Post-Traumatic Seizures
Post-Traumatic Seizures (PTS) occur in ~ 15% of patients with blunt severe TBI; higher risk in children; most occur within 48 hours
Ketamine RSI for head injury
Traditionally ketamine was contra-indicated for use in rapid sequence intubation of the head injured patient. This view has since been debunked. Recent evidence suggests that ketamine may actually be useful in this setting
Base of Skull Fracture
Base of Skull Fracture: fracture involving the floor of the cranial vault
Pacing Modes
Pacing Modes – Advantages and Disadvantages
Groin lump DDx
Groin lumps can be categorised as occurring above or below the inguinal ligament. Differential diagnosis
Hepatosplenomegaly
Hepatosplenomegaly is enlargement of both the spleen and the liver. Differential diagnosis
Hepatomegaly
Hepatomegaly is abnormal enlargement of the liver. See also hepatosplenomegaly. Differential diagnosis
Electromagnetic Interference
electromagnetic interference can affect the function of implanted electronic devices such as pacemakers and ICDs
Abdominal mass DDx
We consider the causes of palpable or otherwise detectable mass lesions in the various regions of the abdomen.
Fever, Friend or Foe?
Paul Young's SMACC talk on 'Fever, friend or Foe?' got some of the most positive feedback ever seen on a speaker's report card. This is his post on the subject of fever in the critically ill, along with the audio and the slides from SMACC.
Temporary Pacemaker Troubleshooting
Temporary Pacemaker Troubleshooting. Problems with pacing: output failure, failure to capture. Problems with sensing: oversensing, undersensing and Pacemaker syndromes
Antibiotic Timing
The mantra for timing of antibiotics for serious infections is 'hit hard, early and appropriately'. Despite the strong biological plausibility of a need for early antibiotics in patients with serious bacterial infections the importance of antibiotic timing is controversial