Author: Alex Koyfman, MD (@EMHighAK) // Edited by: Brit Long, MD (@long_brit)

emDocs will be providing you with regular tips and must-know items for EM boards and inservice. Each post will feature several key takeaways on a specific organ system.

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Boards Must-Know:

1) Bartholin’s cyst/abscess: Posterior introitus. I&D on vaginal mucosa. Word catheters controversial, but on exam you may still be expected to place one. Patients need follow up to make sure not malignant lesion.

– WikEM

– EMNews

 

2) Chlamydia: Know various clinical presentations (conjunctivitis, cervicitis/urethritis, PID, TOA, etc.) and how to treat them. Azithromycin med of choice; safe in pregnancy.

– WikEM

– CDC

 

3) Gonorrhea: Know various clinical presentations; the Boards especially love disseminated gonococcal disease (skin lesions, tenosynovitis). Ceftriaxone is your friend; don’t forget to treat for chlamydia as well.

– WikEM

– CDC

 

4) Emergency contraception: Ideally administer within 72 hours s/p unprotected intercourse. Patient weight affects efficacy for levonorgestrel. If patient overweight, use ulipristal.

– WikEM

 

5) Ectopic pregnancy: Many clinical traps/myths here, thus the Boards love this topic. Know risk factors (previous ectopic and prior PID are the big ones); consider heterotopic in those who have undergone in-vitro fertilization. Know b-HCG cut-offs and what you should see on trans-abdominal and trans-vaginal ultrasound. Know who is a candidate for methotrexate. Don’t forget about who gets RhoGAM.

– EmergencyMedicineCases

– WikEM

– CoreEM

– EM@3AM

– EM Educator

 

6) Postpartum endometritis: Know risk factors and clinical presentation. Know bugs and drugs.

– WikEM

– emDocs

– Radiopaedia

 

7) Vaginal bleeding: Resuscitate first, then determine pregnancy status.

– WikEM– Pregnant < 20 weeks

– WikEM– Pregnant > 20 weeks

– WikEM– Not pregnant

– emDocs

– EMin5– 1^stTrimester

– EMin5– 3^rdTrimester

– EMBasic– 1^stTrimester

– EMBasic– Not pregnant

– Core EM Algorithm

– PostPartum: REBEL EM and EMin5

 

8) Pre-eclampsia / HELLP / eclampsia: know clinical presentations and consider postpartum as well. Know lab findings. Magnesium is most important; blood pressure control will also be tested; definitive treatment: delivery.

– WikEM – Preeclampsia,Eclampsia, HELLP

– Elemental EM Preeclampsia

– emDocs

– CoreEM

– LIFTL – HELLP, Preeclampsia/eclampsia

 

9) Mastitis: Know clinical presentation; if unclear, obtain an US to r/o abscess, galactocele, etc. Cover skin flora and instruct to continue pumping/feeding.

– WikEM

– Radiopaedia

 

10) “Miscarriage”: Know different types and management => threatened // inevitable // incomplete // complete // missed // septic.

– WikEM

– EmergencyMedicineCases

 

From Dr. Katy Hanson at Hanson’s Anatomy: