AIR Series: Trauma Module (2017)

Welcome to the Trauma 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 21 highest quality blog posts within the past 12 months (as of September 2016) related to Trauma emergencies, curated and approved for residency training by the AIR Series Board. More specifically in this module, we identified 5 AIRs and 16 Honorable Mentions. We recommend programs give 7 hours (about 20 minutes per article) of III credit for this module.

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By Andrew Grock, MD|2020-09-04T10:59:22-07:00Mar 13, 2017|Approved Instructional Resources (AIR series), Trauma|

PV Card: Laceration Repair and Sutures – A cheat sheet guide

Laceration repair and suturing are foundational skills for the Emergency Department. This pocket card serves as a quick reference guide for clinicians, and provides a much-needed update and design upgrade from the 2011 PV card on Sutures. This card covers suture/staple removal times, suture sizes, suture material characteristics, special laceration considerations, and suture techniques.

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By Hyunjoo Lee, MD|2021-10-02T18:58:50-07:00Mar 6, 2017|ALiEM Cards, Orthopedic, Trauma|

PEM Pearls: Pediatric Sepsis Management – Understanding the Basics

Just as in adults, pediatric sepsis is a complex topic with continued research. In the United States, there are an estimated 75,000 cases per year of pediatric severe sepsis with an in-hospital mortality of 5-10%.^1,2 This is one of the deadliest conditions treated in children. In addition, after the Rory Staunton case, New York State passed regulations requiring all hospitals to have pediatric specific recognition, treatment, and data reporting systems. Several other states have adopted, or are considering, similar requirements. Thus it is critical that emergency physicians understand at least the basics of pediatric sepsis management.

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By Jason M. Woods, MD|2026-06-16T16:11:05-07:00Mar 1, 2017|Infectious Disease, Pediatrics, PEM Pearls|

Epistaxis Management in the Emergency Department: A Helpful Mnemonic

Epistaxis is a common presentation to the emergency department (ED)¹ that can be challenging and time consuming. Knowledge of the pearls, pitfalls, and troubleshooting tips around managing nosebleeds often can be the difference between a frustrating versus straightforward ED stay for patients. Use the EPISTAXIS mnemonic to help you remember these points.

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By Moises Gallegos, MD MPH MEHP|2021-03-02T13:49:57-08:00Feb 15, 2017|ENT|

Trick of the Trade: Rapid Insertion of Orogastric Tube

We have all been in the situation: an intubated patient needs an orogastric (OG) tube and no one has been able to place it successfully. Unfortunately, we typically find out about this situation after several failed attempts, when the patient is bleeding and/or the anatomy is distorted. It may coil in the mouth or esophagus. Here I present a novel technique to rapidly place an OG tube within seconds.
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By Paul Willette, DO, FACEP|2021-05-13T09:44:20-07:00Feb 13, 2017|Critical Care/ Resus, Tricks of the Trade|

Ultrasound For The Win! – 46M with Diffuse Abdominal Pain #US4TW

Welcome to another ultrasound-based case, part of the “Ultrasound For The Win!” (#US4TW) Case Series. In this case series, we focus on a real clinical case where point-of-care ultrasound changed the management of a patient’s care or aided in the diagnosis. In this case, a 46-year-old man with a history of alcohol abuse presents with diffuse abdominal pain.
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By Jeffrey Shih, MD, RDMS|2017-07-19T00:06:16-07:00Feb 8, 2017|Gastrointestinal, Ultrasound, Ultrasound for the Win|

PEM Pearls: Calming techniques while repairing a laceration

Most children who come into the Emergency Department present with pain or experience pain during their ED stay.¹,²,³ Pain and distress during a procedure can leave a lasting impact on a child and contribute to mistrust of the medical system and compliance with future procedures.¹ ,⁴,⁵ Children who use active forms of coping report less pain and distress during a procedure.³ To help with coping, when feasible, involve parents or family, nursing and a child life specialist. If the parents are willing, try to get them involved in all parts of the medical procedure.²,³ This includes positioning the patient with a parent in a secure parental-hugging hold or maintaining close physical contact throughout the procedure.⁶ This can easily replace immobilization of a child or the use of restraints which can cause increased fear and escalate the degree of anxiety in a child.²

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By Ashley Foster, MD|2019-02-19T18:54:16-08:00Feb 7, 2017|Pediatrics, PEM Pearls, Trauma, Tricks of the Trade|