Coolest ECG paper this month
With posterior MI reperfusion, the T-wave in V2 get bigger than non-posterior MI and V2 and V3 increase in size from baseline. Why? It’s like Wellen’s warning in reverse!
August 2016
Simplified GCS – motor score as good as the whole
GCS-motor only predicted as well as the full GCS score.
Procainamide beats amiodarone for VT
Procainamide beat amiodarone for stable VT in this RCT.
IV acetaminophen drops BP in ICU patients
Acetaminophen IV may cause a drop in blood pressure when given to critically ill patients.
Chlorhexidine baths reduce ICU infection
Chlorhexidine baths reduced iatrogenic infection in this surgical ICU study.
It’s safe to hold antibiotics for respiratory illnesses
Decreased antibiotic use for respiratory tract infection does not cause an increase in infectious complications.
Predicting bacterial vs viral meningitis
You can apply the Bacterial Meningitis Score to adults as well as kids, but also use common sense and err on the side of admission and treatment is there is any doubt.
Ondansetron is safe in pregnancy
Ondansetron is safe in hyperemesis gravidarum and does not increase risk for birth defects.
Sniff an alcohol pad for nausea
Sniffing an alcohol pad significantly reduced nausea short term. Aromatherapy in the ED.
Changing your mind kills old people
If you change your disposition decision and discharge an elderly patient after initially deciding to admit them, this is associated with bad outcomes.