Pulsus Paradoxus
Pulsus paradoxus is defined as an inspiratory drop in blood pressure of 10mmHg or more during normal breathing.
Murmurs DDx
Heart murmurs are abnormal heart sounds believed to be caused by turbulent flow across heart valves or vascular abnormalities.
When assessing a murmur, determine 6 characteristics: position at which it is loudest, grade, timing, duration, presence of a thrill, radiation and changes during respiration or with dynamic manoeuvers
Co-oximeter
Co-oximeter: a device that uses spectrophotometry to measure relative blood concentrations of oxyhemoglobin, carboxyhemoglobin, methemoglobin, and reduced haemoglobin
High-flow nasal cannula
High-flow nasal cannula aka heated humidified HFNC or high floe nasal prongs used in cases of hypoxic respiratory failure
The perfect human pathogen?
With winter comes norovirus. This Q&A post tests your knowledge of what may be the perfect human pathogen.
Fever in a spinal patient
A woman had a spinal injury from a car crash at 2 years of age; she since had spinal surgery and has a baclofen pump. Now she has a fever - what's the cause?
Escaping bugs
A 13-year old female with pyelonephritis is being treated with ceftriaxone. Enterobacter cloacae is cultured. Got a problem with that?
Sick, Shocked and Sunburned?
A 15 year-old female with fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, whole body 'sunburn' and hypotension. It's over to you...
CAP Challenge!
Australia CAP - 'Microbial Mystery' of case-based Q&As focusing on causative organisms and antibiotic selection.
Fulminant pneumococcal pneumonia
A 27 year old female with metastatic ovarian cancer for whom treatment options have been exhausted arrives in the ED in extremis.
Gram Negative Diplococci
21 year-old presenting to the emergency department with fevers and agitation. His lumbar puncture confirms Gram Negative Diplococci
Gastric Residual Volume
Gastric residual volume is the amount aspirated from the stomach following administration of enteral feed. An aspirated amount of ≤ 500ml 6 hourly is safe and indicates that the GIT is functioning