In this month's EM Quick Hits podcast: Andrew Petrosoniak on the role of vasopressors in the hemorrhaging trauma patient, Megan Landes on providing HIV PEP and PrEP in the ED, Justin Morgenstern & George Kovacs on the PREOXI trial and evidence for pre-oxygenation with NIPPV before intubation in RSI, Brit Long on recognition and management of blast crisis in the ED, and Leah Flanagan & Liam Loughrey on the rise of nitrous oxide toxicity...
The post EM Quick Hits 58 – HIV PEP and PrEP, PREOXI Trial, Blast Crisis, Nitrous Oxide Poisoning, Vasopressors in Trauma appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In this month's EM Quick Hits podcast: Sarah Reid on an approach to Infant Vomiting, Brit Long on Orbital Cellulitis essentials, Justin Morgenstern on the PATCH trial - Prehospital TXA in Trauma, Christina Shenvi on Prevention and Treatment of Delirium, Jason Hine on Procedural Skills Decay, Aaron Billin on Altitude Sickness...
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The post EM Quick Hits 52 Infant Vomiting, Orbital Cellulitis, Prehospital TXA in Trauma, Prevention and Treatment of Delirium, Procedural Skills Decay, Altitude Sickness appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In this EM Quick Hits podcast: Salim Rezaie on venous thromboembolism recurrence in subsegmental pulmonary embolism, Andrew Petrosoniak on pain management in the polytrauma, Nour Khatib on a rural EM case on management of near-drowning patient, Sara Reid delivers a polio primer, Anand Swaminathan on head-up CPR...
The post EM Quick Hits 42 – Subsegmental PE, Trauma Analgesia, Drowning, Polio, Head-up CPR 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.
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.
With the help of a special guest, EBM guru Dr. Ken Milne of the The SGEM, Anton and Justin look at all the various potential indications for TXA and review the available evidence. Should we be using TXA for epistaxis, postpartum hemorrhage, hyphema or hemoptysis? Is it a miracle drug that stops all bleeding? Or has it been drastically overhyped? Was CRASH-2 enough to be definitive, or does the classic EBM mantra of "we need more studies" remain true?...
The post Journal Jam 18 The Evidence for TXA – Should Tranexamic Acid Be Routine Therapy in the Bleeding Patient? 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.
Dr. Jeannie Callum, Dr. Andrew Petrosoniak and Dr. Barbara Haas join Anton in answering the questions: How do you decide when to activate the MHP? How do you know when it is safe to terminate the MHP? What lab tests need to be done, how often, and how should the results be shared with the clinical team? Once the dust settles, what do we need to tell the patient and/or their family about the consequences of being massively transfused? What should be the lab resuscitation targets? Why is serum calcium important to draw in the ED for the patient who is exsanguinating? How do we mitigate the risk of hypothermia? What can hospitals do to mitigate blood wastage? If someone is on anti-platelets or anticoagulants what is the best strategy to ensure the docs in the ED know what to give and how much? Until the results of lab testing come back and hemorrhage pace is slowed, what ratio of plasma to RBCs should we target? What's better, 1:1:1 or 2:1:1? Should we ever consider using Recombinant Factor 7a? If the fibrinogen is low, what is the optimal product and threshold for replacement? When and how much TXA? Anyone you wouldn’t give it to? and many more...
The post Ep 152 The 7 Ts of Massive Hemorrhage Protocols appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
Salim Rezaie on HALT-IT trial for TXA in unstable GI bleed, Sarah Reid on pediatric DKA update in fluid management and cerebral edema, Hans Rosenberg on POCUS in shoulder dislocations via CJEM, Arun Sayal on Lisfranc injury pearls and pitfalls, Justin Morgenstern on RECOVERY Trial for Dexamethasone in COVID pneumonia, Walter Himmel on getting what you need from consultants...
The post EM Quick Hits 21 TXA in GI Bleed, Pediatric DKA, POCUS for Shoulder Dislocations, Lisfranc Injuries, Dexamethasone for COVID Pneumonia, Consultation Tips appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
Anand Swaminathan on Lemierre's syndrome, Emily Austin on clonidine toxicity, Brit Long on myths of routine coagulation panel testing, Hans Rosenberg and Michael Ho on reversal of anticoagulation, Sheldon Cheskes on mechanical CPR...
The post EM Quick Hits 8 Lemierre’s Syndrome, Clonidine Toxicity, Routine Coag Panel, Anticoagulation Reversal, Mechanical CPR 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.
On this EM Quick Hits podcast we have Emily Austin on organophosphate poisoning, Arun Sayal on malrotation of metacarpal fractures, Andrew Petrosoniak on pitfalls in abdominal stab wound management, Anand Swaminathan on tranexamic acid for non-massive hemoptysis, and Natalie May on pediatric IV cannulation tips and tricks...
The post EM Quick Hits 2 Organophosphate Poisoning, TXA for Hemoptysis, Metacarpal Fracture Rotation, Abdominal Stab Wounds, Pediatric IV Cannulation appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
Walter Himmel takes us through the resuscitation of a sick patient with an UGIB and the management priorities including blood products, antibiotics, TXA, octreotide, pantoprazole and endoscopy in this EMU 365 video...
The post EMU 365 Upper GI Bleed with Walter Himmel appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
Our EM Cases feature Rapid Reviews Videos is growing! The latest release covers the main episode on Emergency Management of Sickle Cell Disease with John Foote and Richard Ward. In this video Michelle Yee reviews the key questions on history when assessing patients with sickle cell disease, the complications of sickle cell disease, an approach to pain and symptom management, and common misconceptions/pitfalls in emergency management of sickle cell disease pain crisis....
The post New Sickle Cell Disease Management Rapid Reviews Video appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
Two classic EM Cases main episode podcasts, IV Iron for Anemia in EM with Jeannie Callum and Walter Himmel, and Emergency Management of Hyponatremia with Melanie Baimel and Ed Etchells are covered in the latest Rapid Reviews Videos by Taryn Lloyd and Nick Clarridge. Dr. Lloyd reviews how to avoid needless blood transfusions, the indications for IV iron and how to actually administer IV iron, while Dr. Clarridge reviews a novel approach, causes, complications and management of hyponatremia in the ED...
The post New Rapid Reviews Videos on IV Iron & Hyponatremia 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.
As EM Cases has grown and expanded over the past 7 years I've had the pleasure of working with a team of talented people. This Best Case Ever was produced by two all-star EM residents from Ottawa, podcaster Dr. Rajiv Vairavanathan and editor Dr. Richard Hoang. In this all-resident Best Case Ever we interview Dr. Chris Belcher from University of Kentucky about TTP - Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura, that rare but often elusive clotting disorder that picks off multiple organs and has a near 100% mortality rate without treatment...
The post Best Case Ever 53 – TTP appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In this Part 2, DOACs Bleeding and Reversal we discuss the management of bleeding in patients taking DOACs with minor risk bleeds, like epistaxis where local control is easy to access, moderate risk bleeds, like stable GI bleeds and high risk bleeds, like intracranial hemorrhage. We answer questions such as: How do we weigh the risks and benefits of stopping the DOAC? When is reversal of the DOAC is advised? How best do we accomplish the reversal of DOACs? Is there any good evidence for the newest reversal agent? When should we stop DOACs for different procedures, and when should we delay the procedure?
The post Episode 89 – DOACs Part 2: Bleeding and Reversal Agents 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.
In anticipation of Episode 88 and 89: DOACs Use, Misuse and Reversal with the president of Thrombosis Canada and world renowned thrombosis researcher Dr. Jim Douketis, internist and thrombosis expert Dr. Benjamin Bell and 'The Walking Encyclopedia of EM' Dr. Walter Himmel, we have Dr. Himmel telling us the story of his Best Case Ever on anticoagulants and GI bleed. He discusses the most important contraindication to DOACs, the importance of not only attempting to reverse the effects of anticoagulants in a bleeding patient but managing the bleed itself as well as more great pearls. In the upcoming episodes we'll run through 6 cases and cover the clinical use of DOACs, how they work, safety, indications, contraindications, management of minor, moderate and severe bleeding, the new DOAC reversal agents, management of DVT with DOAC anticoagulants, stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation with DOACs and much more...
The post Best Case Ever 51 – Anticoagulants and GI Bleed with Walter Himmel appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
A recent needs assessment completed in Toronto found that Emergency providers are undereducated when it comes to the Emergency Management of Sickle Cell Disease. This became brutally apparent to me personally, while I was researching this topic. It turns out that we’re not so great at managing these patients. Why does this matter?
These are high risk patients.
In fact, Sickle Cell patients are at increased risk for a whole slew of life threatening problems. One of the many reasons they are vulnerable is because people with Sickle Cell disease are functionally asplenic, so they’re more likely to suffer from serious bacterial infections like meningitis, osteomyelitis and septic arthritis. For a variety of reasons they’re also more likely than the general population to suffer from cholycystitis, priapism, leg ulcers, avascular necrosis of the hip, stroke, acute coronary syndromes, pulmonary embolism, acute renal failure, retinopathy, and even sudden exertional death. And often the presentations of some of these conditions are less typical than usual.
Those of you who have been practicing long enough, know that patients with Sickle Cell Disease can sometimes present a challenge when it comes to pain management, as it’s often difficult to discern whether they’re malingering or not. It turns out that we’ve probably been under-treating Sickle Cell pain crisis pain and over-diagnosing patients as malingerers.
Then there are the sometimes elusive Sickle Cell specific catastrophes that we need to be able to pick up in the ED to prevent morbidity, like Aplastic Crisis for example, where prompt recognition and swift treatment are paramount. A benign looking trivial traumatic eye injury can lead to vision threatening hyphema in Sickle Cell patients and can be easy to miss.
In this episode, with the help of Dr. Richard Ward, Toronto hematologist and Sickle Cell expert, and Dr. John Foote, the Residency Program Director for the CCFP(EM) program at the University of Toronto, we’ll deliver the key concepts, pearls and pitfalls in recognizing some important sickle cell emergencies, managing pain crises, the best fluid management, appropriate use of supplemental oxygen therapy, rational use of transfusions and more...
The post Episode 68 Emergency Management of Sickle Cell Disease appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
Sickle Cell Acute Chest Syndrome remains the leading cause of death in patients suffering from Sickle Cell Disease. In his Best Case Ever, Dr. Richard Ward, a hematologist with a special interest in Sickle Cell Disease, describes a case of a Sickle Cell Disease patient who presents with what appears to be a simple pain crisis, but turns out to be a devastating Acute Chest Syndrome. He gives us the key clinical pearls and pitfalls to make this often elusive diagnosis early so that life-saving treatment can be initiated in a timely manner. This is in anticipation of the upcoming episode on The Emergency Management of Sickle Cell Pain Crisis with Dr. Ward and Dr. John Foote.
The post Best Case Ever 38 Sickle Cell Acute Chest Syndrome appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
For years we’ve been transfusing red cells in the ED to patients who don’t actually need them. A study looking at trends in transfusion practice in the ED found that about 1/3 of transfusions given were deemed totally inappropriate. As we explained in previous EM Cases episodes, there have been a whole slew of articles in the literature over the years that have shown that morbidity and mortality outcomes with lower hemoglobin thresholds, like 70g/L for transfusing ICU patients (TRICC trial), patients in septic shock (TRISS trial), and patients with GI bleeds are similar to outcomes with traditional higher hemoglobin thresholds of 90 or 100g/L. We’re simply transfusing blood way too much! The American Association of Blood Banks in conjunction with the American Board of Internal Medicine’s Choosing Wisely campaign, as one of its 5 statements on overuse of procedures, stated, “don’t transfuse iron deficiency without hemodynamic instability”.
So, in this episode with the help of Transfusion specialist, researcher and co-author of the American Association of Blood Banks transfusion guidelines Dr. Jeannie Callum, Transfusion specialist and researcher Dr. Yulia Lin, and 'the walking encyclopedia of EM' Dr. Walter Himmel, we give you an understanding of why it’s important to avoid red cell transfusions in certain situations, why IV iron is sometimes a better option in a significant subset of anemic patients in the ED, and the practicalities of exactly how to administer IV iron.
The post Episode 65 – IV Iron for Anemia in Emergency Medicine appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
Dr. Dave MacKinnon & Dr. Mike Brzozowski return for an Update in Trauma Literature since the epic Episode 10: Trauma Pearls & Pitfalls. In this episode we discuss predicting the sick trauma patient, videolaryngoscopy vs traditional laryngoscopy, Damage Control Resuscitation, Occult Hemothorax, Blunt Thoracic Aorta and Cardiac Injury, Sternal Fractures, Tranexamic Acid, Communication in the trauma bay and much more......
The post Episode 39: Update in Trauma Literature appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In the second part of this epic 2-part authoritative episode, Anticoagulants, PCCs & Platelets, we have 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 discuss the latest on comparative efficacy and reversal of Warfarin vs Dabigatran vs Rivaroxiban vs Abixaban, the use of prothrombin complex concentrates (PCCs), the ins and outs of thrombocytopenia & platelet transfusions, ITP, TTP, anti-platelet associated intracranial bleeds, indications for Tranexamic Acid & more...
The post Episode 37: Anticoagulants, PCCs and Platelets 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.
Dr. Katerina Pavenski, on Anticoagulant Reversal in Trauma. A leader in Transfusion Medicine from St. Michael's Hospital, Dr. Pavenski tells us about her Best Case Ever in which a straight forward trauma case turns into a 'bloody disaster', after Prothrombin Complex Concentrates (PCCs) were given in an anticoagulant reversal attempt.
In the related two-part epic episode on Antiocagulants, Transfusions & Bleeding, Drs. Pavenski, Dr. Jeannie Callum (Head of Transfusion Medicine at Sunnybrook Hospital & Dr. Walter Himmel (also known as 'The walking encyclopedia of EM') cover: Indications for red cell transfusion in different clinical scenarios (GI bleed, cardiac disease, vaginal bleeding etc), Risks of transfusion including Host vs Graft Disease, TRALI & TACO, Indications for Platelet transfusion in different scenarios (hyporoliferative patients vs ITP, invasive procedures with thrombocytopenia), Managing INRs - indications for Vit K, PCC, adjusting Warfarin Dose, liver patients, Apixaban vs Rivaroxiban vs Dabigatran vs Warfarin and reversal of them, Anti-platelet medication-associated intracranial hemorrhage management, Indications for Tranexamic Acid, and much more........
The post Best Case Ever 18: Anticoagulant Reversal in Trauma appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
In this episode on Oncologic Emergencies Dr. John Foote (University of Toronto's CCFP(EM) residency program director) and Dr. Joel Yaphe (the director of the University of Toronto’s Annual Update in Emergency Medicine conference in Whistler), review 5 important presentations in the patient with cancer: fever, shortness of breath, altered mental status, back pain and acute renal failure; with specific attention to key cancer-related emergencies such as febrile neutropenia, hypercalcemia, superior vena cava syndrome, hyperviscosity syndrome and tumor lysis syndrome.
The post Episode 33: Oncologic Emergencies appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.
As bonus to Episode 33 on oncologic emergencies, Dr. John Foote, the CCFP(EM) residency program director at the University of Toronto tells us about his Best Case Ever in which he missed an important cancer-related diagnosis.
In the related episode with Dr. Foote and Dr. Joel Yaphe, we will review 5 common presentations in the patient with cancer: fever, shortness of breath, altered mental status, back pain and acute renal failure; with specific attention to key cancer-related emergencies such as febrile neutropenia, hypercalcemia, superior vena cava syndrome, hyperviscosity syndrome and tumor lysis syndrome.
The post Best Case Ever 16: Oncologic Emergencies appeared first on Emergency Medicine Cases.