Atrial Fibrillation DDx
Atrial fibrillation is an irregularly irregular tachydysrhythmia characterised by the presence of chaotic fibrillation waves on ECG, rather than p waves, due to disorganised electrical activity in the atria.
Month January 2019
The Candirú
Having a toothpick fish (the Candiru) take a detour up your urethra doesn't really bear thinking about. Apparently the worst thing that can happen to a parasite is to end up inside the wrong host...
Sucralfate
Sucralfate: aluminium salt of sulphated sucrose; forms viscous paste -> adheres to ulcers via ionic binding -> acts as a barrier to the diffusion of acid, pepsin and bile salts
Tazocin
Tazocin = piperacillin-tazobactam; broad spectrum penicillin + beta-lactamase
Thoracic Epidural Analgesia for Chest Trauma
Rib fractures are associated with significant morbidity, especially in the elderly and especially if multiple fractures are present. Apart from being humane, optimal analgesia may help prevent respiratory deterioration
Adjunctive Respiratory Therapies
OVERVIEW SUMMARY Mucociliary Clearance Optimization Lung Expansion Optimization Ventilation and Oxygenation Optimization Advanced Therapies References and Links
Sedation in ICU
Sedation is the depression of a patient's awareness to the environment and reduction of his or her responsiveness to external stimulation
Intrinsic PEEP
Intrinsic PEEP is also known as autoPEEP or PEEPi. Intrinsic PEEP occurs when the expiratory time is shorter than the time needed to fully deflate the lungs, preventing the lung and chest wall from reaching an elastic equilibrium point
Tramadol
Tramadol: synthetic opioid of the aminocyclohexanol group; centrally acting opioid receptor agonist + more!
Snakebite envenoming
See: Journal articles
Pneumonia in Heart-Lung Transplant
pulmonary infections = most frequent complication with high mortality; requires aggressive, early, broad spectrum antimicrobial therapy; close consultation and even transport to transplant unit may be indicated
Crisis, Crewmanship and CRM
Lessons in CRM from a maritime disaster. And how they are being applied by a bunch of ED folks on Queensland's Sunshine Coast.