Contributor: Jared Scott, MD Educational Pearls: Pathologic bone fractures occur due to weakened bones from chronic disease and with less force when compared to non-pathologic fractures Can be due to bone tumors, bone cysts, infections (osteomyelitis), osteogenesis imperfecta, Paget’s disease of bone, and multiple myeloma Have moth bitten or lytic appearance and you can sometimes…
Read MoreContributor: Jared Scott, MD Educational Pearls: Bilirubin is natural breakdown product of red blood cells but can be neurotoxic if levels become too high Fetal red blood cells are fragile and break down easier, leading to higher bilirubin levels in neonates Immature livers and increased intestinal absorption from sterile bowels also contribute to elevated levels…
Read MoreContributor: Gretchen Hinson, MD Educational Pearls: Viruses mutate frequently and a new variant of COVID has been found in the United Kingdom. Mutations typically occur due to transcription errors during virus replication leading to slight changes in the virus which can alter its virulence, and this UK mutation has shown more infectivity. The UK variant…
Read MoreContributor: Peter Bakes, MD Educational Pearls: Hyperacute T waves can occur immediately and typical last less than an hour Hyperacute T waves are typically broader than peaked T-waves, which are associated with hyperkalemia ST elevation which usually starts within an hour of the inciting event and can last up to a few days, and often…
Read MoreContributor: Jared Scott, MD Educational Pearls: EKGs look at different angles, or vectors, of the heart’s electrical conduction as it travels through the heart. Knowing how to read these vectors is essential in diagnosing locations of cardiac pathologies Leads II, III, and aVF follow an inferior path, so ST elevation in those leads indicates inferior…
Read MoreContributor: Peter Bakes, MD Educational Pearls: STEMI criteria is not just 1mm elevation in contiguous leads 1.5 mm in V2-V3 for women 2.0 mm in V2-V3 for men 2.5 mm in V2-V3 for men under 40 Inferior MI typically have ST elevation in leads II, III and aVF Usually inferior MI’s show reciprocal changes (ST…
Read MoreContributor: Aaron Lessen, MD Educational Pearls: High flow nasal cannula (HFNC) has become more utilized with COVID pandemic Multiple studies have shown this method improves both oxygenation and ventilation Newer studies have shown the respiratory benefit of HFNC vs normal oxygen in patients suffering from CHF and those with do not intubate orders who are…
Read MoreEducational Pearls: The CDC has made new formal recommendations for treating Gonorrhea due to increasing resistance to Rocephin and Azithromycin. New recommendations: Confirmed gonorrhea: Ceftriaxone 500 mg once Empiric treatment: Ceftriaxone 500 mg once followed by 7 days Doxycycline 100 mg BID No longer using Azithromycin due to high resistance Second line: Gentamycin IM Cefixime…
Read MoreContributor: Tom Seibert, MD Educational Pearls: High altitude cerebral edema (HACE) is the end stage of acute mountain sickness and is diagnosed when patients develop neurologic dysfunction, ataxia, and altered mental status. The pathophysiology of HACE is thought to be due to increased cerebral blood flow and increased capillary permeability causing vasogenic edema and brain…
Read MoreContributor: Don Stader, MD Educational Pearls: Time can be an important factor in outcomes regarding sepsis including mortality Emphasis has grown on early administration of antibiotics and IV fluids in sepsis However, early initiation of vasopressors for hypotensive patients may have significant mortality benefit as well References Hayden GE, Tuuri RE, Scott R, et al….
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