Hemoptysis is defined as expectoration of blood originating from the tracheobronchial tree or lung parenchyma. It may be massive or non-massive, but the majority of patients with hemoptysis will have non-massive hemoptysis. This is a brief overview of the causes, evaluation and management of hemoptysis in the emergency department.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a relatively rare disease but may present to the emergency department with severe complications including intestinal and pulmonary complications. This is a brief review of CF and the management of a few complications that can be associated with CF.

Bi-level ventilation is commonly used in patients with respiratory failure in the emergency department. This is a brief review of the indications for bi-level ventilation as well as a review of the complications of this popular ventilation/oxygenation method.

We are masters of the airway, often managing life-threatening scenarios and conditions. However, the patient who decompensates around the time of intubation, or directly after the procedure, can be frightening. What can you do to mimize these events?

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?