It is essential for Emergency Physicians to know the standard of care for sexually transmitted infection (STI) treatments, as patients often present to Emergency Departments for evaluation and treatment shortly after exposure to these diseases. The Emergency Department provides patients with rapid screening, diagnosis, treatment regimens, and access to outpatient follow up.
We have dealt with Ebola, Dengue, and Chikungunya. Introducing the new kid on the block: Zika Virus.
Zika Virus: What do you need to know? Read More »
What do you do with the head trauma patient who is anticoagulated? Do you discharge the patient, observe and repeat CT, or admit the patient? This post evaluates this question and more.
The Anticoagulated Patient with Head Trauma: What’s the Disposition? Read More »
In 2002, a new standard of care was established when the Surviving Sepsis Campaign (SSC) highlighted the importance of recognizing sepsis and initiating treatment early. Once we find that a patient meets Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS) criteria with a source of infection, rapid and appropriate treatment including resuscitation is a must. Early fluid resuscitation is necessary for septic patients, but there is large variance on the aggressiveness of fluid resuscitation. There is disagreement amongst the experts on the total amount of fluids that should be administered and the end points for resuscitation. We must ask ourselves, at what point does our aggressive resuscitation actually start to harm our patients?
Resuscitation in Sepsis: How Much is Too Much? Read More »
Does your choice of fluids for resuscitation in sepsis matter? Multiple studies have been performed to determine whether septic patients benefit from colloid versus crystalloid IV fluids, and other studies have specifically looked at the different kinds of fluids within those specific groups. Debate now exists as to which fluid will improve patient outcomes.
Fluid Choice in Sepsis: Does it matter? Read More »
Please see prior post here: http://www.emdocs.net/reversal-of-anticoagulation/
On October 16, 2015 the FDA granted accelerated approval of idarucizumab (Praxbind), a novel reversal agent of the direct thrombin inhibitor Dabigatran (Pradaxa), for utilization in life-threatening bleeding emergencies.1
Reversal of Anticoagulation in a True Emergency – An Update Read More »
What do you do with the unstable patient in V tach who won’t respond to electricity?
Refractory Ventricular Tachycardia: Approach to Management Read More »
The tox patient with low HR. What could you be missing, and what can be done better?
Selected Toxicologic Bradycardias Read More »
Emergency physicians commonly care for poisoned patients. These exposures may be either intentional or unintentional. Salicylates are commonly found in many topical and over the counter preparations, yet salicylate toxicity is often overlooked and underestimated as a potential cause for illness in our patients. Below is a condensed quick-guide of common mistakes that emergency physicians may be making with respect to salicylate overdoses and how to fix them. The goals of care to take away from this article are prevention of intestinal absorption and CNS entry of salicylates, as well as drug elimination.
Pearls and Pitfalls of Salicylate Toxicity in the Emergency Department Read More »
You’ve tried your normal asthma treatment pathway, and the patient looks worse… What’s next?
Critical Asthma Patient: Pearls/Pitfalls of Management Read More »
