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Journal Feed Weekly Wrap-Up

Journal Feed covers biomarkers for TBI, prehospital whole blood for trauma, and issues with gabapentin.

Articles

practice updates

Supraglottic Airway Review

April 3, 2014
Daniel Ostermayer
5 Comments

"The LMA also serves as a well documented rescue device for 'can’t intubate, can’t ventilate' situations"

Daniel Ostermayer, MD compares the various extraglottic airway devices available for adult and pediatric patients.

D-Dimer in Aortic Dissection Workup

March 26, 2014
Tim Schaefer
2 Comments

"Higher d-dimer levels correlate with more segments of the aorta involved, with false lumen type dissections, and with higher mortality rates"

D-dimer has great sensitivity for aortic dissection, but its true clinical utility in the workup of this high-risk diagnosis remains undefined. Tim Schaefer, MD reviews diagnosis and management, as well

Epinephrine in Cardiac Arrest

March 18, 2014
Anand Swaminathan
21 Comments

"It’s time to re-examine this recommendation"

Epinephrine in cardiac arrest: helpful for ROSC, but maybe not so much for good neurological outcomes. Anand Swaminathan, MD MPH takes a thought-provoking look at the historical evidence behind this practice, as well as at newer evidence that calls its benefit into question.

PERC Rule: Application and Limitations

March 10, 2014
Jason West
2 Comments

"Pleuritic chest pain [...] is not in a validated clinical decision rule despite having a higher OR for PE than hemoptysis and recent immobilization"

The PERC rule can be a wonderful thing, but requires judicious use. Jason West, MD reviews the literature, discussing applicability and limitations of the PERC rule, so

Synthetic Cannabinoids

March 3, 2014
Cynthia Santos
One Comment

"There have been a growing number of cases associated with life-threatening neurotoxic effects and cardiotoxic effects"

Cynthia Santos, MD gives a nice overview of the increasingly popular synthetic cannabinoids, including the range of clinical presentations, management, and the bottom line for your practice in the ED.