About Matthew DeLaney, MD

Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine
Assistant Medical Director
University of Alabama at Birmingham

Lumbar Puncture on an Anticoagulated Patient in the Emergency Department: Is it safe?

The lumbar puncture (LP) procedure is commonly performed in the Emergency Department (ED). While minor complications of LP such as post-procedure headache or back pain occur somewhat regularly, significant complications such as post-procedural spinal hematomas, are rare.¹ Despite their low incidence, these spinal hematomas are associated with a significant amount of morbidity for the patient and increased medicolegal risk for the provider.

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By Matthew DeLaney, MD|2016-11-11T19:47:00-08:00Jun 27, 2016|Heme-Oncology, Medicolegal, Neurology|

EREM: Pitfalls and Perils of Emergency Department Discharge Instructions

In the emergency department (ED), failure to comply with discharge instructions has been associated with an increased rate of adverse outcomes for patients. ^1,2 There is tremendous variability in the information that is provided to patients in discharge paperwork. In some EDs, a simple handwritten discharge note is given to the patient, while in others, extensive, diagnosis specific pre-created instructions are provided to patients at time of discharge. To improve patient outcomes and reduce their medicolegal risk, providers must recognize pitfalls associated with discharge instructions and include two key elements as a part of all discharge paperwork.

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By Matthew DeLaney, MD|2016-11-11T19:37:15-08:00Jul 6, 2015|Expert Peer Reviewed (Clinical), Medicolegal|

Four reasons not to order a Rapid Flu test

Every year emergency departments are inundated with cases of influenza-like illness. Rapid flu testing (RFT) offers the promise of a quick and relatively noninvasive rapid diagnostic test. However, the use of this test has significant limitations that can lead to increased risk for both the patient and the provider.

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By Matthew DeLaney, MD|2018-01-30T02:48:07-08:00Apr 27, 2015|Expert Peer Reviewed (Clinical), Infectious Disease|

4 Pitfalls of Bedside Ultrasonography During First Trimester Pregnancy

One of the more common indications for the use of bedside ultrasound (US) is to evaluate patients who present to the emergency department (ED) with pain or bleeding during the first trimester of pregnancy. When performing this study, providers should be aware of several potential pitfalls that pose significant risk to both the patient and the provider.

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By Matthew DeLaney, MD|2019-02-19T18:51:28-08:00Apr 13, 2015|Expert Peer Reviewed (Clinical), Ob/Gyn, Ultrasound|

High risk back pain: Spinal Epidural Abscess

Spinal epidural abscess (SEA) is a rare but potentially catastrophic cause of back pain. Classically these patients are described as having back pain, fever, and clear neurologic deficits. In reality, patients often present with less obvious symptoms which often leads to a delay in diagnosis. Missed cases of SEA are a source of significant risk to both the patient and the provider. To improve outcomes and minimize risk, providers must identify and promptly evaluate patients who are at increased risk of developing a SEA.

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By Matthew DeLaney, MD|2016-11-12T09:28:24-08:00Sep 25, 2014|Infectious Disease, Orthopedic|

High risk back pain: Cauda Equina Syndrome (EREM)

Cauda equina syndrome (CES), which occurs due to compression of the distal lumbar and sacral nerve roots, is a potentially devastating cause of back pain. CES is often missed on the patient’s initial visit which can lead to significant neurologic compromise in a matter of hours [1]. To improve patient outcomes and minimize medicolegal risk, providers need to understand the limitations of the history and physical and carefully consider the diagnosis of CES in any patient with back pain.

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By Matthew DeLaney, MD|2016-12-20T11:19:57-08:00Jun 9, 2014|Medicolegal, Orthopedic|

Beware of fluoroquinolones: You, your patient, and the FDA

Fluoroquinolones are a widely used class of antibiotic that are effective in treating a wide variety of infections. Despite their popularity there is increasing concern regarding to the potential complications associated with these agents. In 2008, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a black box warning involving fluoroquinolone use and an increased risk of tendon rupture. More recently in 2013 the FDA released another warning regarding the risk of peripheral neuropathy and required additional warnings to be added to the drug labels [1].

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By Matthew DeLaney, MD|2017-03-05T14:18:39-08:00Apr 7, 2014|Medicolegal, Tox & Medications|

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