Note: The cases discussed in this post happened before COVID-19. Given that D-Dimer may be elevated in patients with COVID-19, the pretest probability of PE in your patient population may be elevated at this time. Thus, the assumptions derived from Read more…
A 58-year-old male is rolled into the critical care area of your ED with the complaint of crushing, midsternal chest pain that began one hour before presentation. The nurse tells you he has a history of hypertension and hyperlipidemia but Read more…
Contributors: Noah Berland MD, Smruti Desai DO, Sharland Johnson MD, and Jessica Stetz MD The torture and murder of George Floyd by police officers is an assault on human life and decency that all Emergency Physicians must condemn and Read more…
Case-based Introduction A 50-year-old patient with a history of liver disease presents to the ED with sudden onset generalized weakness and abdominal pain. He has soft but stable blood pressures, and appears unwell. There is diffuse abdominal tenderness. His bedside Read more…
Introduction As far as dangerous causes of chest pain go, acute aortic syndromes (aortic dissection, intramural thrombus, and penetrating aortic ulcer) can present a real diagnostic dilemma. They’re rare (with a prevalence of around 2-4 per 100,000 individuals), seem to Read more…
It’s the last hour of a busy shift and you are looking forward to handing over a good room to your colleague. A 28-year-old male patient with nausea and vomiting pops up on your board. You glance at his bed Read more…
Preface: I write this piece humbly from my own perspective, acknowledging that this is not the “answer” as to how to become an effective learner, but just what I have found to be effective for me. There are many different Read more…
(Tita – Tagalog for “aunt”) During one of my first night shifts as an intern, I managed to get yelled at by our head nurse, Maria Guia Cabillon (whom I referred to as “Tita” from that moment on). I Read more…