AIR-Pro: Toxicology (Part 1)

Welcome to the Toxicology (Part 1) AIR-Pro Module. Below we have listed our selection of the 10 highest quality blog posts related to 5 advanced level questions on toxicology topics posed, curated, and approved for residency training by the AIR-Pro Series Board. The blogs relate to the following questions:

Flumazenil in benzodiazepine overdose
Acetaminophen – drawing and timing of levels
Opioid overdoses
Acetaminophen toxicity related to liver transplant
Salicylates and hemodialysis

In this module, we have 6 AIR-Pro’s and 4 Honorable Mentions. To strive for comprehensiveness, we selected from a broad spectrum of blogs identified through FOAMSearch.net and FOAMSearcher.We have a brand new chief resident team and want to thank the out-going team for all of their support!

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By Fareen Zaver, MD|2017-01-20T12:32:53-08:00Sep 26, 2016|Approved Instructional Resources PRO (AIR-Pro Series), Tox & Medications|

Ultrasound for the Win! Emergency Medicine Cases: Volume 1 Book

The Ultrasound for the Win! book, available now on Amazon and coming soon to the Apple iBooks Store, is a compilation of real ultrasound cases that have been featured on the blog’s Ultrasound for the Win! Series.

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By Jeffrey Shih, MD, RDMS|2017-07-19T00:06:32-07:00Sep 23, 2016|Medical Education, Ultrasound, Ultrasound for the Win|

PEM Pearls: Perfecting your pediatric lumbar puncture using ultrasound

A lumbar puncture (LP) is a common procedure that every emergency physician must master. Pediatric LPs can be challenging for even the most experienced clinician due to small anatomy, difficulty with patient cooperation, and lack of frequency performed. A successful procedure is defined by obtaining cerebrospinal fluid and/or performing a non-traumatic lumbar puncture. There are multiple variables that lead to a successful pediatric lumbar puncture including provider experience, use of anesthesia, and patient positioning. Success rates for pediatric lumbar punctures are variable, with a large range from 34%-75%.¹

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By Ashley Foster, MD|2026-06-16T16:10:12-07:00Sep 21, 2016|CME, Pediatrics, PEM Pearls, Ultrasound|

AIR Series: Procedures Module (2016)

Welcome to the Procedures Module! After carefully reviewing all relevant posts from the top 50 sites of the Social Media Index the ALiEM AIR Team is proud to present the highest quality procedure content. Below we have listed our selection of the 13 highest quality blog posts within the past 12 months (as of June 2016) related to procedure emergencies, curated and approved for residency training by the AIR Series Board. More specifically in this module, we identified 3 AIRs and 10 Honorable Mentions. We recommend programs give 4 hours (about 20 minutes per article) of III credit for this module.

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By Andrew Grock, MD|2017-03-05T14:18:45-08:00Sep 12, 2016|Approved Instructional Resources (AIR series), Critical Care/ Resus|

Trick of the Trade: Simple finger traps using gauze roll

Closed reduction of fractures or dislocations in the hand and wrist can be difficulty to achieve. Gravity can serve as an assistant. Commercial finger traps are available, but can sometimes be hard to find in the Emergency Department. An earlier trick of the trade describes the use of a gauze role to build your own finger trap setup. The following describes a simpler way to build finger traps using a gauze roll.

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By Juan Carlos Montoy, MD PhD|2016-10-26T17:04:16-07:00Sep 1, 2016|Orthopedic, Tricks of the Trade|

‘Treat and Release’ after Naloxone – What is the Risk of Death?

Often in the prehospital setting, naloxone is administered by EMS (or possibly a bystander) to reverse respiratory and CNS depression from presumed opioid overdose. The patient then wakes up, and not uncommonly, refuses transport to the hospital. The question is: Is it safe to ‘treat and release?’ Or, rather, what is the risk of death associated with this practice.

Last updated: January 2, 2019

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By Bryan D. Hayes, PharmD, DABAT, FAACT, FASHP|2020-04-20T19:47:14-07:00Aug 24, 2016|Podcasts, Tox & Medications|

Trick of the Trade: Paraphimosis – Pour Some Sugar On Me

Paraphimosis occurs when a retracted foreskin can’t be reduced back over the glans of the penis. Risk factors for paraphimosis include scarring, vigorous sexual activity, chronic balanoposthitis, and forgetting to replace the foreskin after catheterization or manipulation.

Paraphimosis can be a urological emergency as the tight ring formed by the foreskin can cause ischemia to the tip of the penis and eventually gangrene. Timely reduction is of high importance. Treatment involves gentle compression of the glans and gradual manual foreskin retraction.¹ Unfortunately, as time goes on, more swelling occurs making traditional reduction techniques more difficult.

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By Jonathan Fu, MD|2018-01-30T02:45:23-08:00Aug 22, 2016|Genitourinary, Tricks of the Trade|