Author: Aaron Lessen, MD Educational Pearls: Traditional technique of needle thoracostomy for tension penumothorax is along the 2nd intercostal space at the midclavicular line Inserting a large angiocatheter along the 4th or 5th intercostal space at the mid-axillary line may provide a thinner area that is more easily identified, overcoming many of the obstacles of…
Read MoreContributor: John Winkler, MD Educational Pearls: Vaping-related lung injury initially presents with flu-like symptoms and can progress to respiratory failure requiring aggressive resuscitation including ECMO It is thought to be related to the contents of homemade vaping fluid, mostly in THC-containing products (“brands” include DankVapes, PaxPen) Ask patients with vague constitutional or respiratory symptoms about…
Read MoreContributor: Dylan Luyten, MD Educational Pearls: Bag-valve masks (BVM) typically have a port to connect O2 to. Unfortunately room air becomes entrained in the mask, reducing the FiO2 delivered to the patient. This can be overcome by using a PEEP (positive end-expiratory pressure) valve on the BVM PEEP valves function by keeping alveoli open in…
Read MoreContributor: Erik Verzemnieks, MD Educational Pearls: Important to realize complications can occur in the post-opioid overdose patient regardless of cause Narcan administration has been associated with non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema, although the mechanism of this is not quite known Symptoms include progressive shortness of breath and hypoxia. Treatment is with positive-pressure ventilation and diuresis, similar to…
Read MoreAuthor: Peter Bakes, MD Educational Pearls: The differential diagnosis for pedal edema includes issues in the heart, kidney, and liver Obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS) is an important and common cause of right heart failure. Nighttime hypoventilation leads to pulmonary hypertension, causing right heart strain followed by right heart failure OHS criteria includes obesity, sleep disordered…
Read MoreAuthor: Gretchen Hinson, MD Educational Pearls: Breath stacking occurs when a patient is unable to expire fully before another inspiration In intubated/ventilated patients, this is because adequate time has not passed before exhalation Asthmatics are susceptible due to the prolonged expiratory phase Complications can include reduction in cardiac preload and cardiovascular collapse Pursed-lip breathing can…
Read MoreAuthor: Michael Hunt, MD Educational Pearls: Bedside transtracheal ultrasound to confirm proper endotracheal intubation is simple and effective Review of 17 studies showed transtracheal ultrasound was was 98.7% sensitive and 97.1% specific Curvilinear probe may be preferable as it provides a larger field of view Editor’s Note: rather than explain what you’re looking for… just…
Read MoreAuthor: Jared Scott, MD Educational Pearls: CXR is 40-90% sensitive for detecting pneumonia when compared to CT Patients with a high degree of suspicion for pneumonia may still warrant treatment despite a negative CXR References: Self WH, Courtney DM, McNaughton CD, Wunderink RG, Kline JA. High discordance of chest x-ray and computed tomography…
Read MoreAuthor: Gretchen Hinson, MD Educational Pearls: Diagnosis can be difficult and often delayed Asymmetric breath sounds, choking, stridor may be present, but children also present asymptomatically Peak incidence around one to two years of age Hot dogs, nuts, popcorn – round and smooth objects are most commonly aspirated References: Green SS. Ingested and Aspirated Foreign…
Read MoreAuthor: Gretchen Hinson, MD Educational Pearls: Legionnaires disease refers to a severe pneumonia caused by Legionella pneumophilia and occurs typically at the extremes of age Associated gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea/vomiting/diarrhea) may be present Hyponatremia is a common laboratory finding Legionella urinary antigen can be a convenient test to identify the infection Treatment is with fluoroquinolones, macrolides…
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