May 2019

There was no difference in first pass success with a non-supine (ramped) vs supine intubating position in this retrospective study, and composite adverse events were more common when ramped.  But patients most likely to be ramped were also obese or had predicted difficult airway.

This article explored some of the most important factors that program directors consider when selecting emergency medicine residents.

Examining the hand and wrist is challenging. Watch this video on NEJM to learn proper techniques and how to diagnose 9 common hand/wrist problems.

Sometimes sore throat isn’t just sore throat - it could be a life threatening complication. Learn about Lemierre’s syndrome with this quick-hitter teaching case from NEJM.

Physicians who had malpractice claims did not tend to move away but tended to leave practice altogether or downsize to a smaller practice setting.

Uninsured patients had 66% greater odds of ED discharge and 241% greater odds of ED transfer than similar privately insured patients in hospitals that had capacity to care for them in-house.

Gabapentinoids play a limited role for specific types of neuropathic pain, and pain reduction is modest at best. Side effects of dizziness, somnolence, and gait problems occur frequently.

EMS systems in California often did not define convulsive status epilepticus according to published guidelines. Though most recommended IM midazolam first line, 94% of EMS system protocols underdosed.

In heroin users specifically, 5% needed either repeat naloxone or oxygen > 2 hours after initial naloxone reversal. Observation for 3 hours may be safer, especially for those with polysubstance abuse.

The IDSA now only recommends screening for and treating asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) in pregnant women and those undergoing an invasive urologic procedure.