Here we see a nice example of ventricular bigeminy. Besides the rhythm, do you notice anything strange on the cardiac monitor?
What’s the heart rate?
Author: Jeffery Steele
Do the details matter?
Navigating High Sensitivity Troponin Testing: Guidelines, Protocols, and Insights
Our hospital switched to a high sensitivity troponin several months ago. We were given a protocol to use that is a little confusing, so I spent an absurd amount of time reading guidelines to figure out how to safely use this test. This is what I found.
Continue readingWhat’s wrong with these ECGs?
We had something come up twice over the past month or so with our ECGs. Several of the residents had trouble spotting the issue. I bet they were not the only ones. Can you see the problem?
Continue readingProbe Orientation in Cardiac Ultrasound
Learners often struggle with which direction to point the probe marker when scanning the heart. Hopefully this is a quick fix.
Continue readingKindergarten Capnometry
Regardless of your opinion on its necessity, the first step in putting end-tidal CO2 to use is understanding what it is. Here are the basics.
Continue readingTighten the screws on your lung ultrasound
Lung ultrasound is quick, easy, and very helpful in a patient with undifferentiated shortness of breath. There are, however, a few subtleties that I often see learners not grasp. Let’s clear it up.
Continue readingHow much calcium was that?
When we need to give intravenous calcium for hyperkalemia, we generally have two options: calcium chloride and calcium gluconate. We think of calcium chloride as being “stronger,” but what exactly does that mean? Let’s look at.
Continue readingMake your DVT studies worth the risk
I’ve done this topic before, but I left some meat on that bone. Let’s get into the weeds.
Continue readingInteresting Labs; Interesting Case
A 68 year-old man was sent by his PCP for evaluation of abnormal outpatient labs. He had been seen last week for back pain and malaise. We had a look at the labs and the diagnosis was there. Do you see it? What should the next test be?
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Searcy EM 