Approach to Trauma

Part 1: We discuss the primary survey and approach to airway

Managing the obstructed airway:

Part 2: We discuss the approach to breathing assessment in trauma

Needle thoracostomy for tension pneumothorax:

Managing the open pneumothorax

Part 3: We discuss circulation, disability and exposure in trauma

Delivering a painful stimulus

How to log roll

Part 4: We discuss the secondary survey in trauma

Part 5: We discuss the Canadian CT head rule and the Canadian c-spine rule in trauma

Trauma – Flipped Classroom Summary

The Agitated Patient

Worked example:

Part 1 – Causes of acute agitation in the Emergency Department

Part 2 – Approach and workup of the agitated patient in the Emergency Department

Written summary (by Anali Maneshi)

The agitated patient written summary

Meningitis

Worked example in the Emergency Department

Part 1 – Pathophysiology and Presentations

Part 2 – Treatment and investigations

 

Other resources:

Discussion from EMPEM.org (with photo of petechiael rash in meningococcemia)

How to interpret CSF results from Life in the Fast Lane blog

Anatomy of lumbar puncture by Raeburn Forbes on YouTube

Lumbar puncture by theedexitvideo on YouTube

Congestive Heart Failure

Worked Example:

Part 1- Pathophysiology and presentation

Part 2 – Investigations and Treatment

Other resources:

CXR findings on Radiopedia: Vascular redistribution, Kerley B lines, alveolar edema

 

Approach to Shortness of Breath

A brief approach to shortness of breath:

For more details, please see post for each clinical topic:

Allergic reaction/Anaphylaxis

Pneumonia

Pneumothorax

ACS

Pulmonary Embolus

Asthma

COPD

Respiratory Distress – Flipped Classroom Summary

Acute Coronary Syndrome

Part 1: Presentations of ACS

Part 2: ECG changes in ACS

(Note: This is not a comprehensive approach to ECG.  For ECG approach, please see ECG approach on the skills page)

Part 3: Non-ECG modalities for diagnosis

Part 4: Treatment for ACS

 

Other resources:

Reading the ST segment on ECG on Life in the Fast Lane blog (includes discussion on non-ischemic causes of ST elevation/depression)

Ultrasound images for Pericardial effusion on Life in the Fast Lane blog

Pulmonary Embolus

Worked example

Part 1 – We discuss the causes and presentations of PE.

Part 2 – We discuss the available diagnostic tests for PE.

Part 3 – We discuss how to put it together for diagnosis

 

Other resources:

ECG changes in PE on Life in the Fast Lane blog

PE case on Radiopaedia.org

CXR signs on Radiopaedia.org

Well’s criteria for PE on MD Calc

Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index score on MD Calc

How to present in the Emergency Department

The way we like learners to present can be very different from other specialities.  This post is meant for learners new to the Emergency Department.

Part 1: How Emerg Docs think

Part 2: The EM Presentation

 

Other resources:

Pocket card with common presenting complaints (courtesy of Dr. Adam Jones-Delcorde): Rules Outs 3.1

Discussion at Academic Life in Emergency Medicine blog

Discussion at Life in the Fast Lane

Supplement to The 3-minute emergency medicine medical student presentation: variation on a theme by Davenport C, Honigman B and Druck J: ACEM_145_sm_DataSupplementS1

Pneumonia

Worked example:

Part 1 – Classification, signs and symptoms

Part 2 – Diagnosis and Management

 

Other resources

Pneumonia severity index by MD Calc

CURB 65 score by MD Calc

PV cards for risk stratification tools at Academic Life in Emergency Medicine

Pediatric pneumonia management at Pediatric EM Morsels

Pediatric pneumonia management at Life in the Fast Lane

How to read a chest x-ray by Learning Radiology

RML pneumonia case via Radiopaedia.org

RUL pneumonia case via Radiopaedia.org

Approach to Abdo pain

Part 1 – Using history elements

Part 2 – Using physical exam to approach abdo pain

Part 3 – Using lab tests and imaging tests to approach abdo pain

Part 4 – Putting it together

Notes from abdo pain videos (PDF)

Other resources:

Abdo pain in the elderly from the Academic Life in Emergency Medicine blog

Cases for classroom exercises