Category: Toxicology
Keywords: Dilantin, Ataxia (PubMed Search)
Posted: 3/16/2017 by Kathy Prybys, MD
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Phenytoin is a first line anticonvulsant agent for most seizure disorders with the exception of absence and toxin-induced seizures. It has erratic gastrointestinal absorption with peak serum levels occurring anywhere from 3-12 hours following a single oral dose. 90% of circulating phenytoin is bound to albumin but only the unbound free fraction is active to cross cell membranes and exert pharmacological effect. Measured serum phenytoin levels reflect the total serum concentration of both the free and protein bound portions. Therapeutic range is between 10-20 mg/L. Free phenytoin levels are not often measured but are normally between 1-2 mg/L. Individuals with decreased protein binding (elderly, malnourished, hypoalbuminemia, uremia, and competing drugs) may have clincial toxicity despite a normal total phenytoin level. Toxicity consists of predominantly ocular and neurologic manifestations involving the vestibular and cerebellar systems:
Plasma level, µg/mL | Clinical manifestations |
<10 | Usually none |
10-20 | Occasional mild nystagmus |
20-30 | Nystagmus |
30-40 | Ataxia, slurred speech, extrapyramindal effects |
40-50 | Lethargy, confusion |
>50 | Coma, rare seizures |
Treatment of overdose is primarily supportive with serial drug level testing and neurologic exams. There is no evidence that gastrointestinal decontamination improves outcome. Routine cardiac monitoring is not necessary for overdose following oral ingestions. Cardiac toxicity is rarely seen and only with parenteral administration.
Phenytoin posisoning. Craig S. Neurocrit Care. 2005;3(2): 161-70.
Severe oral phenytoin overdose does not cause cardiovascular morbidity. Wyte CD, et al. Annals of EM. 1997; 20(5). 508-512.
Cardiac Monitoring after phenytoin overdose. Evers M, et al. Heart & Lung. 1997; 26:325-328.
Category: International EM
Keywords: Antibiotic resistance, bacterial pathogens (PubMed Search)
Posted: 3/15/2017 by Jon Mark Hirshon, PhD, MPH, MD
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The World Health Organization (WHO) recently published their first ever list of antibiotic-resistant "priority pathogens". These 12 families of bacterial pathogens have the potential to be a significant threat to human health.
These bacteria are divided in critical, high and medium priority pathogens.
The critical pathogens requiring R & D for new antibiotics are:
1. Acinetobacter baumannii, carbapenem-resistant
2. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, carbapenem-resistant
3. Enterobacteriaceae, carbapenem-resistant, ESBL-producing
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2017/bacteria-antibiotics-needed/en/
Category: Orthopedics
Keywords: stress fracture, runner (PubMed Search)
Posted: 3/11/2017 by Brian Corwell, MD
Click here to contact Brian Corwell, MD
22yo college track athlete presents with 3 weeks of gradual onset groin and thigh pain, worse with running, better with rest.
Stress fractures are a common cause of groin pain in athletes, particularly in long distance runners
Fractures occur in the pubic rami and femoral neck
Ask about a sudden change in training regimens
PE: check for tenderness to deep palpation over the pubic ramus. Ask athlete to stand and support full weight on affected leg or perform one legged hop on affected side. Pain out of proportion to physical examination findings.
Imaging: XR usually negative. Bone scans can be positive as early as 4 to 8 days after symptom onset. MRI used to diagnose and rule out other causes of groin pain.
Treatment: Rest for 4 to 6 weeks. Consider making patient non weight bearing if walking causes pain especially with femoral neck fractures on the superior side. Inferior side neck fractures may benefit from prophylactic fixation.
Groin Injuries (Athletic Pubalgia) and return to play. Elattar et al., Sports Health Aug 2016.
Category: Neurology
Keywords: headache, migraine, intravenous fluids, IVF (PubMed Search)
Posted: 3/8/2017 by WanTsu Wendy Chang, MD
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Category: Critical Care
Posted: 3/7/2017 by Mike Winters, MBA, MD
(Updated: 11/23/2024)
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Preoxygenation in Critically Ill Patients
Mosier JM, Hypes CD, Sackles JC. Understanding preoxygenation and apneic oxygenation during intubation in the critically ill. Intensive Care Med. 2017; 43:226-8.
Category: Geriatrics
Keywords: Beers list, iatrogenic, medications, pharmacology (PubMed Search)
Posted: 3/5/2017 by Danya Khoujah, MBBS
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The Beers' Criteria lists 34 classes of medications that may be potentially inappropriate for geriatric patients due to a high risk of complications including increased risk for falls. When prescribing medications from the emergency department in geriatric patients, try to avoid these categories if other options are available.
http://www.americangeriatrics.org/files/documents/beers/BeersCriteriaPublicTranslation.pdf
The AGS Foundation for Health in Aging. Identifying Medications that Older Adults Should Avoid or Use with Caution: the 2012 American Geriatrics Society Updated Beers Criteria. 2012. Retrieved on March 5th, 2017 from: http://www.americangeriatrics.org/files/documents/beers/BeersCriteriaPublicTranslation.pdf
Category: Pharmacology & Therapeutics
Keywords: NSAID, diazepam, back pain (PubMed Search)
Posted: 3/4/2017 by Michelle Hines, PharmD
(Updated: 11/23/2024)
Click here to contact Michelle Hines, PharmD
The addition of diazepam to naproxen for patients with acute, nontraumatic, nonradicular lower back pain did not improve pain or functional outcomes at 1 week or 3 months after ED discharge compared to placebo.
Study design: single-center, prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
Patients:
Treatment groups:
Outcomes:
Results:
Conclusions:
Citation: Friedman BW, Irizarry E, Solorzano C, et al. Diazepam is no better than placebo when added to naproxen for acute low back pain. Ann Emerg Med 2017. PMID 28187918
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Category: Toxicology
Keywords: EDS, Excited Delirium (PubMed Search)
Posted: 3/2/2017 by Kathy Prybys, MD
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Excited delirium syndrome (EDS) is a life-threatening condition caused by a variety of factors including drug intoxication. EDS is defined as altered mental status, hyperadrenergic state, and combativeness or aggressiveness. It is characterized by tolerance to significant pain, tachypnea, diaphoresis, severe agitation, hyperthermia, non-compliance or poor awareness to direction from police or medical personnel, lack of fatigue, superhuman strength, and inappropriate clothing for the current environment. These patients are at high risk for sudden death. Toxins associated with this syndrome include:
Ketamine at 4mg/kg dose can be given by intramuscular route and has been demonstrated to be safe and effective treatment for EDS.
Top 10 Facts You Need to Know About Synthetic Cannabinoids: Not So Nice Spice Kemp, Ann M. et al. The American Journal of Medicine , Volume 129 , Issue 3 , 240 - 244.
Synthetic cannabinoid drug use as a cause or contributory cause of death. Labay, LM. et al. Forensic Science International , Volume 260 , 31 - 39.
Sudden Death Due To Acute Cocaine Toxicity—Excited Delirium in a Body Packer. Sheilds, LB, Rolf CM, et al. J Forensic Sci, 2015. 60: 1647–1651.
Excited Delirium and Sudden Death: A Syndromal Disorder at the Extreme End of the Neuropsychiatric Continuum. Mash, DC.Frontiers in Physiology. 2016; 7:435.
Prehospital Ketamine is a Safe and Effective Treatment for Excited Delirium in a Community Hospital Based EMS System, Scaggs, TR, Glass, DM, et al. Prehospital and Disaster Medicine. 2016 31(5), 563–569.
Category: International EM
Keywords: Boarding, crowding, patient flow (PubMed Search)
Posted: 3/1/2017 by Jon Mark Hirshon, PhD, MPH, MD
Click here to contact Jon Mark Hirshon, PhD, MPH, MD
Emergency department crowding is an almost universal problem. Whether it is called "access block" (Austalia) or "boarding" (United States), it is seen everywhere.
The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) states that "a “boarded patient” is defined as a patient who remains in the emergency department after the patient has been admitted to the facility, but has not been transferred to an inpatient unit."
It should be clear that the primary cause of overcrowding is boarding: the practice of holding patients in the emergency department after they have been admitted to the hospital, because no inpatient beds are available. This practice has been shown to have an adverse impact on patients, with longer delays causing greater morbidity and mortality.
ACEP has created resources to help address this issue, including an emergency medicine practice paper on high impact solutions. See: file:///Users/jhirshon/Downloads/EMPC_Crowding%20IP_092016%20(1).pdf
https://www.acep.org/Clinical---Practice-Management/Definition-of-Boarded-Patient-2147469010/
https://www.acep.org/content.aspx?id=32050
Category: Critical Care
Keywords: Ketamine, agitated delirium (PubMed Search)
Posted: 2/28/2017 by Rory Spiegel, MD
(Updated: 11/23/2024)
Click here to contact Rory Spiegel, MD
A recently published study adds to the growing body of literature supporting the use of IV//IM ketamine as a first line agent for the control of the acutely agitated patient. In this observational cohort Riddell et al found patients given ketamine more frequently achieved adequate sedation at both 5 and 10 minutes compared to benzodiazepines, Haloperidol, given alone or in combination. This rapid sedation was achieved without an increase in the need for additional sedation or the rate of adverse events.
Riddell J, Tran A, Bengiamin R, Hendey GW, Armenian P. Ketamine as a first-line treatment for severely agitated emergency department patients. Am J Emerg Med. 2017
Category: Orthopedics
Keywords: forearm trauma (PubMed Search)
Posted: 2/25/2017 by Brian Corwell, MD
(Updated: 11/23/2024)
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The Essex-Lopresti injury pattern is the lesser known of the triad of forearm injuries (Monteggia & Galeazzi).
It follows the “rule of the ring” aka the life saver candy rule: You can’t break a life saver in just one place.
These injury patterns are frequently missed because our eyes are drawn to the fracture and miss the associated dislocation.
The Essex-Lopresti fracture pattern involves a fracture of the radial head with concomitant dislocation of the distal radio-ulnar joint (DRUG)
-With associated interosseous membrane disruption
Think of it as the Maisonneuve fracture of the forearm.
Mechanism: fall from height/high energy forearm trauma.
PE: Suspect if patient has significant tenderness at the DRUG with a radial head fx.
Patients have worse outcomes if injury is missed on initial presentation due to radial migration and instability.
Take home point: Remember the rule of the ring. Remember to exam the elbow with wrist injuries and the wrist with all elbow injuries
Category: Neurology
Keywords: stroke, alcohol, substance abuse, mimics (PubMed Search)
Posted: 2/22/2017 by Danya Khoujah, MBBS
(Updated: 11/23/2024)
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Category: Orthopedics
Keywords: Back Pain, Treatment (PubMed Search)
Posted: 2/18/2017 by Michael Bond, MD
(Updated: 11/23/2024)
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Treatment of Low Back Pain
A recent recommendation from the American College of Physicians (Internal Medicine) now recommends nonpharmacologic therapies as the first line treatment of acute or subacute lower back pain lasting 12 weeks or less. This might bring more people to our Emergency Departments so it is important that we know their current recommendations.
Some nonpharmacologic therapies recommended are:
For acute back pain they recommend:
For chronic back pain:
Category: Pediatrics
Keywords: unicameral bone cyst, fracture (PubMed Search)
Posted: 2/18/2017 by Jenny Guyther, MD
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A 12 year old with arm pain after doing push ups during gym class. What is the diagnosis?
Diagnosis: Pathologic fracture with a unicameral bone cyst
Unicameral bone cysts are benign lesions that mainly affect children and adolescents. On xray the cyst is noted to be a mildly expansile, lytic, thin walled lesion without periosteal reaction. The most common sites are the proximal humerus and femur. These lesions can resolve spontaneously, but there is a risk of pathologic fracture. If fracture is detected, then the fracture site should be treated as any other fracture in the area. These lesions can also be found incidentally in which case they should be referred to orthopedics for outpatient follow up.
Kadhim, M, Thacker M, Kadhim A and Holmes L. Treatment of unicameral bone cyst: systemic review and meta analysis. J Child Orthop. 2014 Mar; 8(2): 171-191.
Mascard E, Gomez-Brouchet A, Lambot K. Bone cysts: Unicameral and aneurysmal bone cyst. Orthop Traumatol Surg Res. 2015 Feb; 101.
Category: Toxicology
Keywords: Buprenorphine, Suboxone (PubMed Search)
Posted: 2/16/2017 by Kathy Prybys, MD
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The current opioid epidemic is considered the worst drug crisis in American history responsible for 50,000 deaths per year in the US from overdose of heroin and opioid prescription drugs. A 200% increase in the rate of overdose deaths involving opioids occurred between 2000 and 2014. The continued rise in opioid related deaths calls for an urgent need for treatment. Three types of medication-assisted therapies (MATs) are available for treating patients with opioid addiction:methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone. Suboxone a combination of buprenorphine and naloxone, is emerging as one of the best choices for the following reasons:
Rudd RA, Seth P, David F, Scholl L. Increase in Drug and Opioid-involved Overose Deaths -Unted States, 2010-2015. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. ePub: 16 December 2016.
Jones HE. Practical Considerations for the Clinical Use of Buprenorphine. Science & Practice Perspectives. 2004;2(2):4-20.
Category: International EM
Keywords: Zika, arbovirus, pregnancy, congenital (PubMed Search)
Posted: 2/15/2017 by Jon Mark Hirshon, PhD, MPH, MD
(Updated: 11/23/2024)
Click here to contact Jon Mark Hirshon, PhD, MPH, MD
Congenital infection with the Zika virus is associated with 5 types of birth defects
· These are rarely or never seen with other infections during pregnancy
· These defects are:
1. Severe microcephaly (small head size) resulting in a partially collapsed skull
2. Decreased brain tissue with brain damage
3. Damage to the back of the eye with a specific pattern of scarring and increased pigment
4. Limited range of joint motion, such as clubfoot
5. Too much muscle tone restricting body movement soon after birth
https://www.cdc.gov/zika/pregnancy/
Category: Critical Care
Posted: 2/14/2017 by Mike Winters, MBA, MD
(Updated: 11/23/2024)
Click here to contact Mike Winters, MBA, MD
Sepsis Mimics
Long B, Koyfman A. Clinical mimics: An emergency medicine-focused review of sepsis mimics. J Emerg Med. 2017; 52:34-42.
Category: Visual Diagnosis
Posted: 2/13/2017 by Tu Carol Nguyen, DO
Click here to contact Tu Carol Nguyen, DO
56 year-old male with history of hypertension presents with complaints of right scrotal swelling and pain. Denies any urinary symptoms, abdominal pain, nausea/vomiting or change in bowel habits or prior episodes. Temp was 99.0.
A scrotal ultrasound was done and an image of the right testis was seen (below). What's the diagnosis?
Answer: Right Epididymitis (and Hydrocele)
Take Home Points:
Kühn AL, Scortegagna E, Nowitzki KM, Kim YH. Ultrasonography of the scrotum in adults. Ultrasonography. 2016;35(3):180-97.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sexually Transmitted Diseases Treatment Guidelines, 2015. MMWR Recomm Rep 2015;64(No. RR-3): 1-137.
Category: Airway Management
Keywords: Elbow, fracture, trauma (PubMed Search)
Posted: 2/11/2017 by Brian Corwell, MD
(Updated: 11/23/2024)
Click here to contact Brian Corwell, MD
Is that a fracture or a growth plate?
Pediatric elbow x-rays are complicated to interpret due to the large number of ossification centers.
Elbow trauma is common in pediatrics.
Ossification centers of the elbow appear in a reliable chronologic pattern which aids in distinguising fractures from growth plates.
Note the age ranges are an estimate with great variability. For example, girls can develop these up to 2 years earlier than boys.
The numbers 1/3/5/7/9/11 correspond to the average age of development of each ossification center
Years of fusion shown below in ()
Capitellum (12-14yo)
Radial head (14-16yo)
Medial epicondyle (16-18yo)
Trochlea (12-14yo)
Olecranon (15-17yo)
Lateral epicondyle (12-14yo)
Pneumonic: "Can't Resist My Team Of Lawyers"
Consider ordering films of both elbows to compare if in doubt.
How is this useful? If the trochlear center is present, but there is no medial epicondyle then you are most likely looking at a fx where the ossification center has been avulsed and displaced.
Category: Neurology
Keywords: aphasia, fluency, comprehension, repetition, Broca's aphasia, Wernicke's aphasia, conduction aphasia (PubMed Search)
Posted: 2/8/2017 by WanTsu Wendy Chang, MD
Click here to contact WanTsu Wendy Chang, MD
Types of aphasia [Online image]. Retrieved February 8, 2017 from https://www.aphasia.org/
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