Ultrasound Case 019
A previously well young male sustained an isolated severe brain injury. Shortly after arrival in the ED he becomes intermittently hypoxic and hypotensive. Confused, you look at his heart.
Does paper tape prevent blisters?
Feet get blisters, and the longer distances you move, the more likely they are to get them. While nuisances by themselves, blisters can lead to more concerning conditions such as cellulitis. Then they become a real problem, especially if you’re…
Ultrasound Case 016
A 50 year old male has an out of hospital cardiac arrest. ROSC is achieved rapidly on scene and he is brought in by ambulance hypotensive, agitated and confused. You perform an abbreviated echo in ED to direct further investigations and management.
Ultrasound Case 015
Elderly patient with a history of heart failure presents with sepsis and hypotension following 2 days of diarrhoea. You look at their IVC. If it is flat you will give some more fluid. If not you will need to think harder!
Ashman Phenomenon
Ashman phenomenon (1947) aberrant ventricular conduction, usually of RBBB morphology, which follows a short RR interval and preceeded by a relatively prolonged RR interval.
Deep breathing to prevent acute mountain sickness
Mountain sickness can effect even the fittest among us. It is so prevalent that there are myriads of studies showing the lowest effective dose of acetazolamide, as it has unwelcome side effects. While other studies have shown that ibuprofen is effective…
Wear the helmet anyway
Helmets continue to be recommended or required by multiple ski resorts worldwide. The main thinking is that prevention of traumatic causes of death will directly reduce mortality from avalanches and other alpine trauma. That being said, the authors of this…
Speaking Up
'Speaking up' refers to a person in a non-dominant or non-leader role expressing a concern or suggested course of action to another person in a dominant or leader role
Ultrasound Case 014
This 36 year old presented with an isolated blunt head injury sustained whilst on a "big night out". He required intubation and a FAST was performed to assess for any clinically undetected injury prior to RSI. This is the LUQ view. What does it show?
Ultrasound Case 013
23 year old female presents with lower and then diffuse abdominal pain with transient hypotension and bradycardia. Urine pregnancy test is positive.
Ultrasound Case 012
54 year old male presenting with collapse while moving couch. The patient is on antibiotics for recent pneumonia diagnosis. Altered mental status in the emergency department.
Do they really have to be warm and dead?
The classic teaching is that nobody is dead until they are warm and dead. But as previously discussed, knowing which patients are likely to survive (and thus warrant lifesaving efforts) is difficult to ascertain.