This month CanadiEM is featuring an article from the Canadian Journal of Emergency Medicine that looks at the use of point-of-care ultrasound (PoCUS) and ECG findings in emergency department (ED) cardiac arrest patients. While current Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) protocols do not mandate the use of echocardiography, cardiac PoCUS is increasingly being used in ED cardiopulmonary resuscitation1,2. Studies have shown that an absence of cardiac activity on ultrasound is associated with a …
Teaching That Counts: Tailoring Your Teaching to the Individual Learner
View PostIs there a role for a single intravenous bolus dose of corticosteroid in reducing pain in Emergency Department patients with radicular back pain?
Clinical vignette A 45-year-old healthy male, presents to the emergency department (ED) with a one-day history of back pain. The pain started while working out at the gym – he lifted a heavy weight above his head and felt a sudden lower back pain (LBP). The patient describes sharp, burning and stabbing pain in the low back that radiates down the posterior and lateral aspect of the left leg to the dorsum of the …
Spot the Diagnosis! The case of the sick artist with his physician
As part of the Arts PRN series, we will intermittently be featuring pieces of historic art that hint at an underlying medical condition. They say a picture is worth 1000 words… can you Spot the Diagnosis after examining only a painting? Read on to learn not only about the art, but about these fascinating medical conditions. Who knows, maybe they’ll help you make a diagnosis some day (or at least help you out on Jeopardy)! …
Testicular Torsion
Case: 18-year-old Arthur comes to the emergency department complaining of sudden onset pain in his testicles that woke him up at 4 am. Arthur had noticed that part of his testicle appeared swollen when he awoke. This concerned him, since he didn’t remember an injury. He tried applying ice, but after a while of no relief, his parents drove him to the local ED. His pain has increased and is now (at 7 …
Substance use in the ED: Alcohol Use Disorders and the Emergency Department
Think back to your last three shifts. Did you see an alcohol related condition? You might even notice a pattern— the same patient, the “regular” who returns time and time again with the same presentation. You may even find yourself writing “discharge home when ambulatory” as you’ve “reached your wits end” and don’t know what to do anymore. The use of alcohol is common and the emergency department is often where we see …