Contributor: Jared Scott, MD Educational Pearls: Differential Diagnosis: non-accidental trauma, febrile seizure, meningitis, hyponatremia, epilepsy Convulsions with gastroenteritis is a known entity to cause seizures in infancy Predominantly occurs in ages 6 months to 3 years Occur with diarrheal episodes No electrolyte abnormalities associated with the seizure nor severe dehydration Seizures tend to come in…
Read MoreContributor: Nick Tsipis, MD Educational Pearls: Epinephrine: alpha-1, alpha-2, beta-1, and beta 2 agonist – used in cardiac arrest with positive effects on ROSC in prehospital and peri-hopsital setting Norepinephrine: alpha-1 and beta-1 agonist – used in septic shock to increase cardiac output and peripheral vasoconstriction Phenylephrine: alpha-1 adrenergic agonist – used in spinal/neurogenic…
Read MoreContributor: Jared Scott, MD Educational Pearls: Small capsule pacemaker (2.5 cm, 1 ml volume) resides in the heart without any associated wires or leads like a traditional pacemaker The new version has a 6 year battery life, after which it can be deactivated and a traditional pacemaker put in place Cost is around 2-4 times…
Read MoreContributor: Peter Bakes , MD Educational Pearls: Pediatric Fever + Rash Differential: scarlet fever, measles, rubella, chicken pox, fifth’s disease, HHV-6, adenovirus, anaphylaxis, Kawasaki’s disease Kawasaki’s is diagnosed clinically with prolonged fever (>7 days fever in <6 months > 5 days of fever >6 months with 4 of the following: Strawberry tongue/fissured lips Bilateral conjunctival…
Read MoreContributor: Rachael Duncan, PharmD BCPS Educational Pearls: According to the Department of Public Health and Environment who puts out a weekly report on the influenza virus in Colorado, there appears to be less influenza in Colorado than previous years A milder influenza outbreak is likely due to mask wearing and social distancing practices There have…
Read MoreThis episode of Mental Health Monthly we will be discussing drugs screens in the Emergency Department with Dr. Justin Romano and Eddie Carillo. Dr. Justin Romano is a current psychiatry resident and Eddie Carillo is a licensed mental health therapist. Check out their podcast Millennial Mental Health Channel on all major podcast platforms. Shout out…
Read MoreContributor: Aaron Lessen, MD Educational Pearls: Retrospective review of 5,021 patients over 65 with 2 or more rib fractures recently published 3577 (78 %) were admitted to non-ICU setting 1.1% of these patients had unexpected intubation or ICU transfer Findings raise questions regarding current guidelines for ICU admission in elderly patients with isolated rib fractures…
Read MoreContributor: Aaron Lessen, MD Educational Pearls: Pyogenic liver abscesses can be caused by Intra-abdominal infection progressing to peritonitis which then drains into liver Bacteremia leading to hematogenous spead and seeding Local biliary infection with contiguous spread Patients typically present with signs of sepsis or septic shock and the abscess can be diagnosed using ultrasound or…
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pneumatosis intestinalis Chief Complaint: Generalized Weakness HPI: 55-year-old male with a past medical history of hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, hypothyroidism and testicular cancer in remission presents to the Emergency Department with the chief complaint of shortness of breath and generalized weakness. He reports he was in his normal state of health the day prior….
Read MoreContributor: Katie Sprinkel, MD Educational Pearls: Commonly known as “acid,” LSD is seeing a resurgence in the population as a recreational hallucination Onset is about 30 minutes with peak pharmacologic effects at 2-4 hours, the drug’s half life is 3 hours resulting in some prolonged effects While there is not an significant addictive component of…
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