PEN-FAST – Penicillin Allergy Risk Tool
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Using the PEN-FAST rule, patients with low-risk penicillin allergies can be identified without need for formal allergy testing.
April 2020
Do We Need EM Textbooks Anymore?
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One residency program went from studying a textbook (i.e. Tintanalli) to reading Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM) articles and corresponding questions in Rosh Review. Residents preferred this, and their in-service scores were non-inferior to the traditional textbook reading study plan.
Should We Resuscitate COVID-19 Patients Who Arrest?
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The outcome for hospitalized patients with COVID-19 who arrested was dismal in this case series. The risk of CPR may outweigh the benefit.
COVID-19 Hospital Capacity Calculator
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This calculator from Penn Medicine can help local hospitals plan for COVID-19 surges.
Reducing the Psychological Impact of Quarantine
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Many negative, even delayed psychological effects of quarantine have been described. We will discuss ways to mitigate these effects.
No Antibiotics for Pediatric Pneumonia?
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In children discharged with a diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia, there was no difference in treatment failure or parent-reported quality-of-life measures between those who received antibiotics and those who did not.
Heat Stroke – The Fastest Cooling Methods
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Cold water immersion resulted in significantly faster cooling rates for patients with exertional hyperthermia compared to passive cooling measures.
Who Needs CT? Aspirin, Clopidogrel, Warfarin, or a Combination?
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Patients taking warfarin or dual aspirin/clopidogrel therapy were at greater risk for significant intracranial injury on CT. Scan these folks.
Blunt Cerebrovascular Injury – When to CTA
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Use a screening protocol to determine which trauma patients to order CTA of the head and neck. It detects more blunt cerebrovascular injuries, which leads to more treatment, which reduces risk or stroke and mortality.
Pericarditis | Spoon-Feed Review
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If you primarily rely on the ECG to rule in/out pericarditis, then you need to read this JACC summary to learn how to diagnose and manage pericarditis like an expert.