UMEM Educational Pearls

Question

30 year-old female with elbow pain following a fall. What's the diagnosis? (bonus points if you name the fracture with an associated radio-ulnar joint dislocation)

Show Answer

Show References



When examining a knee for a meniscal injury the commonly described tests are the McMurray Test and Apley Test.  However, these tests have sensitivities of 48-68% and 41% respectfully, and specificities of 86-94% and 86-93% respectfully.  Depending on whether you are looking at the medical or lateral meniscus.

The Thessaly Test that was first described in 2005 can be performed with knee in either 5 or 20 degrees of flexion and has a senstivity of 89-92% and specificity of 96-97% when performed in 20 degrees flexion.  The test also tends to be easier to perform.

To perform the test:

  1. Stand on affected leg only with the other leg held up in the air.  The examiner holds hands for balance.
  2. Flex knee to be test to 20 degrees, while the other leg is held in the air
  3. Internally and Externally Rotate Knee
  4. Positive test is pain at medial or lateral joint line with possible locking/catching sensation

Essentially you and your patient will look like you are doing the twist as they rotate their knee with you holding their hands.

 

A video of the technique can be found at http://youtu.be/R3oXDvagnic

 

Show References



Title: What Drugs Are More Prone to Cause Seizure

Category: Toxicology

Keywords: seizure, overdose (PubMed Search)

Posted: 5/29/2014 by Fermin Barrueto (Updated: 11/14/2024)
Click here to contact Fermin Barrueto

Seizure is a very common effect seen in many overdoses.  Think about the following drugs which have a higher propensity for seizure as noted in a Swiss study of over 15000 patients and isolating to single drug overdoses:

The most prevalent pharmaceuticals were mefenamic acid (51 of the 313 cases), citalopram (34), trimipramine (27), venlafaxine (23), tramadol (15), diphenhydramine (14), amitriptyline (12), carbamazepine (11), maprotiline (10), and quetiapine (10).

The drug mefenanamic acid is not used much in the USA but citalopram, venlafaxine and tramadol as well as the most prelavent bupropion which was number one in the study are all commonly prescribed in the USA. Keep a watchful eye if you see any of these drugs on a drug list or as an overdose.

Show References



Title: Don't Muddy the Water: Know when to get a stool sample for acute diarrhea

Category: International EM

Keywords: diarrhea, international, infectious disease, stool, parasite (PubMed Search)

Posted: 5/28/2014 by Andrea Tenner, MD (Updated: 11/14/2024)
Click here to contact Andrea Tenner, MD

General Information:

  • Acute diarrheal illness is a common cause of morbidity and mortality disproportionately affecting low and middle income countries
  • Acute diarrhea poses the greatest threat to the immunocompromised, children, and the elderly
  • Stool samples are costly and frequently don’t provide information altering the course of treatment in acute, non-severe diarrhea
  • However, for acute diarrhea, a single stool sample should be obtained when diarrhea is associated with:
  • fever (≥38.5°C)
  • a severe coexisting condition in a hospitalized patient on antibiotics
  • persistent diarrhea (≥14 days)
  • profuse cholera-like watery diarrhea
  • dehydration
  • dysentery
  • an elderly or immunocompromised patient
  • food handlers, nursing home residents, and daycare workers
  • The stool sample must be processed by the lab within 4 hours to directly visualize parasites and within 12 hours for routine microbiologic staining.

Bottom Line for the EM Physician:  Use these guidelines to test stool only when helpful to patient care and avoid flushing resources down the toilet.

University of Maryland Section of Global Emergency Health

Author:  Alex Skog

Show References



Are Intermediate Lactate Levels Concerning in Patients with Suspected Infection?

  • It is well known that lactate levels > 4 mmol/L are associated with increased mortality in patients with suspected infection.
  • What is unclear, however, is the prognostic value of intermediate lactate levels (2.0-3.9 mmol/L) in patients with suspected infection.
  • Puskarich, et al. performed a systematic review to determine the risk associated with intermediate lactate levels.
    • 8 studies (> 11,000 patients) were included in the analysis
    • Mortality for patients with intermediate lactate levels but without hypotension was 15%
    • Mortality was > 30% for hypotensive patients with intermediate levels of lactate.
  • Take Home Point: Patients with intermediate lactate levels have an increased risk of mortality.
  • Though no current guidelines exist for the optimal care of these patients, aggressive care should continue until repeat levels demonstrate normalization.

Show References



Question

Diabetic patient with active intravenous drug use presents with hypotension, fever, and tenderness of right arm. What's the diagnosis and what antibiotic(s) would you start?

Show Answer

Show References



Title: Drowning

Category: Misc

Keywords: Drowning, rescue (PubMed Search)

Posted: 5/24/2014 by Brian Corwell, MD (Updated: 11/14/2024)
Click here to contact Brian Corwell, MD

Happy Memorial Day! With all the recent attention in the news about swimming and drowning I thought I would share this article

 

The Instinctive Drowning Response—so named by Francesco A. Pia, Ph.D., is what people do to avoid actual or perceived suffocation in the water. And it does not look like most people expect. There is very little splashing, no waving, and no yelling or calls for help of any kind. To get an idea of just how quiet and undramatic from the surface drowning can be, consider this: It is the No. 2 cause of accidental death in children, ages 15 and under (just behind vehicle accidents)—of the approximately 750 children who will drown next year, about 375 of them will do so within 25 yards of a parent or other adult. In some of those drownings, the adult will actually watch the child do it, having no idea it is happening.* Drowning does not look like drowning—Dr. Pia, in an article in the Coast Guard’s On Scenemagazine, described the Instinctive Drowning Response like this:

  1. “Except in rare circumstances, drowning people are physiologically unable to call out for help. The respiratory system was designed for breathing. Speech is the secondary or overlaid function. Breathing must be fulfilled before speech occurs.
  2. Drowning people’s mouths alternately sink below and reappear above the surface of the water. The mouths of drowning people are not above the surface of the water long enough for them to exhale, inhale, and call out for help. When the drowning people’s mouths are above the surface, they exhale and inhale quickly as their mouths start to sink below the surface of the water.
  3. Drowning people cannot wave for help. Nature instinctively forces them to extend their arms laterally and press down on the water’s surface. Pressing down on the surface of the water permits drowning people to leverage their bodies so they can lift their mouths out of the water to breathe.
  4. Throughout the Instinctive Drowning Response, drowning people cannot voluntarily control their arm movements. Physiologically, drowning people who are struggling on the surface of the water cannot stop drowning and perform voluntary movements such as waving for help, moving toward a rescuer, or reaching out for a piece of rescue equipment.
  5. From beginning to end of the Instinctive Drowning Response people’s bodies remain upright in the water, with no evidence of a supporting kick. Unless rescued by a trained lifeguard, these drowning people can only struggle on the surface of the water from 20 to 60 seconds before submersion occurs.”

This doesn’t mean that a person that is yelling for help and thrashing isn’t in real trouble—they are experiencing aquatic distress. Not always present before the Instinctive Drowning Response, aquatic distress doesn’t last long—but unlike true drowning, these victims can still assist in their own rescue. They can grab lifelines, throw rings, etc.

Look for these other signs of drowning when persons are in the water:

  • Head low in the water, mouth at water level
  • Head tilted back with mouth open
  • Eyes glassy and empty, unable to focus
  • Eyes closed
  • Hair over forehead or eyes
  • Not using legs—vertical
  • Hyperventilating or gasping
  • Trying to swim in a particular direction but not making headway
  • Trying to roll over on the back
  • Appear to be climbing an invisible ladder

So if a crew member falls overboard and everything looks OK—don’t be too sure. Sometimes the most common indication that someone is drowning is that they don’t look like they’re drowning. They may just look like they are treading water and looking up at the deck. One way to be sure? Ask them, “Are you all right?” If they can answer at all—they probably are. If they return a blank stare, you may have less than 30 seconds to get to them. And parents—children playing in the water make noise. When they get quiet, you get to them and find out why.

 

Show References



Title: Blue dye for the blue patient

Category: Toxicology

Keywords: Methemoglobenima, methylene blue, adverse effects (PubMed Search)

Posted: 5/21/2014 by Kishan Kapadia, DO
Click here to contact Kishan Kapadia, DO

Methylene blue is an extremely effective antidote for acquired methemoglobinemia but has important adverse effects if given in excess of recommended dose.

Below is the usual dose of methylene blue for treatment of methemoglobinemia

1-2 mg/kg of 1% solution IV with a repeat dose given if there is inadequate response to the first one

Adverse effects include:

  • >4 m/kg -- Reversible skin, feces, and urine discoloration
  • 5-7 mg/kg -- EKG abnormalities (T-wave inversions, diminished R-waves), shortness of breath, chest discomfort, diaphoresis, nausea, diarrhea, abdominal discomfort
  • Paradoxically, between 4 and 15 mg/kg, it may cause methemoglobinemia

Show References



Title: What is causing CKD in young, non-diabetic, fit Central American agricultural workers?

Category: International EM

Keywords: Mesoamerican, Nephropathy, Central America, Nicaragua, El Salvador, (PubMed Search)

Posted: 5/21/2014 by Andrea Tenner, MD
Click here to contact Andrea Tenner, MD

General Information:

  • There is a growing incidence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in Central America referred to as Mesoamerican Nephropathy
  • Patients tend to be young (30-50 years old), male, agricultural workers, and do not have a history of diabetes, hypertension, or obesity
  • Etiology remains unconfirmed but is likely multifactorial with contributors including: repeated dehydration, excessive NSAID use, toxins from sugarcane derived alcohol, and mild Leptospirosis infection.

Area of the world affected:

  • Highest prevalence in El Salvador and Nicaragua
  • Lower prevalence in Costa Rica and Guatemala

Relevance to the US physician:

  • Immigrants with Mesoamerican Nephropathy may present to the ED with acute on chronic kidney disease
  • Treatment guidelines are the same as for other CKD etiologies
  • Council patients on proper hydration during exertion, limiting NSAID use, and avoiding homemade alcohol consumption

Bottom Line:

  • Mesoamerican Nephropathy should be considered in Central American immigrants presenting to the ED with clinical and laboratory signs of CKD but without traditional risk factors.

University of Maryland Section of Global Emergency Health

Author: Emilie J.B. Calvello, MD, MPH & Alex Skog

Show References



Title: Carbapenem Resistant Organisms are HERE

Category: Critical Care

Keywords: Carbapenem Resistant Organisms, CRE, Pseudomonas, Infectious Diseases, Antimicrobial Stewardship (PubMed Search)

Posted: 5/15/2014 by John Greenwood, MD (Updated: 5/20/2014)
Click here to contact John Greenwood, MD

 

Carbapenem Resistant Organisms are HERE

 

We've all heard Dr. Bryan Hayes warn us that, "Vanc & Zosyn is NOT the Answer for Everything" but things just got a little more serious, on a whole 'nother level...

Within the past few months, 2 cases of NDM-producing carbapenem-resistant pseudomonas have been reported in the area - one in Delaware and one in Pennsylvania.  Previously, the only reported cases were found in Europe.  

It's important for EM physicians to be aware of carbapenem resistant organisms and infections because:

  • They have been independently associated with an increase in mortality
  •  Are increasing in frequency around the world
  • Are a major threat to our antimicrobial armamentarium

Risk factors for carbapenem resistance 

  • Stem cell transplant patients
  • History of mechanical ventilation
  • Recent ICU stay
  • Previous exposure to antibiotics

Antimicrobial options

Few treatment options are currently available for carbapenem resistant organisms.  

  • Polymixins (colistimethate & polymyxin B)
  • Tigecycline
  • Fosfomycin
  • Some aminoglycosides (amikacin, gentamicin, & tobramycin)

Appear to have retained some in vitro activity against these organisms, but are generally used as, "drugs of last resort". 

What should you do about it?

Know it exists, take a good history, & know your local antibiogram.  Prior to selecting a broad spectrum antimicrobial regimen, try to obtain previous antimicrobial culture data for patients with resistant organism infectious risk factors.

Show References



Question

A patient presents with the rash shown below and is treated with penicillin. Fever, headache, and myalgia develop four hours later. What’s the diagnosis?

Show Answer

Show References



Title: LisFranc Fractures

Category: Orthopedics

Keywords: lisfranc, fracture (PubMed Search)

Posted: 5/17/2014 by Michael Bond, MD (Updated: 11/14/2024)
Click here to contact Michael Bond, MD

Lisfranc Fracture:

Typically consists of a fracture of the base of the second metatarsal and dislocation, though it can also be associated with fractures of a cuboid.  Common current mechanism of injury is when a person steps into a hole and twists the foot.  The original mechanism of injury that was described was when a horseman would fall of their horse with their foot still trapped in a stirrup.

Diagnosis should be considered if patient has difficultly weight bearing with pain on palpation over the 2nd and 3rd metacarpal head with an appropriate mechanism.

Pearls:

  • Fracture findings on plain films may be subtle.
  • If in doubt obtain weight bearing AP views of the foot to demonstrate dislocation/fracture.
  • If weight bearing films are negative and you are still suspicious consider a CT scan of the foot.

 

 



Title: Pediatric Mental Health Screening

Category: Pediatrics

Keywords: Psychiatric clearance, pediatric (PubMed Search)

Posted: 5/16/2014 by Jenny Guyther, MD
Click here to contact Jenny Guyther, MD

Mental health-related visits account for 1.6–6% of ED encounters.  Patients with acute psychosis are often brought to the ED for clearance prior to psychiatric evaluation.  Is this necessary?

Background: Several adult studies have shown that only 0–4% of patients with isolated psychiatric complaints have organic diagnoses requiring urgent treatment.  Routine ED laboratory testing in adults is low yield still, with one study identifying abnormalities in only 2 of 352 patients—both mild hypokalemia.  A pediatric study found that 207 of 209 patients were medically cleared.

This study was a retrospective review of pediatric psychiatric patients presenting to a an urban California hospital.  They examined 798 patients who had an involuntary psychiatric hold placed by a psychiatric mobile response team.
 

  • 72 (9.1%) were determined to require medical screening (based on patient complaints).
  • Only 35 (4.4%) holds were found to require further medical care prior to psychiatric hospitalization.
  • Total charges for laboratory assessments, secondary ambulance transfers and wages for sitters were $1,241,295 or US$17,240 per patient requiring a medical screen.
  • Patients were in the ED for an average of 7 h with a cumulative time of 5538 hours.


The authors concluded that few pediatric patients brought to the ED on an involuntary hold required a medical screen and perhaps use of basic criteria in the prehospital setting to determine who required a medical screen (altered mental status, ingestion, hanging, traumatic injury, unrelated medical complaint, sexual assault) could have led to significant savings.

Show References



 

Currently, no effective reversal agent for new oral anticoagulants (e.g. direct thrombin inhibitor, dabigatran, and factor Xa inhibitors: rivaroxaban and apixaban) exists for emergent management of hemorrhagic complications.

 

Boehringer Ingelheim, the manufacturer of dabigatran, is developing an antibody fragment (Fab) against dabigatran as a reversal agent.1

 

A small ex-vivo porcine study demonstrated partial reversal of anticoagulation effects, measured by PT, aPTT, clotting time, clot formation time and maximum clot firmness, of dabigatran by PCC and activated PCC, while dabigatran-Fab achieved complete reversal. Recombinant fVIIa did not reverse the anticoagulation effect of dabigatran.2

 

Caution should be exercised when interpreting these finding as reversal of laboratory values does not necessarily correlate with clinical effect/outcome. However, dabigatran-Fab holds promise as an effective reversal agent of dabigatran.

 

Dabigatran-Fab is still under development and is not available/approved for clinical use.

Show References



Title: Rabies--possibly coming to an ED near you?

Category: International EM

Keywords: rabies, global, video, international, infectious disease (PubMed Search)

Posted: 5/14/2014 by Andrea Tenner, MD
Click here to contact Andrea Tenner, MD

Background
  • The US tends to average about 2-3 cases of rabies in humans per year
  • However, around 6,000 animal cases are reported yearly in the US, so the potential for infection is there.
  • Most cases are acquired through contact with infected animals: generally bats, foxes, and unvaccinated dogs (this is a huge problem in low- and middle-income countries)
  • Of note, in 2013, a human case was reported in Maryland that was acquired through organ transplantation from an infected donor

Clinical Presentation

Rabies is, initially, a clinical diagnosis.  To see what a patient with rabies looks like, check out this 3 minute YouTube video: (There is a bit of commentary by the person who posted it at the beginning that you might want to skip through.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZbrNN9KeUI   

 

Bottom Line

Rabies, while a rare disease in the US, can occur through either contact with infected animals (especially while traveling) or via organ transplantation.  Recognizing the clinical syndrome is key to diagnosis. 

University of Maryland Section for Global Emergency Health

Author: Andi Tenner, MD, MPH, FACEP

Show References



Prior literature has demonstrated the safety and feasibility of placing subclavian lines with ultrasound guidance; here's a link to a short educational video describing the technique. 

The literature has been varied, however, as to which approach is best for venous cannulation with ultrasound; the supraclavicular (SC) or infraclavicular (IC) approach (see references below)

A recent study evaluated both approaches in healthy volunteers in order to determine which approach is superior for cannulation using ultrasound.

98 patients were prospective evaluated by Emergency Medicine physicians with training in ultrasound. In each patient, both SC and IC views were evaluated on both the left and right sides; each view was given a grade for ease of favorability (no patients were actually cannulated)

Overall, it was found that the SC view was significantly more favorable compared to the IC view; the right SC was non-significantly preferred compared to the left SC.

Show References



Title: Risk Modifiers for Concussion and Prolonged Recovery

Category: Orthopedics

Keywords: Concussion, recovery, head injury (PubMed Search)

Posted: 4/6/2014 by Brian Corwell, MD (Updated: 5/10/2014)
Click here to contact Brian Corwell, MD

Risk Modifiers for Concussion and Prolonged Recovery

 

A history of prior concussion is a risk factor for future concussion (>2x risk).

For individual sports, boxing has the highest risk.

For team sports, football, ice hockey and rugby have the highest risk.

Women’s soccer confers the highest risk for female athletes.

Younger age confers increased risk.

Female sex confers higher risk when comparing similar sports with similar rules.

Those with migraine headaches may be at increased risk.

Risk of prolonged concussion

Most athletes have symptom resolution within one week

Post traumatic amnesia (both retrograde and anterograde) predict increased number and longer duration of symptoms.

Younger age also predicts pronged recovery.

Other studies have found associations with headache lasting greater than 60 hours, fatigue, “fogginess,” or greater than 3 symptoms at initial presentation. Cognitive studies have identified deficits in visual memory and process speed as predictors of prolonged recovery. 

Show References



Title: Dexmedetomidine as a Novel Countermeasure for Cocaine-Induced Sympathoexcitation

Category: Toxicology

Keywords: dexmedetomidine, cocaine, sympathomimetic (PubMed Search)

Posted: 5/6/2014 by Bryan Hayes, PharmD (Updated: 5/8/2014)
Click here to contact Bryan Hayes, PharmD

A placebo-controlled treatment trial in 26 cocaine-addicted subjects aimed to determine whether dexmedetomidine reverses MAP and HR increases after intranasal cocaine (3 mg/kg). 

Key Findings

  • Low-dose dexmedetomidine (0.4 µg/kg) abolished cocaine-induced increases in MAP (+6 ± 1 versus -5 ± 2 mm Hg; P<0.01), but had no effect on HR (+13 ± 2 versus +9 ± 2 bpm; P=ns).  
  • Skin sympathetic nerve activity and skin vascular resistance were significantly reduced.
  • A higher sedating dose of dexmedetomidine (1.0 μg/kg) was needed to counteract the modest HR rise, but at the expense of increasing BP in one third of patients.

Application to Clinical Practice

In a low nonsedating dose, dexmedetomidine may be a potential (adjunct) treatment for cocaine-induced acute hypertension. However, higher sedating doses can increase blood pressure unpredictably during acute cocaine challenge and should be avoided.

Generous benzodiazepine should remain first-line therapy.

Show References



General Information:

  • Previously, polio had been decreasing in incidence and nearing worldwide eradication.
  • From 2012 to 2013, the incidence doubled from 223 to 403 cases, and is anticipated to be higher in 2014 (May and June are the highest transmission months).
  • The WHO declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on Monday (5/5/14).  
  • Polio has been transmitted across international borders by travelers and is still circulating within endemic areas. 
  • In addition to improving vaccination within these countries, the public health emergency calls for all travelers from these countries to complete a polio vaccine series and travel with vaccination records.

Relevance to the EM Physician:

  • Previously unvaccinated travelers should be given a 3-dose polio vaccine series.
  • If a traveler has completed the 3-dose series in the past, the CDC recommends one single lifetime booster dose of inactivated polio virus (IPV).

Bottom Line:

  • Polio is increasing in incidence in 10 countries: Syria, Pakistan, Cameroon, Afghanistan, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Iraq, Israel, Somalia and Nigeria.  
  • For those who received an IPV series as a child, a single IPV booster is recommended for travelers to those countries to assure lifelong immunity. 

University of Maryland Section of Global Emergency Health

Author:  Jenny Reifel Saltzberg, MD

Show References



Title: High Flow Nasal Cannula

Category: Critical Care

Keywords: HFNC, vapotherm, high flow, nasal cannula, hypoxemia (PubMed Search)

Posted: 5/7/2014 by Feras Khan, MD (Updated: 11/14/2024)
Click here to contact Feras Khan, MD

High Flow Nasal Cannula

What is it?

  • High flow nasal cannula has been used in pediatrics for some time now
  • It can be used in adults as well
  • It is a simple nasal cannula setup with larger cannula sizes in both nares
  • It is heated, humidified oxygen
  • You can control your oxygen level and flow of oxygen

Benefits

  • Small amount of PEEP provided to the patient (estimated 5-7 cm H20)
  • Improves oxygenation (more reliable oxygenation than a non-rebreather face mask)
  • Can provide some alveolar recruitment
  • Increases FRC (functional residual capacity)
  • Pharyngeal dead space washout

Who to use it on

  • Acute hypoxemic respiratory failure
  • Pre-intubation (can place before and during intubation in patients who have low oxygen saturation)
  • Post-extubation
  • Palliative care (DNI patients)

How to set it

  • Flow rates: 0-60 L/min
  • Spontaneously breathing patient with mild-moderate hypoxemia/respiratory distress:

            -15-30 L per minute

            -100% oxygen (wean as tolerated)

            -temp 35-40 C

            -when weaning decrease oxygen prior to flow

Bottom line: No evidence that it reduces intubation rates in patients with hypoxemic respiratory failure but may improve oxygenation issues while deciding on treatment options

Show References