practice updates

How do you interpret quantitative capnography waveforms? We own the resuscitation of critically ill patients, and with boarding increasing in EDs, we need to know how to interpret waveforms. This instrument can provide a great deal of important information if properly understood.

A commonly ordered test in the ED is the coagulation panel. What does this panel entail? Is there any evidence behind it for ED use? When should it be ordered? This post provides these answers and more.

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.

Complementing the recent atrial fibrillation post this week, dive into more pearls of atrial fibrillation management in the ED by our own Dr. Jennifer Robertson

Pediatric airway management is a skill that integrates the three types of knowledge as described by the ancient Greeks:
Episteme — theoretical knowledge
Techne — technical knowledge
Phronesis — practical wisdom — also called prudence.

Here we’ll invoke each type of knowledge and understanding as we go beyond the anatomical issues in pediatric airway management – to the advanced decision-making aspect of RSI and the what-to-do-when the rubber-hits-the road.

Recognizing normal neonatal conditions and behavior

Several agents, both legal and illegal, can cause significantly elevated heart rates. This article reviews the most common causes of drug-induced tachycardia. Diagnosis and management of these conditions are also discussed.

The pediatric and gravid populations have special needs regarding imaging for abdominal pain. This article reviews the more common causes of abdominal pain in children and pregnant women and how to approach imaging in these populations.

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.

Emergency department (ED) overcrowding is an issue that not only impacts the ED but impacts nearly all aspects of a hospital system. The ED is the location in the hospital that feels the greatest stress from capacity issues hospital-wide. Emergency providers are uniquely positioned to have a great impact in flow improvement initiatives and this article reviews some of the problems with overcrowding and how to improve patient flow through the ED.