricothyrotomy Tips appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In this POCUS Cases video Dr. Rob Simard reviews the literature on accuracy of identifying LV dysfunction on POCUS by non-radiologists, the steps in assessing LV dysfunction, and cautions us when it comes to patients with chronic LV dysfunction...
The post POCUS Cases 8 – LV Dysfunction appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In this Journal Jam podcast we do a deep dive into the hugely complex literature of cardiac stress testing and see whether or not stress testing portends any benefit for patients who we assess in the ED for chest pain. The problem is - if stress testing doesn’t benefit our patients and isn’t a good screening test for preventing MIs, then what do we do with our low risk chest pain patients we see in the ED?
The post JJ 15 Cardiac Stress Testing After Negative ED Workup for MI appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
Does epinephrine improve the chances of return of spontaneous circulation at the expense of the brain? In other words, while we know that epinephrine doubles rates of ROSC in all comers in cardiac arrest, there’s never been robust evidence for long term improvements in neurologic functional outcomes. So, are we saving lives, or are we prolonging death? Find out the answer in this Journal Jam podcast with Justin Morgenstern and Rory Spiegel...
The post JJ 14 Epinephrine in Cardiac Arrest appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
While asymptomatic hypertension is rarely an emergency, many patients are referred to the ED for very high blood pressure readings. We need to know which of these patients have end organ damage and how to treat them without causing harm. In this Rapid Reviews Video Dr. Nick Clarridge discusses how to categorize hypertension in the ED, the key history and physical data points to look for, appropriate investigations as well as rational treatment options and controversies....
The post Rapid Reviews Video – Asymptomatic Hypertension appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In this CritCases blog Mike Misch presents a case of a patient with a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) with a postoperative acute lower GI bleed and answers practical questions such as: How do you measure blood pressure in a patient with an LVAD? What are the common complications of LVADs that we must be aware of? What information can the LVAD controller provide? Why are LVAD patients at high risk for bleeding? and many more...
The post CritCases 11 LVAD Management in the GI Bleed Patient appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In this EM Cases main Episode 112 Tachydysrhythmias with Amal Mattu and Paul Dorion we discuss a potpurri of clinical goodies for the recognition and management of both wide and narrow complex tachydysrhythmias and answer questions such as: Which patients with stable Ventricular Tachycardia (VT) require immediate electrical cardioversion, chemical cardioversion or no cardioversion at all? Are there any algorithms that can reliably distinguish VT from SVT with aberrancy? What is the "verapamil death test"? While procainamide may be the first line medication for stable VT based on the PROCAMIO study, what are the indications for IV amiodarone for VT? How should we best manage patients with VT who have an ICD? How can the Bix Rule help distinguish Atrial Flutter from SVT? What is the preferred medication for conversion of SVT to sinus rhythm, Adenosine or Calcium Channel Blockers (CCBs)? Why is amiodarone contraindicated in patients with WPW associated with atrial fibrillation? What are the important differences in the approach and treatment of atrial fibrillation vs. atrial flutter? How can we safely curb the high bounce-back rate of patients with atrial fibrillation who present to the ED? and many more...
The post Ep 112 Tachydysrhythmias with Amal Mattu and Paul Dorion appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In anticipation of EM Cases Episode 112 on Tachydysrhthmias with Amal Mattu and Paul Dorion, Melanie Baimel tells her Best Case Ever of a previously healthy young man who presents in refractory ventricular fibrillation after receiving multiple single shocks, ongoing chest compressions, several rounds of epinephrine, amiodarone and dual sequence defibrillation without ROSC...
The post BCE 73 Esmolol in Refractory Ventricular Fibrillation appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
BNP is currently in use in many EDs across North America and Europe. In this Journal Jam podcast we discuss the clinical utility of BNP and pro-NT-BNP in the work-up of the dyspneic ED patient. We ask the questions: does BNP add much beyond physician gestalt? Which patients might BNP be useful for? Should we abandon BNP as a dichotomous rule-in/rule-out variable and instead use it as a continuous variable? Does using BNP effect patient oriented outcomes? Is lung POCUS a better test? Are prediction models that include BNP useful? and many more....
The post JJ 12 BNP for Diagnosis of Acute CHF appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
When patients with known congenital heart disease present to the ED with common illnesses we need to consider how their physiology might alter our approach to those common illnesses. Max Ben-Yakov guides us through his Best Case Ever of a CHD patient who presents with bronchiolitis and gives us some tips on how best to approach these fragile patients in a crisis situation...
The post BCE 66 CHD with Bronchiolitis: A Delicate Balance appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
Sometimes our renal failure patients present short of breath with volume overload and we don't have immediate access to dialysis. What then? Dr. Mike Betzner, EM doc and medical director of STARS air ambulance service and collaborator on EM Cases CritCases blog tells his Best Case Ever and his approach to this challenging clinical situation. He offers two commonly used solutions: nitroglycerin and BiPAP as well as two not so common solutions: phlebotomy and rotating BP cuffs blown to above SBP...
The post Best Case Ever 59 Management of Acute Renal Failure with Volume Overload appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
This is the first ever video podcast on EM Cases with Jordan Chenkin from EMU Conference 2017 discussing how to optimize three aspects of cardiac arrest care: persistent ventricular fibrillation, optimizing pulse checks and PEA arrest, with code team videos contrasting the ACLS approach to an optimized approach...
The post Episode 96 Beyond ACLS Cardiac Arrest – Live from EMU Conference 2017 appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
I remember when I started practicing emergency medicine a decade and a half ago it seemed that any kid who came to our ED in cardiac arrest died. I know, depressing thought. But, over the past 15 years, survival to discharge from pediatric cardiac arrest has markedly improved, at least for in-hospital arrests. This is probably mostly due to an emphasis on high-quality CPR and advances in post-resuscitation care; nonetheless the more comfortable, knowledgeable and prepared we are for the always scary critically ill pediatric patient, the more likely we will be able to resuscitate them successfully - which is always a huge save.
The post Episode 93 – PALS Guidelines appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
While missing aortic dissection was considered "the standard" in the late 20th century, our understanding of the clinical diagnoses has improved considerably since the landmark International Registry of Aortic Dissection (IRAD) study in 2000. Nonetheless, aortic dissection remains difficult to diagnosis with 1 in 6 being missed at the initial ED visit. With the help of Dr. David Carr we’ll discuss how to pick up atypical presentations of aortic dissection without over-imaging as well as manage them like pros by reviewing: 1. The 5 Pain Pearls, 2. The concepts of CP +1 and 1+ CP, 3. Physical exam pearls, 4. CXR pearls and blood test pitfalls, and 5. The importance of the correct order and aggressive use of IV medications. So with these objectives in mind…
The post Episode 92 – Aortic Dissection Live from The EM Cases Course appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
The EM Cases Team is very excited to bring you not only a new format for the Journal Jam podcast but a new member of the team, Dr. Rory Spiegel, aka @EM_Nerd an Emergency Medicine physician from The University Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore, the founder of the EM Nerd blog and the co-host of the Annals of EM podcast. The new format sees Justin Morgenstern, Teresa Chan, Rory Spiegel and Anton Helman doing deep dives into the world's literature on specific practical questions while highlighting some important evidence-based medicine concepts. The question we ask in this Journal Jam podcast: Is there a role for D-dimer testing in the workup of aortic dissection in the ED?
The post Journal Jam 9 – D-dimer to Rule Out Aortic Dissection appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In anticipation of EM Cases Episode 90 on the Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) guidelines with the lead author Dr. Allan DeCaen and Dr. Anthony Crocco, Dr. DeCaen tells his Best Case Ever showing us the value of orchestrated team work and a great example of the saying, "they're not dead until they're warm and dead"...
The post Best Case Ever 52 – Pediatric Hypothermia Cardiac Arrest appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
As we get better at picking up thromboembolic disease, and the indications for Direct Oral Anticoagulants (DOACs) widen, we're faced with increasingly complex decisions about when to start these medications, how to start them, when to stop them and how to manage bleeding associated with them. There’s a lot that we need to know about these drugs to minimize the risk of thromboembolism in our patients while at the same time minimizing their risk of bleeding...
The post Episode 88 – DOACs Part 1: Use and Misuse appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
This is 'A Nuanced Approach to Emergency Management of Hyperkalemia' on EM Cases.
Of all the electrolyte emergencies, hyperkalemia is the one that has the greatest potential to lead to cardiac arrest. And so, early in my EM training I learned to get the patient on a monitor, ensure IV access, order up an ECG, bombard the patient with a cocktail of kayexalate, calcium, insulin, B-agonists, bicarb, fluids and furosemide, and get the patient admitted, maybe with some dialysis to boot. Little did I know that some of these therapies were based on theory alone while others were based on a few small poorly done studies. It turns out that some of these therapies may cause more harm than good, and that precisely when and how to give these therapies to optimize patient outcomes is still not really known...
The post Episode 86 – Emergency Management of Hyperkalemia appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
Melanie Baimel's Best Case Ever on Post-Arrest Hyperkalemia on EM Cases.
Post arrest patients can sometimes be challenging. We need to think of a variety of underlying causes of the arrest, antiarrhythmics, possible cath lab activation, targeted temperature management, sedation and more. To add to this, many post arrest patients do not have ideal vital signs that require attention. In this Best Case Ever, in anticipation of our upcoming episode on A Rational Approach to Hyperkalemia Dr. Melanie Baimel describes a post arrest patient who remains bradycardic and hypotensive despite multiple pressors....
The post Best Case Ever 49 – Post-Arrest Hyperkalemia appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
Congenital Heart Disease Emergencies on EM cases with Gary Joubert and Ashley Strobel.
You might be surprised to learn that the prevalence of critical cardiac disease in infants is almost as high as the prevalence of infant sepsis. And if you’re like me, you don’t feel quite as confident managing sick infants with critical heart disease as you do managing sepsis. Critical congenital heart defects are often missed in the ED. For a variety of reasons, there are currently more children with congenital heart disease presenting to the ED than ever before and these numbers will continue to grow in the future. When I was in medical school I vaguely remember learning the complex physiology and long lists of congenital heart diseases, which I’ve now all but forgotten. What we really need to know about congenital heart disease emergencies is what actions to take in the ED when we have a cyanotic or shocky baby in front of us in the resuscitation room. So with the goal of learning a practical approach to congenital heart disease emergencies using the child’s age, colour and few simple tests, Dr. Strobel and Dr. Joubert will discuss some key actions, pearls and pitfalls so that the next time you’re faced with that crashing baby in the resuscitation room, you’ll know exactly what to do.
The post Episode 84 – Congenital Heart Disease Emergencies appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
Journal Jam 7 - Amiodarone vs Lidocaine vs Placebo in Cardiac Arrest: The ALPS Trial.
In our most popular EM Cases episode to date - ACLS Guidelines Cardiac Arrest Controversies, we boldly stated, that there has never been an antiarrhythmic medication that has shown any long term survival benefit in cardiac arrest. The use of medications in cardiac arrest has been one of those things that we all do, but that we know the evidence isn’t great for. Yet Amiodarone is still in the newest AHA adult cardiac arrest algorithm for ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycarida – 300mg IV after the 3rd shock with the option to give it again at 150mg after that. Anti-arrhythmics have been shown in previous RCTs to increase the rate of return of spontaneous circulation and even increased survival to hospital admission, however none of them have been able to show a decrease in mortality or a favourable neurological outcome at hospital discharge. In other words, there has never been shown a long term survival or functional benefit - which is a bit disconcerting.
But now, we have a recent large randomized, controlled trial that shines some new light on the role of anti-arrythmics in cardiac arrest - The ALPS trial: Amiodarone vs Lidocaine vs placebo in out of hospital cardiac arrest. In this Journal Jam podcast, Justin Morgenstern and Anton Helman interview two authors of the ALPS trial, Dr. Laurie Morrison a world-renowned researcher in cardiac arrest and Dr. Paul Dorian, a cardiac electrophysiologist and one of Canada's leading authorities on arrhythmias about what we should take away from the ALPS trial. It turns out, it's not so simple. We also discuss the value of dual shock therapy for shock resistant ventricular fibrillation and the future of cardiac arrest care.
The post Journal Jam 7 – Amiodarone vs Lidocaine vs Placebo in Cardiac Arrest: The ALPS Trial appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In anticipation of EM Cases' upcoming episode, Congenital Heart Disease Emergencies we have Dr. Gary Joubert a double certified Pediatric EM and Pediatric Cardiology expert telling his Best Case Ever of a four month old infant who presents with intermittent cyanosis. The Cyanotic Infant can present a significant challenge to the EM provider as the differential is wide, ranging from benign causes such as GERD to life threatening heart disease that may present atypically in a well-appearing child. Dr. Joubert gives us some simple sweet clinical pearls to help us along the way...
The post Best Case Ever 47 – Cyanotic Infant appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
I had the great pleasure of meeting Dr. Mike Winters on his first ever visit to Canada at North York General's Emergency Medicine Update Conference, where he gave two fantastic presentations. His credentials are impressive: He is the Medical Director of the Emergency Department, Associate Professor in both EM and IM, EM-IM-Critical Care Program co-director and Residency Program Director of EM-IM at the University of Maryland in Baltimore.
Sometimes we are so caught up with the job we need to get done during cardiac arrest that we forget about the important and profound effect that this event has on patients' families. On this Best Case Ever Dr. Winters tells the story of witnessing his grandfather's cardiac arrest, being present in the ED during the resuscitation attempts, and how that experience has coloured his practice. We discuss some pearls on communication with patients' families after death, colour-coded cardiac arrest teams and how to integrate POCUS into cardiac arrest care while minimizing chest compressions.
The post Best Case Ever 45 – Mike Winters on Cardiac Arrest appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
Welcome to EM Cases' CritCases blog, a collaboration between Mike Betzner, the STARS air ambulance service and EM Cases’ Michael Misch and Anton Helman! These are educational cases with multiple decision points where there is no strong evidence to guide us. Various strategies and opinions from providers around the world are coalesced and presented to you in an engaging format. Enjoy!
The post CritCases 2 – Is this Septic Shock with Pneumonia? appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
I caught up with Dr. Anand Swaminathan, otherwise known as EM Swami, at The Teaching Course in NYC where he told his Best Case Ever from Janus General of his heroic and collaborative attempts at saving the life of a gentleman who presented to the ED with a classic story for a ruptured AAA. As William Olser famously said, "There is no disease more conducive to clinical humility than aneurysm of the aorta."
The post Best Case Ever 43 Ruptured AAA appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
Traditionally we've run at least 2 troponins 6 or 8 hours apart to help rule out MI and recently in algorithms like the HEART score we've combined clinical data with a 2 or 3 hour delta troponin to help rule out MI. The paper we'll be discussing here is a multicentre/multinantional study from the Canadian Medical Association Journal from this year out of Switzerland entitled "Prospective validation of a 1 hour algorithm to rule out and rule in acute myocardial infarction using a high sensitivity cardian troponin T assay" with lead author Tobias Reichlin. It not only looks at whether or not we can rule out MI using a delta troponin at only 1 hour but whether or not we can expedite the ruling in of MI using this protocol.
The post Journal Jam 5 One Hour Troponin to Rule Out and In MI appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
When was the last time you saw ventricular fibrillation in a 4 month old? Dr. Simard tells his Best Case Ever of a Pediatric Cardiac Arrest in which meticulous preparation, sticking to his guns, early activation of the transportation service, and clever use of point of care ultrasound helped save the life of a child. He explains the importance of debriefing your team after an emotionally charged case.
The post Best Case Ever 42 Pediatric Cardiac Arrest appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
Once we've achieved ROSC our job is not over. Good post-arrest care involves maintaining blood pressure and cerebral perfusion, adequate sedation, cooling and preventing hyperthermia, considering antiarrhythmic medications, optimization of tissue oxygen delivery while avoiding hyperoxia, getting patients to PCI who need it, and looking for and treating the underlying cause. Dr. Lin and Dr. Morrison offer us their opinion on the new simplified approach to diagnosing the underlying cause of PEA arrests. We'll also discuss when it's time to terminate resuscitation or 'call the code' as well as some fascinating research on gender differences in cardiac arrest care. These co-authors of the guidelines will give us their vision of the future of cardiac arrest care and we'll wrap up the episode with a third opinion, so to speak: Dr. Weingart's take on the whole thing....
The post Episode 72 ACLS Guidelines 2015 Post Arrest Care appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
A lot has changed over the years when it comes to managing the adult in cardiac arrest. As a result, survival rates after cardiac arrest have risen steadily over the last decade. With the release of the 2015 American Heart Association ACLS Guidelines 2015 online on Oct 16th, while there aren’t a lot a big changes, there are many small but important changes we need to be aware of, and there still remains a lot of controversy. In light of knowing how to provide optimal cardio-cerebral resuscitation and improving patient outcomes, in this episode we’ll ask two Canadian co-authors of The Guidelines, Dr. Laurie Morrison and Dr. Steve Lin some of the most practice-changing and controversial questions.
The post Episode 71 ACLS Guidelines 2015 – Cardiac Arrest Controversies Part 1 appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In this Part 2 of EM Cases' Highlights from Whistler's Update in EM Conference 2015 Dr. David Carr gives you his top 5 pearls and pitfalls on ED antibiotic use including when patients with sinusitis really require antibiotics, when oral antibiotics can replace IV antibiotics, how we should be dosing Vancomycin in the ED, the newest antibiotic regimens for gonorrhea and the mortality benefit associated with antibiotic use in patients with upper GI bleeds. Dr. Chris Hicks gives you his take on immediate PCI in post-cardiac arrest patients with a presumed cardiac cause and The Modified HEART Score to safely discharge patients with low risk chest pain.
The post Episode 64 Highlights from Whistler’s Update in EM Conference 2015 Part 2 appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In a previous Best Case Ever, 'Thinking Outside the Abdominal Box', Dr. Brian Steinhart reviewed some important can't-miss-diagnoses that can present elusively with abdominal pain. In this Carr's Cases Series on Inferior MI Presenting with Abdominal Pain, we continue in the theme of 'Thinking Outside the Abdominal Box' with David Carr explaining how he figured out that a man presenting with classic biliary colic was diagnosed with an inferior MI with right ventricular extension.
The post Best Case Ever 34: Inferior MI Presenting with Abdominal Pain appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
David Carr discusses his top 10 pearls on endocarditis and blood culture interpretation in this Carr's Cases Best Case Ever on EM Cases - Endocarditis and Blood Culture Interpretation.
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The post Best Case Ever 32 Carr’s Cases – Endocarditis and Blood Culture Interpretation appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
On this EM Cases Best Case Ever, Andrew Sloas, the brains behinds the fabulous PEM-ED podcast tells the tale of a pericardiocentesis gone bad and what he learned from it. Emergency pericardicentesis can be life saving, but it also carries risks. Dr. Sloas reviews the steps to take to ensure that the pericardiocentesis needle is the the correct place to minimize the risk of intubating the right ventricle of the heart. A discussion of errors of omission and ones of commission follows....
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The post Best Case Ever 31: Emergency Pericardiocentesis appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In this bonus EM Cases podcast, The Stiell Sessions 2, we have Dr. Ian Stiell discussing an update in Atrial Fibrillation 2014 management including the age-old question of rate control vs rhythm control, the new CHADS-65 algorithm for oral anticogulant therapy, the need to initiate anticoagulant therapy in the ED, the more aggressive use of the Ottawa Aggressive Protocol, the dangers of attempting to cardiovert unstable patients who are in permanent Atrial Fibrillation, the new 150 rule to help determine the likelihood of successful cardioversion and much more. Thanks to all the listeners who did the survey on clinical decision rules and the post-listen survey.
The post Episode 57: The Stiell Sessions 2 – Update in Atrial Fibrillation 2014 appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
This past May in Toronto, the largest and, in my opinion, best Canadian EM conference, North York General Hospital's Emergency Medicine Update Conference, attracted 'Captain Cortex' himself, Stuart Swadron, a Toronto native to talk about his approach to vertigo, which highlights how not to miss a posterior circulation stroke. For the seventh year running the EMU conference was proud to have one of the worlds most well known EM educators, Amal Mattu who presented the most important Cardiology Literature from the past year. This podcast includes edited versions of their talks with commentary and summaries.
The post Episode 45: NYGH EM Update Conference 2014 appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In anticipation of the Highlights from North York General's Emergency Medicine Update Conference 2014 we have the master educator himself, Dr. Amal Mattu's Best Case ever of a patient who presented with a COPD exacerbation, that we recorded at the conference in Toronto just a couple of weeks ago. Dr. Mattu gives you a string of pearls and pitfalls when it comes to management of COPD, bagging & vent settings that you will never forget. In the upcoming episode Dr. Mattu will review his favorite papers from the cardiology literature of the past year and Dr. Stuart Swadron will give you his approach to the challenges of the patient with vertigo. This will the first of two parts of the highlights from the conference - the largest and best EM conference in Canada.
The post Best Case Ever 24: COPD, Baggging and Vent Settings appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In this episode on Hypertensive Emergencies, Dr. Joel Yaphe, EM residency program director at the University of Toronto & Dr. Clare Atzema, one of Canada's leading cardiovascular EM researchers will discuss the controversies of how to manage patients who present to the ED with high blood pressure and evidence of end organ damage related to the high blood pressure. Hypertensive emergencies are a grab bag of diagnoses that all need to be treated differently. Hypertensive Encephalopathy, Aortic Dissection, Acute Pulmonary Edema, Pre-eclampsia & Eclampsia, Acute Renal Failure, Subarachnoid Hemorrhage and Intracranial Hemorrhage all need individualized blood pressure management.
The post Episode 41: Hypertensive Emergencies appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
University of Toronto EM Residency program director, Joel Yaphe and cardiovascular EM researcher, Clare Atzema discuss the guidelines, controversies, pearls & pitfalls of Asymptomatic Hypertension in the ED. The literature is thin in this area, and there are many controversies: Does an elevated BP measured in the ED represent true essential hypertension? Do these patients need to be worked up? Are they at risk of serious morbidity and mortality? Should we treat these patients in the ED with antihypertensives? Should we send them home on antihypertensives? and many more......
The post Episode 40: Asymptomatic Hypertension appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In the first part of this epic 2 part must-hear episode, Transfusions, Anticoagulants & Bleeding, we have the triumphant return of Dr. Walter Himmel (also known as 'The walking encyclopedia of EM') along with Dr. Katerina Pavenski (Head of Transfusion Medicine at St. Michael's Hospital) & Dr. Jeannie Callum (Head of Transfusion Medicine at Sunnybrook Hospital) who will update you on the latest in transfusion indications & risks, managing INRs and how Wararin compares to Dabigatran, Rivaroxiban & Apixaban. They give you the authoritative low down on: Indications for red cell transfusions in different clinical scenarios (GI bleed, cardiac disease, vaginal bleeding etc) and how to give them, Risks of red cell transfusions including Host vs Graft Disease, TRALI & TACO and how to manage them, IV Iron as an alternative to red cell transfusions, Managing INRs: indications for Vit K, Prothrombin Complex Concentrates (Octaplex & Beriplex), adjusting Warfarin Dose, liver patients, and much much more.........
The post Episode 36: Transfusions, Anticoagulants and Bleeding appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In this episode Dr. Don Melady, Canada's leading educator in Geriatric Emergency Medicine (Geri-EM) & Dr. Jaques Lee, one of Canada's leading researchers in Geri-EM, discuss the common yet challenging Geriatric Emergencies: a practical approach to geriatric Delirium, best practice for managing agitation and pain in the older patient, management of recurrent falls, pearls in the assessment of the 'Weak & Dizzy' geriatric patient, atypical presentations of common life threatening emergencies including ACS and surgical abdomen, key drug interactions in the geriatric patient and more..
The post Episode 34: Geriatric Emergency Medicine appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
Whistler's Update in Emergency Medicine Conference 2013 in Whistler, British Columbia is U of Toronto's case-based interactive small group EM conference. There were so may great talks with amazing clinical pearls that I decided to wade through the 18 hours of audio recordings and packaged some of the key highlights for you here......EM Literature Review 2012 by Dr. Joel Yaphe, Neonatal Resuscitation Pearls by Dr. Nicole Kester-Greene, Fever of Unknown Origin by Dr. Shirley Lee, Improving Cosmesis in Wound Management by Dr. Maria Ivankovic, Hepato-biliary Disease by Dr. Sara Gray, & Pediatric Cardiac & Respiratory Cases by Dr. Donna Goldenberg.
The post Episode 32: Whistler Update in Emergency Medicine Conference 2013 appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In this episode dedicated to emergency procedures pearls and pitfalls, tips and tricks, Dr. Jordan Chenkin & Dr. Jamie Blicker take us step by step through how best to perform surgical airways and pericardiocentesis, as well as place central lines and intraosseous lines. They explain the various methods for surgical airways including the bougie-assisted surgical airway. They review the indications, contraindications, and complications for all of these life saving procedures, and give us some amazing tips and tricks on what to do when things aren't going as expected.
The post Episode 30: Central Lines, Surgical Airways and Pericardiocentesis appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
Dr. David Carr, the past author of Tintinalli's chapter on occlusive arterial disease, tells us his Best Case Ever related to Aortic Dissection.
In the related Episode 28: Aortic Dissection, Acute Limb Ischemia & Compartment Syndrome, we discuss the breadth of presentations and key diagnostic clues of Aortic Dissection. We review the value of ECG, CXR, biomarkers and the use of Transesophageal Echo and CTA in this sometime elusive diagnosis. We debate lots of clinical pearls and pitfalls when it comes to acute limb ischemia, and end with a discussion on the trials and tribulations of Compartment Syndrome.
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The post Best Case Ever 13: Aortic Dissection appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In this episode on Pediatric Syncope & Adult Syncope, Dr. Eric Letovksy & Dr. Anna Jarvis run through the key clinical pearls of the history, the physical, interpretation of the ECG and the value of clinical decision rules such as the ROSE rule and the San Francisco Syncope Rule in working up these patients. We discuss how to differentiate syncope from seizure, cardiac causes of syncope such as Arrhthmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopthy & Prolonged QT Syndrome, and the indications for Holter monitoring, Echocardiograms and stress testing in patients with Syncope.
Dr. Letvosky & Dr. Jarvis answer such questions as: How can we diagnose Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy in the ED? What is the value of Troponin and BNP in the work-up of syncope? In what ways are patients with Down Syndrome at high risk for serious causes of syncope? In what ways are patients with alcohol dependence at risk for serious causes of syncope? Why is 'Benign' early repolarization not a benign condition in patients with syncope? Which children with syncope should be admitted? and many more....
The post Episode 25: Pediatric Syncope and Adult Syncope appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
Pediatric Syncope usually has a benign cause, but may be a warning for sudden death. As a bonus to Episode 25 on ‘Pediatric & Adult Syncope’ with Dr. Eric Letovsky and Dr. Anna Jarvis, 'Canada's mother of Pediatric Emergency Medicine', we have Dr. Jarvis’s Best Case Ever. In the related episode we will cover how to differentiate syncope from seizure, key historical and physical exam clues to determine a cause of syncope, ECG pearls of syncope causing cardiac conditions, from Congenital Prolonged QT Syndrome to Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy, the value of syncope decision rules such as the ROSE rule and the San Francisco Syncope Rule, the value of ancillary testing, including Holter monitoring, Echocardiograms and Stress Testing and much more......
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The post Best Case Ever 10: Pediatric Syncope appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In this bonus episode, our second installment of the highlights from Whistler Update in Emergency Medicine Conference 2012, we have Dr. Eric Letovsky talking about complications of MI and the importance of listening for cardiac murmurs. Next, I moderate an expert panel on the current trends on imaging patients who present with renal colic and query appendicitis with Dr. Connie Leblanc, Dr. Joel Yaphe, Dr. David MacKinnon & Dr. Eric Letovsky. We then hear from Dr. Adam Cheng, Dr. Dennis Scolnick & Dr. Anna Jarvis in a pediatric expert panel about the newest on minor head injury, otitis media, mastoiditis and bronchiolitis. Dr. David Carr reviews one of the most important articles in 2011 regarding subarachnoid hemorrhage, and Dr. David MacKinnon gives us tonnes of clinical pearls when it comes to everyone's favourite subject, anorectal disorders.
The post Episode 22a: Whistler Update in Emergency Medicine Conference 2012 appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In this episode Dr. Clare Atzema, Dr. Nazanin Meshkat and Dr. Bryan Au discuss the presentation, etiology, precipitants, management and disposition of Atrial Fibrillation in the Emergency Department. The pros and cons of rate and rhythm control are debated, what you need to know about rate and rhythm control medications reviewed, and the strength of the Ottawa Aggressive Protocol discussed. The importance of appropriate anticoagulation is detailed, with a review of the CHADS-VASc score and whether to use Warfarin, Dabigatran or ASA for stroke prevention for patient with Atrial Fibrillation. We end off with a discussion on how to recognize and treat Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome in the setting of Atrial Fibrillation.
The post Episode 20: Atrial Fibrillation appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
As a bonus to Episode 20 on Atrial Fibrillation, we present here, Dr. Clare Atzema, a leading EM researcher in Atrial Fibrillation, telling her Best Case Ever related to Afib. What would you do if you needed to cardiovert a patient who was too obese to fit on an ED stretcher? Dr. Atzema, along with Dr. Nazanin Meshkat and Dr. Bryan Au, discuss the presentation, etiology, precipitants, management and disposition of Atrial Fibrillation in the Emergency Department. The pros and cons of rate vs rhythm control are debated, what you need to know about Afib medications, and the value of the Ottawa Aggressive Protocol discussed. The importance of appropriate anticoagulation is detailed, with a review of the CHADS-VASc score and whether to use anticogulants or ASA for stroke prevention for patients with Afib. We end off with a discussion on how to recognize and treat Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome in the setting of Atrial Fibrillation.
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The post Best Case Ever 7: Atrial Fibrillation appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In this first installment of this Episode, Point of Care Ultrasound Pearls, Pitfalls & Controversies we have a panel of POCUS gurus, Dr. Greg Hall, Dr. Jordan Chenkin, Dr. Paul Hannam & Dr. Jason Fischer. They review the basic criteria for commonly used, practical Point of Care Ultrasound indications at the bedside and then dive into heated debate about specific pearls and pitfalls in Point of Care Ultrasound assessment of the patient with undifferentiated shortness of breath, undifferentiated shock, cardiac arrest and swollen leg. They discuss how best to interpret the massive body of literature for POCUS and when we can hang our hats on our Point of Care Ultrasound findings.
The post Episode 18 Part 1: Point of Care Ultrasound Pearls, Pitfalls and Controversies appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In Part 2 of this Episode on Acute Coronary Syndromes Risk Stratification & Management, the evidence for various medications for ACS, from supplemental oxygen to thrombolytics are debated, and decision making around reperfusion therapy for STEMI as well as NSTEMI are discussed. Finally, there is a discussion on risk stratification of low risk chest pain patients and all it's attendant challenges as well as disposition and follow-up decisions.
Dr. Eric Letovsky, the Head of the CCFP(EM) Program at the University of Toronto, Dr. Mark Mensour & Dr. Neil Fam, an interventional cardiologist answer questions like: What is the danger of high flow oxygen in the setting of ACS? When, if ever, should we be using IV B-blockers in AMI patients? How can you predict, in the ED, who might go on to have an urgent CABG, in which case Clopidogrel is contra-indicated? Which anticoagulant is best for unstable angina, NSTEMI and STEMI - unfractionated heparin (UFH), low molecular weight heparin (LMWH), or fonduparinux? Is there currenly any role for Glycoprotein 2b3a Inhibitors in ACS in the ED? When is thrombolysis better than PCI for STEMI? When should we consider facilitated angioplasty and rescue angioplasty? Which low risk chest pain patients require an early stress test? CT coronary angiography? Stress Echo? Admission to a Coronary Decision Unit (CDU)? and many more.......
The post Episode 15 Part 2: Acute Coronary Syndromes Management appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In Part 1 of this Episode on Acute Coronary Syndromes Risk Stratification Dr. Eric Letovksy, Dr. Mark Mensour and Dr. Neil Fam discuss common pearls and pitfalls in assessing the patient who presents to the ED with chest pain. They review atypical presentations to look out for, what the literature says about the value of traditional and non-traditional cardiac risk factors, the diagnostic utility of recent cardiac testing, and which patients in the ED should have a cardiac work-up. Finally, in the ED work up of Acute Coronary Syndromes Risk Stratification, they highlight some valuable key points in ECG interpretation and how best to use and interpret cardiac biomarkers like troponin.
Drs. Letovksy, Mensour & Fam address questions like: How useful are the traditional cardiac risk factors in predicting ACS in the ED? How does a negative recent treadmill stress test, nuclear stress test or angiogram effect the pre-test probability of ACS in the ED? What does recent evidence tell us about the assumption that patients presenting with chest pain and a presumed new LBBB will rule in for MI and require re-perfusion therapy? How can we diagnose MI in the patient with a ventricular pacemaker? What is the difference between Troponin I and Troponin T from a practical clinical perspective? Is one Troponin ever good enough to rule out MI in the patient with a normal ECG? Should we be using a 2hr delta troponin protocol? How will the new ultra-sensitive Troponins change our practice? and many more.....
The post Episode 15 Part 1: Acute Coronary Syndromes Risk Stratification appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In anticipation of Episode 15, 'Acute Coronary Syndromes' with Dr. Eric Letovsky, Dr. Mark Mensour and Dr. Neil Fam, we present here, Dr. Helman's 'Best Case Ever' of an ACS patient. In Episode 15: 'Acute Coronary Syndromes', Drs. Fam, Mensour , Letovsky and Helman discuss questions like: How does a recent negative stress test or angiogram effect the pre-test probability of ACS in the ED? What does recent evidence tell us about the assumption that patients presenting with chest pain and a presumed new LBBB will rule in for MI and require reperfusion therapy?
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The post Best Case Ever 4 Acute Coronary Syndrome From Venous Source appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In Part 2 of this episode on ACLS Guidelines - Atropine, Adenosine & Therapeutic Hypothermia, Dr. Steven Brooks and Dr. Michael Feldman discuss the removal of Atropine from the PEA/Asystole algorithm, the indications and dangers of Adenosine in wide-complex tachycardias, pressors as a bridge to transvenous pacing in unstable bradycardias, and the key elements of post cardiac arrest care including therapeutic hypothermia and PCI.
They answer questions such as: In which arrhythmias can Amiodarone cause more harm than good? Is there any role for transcutaneous pacing for asystole? When should Bicarb be given in the arrest situation? In what situations is Atropine contra-indicated or the dosage need to be adjusted? How has the widespread use of therapeutic hypothermia currently effected our ability to prognosticate post-arrest patients? What are the indications for PCI and thrombolysis in the cardiac arrest patient? Should we be using therapeutic hypothermia in the non-Vfib arrest patient? What is the best method for achieving the target temperature for the patient undergoing therapeutic hypothermia? and many more......
The post Episode 12 Part 2: ACLS Guidelines – Atropine, Adenosine & Therapeutic Hypothermia appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In Part 1 of this episode on the latest ACLS Guidelines, Dr. Steven Brooks and Dr. Michael Feldman review and debate what's new and what's controversial in the the 2010 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care. Within the frameworks of Cardiocerebral Rescusitation and the 3 phase model of rescucitation (electrical, circulatory and metabolic), they discuss the importance of high quality CPR, the de-emphasis on early ventilation and the utility of continuous quantitative waveform capnography. Dr. Brooks and Dr. Feldman answer questions such as: of all the therapeutic manoeuvres we do for the cardiac arrest patient, which ones have been shown to improve survival to hospital discharge? What is the evidence for chest compression machines? What is the utility of bedside ultrasound in the cardiac arrest patient? Why is cardiac arrest survival to discharge in Seattle the best in the world? Should we be performing 'hands-on defibrillation'? and many more.....
The post Episode 12 Part 1: ACLS Guidelines – What’s New & Controversial appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) can be difficult to diagnose. It's unclear who to work up. It's challenging if the patient is already taking blood thinners. Dr. Walter Himmel and Dr. Daniel Selchen discuss the key historical and physical examination maneuvers to determine whether patients with neurologic complaints have had a TIA or whether they have had a TIA mimic. They review the 3 best risk stratification rules including the ABCD2 Score to help us determine who needs to be admitted and who needs timely investigations to reduce vascular morbidity and mortality. The reasoning behind which patients require urgent carotid imaging, echocardiograms and advanced imaging such as CT Angiogram is explained, and the best medication choices are reviewed, as well as the indications for Clopidogrel, Aggrenox, Warfarin, Heparin and carotid endarterectomy in the managment of Transient Ischemic Attack. In the second part of the episode, a simple and practical approach to the patient with dizziness is presented, and a discussion on which patients with dizziness need urgent work-up and treatment for vertebrobasilar TIA.
The post Episode 6: Transient Ischemic Attack appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
Dr. Eric Letovsky and Dr. Brian Steinhart describe a practical way to approach patients with undifferentiated SOB and acute congestive heart failure, the utility of various symptoms and signs in the diagnosis of CHF, as well as the controversies surrounding the best use of BNP and Troponin in the ED. A discussion of the use of ultrasound for patients with SOB as well as the indications for formal Echo are reviewed. In the second part of the episode they discuss the management of acute congestive heart failure based on a practical EM model, as well as the difficulties surrounding disposition of patients with CHF.
The post Episode 4: Acute Congestive Heart Failure appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.