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?
Continue readingBladder Ultrasound: part 3
In part 3 of our discussion about the uses of bladder ultrasound in the emergency department, we consider the case of a 70 year-old man with urinary retention in whom we were unable to place a urinary catheter.
Continue readingBladder Ultrasound: part 2
Part two in our three part series on bladder ultrasound. We will look at two cases.
Continue readingBladder Ultrasound: part 1
Something that I’ve got a lot of mileage out of recently is bladder ultrasound.
Continue readingTime Management
July brings new interns. They certainly have a lot on their plate, but seeing them work through their first shifts always reminds me that while they are learning how to practice medicine we depend on them to keep the patient flow moving – something most of them have never considered. Efficiency and flow management are skills that are learned. I’ll share my thoughts, even though I do not feel I am gifted in this area.
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Searcy EM 