PV Card: Testicular Ultrasound for Torsion and Epididymitis

“Time is testicle.” Every minute drags by while you are awaiting your ultrasonographer to arrive to scan your patient to rule out testicular torsion. Why not take a quick look yourself? What are you looking for? This is an excellent PV card by Drs. Matthew Dawson and Mike Stone on the topic of testicular ultrasound, giving the basics about testicular torsion and acute epididymitis.

PV Card: Testicular Ultrasound

Adapted from [1, 2]
Go to ALiEM (PV) Cards for more resources.

References

Blaivas M, Sierzenski P. Emergency ultrasonography in the evaluation of the acute scrotum. Acad Emerg Med. 2001;8(1):85-89. [PubMed]
Blaivas M, Sierzenski P, Lambert M. Emergency evaluation of patients presenting with acute scrotum using bedside ultrasonography. Acad Emerg Med. 2001;8(1):90-93. [PubMed]

By Scott Kobner|2021-10-06T09:59:45-07:00Jan 22, 2015|ALiEM Cards, Genitourinary|

Must-Know EM Pharmacotherapy Articles of 2014

There is so much literature to sift through each year, it becomes nearly impossible to stay abreast of it. Here is a quick summary of the 6 must-know Emergency Medicine pharmacotherapy articles from 2014, in my humble opinion.

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By Bryan D. Hayes, PharmD, DABAT, FAACT, FASHP|2016-11-11T19:35:59-08:00Jan 20, 2015|Tox & Medications|

ALiEM Bookclub: Brain on Fire – My Month of Madness

“Looking back at this time, I see that I’d begun to surrender to the disease, allowing all the aspects of my personality that I value – patience, kindness, and courteousness – to evaporate. I was a slave to the machinations of my aberrant brain. We are, in the end, a sum of our parts, and when the body fails, all the virtues we hold dear go with it.” – Brain on Fire, Susannah Cahalan

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By Aimee Tang, MD|2016-12-20T12:27:28-08:00Jan 16, 2015|Book Club, Medical Education, Neurology|

Trick of the Trade: Knee Arthrocentesis

A patient comes into the ED and you suspect septic arthritis to the knee. As you consent the patient for arthrocentesis, you can tell s/he has reservations about a needle being inserted into their knee and left in place while you aspirate. You also think in the back of your mind how tricky it is to sometimes change syringes while keeping the needle in the correct location. Is there another way of tapping the knee without a needle?

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By Fred Wu, MHS, PA-C|2019-02-19T18:42:04-08:00Jan 8, 2015|Expert Peer Reviewed (Clinical), Orthopedic, Pre Publication Critique (Clinical), Tricks of the Trade|

PV Card: Skin and Soft Tissue Ultrasound

We know that ultrasonography can be used to identify soft tissue infections. But what exactly are the distinguishing features between cellulitis and abscess? Is that a foreign body? Should I put a scalpel to this soft tissue infection? This PV card, written by Drs. Alissa Genthon, Patricia Henwood, and Mike Stone, serves as a great reference card for you at the bedside.

PV Card: Skin and Soft Tissue Ultrasound

Go to ALiEM (PV) Cards for more resources.

By Scott Kobner|2021-10-06T10:01:10-07:00Jan 7, 2015|ALiEM Cards, Dermatology, Infectious Disease, Ultrasound|

Diagnose on Sight: Chronic Unilateral Lower Extremity Swelling

Case: A 55 year old female visiting the United States from southern Mexico presents with 6 months of chronic unilateral lower extremity swelling and 2 days of erythema. What is the most common cause of this chronic disease? Click on image for a larger view.

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By Jeff Riddell, MD|2026-06-16T16:06:19-07:00Jan 5, 2015|Diagnose on Sight, Infectious Disease|

PV Card: Focused Biliary Assessment Ultrasound

Have trouble finding the common bile duct? What’s the normal thickness of the gallbladder wall? What are common pitfalls in imaging the gallbladder? This is a great Paucis Verbis (PV)/ALiEM card on focused biliary assessment using ultrasound, courtesy of Drs. John Eicken and Mike Stone.

PV Card: Focused Biliary Assessment Ultrasound

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Adapted from [1, 2]
Go to ALiEM (PV) Cards for more resources.

References

Blaivas M, Harwood R, Lambert M. Decreasing length of stay with emergency ultrasound examination of the gallbladder. Acad Emerg Med. 1999;6(10):1020-1023. [PubMed
Summers S, Scruggs W, Menchine M, et al. A prospective evaluation of emergency department bedside ultrasonography for the detection of acute cholecystitis. Ann Emerg Med. 2010;56(2):114-122. [PubMed]

By Scott Kobner|2021-10-06T10:04:43-07:00Jan 1, 2015|ALiEM Cards, Gastrointestinal|