Syncope makes up approximately 1% of acute care visits in Canadian emergency departments and is a common symptom for a wide range of underlying etiologies.1 Identifying any serious underlying condition for syncope and disposition planning is the main area of focus in the emergency department. In addition to a comprehensive history and physical, the 12-lead ECG is a part of the initial evaluation in any patient presenting with syncope. The mnemonic, WOBBLER can …
CJEM Visual Abstract: Observation time in the ED following anaphylaxis
View PostExpert’s Corner – Dr. Eddy Lang on Quality Improvement and Healthcare
Welcome to another HiQuiPs Expert Corner. In this edition, we asked Dr. Eddy Lang three questions about Quality Improvement (QI) given his impressive track record of system improvements. Dr. Eddy Lang is the current Department Head of Emergency Medicine and a Professor at the Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary. In addition, he serves as the Clinical Department Head for Emergency Medicine and a senior researcher at Alberta Health Services, Calgary zone. …
HiQuiPs: Navigating Ethics in Quality Improvement
You have decided to start a quality improvement (QI) project on improving access to fascia iliaca nerve blocks for hip fractures in your emergency department (ED). You have also gathered an interdisciplinary team of experts within your ED to help you identify structure, process, outcome and balance measures to use in your QI project. But how can you ensure you collect your data ethically when executing this project? Welcome back to another HiQuiPs …
Methoxyflurane- an alternative to opioid and NSAID analgesia in the Emergency Department?
Introduction Methoxyflurane, also known as Penthrox, is an inhaled analgesic that was first used in the early 1960s for general anaesthesia.1 While initially popular, reports of serious side effects including hepatotoxicity and irreversible dose-dependent nephrotoxicity led to its reduced usage as a general anesthetic by the 1970s.2 Nevertheless, due to its non-opioid nature and short half-life, methoxyflurane has found new life as a short acting analgesic for moderate to severe pain in several …
Case Report: The Hangover and the Lateral Canthotomy
Alan Garner is a 38-year-old single, unemployed, Caucasian male, with a medical history of ADHD who has voluntarily arrived at the ED accompanied by friends Stu and Phil after being punched in the face while trespassing. Despite having a poor recollection of the night’s events, Alan and friends are certain that he received a sucker punch by none other than Mike Tyson, the former undisputed world heavyweight boxing champion. Phil informs you that, …