Contributor: Jared Scott, MD Educational Pearls: Burnout happens. This study reminds us to take a few minutes on shift to take care of yourself. A new study looked at burnout in ER nurses, residents, and attending physicians where they were asked to take a 5-minute break on shift to color or play with a therapy…
Read MoreContributor: Don Stader, MD Educational Pearls: Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is a rare cause of shock typically caused by Staph aureus or Strep pyogenes, that produces a toxin that leads to rapid onset hypotension with a diffuse erythematous rash. Signs of TSS may include rapid onset of altered mental status, dizziness, nausea, abdominal discomfort, hypotension,…
Read MoreContributor: Don Stader, MD Educational Pearls: Gout is an arthritis caused by the deposition of urate crystals into the joint space Colchicine works by disrupting microtubules and prevents white blood cells from getting into the joint space which stops the inflammatory response Colchicine has a high rate of adverse events, in particular explosive diarrhea The…
Read MoreContributor: Jared Scott, MD Educational Pearls: Suicide is currently the 10th leading cause of death in the US Low quality studies have reported ketamine as a potential promising agent in treating depression and preventing suicidal ideations or thoughts Randomized study was performed looking at giving ketamine to depressed patients in the ED to see if…
Read MoreContributor: Aaron Lessen, MD Educational Pearls: Hand raising test: a simple but effective tool to diagnose carpal tunnel Patients hold their hands over their head and if symptoms of carpal tunnel develop within 2 minutes, it is considered positive, meaning they likely have carpel tunnel Symptom included numbness and dull pain in the distribution of…
Read MoreContributor: Michael Hunt, MD Educational Pearls: Contrast agents are commonly used for X-rays and CT’s to better characterize disease, but contrast doesn’t work with MRI. That’s where the element Gadolinium comes into play. Gadolinium, element 64, is ferromagnetic (attracted to iron) below 68 degrees and above that temperature it’s paramagnetic which makes it useful in…
Read MoreContributor: Don Stader, MD Educational Pearls: Altered mental status/confusion are major symptoms associated with both alcohol use and withdrawal. Wernicke’s encephalopathy is a triad of symptoms of confusion, internuclear ophthalmoplegia, and confabulation The treatment for Wernicke’s is IV thiamine or vitamin B1 Untreated Wernicke’s leads to Korsakoff’s syndrome where a prolonged thiamine deficiency leads to…
Read MoreContributor: Michael Hunt, MD Educational Pearls: PPE, or personal protective equipment, has become a major talking point since the emergence of the novel coronavirus (COVID 19). While ubiquitous now, there was not always equipment to protect health care providers or patients from infectious exposures. The invention of surgical gloves are credited to surgeon William Halsted….
Read MoreContributor: Don Stader, MD Educational Pearls: Yersinia Pestis is the bacteria that caused the black plague. It was first discovered to be the cause of the bubonic plague in 1800s in China during the 3rd bubonic plague where 10-20 million people died Causes 3 types of plague: Bubonic plague: characterized by severe swelling of lymph…
Read MoreAuthor: Eric Miller, MD Educational Pearls: Brown-Sequard Syndrome is a neurological deficit that results from hemisection of the spinal cord This is usually from traumatic injury (blunt or penetrating), but can rarely be seen with cancer, disc herniation, or infection It presents with flaccid paralysis and loss of sensation to touch/vibration/position on the same side…
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