July 2016

CT alone may be able to clear rigid collar, even in intoxicated patients.

This outstanding meta-analysis gets us closer than ever to the answer of LP after negative CT for SAH.

Should you use low gestalt prior to ticking off the 8 PERC criteria or a more objective measure, like the Wells score?

First-pass success was the same with VL and DL in this study by the FELLOW investigators in the ICU. Why so low for both?  Read more.

No mass shootings have occurred in Australia since the gun ban in 1996.

Short Attention Span Summary Coronary CTA use has increased in frequency and is associated with increased subsequent “PCI, CABG, repeat non-invasive testing, hospitalization, and return ED visits.” This test for CAD seems to beget more testing and invasive procedures without improving the outcome, which begs the question – is CCTA the wisest non-invasive way to […]

Short Attention Span Summary Neither amiodarone nor lidocaine made an impact on survival or neurological outcome for out-of-hospital arrest due to shock-refractory v-fib or pulseless v-tach.  In witnessed arrest, patients who received active drug had improved survival.  My take is that I don’t plan to stop using antiarrhythmic agents for patients with v-fib or v-tach […]

Short Attention Span Summary Using a trauma registry, REBOA was comparable (trending toward more favorable) to open aortic occlusion.  We have not started using REBOA at our facility yet.  I’m curious how many are using it at their institutions.  Take the poll, immediately see the results, and find out what your colleagues are doing. FOAM Report Heft […]

Short Attention Span Summary Is this adolescent/young adult’s sore throat mono?  This rational clinical exam feature found that, “posterior cervical, inguinal or axillary adenopathy, palatine petechiae, splenomegaly, or atypical lymphocytosis is associated with an increased likelihood of mononucleosis.”  Why does it matter if it’s mono?  Because when we inadvertently treat mono with ampicillin or amoxicillin, […]

Short Attention Span Summary A new shoulder reduction technique was highly successful, allowed patients to sit up, and required no sedation.  It is called the Sool’s method. See the video on You Tube. FOAM Report YouTube Abstract Am J Emerg Med. 2016 Apr 9. pii: S0735-6757(16)30036-5. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2016.04.012. [Epub ahead of print] The effectiveness of […]