A 59 year old male presents complaining of unsteadiness on his feet and vomiting for 24 hours. You know there are numerous benign explanations for his symptoms, but also realize there are a few "can't miss" diagnoses as well...what are they and how do we assess for them in the ED?
Read moreSubmitted by Karen O'Brien, DO
What is the rectus sheath? How does one get a hematoma there? And how do we manage it?
Read moreSubmitted by Christopher Smith, MD
EMS brings in a 45 year old male with a PMHX of tobacco abuse who was rescued in a house fire. The report is that a cigarette dropped on the patient’s couch while he was sleeping and caused a smouldering fire. It resulted in a significant amount of smoke creation but very little fire damage in the house. The patient has no visible burns. On arrival, the patient’s pulse oximetry on room air is 84%. He is alert and oriented but notes a sense of persistent dyspnea. His workup is significant for a lactate of 2.2 but otherwise benign. Co-oximetry is normal without evidence of severe carbon monoxide poisoning. The patient does not display evidence of inhalational burns. The patient’s new hypoxia and dyspnea is worrisome so you planned admission to the hospital but wonder if you should give hydroxycobalamin empirically in case of occult cyanide toxicity.
Read moreSubmitted by Lars-Kristofer Peterson, MD
Critically Appraised Topic: Does a Low Tidal Volume Mechanical Ventilation Strategy Benefit Patients without ARDS?
Read moreSubmitted by Tom Sewatsky, MD
A 55 year old male presents to the ED in respiratory distress with hypoxia, tachycardia, and tracheal deviation.
Read moreSubmitted by Sarab Sodhi, MD
Working up a patient for visual loss? Concerned they have optic neuritis and not sure what to do next? Let's review some basics of optic neuritis
Read moreSubmitted by Alison Jaworski, MD
As you scan the ED trackboard, you recognize the name of a 22 year old patient who you saw the week before after a house fire. At that time, the patient was treated for carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning and briefly admitted to the hospital. Today’s chief complaint is dyspnea and chest pain. You note that the patient is tachycardic, hypoxic, and complained of pleuritic chest pain at triage. You wonder if the prior exposure to carbon monoxide should raise your pre-test probability for certain diagnoses.
Read moreSubmitted by Lars-Kristofer Peterson, MD
Clinical Question: Do dopamine antagonist decrease length of stay in cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome?
Submitted by Courtney Martin, DO
2 year-old male with no PMHx is brought to the ED for intermittent abdominal pain for the past two days.
Read moreSubmitted by Lauren Murphy, MD