Contributor: Adam Barkin, MD Educational Pearls: Internal hernias, when bowel herniates through iatrogenic or congenital defect in mesentery, represent 1-6% of all small bowel obstructions Mortality of strangulated internal hernias is over 50% due to bowel necrosis and sepsis Intermittent symptoms presenting with nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, abdominal distension Increased risk in patients with gastric…
Read MoreContributor: Adam Barkin, MD Educational Pearls: Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is the most common cause of acute MI in women under 50 years old Risk factors include fibromuscular dysplasia, extreme exercise, stress, pregnancy, and recent birth Diagnosed in cath lab but medically managed and usually do not get a stent Treated with dual antiplatelet…
Read MoreContributor: Peter Bakes, MD Educational Pearls: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is normally stratified into outpatient-candidates vs. inpatient candidates for treatment For outpatient treatment, antibiotic selection is driven by presence or absence of comorbid health conditions (chronic lung/kidney/liver disease, DM, immunocompromised state, alcoholism, asplenia) No comorbidities: High dose amoxicillin, doxycycline, azithromycin Comorbidities: augmentin, cephalosporin, doxycycline, macrolide with…
Read MoreContributor: Aaron Lessen, MD Educational Pearls: Refractory ventricular fibrillation, defined as 3 defibrillation shocks without resolution, was studied via RCT looking to compare ECMO with cardiac cath vs. typical resuscitation After 30 patients (15 each arm), the trial was stopped because such a significant benefit seen in the ECMO arm 6 patients survived and 3…
Read MoreContributor: Jared Scott, MD Educational Pearls: Hand eczema is present in about 10% of the population and has a great prevalence in hairdressers, healthcare workers, and food service employees Using 1% oatmeal cream instead of a base cream showed statistically significant improvement in outcomes of HE in healthcare workers in a double-blind study References Sobhan…
Read MoreContributor: Sam Killian, MD Educational Pearls: Patients with cirrhosis and ascites are frequently evaluated for spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, an infection of the ascites fluid that is not from a surgically treated source Fever, abdominal pain, and altered mental status should all raise clinical suspicion in a patient with ascites Fluid from paracentesis may show increased…
Read MoreThis week’s Pharmacy Phriday features a short excerpt from a longer podcast released as promo for the Colorado’s CURE initiative, Clinicians United to Resolve the Epidemic, that combats the opioid crisis through education. Frequent contributor to the podcast, Rachael Duncan, PharmD, is joined by host, Elizabeth Esty, MD, to discuss the opioid prescribing guidelines for…
Read MoreContributor: Chris Holmes, MD Educational Pearls: Medicine is cyclical and practice is always evolving A description of recommended treatment for CHF from 1966 Give oxygen Give one dose morphine then switch to demerol Decrease venous return and start PPV Immediately apply tourniquet to 3 extremities rotating tourniquets every 20 minutes Phlebotomy of 350-500 cc blood…
Read MoreContributor: Aaron Lessen, MD Educational Pearls: Facial nerve palsy (Bell’s palsy) can occur in pediatric patients with Lyme disease, viral infection, or even leukemia One trial sought out to find if steroids and acyclovir would benefit pediatric patients with facial nerve palsy However, during screening process, around 1% of enrollees had leukemia (5 of the…
Read MoreContributor: Don Stader, MD Educational Pearls: Patients are more likely to survive an opioid overdose if they have naloxone 10% risk of death in the year following an opioid overdose of patients seen in the ED Those who receive naloxone: Have better survival rates Are more likely to enter recovery Are more likely to use…
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