Core Em Podcast

This week we discuss the disutility of orthostatic vital signs as a diagnostic tool in patients with suspected volume loss. https://media.blubrry.com/coreem/content.blubrry.com/coreem/Podcast_140_0_Final_Cut.m4a Download Leave a Comment Tags: Cardiology, Orthostatic Hypotension Show Notes Summary: Based on the limited available evidence, it’s unlikely orthostatic vital sign measurement can be used to determine which patients have volume loss and which do not. The baseline prevalence of orthostatic vital signs is common and patients will not always develop orthostatic vital signs in response to volume loss. Therefore, there will both be patients who are orthostatic by numbers without volume loss and there will be patients with volume loss who are not orthostatic by number

This week we welcome back Andy Little from Doctors Hospital in Columbus, Ohio to chat about ear foreign body removal. https://media.blubrry.com/coreem/content.blubrry.com/coreem/Podcast_139_0_Final_Cut.m4a Download Leave a Comment Tags: ENT, Foreign Body Show Notes Read More DiMuzio J, Deschler, DG. Emergency department management of foreign bodies of the external ear canal in children. Otol Neurotol. 2002; 23(4):473-5. PMID: 12170148 Leffler S et al. Chemical immobilization and killing of intra-aural roaches: an in-vitro comparative study. Ann Emerg Med. 1993; 22(12):1795-8. PMID: 8239097 ALiEM: Trick of the Trade: Ear Foreign Body Removal with Modified Suction Setup Read More

This week we review pearls from the EEMCrit conference back in January 2018. https://media.blubrry.com/coreem/content.blubrry.com/coreem/Podcast_Episode_138_0_Final_Cut.m4a Download Leave a Comment Tags: BRASH, Hyperkalemia, TTP, Ventricular Tachycardia, VTach Show Notes Show Notes Core EM: Procainamide vs Amiodarone in Stable Wide QRS Tachydysrhythmias (PROCAMIO) PulmCrit: Myth-Buesting: Lactated Ringers is Safe in Hyperkalemia, and Is Superior to NS PulmCrit: BRASH Syndrome Read More

This podcast discusses an 8 step process for building better presentations. https://media.blubrry.com/coreem/content.blubrry.com/coreem/Podcast_Episode_137_0_Final_Cut.m4a Download One Comment Show Notes Resources: P Cubed Presentations Presentation Zen Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery Keynotable Read More

This week we discuss some pearls and pitfalls when caring for HIV+ patients in the ED. https://media.blubrry.com/coreem/content.blubrry.com/coreem/Podcast_Episode_136_0_Final_Cut.m4a Download One Comment Tags: AIDS, HIV, Infectious Diseases, PCP, TB, Tuberculosis Show Notes HIV Associated Infections Based on CD4 Count (cooperhealth.org) Total Lymphocyte Count  = (% lymphocytes x WBC count)/100 TLC 1200 cells/mm3 correlated with CD4 count of < 200 cells/mm3 with a maximal sensitivity of 72.2%, and specificity of 100% TLC1500 cells/mm3 correlated with CD4 count of 200 – 499 cells/mm...

This podcast reviews how clinicians should think about patients who's shock isn't responding to our typical management options. https://media.blubrry.com/coreem/content.blubrry.com/coreem/Episode_135_0_Final_Cut.m4a Download One Comment Tags: Critical Care, Resuscitation, Shock, Vasopressors Show Notes   Read More Core EM: Occult Causes of Non-Response to Vasopressors Emergency Medicine Updates: Hypotension: Differential Diagnosis EMCrit: Steroids in Septic Shock – PRE-ADRENAL The Bottom Line:

More pearls from our fantastic morning report series. https://media.blubrry.com/coreem/content.blubrry.com/coreem/Podcast_Episode_134_0_Final_Cut.m4a Download 2 Comments Tags: ALL, Altered Mental Status, Hyperleukocytosis, Hyponatremia, Leukostasis Show Notes Take Home Points 1. When seeing patients with AMS, think of the 5 broad categories of pathologies – VS abnormalities, toxic-metabolic, infectious causes, CNS abnormalities and, lastly as a diagnosis of exclusion – psychiatric issues 2. In kids with AMS, think of zebra diagnoses and toxic ingestions and remember that primary psychosis is rare 3. Patients with ALL are susceptible to developing hyperleukocytosis. If the WBC is > 100K, think about getting hematology on the line to initiate chemo induction and leukophere

This week we dive in to the initial trauma assessment. https://media.blubrry.com/coreem/content.blubrry.com/coreem/Episode_133_0_Final_Cut.m4a Download Leave a Comment Tags: ABCDEs, Trauma Show Notes Take Home Points Development of a systematic approach is essential to rapidly assessing the wide diversity of trauma patients and minimizes missed injures Prepare with whatever information is available before the patient arrives and remember to get a good handoff from the pre-hospital team Complete the primary survey (ABCDEs) and address immediate life threats Round out your assessment with a good medical history and remember to complete a comprehensive head-to-toe exam Read More Shlamovitz GZ, et al. Poor test characteristics for the digital rectal examination in trauma p

This week we dive into the rare but potentially fatal, and difficult to diagnose, air embolism. https://media.blubrry.com/coreem/content.blubrry.com/coreem/Episode_132_0_Final_Cut.m4a Download 2 Comments Tags: Air Embolism, Central Lines, Hyperbaric Oxygen Show Notes Take Home Points Air embolism is a rare but potentially fatal complication of central line placement and some surgical procedures and of course of as the result of barotrauma. Recognizing the signs and symptoms of air embolism can be tricky because it will look like any other ischemic process.  Consider air embolism if you have a patient that rapidly decompensates after placement of a central line, the most likely culprit for those of us in the ED. Treatment should focus on supportive cares.  Give supplemen

This week we explore the presentation, diagnosis and management of SBP. https://media.blubrry.com/coreem/content.blubrry.com/coreem/Episode_131_0_Final_Cut.m4a Download Leave a Comment Tags: Gastroenterology, Infectious Diseases, SBP Show Notes Take Home Points SBP is a difficult diagnosis to make because presentations are variable. Consider a diagnostic paracentesis in all patients presenting to the ED with ascites from cirrhosis An ascites PMN count > 250 cells/mm3 is diagnostic of SBP but treatment should be considered in any patient with ascites and abdominal pain or fever Treatment of SBP is with a 3rd generation cephalosporin with the addition of albumin infusion in any patient meeting AASLD criteria (Cr > 1.0 mg/dL, BUN > 30 mg/dL or Total bilirubin > 4 mg/dL) R

Another set of high-yield pearls coming out of our morning report conferences. https://media.blubrry.com/coreem/content.blubrry.com/coreem/Podcast_Episode_130_0_Final_Cut.m4a Download Leave a Comment Tags: Babesiosis, Carbon Monoxide, Doxycycline, Myasthenia Gravis, Tick-Borne Illnesses Show Notes Take Home Points Non-specific viral syndromes are usually just that, a viral syndrome but, be cautious as a number of more serious ailments can present similarly. This includes tick borne illnesses, acute HIV and carbon monoxide Doxycycline is safe in kids. The dental staining seen with tetracycline is specific to that drug, not the class. If doxy is the best drug for the disease, use it. Lots of meds can lead to a myasthenia gravis exacerbation. Carefully review meds before p

We welcome Meghan Spyres back to the podcast to discuss toxic alcohol ingestion diagnosis and management. https://media.blubrry.com/coreem/content.blubrry.com/coreem/Podcast_Episode_129_0_Final_Cut.m4a Download Leave a Comment Tags: Ethylene Glycol, Fomepizole, Methanol, Toxic Alcohols, Toxicology Show Notes Take Home Points Suspect a toxic alcohol in any patient with a large osmol gap or a large anion gap metabolic acidosis and consider treating these patients empirically. Fomepizole is the critical antidote for toxic alcohol ingestions but, patients are likely going to require dialysis as well. Call your local poison control center if you suspect a toxic alcohol ingestion to help guide management. Read More LITFL: Toxic Alcohol Ingestion ER Cast: Mind the Gap: Anion

This week, we sit down with Billy Goldberg - senior faculty at NYU/Bellevue, to discuss some nuances of hip dislocation management. https://media.blubrry.com/coreem/content.blubrry.com/coreem/Episode_128_0_Final_Cut.m4a Download Leave a Comment Tags: Orthopedics, Trauma Show Notes Read More Core EM: Hip Dislocation OrthoBullets: Hip Dislocation EMin5: Hip Dislocation Read More

This week we talk about the subacute headache and the dangerous, can't miss diagnoses of cerebral venous thrombosis and IIH https://media.blubrry.com/coreem/content.blubrry.com/coreem/Podcast_Episode_127_0_Final_Cut.m4a Download Leave a Comment Tags: Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis, Headache, Neurology Show Notes Take Home Points Keep IIH and CVST on the differential for patient’s coming in with a subacute headache, particularly if they have visual or neuro symptoms. Consider an ocular ultrasound! It’s quick, shockingly easy to do, and can help point you toward a diagnosis you may have otherwise overlooked.  I have made it my practice now to include a quick look in the physical exam of my patients with a concerning sounding headache or a headache with neurologic sympto

This week we discuss the uncommon but must make diagnosis of flexor tenosynovitis https://media.blubrry.com/coreem/content.blubrry.com/coreem/Podcast_Episode_126_0_Final_Cut.m4a Download Leave a Comment Tags: Hand, Kanavel Signs, Orthopedics, Soft Tissue Infections Show Notes Take Home Points Think about flexor tenosynovitis in a patient with atraumatic finger pain.  They may have any combination of these signs: Tenderness along the course of the flexor tendon Symmetrical swelling of the finger – often called the sausage digit Pain on passive extension of the finger and Patient holds the finger in a flex position at rest for increased comfort Give antibiotics to cover staph, strep and possibly gram negatives. Get your surgeon to see the patient, while we can get th

This week we discuss some critical pearls and teaching points from our morning report conference. https://media.blubrry.com/coreem/content.blubrry.com/coreem/Podcast_Episode_125_0_Final_Cut.m4a Download One Comment Tags: Fluoroquinolones, Pneumonia, Spleen Show Notes FOAMCast: Episode 17 – The Spleen! Read More

This week we discuss a quick case leading into the management of MALA. https://media.blubrry.com/coreem/content.blubrry.com/coreem/Podcast_Episode_124_0_Final_Cut.m4a Download 2 Comments Tags: Metformin, Toxicology Show Notes Take Home Points In patients with shortness of breath and clear lungs, consider metabolic acidosis with respiratory alkalis as a potential cause Suspect MALA in any patient on metformin who presents with abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting and/or AMS Patients with MALA will have a low pH, a high-anion gap metabolic acidosis and high lactate levels Call your tox consultant to assist with management which will focus on fluid resuscitation with isotonic bicarbonate and dialysis Read More Bosse GM. Antidiabetics and Hypoglycemics. In: Hoffman RS, Howl

This week we dive into a recent journal article questioning whether we should tap all ascites. https://media.blubrry.com/coreem/content.blubrry.com/coreem/Episode_123_0_Final_Cut.m4a Download Leave a Comment Tags: Albumin, Cirrhosis, Paracentesis, SBP, Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis Show Notes Take Home Points SBP is a difficult diagnosis to make clinically. While patients may have the triad of fever, abdominal pain and increasing ascites, they are far more likely to only have 1 or 2 of these symptoms In patients admitted to the hospital with ascites, consider performing a diagnostic paracentesis on all patients as limited literature shows an association with decreased mortality and, the procedure is simple and low risk Once you get the fluid, focus on the cell count

This week we discuss the tibio-femoral knee dislocation focusing on identification of the dangerous complications. https://media.blubrry.com/coreem/content.blubrry.com/coreem/Podcast_Episode_122_0_Final_Cut.m4a Download Leave a Comment Tags: Knee Dislocation, Orthopedics, Popliteal Artery Show Notes Take Home Points Up to 50% of true knee dislocations will spontaneously reduce prior to arrival. Be suspicious of a dislocation in any patient who describes the joint moving out of place or if they have significant swelling, joint effusion or ecchymosis despite normal X-rays In all patients with suspected dislocation, perform a neurovascular exam immediately as popliteal artery injury is common. If they’ve got an absent DP or PT pulse, reduce immediately and get a CT angiogr

This week we dive into the diagnosis and management of pancreatitis in the ED https://media.blubrry.com/coreem/content.blubrry.com/coreem/Episode_121_0_Final_Cut.m4a Download Leave a Comment Tags: Gastroenterology, GI, Pancreatitis Show Notes Ranson’s Criteria for Pancreatitis-Associated Mortality (Rosen’s) Take Home Points Pancreatitis is diagnosed by a combination of clinical features (epigastric pain with radiation to back, nausea/vomiting etc) and diagnostic tests (lipsae 3x normal, CT scan) A RUQ US should be performed looking for gallstones as this finding significantly alters management The focus of management is on supportive care. IV fluids, while central to therapy, should be given judiciously and titrated to end organ perfusion Patients will mild pancreatitis