In the Literature

Having difficulty determining whether or not your GI bleeder is stable for the floor? Read on as we discuss risk stratification tools and risk factors for severe GI bleeds.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is classically a life-threatening diagnosis, often considered in the work-up of patients with chest pain or dyspnea. Initial mortality rates of missed, untreated PE has been quoted as high as 26%, based on a 1960 study. This disease is common, with 400,000 patients affected with nonfatal PE and another 200,000 patients in the U.S. dying each year from this disease. PE is the third most common cause of death in cardiovascular disease after myocardial infarction and stroke.

The patient with penetrating trauma can present with many different injuries. The majority of injuries are easily diagnosed. What about the patient with pneumothorax, diaphragmatic injury, ureteral injury, and hollow viscus injury? These are not so easy to diagnose, and delay in management can cause significant morbidity and mortality. This post provides pearls and pitfalls for these conditions.

Struggling to decide if your patient requires a RBC transfusion? Read on: we’ll review the most recent studies and evidence-based guidelines to aid in your clinical decision-making.

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?

Every provider has their own twist on the standard “headache cocktail”, but what is the evidence behind the individual medications for headache management? What about treating headaches in the pregnant or pediatric patient? This post seeks to answer these questions and more.

Vasopressor use in patients with sepsis has been studied extensively, with many calling for early, peripheral vasopressors. What is the literature behind this, and are patient outcomes affected? This post examines the studies for vasopressors in sepsis and more.

Your shift starts and all of your patients are bleeding! There is an MVC victim with a tense abdomen and traumatic brain injury, a patient with an upper GI bleed, a woman whose spontaneous vaginal delivery has turned into a post-partum hemorrhage, and a brisk epistaxis in the back hallway. You thank the triage nurse and begin resuscitative measures. What role does tranexamic acid (TXA) play in the treatment of these patients?

We’ve all heard the horror stories of the crashing aortic stenosis patient. These patients present significant challenges in the ED. How can you best manage these patients?

Lactate clearance has been a major focus in care of the septic patient. Why does lactate elevate in these patients, and what do you need to know for managing these patients?