DAH is a medical emergency characterized by bleeding of pulmonary microvasculature into the alveoli. Symptoms are non-specific and clinicians should keep a high clinical suspicion for the disorder. Protecting the airway takes precedence. Immunosuppressive medications are the mainstay of medical therapy.

Pneumonia is an illness frequently seen in our emergency departments. But, are all presentations actually pneumonia? Are we missing other illnesses that present similarly to pneumonia? Which ones pose significant morbidity and mortality risk to our patients? What clues are out there that will aid us in making an alternative and critical diagnosis?

Does hyperoxia suppress a COPD patient’s respiratory drive? Does it cause V/Q mismatch? Does it change the chemistry of the patient’s blood through the Haldane effect? It’s enough to make you want to give up and page respiratory therapy. Well lucky for you we sifted through the primary literature to bring you the myths and facts, and the short answer is… it’s complicated.

The second post in the new EM Primer Series…Ranging from benign to life-threatening etiologies, what are the pearls you need to know for hemoptysis?

The patient with attempted hanging can present several challenges for ED providers. What injuries should you evaluate for, and how do you maximize outcomes?

What do you do with the sick, unstable PE patient? Management pearls for resuscitating the unstable patient with pulmonary embolism.

Often, the dreaded complications that we are taught to look for don’t present to us in the Emergency Department, but develop and evolve during the hospitalization that began with the patient seeing us in the ED. Our skill can help the child in distress, but our vigilance can detect the evolving Acute Chest Syndrome and perhaps even prevent it. Thanks to Sean M. Fox, MD (@PedEMMorsels) for this gem with significant clinical relevance.

Editor's note: This post was listed in the #FOAMED Review (17th Ed.) from EM Curious. It ALSO appeared in LITFL Review 154's "Best of #FOAMcc Critical Care" section.

Its 7:01am.  Your shift in your department’s high acuity area is just beginning, and you are waiting to receive sign out.  There hasn’t even been time to get your first sip of coffee.  Just as you are lifting your cup to your lips, the charge nurse grabs you and says, “Doctor, I need you!  This patient isn’t looking so good!” [...]