Emergency Medicine
21 articles in Emergency Medicine
Emergency Medicine insights and practices.
Protocol and recommendations for treating SCAPE (Sympathetic Crashing Acute Pulmonary Edema) in the Emergency Department
In SCAPE—a hypertensive, rapidly progressive form of cardiogenic pulmonary edema—the two immediate, evidence-supported cornerstones are noninvasive ventilation (NIV) and aggressive afterload...
RIG, RIBS, and PIC Scores in Rib Fracture Management
Rib fractures remain one of the most common injuries encountered in emergency and trauma care, particularly among older patients with blunt chest trauma. While many patients can be safely discharged,...
Differentiating and Treating STEMI, NSTEMI, Unstable Angina, and Stable Angina
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Among its clinical manifestations, acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and stable angina are critical conditions that...
Hypertensive Emergency: Recognition, Screening, and ED Management
IntroductionHypertension is one of the most common problems encountered in the emergency department. Most patients present with severely elevated blood pressure but no acute end-organ injury, which...
Metoprolol IV Push 5mg for Tachycardia and Blood Pressure Control
In clinical practice, Metoprolol IV push, typically given as a 5mg dose, is a go-to medication for managing tachycardia and high blood pressure in acute settings. As a selective beta-1 blocker, it...
Emergency Treatment of WPW with Atrial Fibrillation
Wolf-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome is a congenital heart condition characterized by an abnormal extra electrical pathway between the atria and the ventricles, known as an accessory pathway. This can...
ED Hyperglycemia (Without HHS or DKA): What to Lower, Who to Admit, and Who’s at Risk for Future DKA
ED Hyperglycemia (Without DKA): What to Lower, Who to Admit, and Who’s at Risk for Future DKA Bottom line up front: For adults who present to the emergency department (ED) with severe hyperglycemia...
Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis in Patients with Liver Disease
Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis (SBP) is a life-threatening infection that primarily affects patients with cirrhosis, particularly those with ascites. Ascites, the accumulation of fluid in the...
DOAC Reversal in Acute Gastrointestinal Bleeding
Introduction Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have revolutionized the management of thromboembolic disorders due to their predictable pharmacokinetics, ease of use, and minimal monitoring...
Stroke vs. Bell's Palsy: Understanding the Differences and Importance of Timely Diagnosis
When sudden facial weakness occurs, it can be alarming and prompt concerns about serious medical conditions. Two common causes of facial paralysis are stroke and Bell's palsy. Although both...
Medical Clearance in Psychiatric Emergencies – Brief Overview
A Brief Excerpt Dr. Hanna Shanar, Emergency Medicine Resident. This is based of a powerpoint lecture created and presented at HCA Kingwood to the University of Houston class of EM...
High-Flow Nasal Oxygen vs. Non-Invasive Ventilation in Acute Cardiogenic Pulmonary Edema: A Comparative Review
Introduction Acute cardiogenic pulmonary edema (ACPE) is a life-threatening manifestation of acute decompensated heart failure, characterized by rapid accumulation of fluid in the alveoli,...
Artificial Intelligence and Technology in Emergency Medicine
Emergency medicine is one of the most dynamic and high-pressure fields in healthcare. Clinicians must make rapid, life-saving decisions with limited information and time. In recent years, artificial...
Rethinking the Role of Pelvic X-Rays in Trauma: Clinical Decision Tools and Evidence-Based Guidelines
In the evaluation of trauma patients, imaging plays a vital role in rapid diagnosis and triage. Pelvic fractures, in particular, are associated with significant morbidity and mortality due to the...
Understanding Sepsis in Children for Emergency Medicine
Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that arises when the body's response to infection causes widespread inflammation, leading to tissue damage, organ failure, and potentially death. In children,...
The Farmer Who Drank the Wrong Bottle — A Cholinergic Crisis Case
Case Scenario: A 35-year-old male farmer is brought to the emergency department by his relatives with complaints of excessive salivation, vomiting, and difficulty in breathing for the past 1 hour....
Does the literature support fluid resuscitation in SIRS-positive patients at risk for sepsis who have CHF?
Does the literature support fluid resuscitation in SIRS-positive patients at risk for sepsis who have CHF?Bottom line: Evidence generally supports giving an initial crystalloid bolus to SIRS-positive...
Safe Discharge from the ED in Vertebral Compression Fractures
IntroductionVertebral compression fractures (VCFs) are a common presentation in the emergency department (ED), especially among elderly patients with osteoporosis. One of the major clinical questions...
Status Asthmaticus: When Asthma Becomes Life-Threatening
Case : A 24-year-old woman with a known history of asthma presented to the Emergency Department with severe shortness of breath for 8 hours. She reported worsening wheezing and cough for 2 days...
A Crushing Emergency: Case of Acute ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction
Case Scenario: A 60-year-old man is brought to the emergency department with severe central chest pain that started 3 hour ago while he was walking. The pain is crushing, radiates to his left arm,...
Severe Headache in a Postoperative Cardiac Patient on Warfarin – A Case of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Case Scenario: A 58-year-old man presents to the emergency department with a sudden onset of severe headache for the past 1 hour. He describes it as “the worst headache of my life.” The pain started...