Trick of the Trade: Fishhook Removal Techniques
Penetrating fishhook injuries can be a common occurrence during the warm weather months. Initially, it is important to evaluate what type of fishhook was being used. How many and where are the barbs? What shape is it (treble hook, single hook)? The physical examination requires a thorough neurovascular exam and, if penetration depth is difficult to assess, radiographs should be utilized for further evaluation. What approach do you use to remove these barbed fishhooks? [+]
Top 10 ALiEM Clinical Posts in 2017
Seasons greetings from the ALiEM team. We have published so many posts this year that you may have missed a few. Did you at least catch the top 10 ALiEM clinical posts in 2017? These are the most-viewed posts in the past calendar year. From nerve blocks, to managing epistaxis, head bleeds, and providing post-ROSC care – check these out as you ring in the New Year! [+]
PEM Pearls: Pediatric Lung Ultrasound for Diagnosing Pneumonia | The Wave of the Future
The standard for diagnosing pneumonia is a combination of the clinical history, physical examination, and chest x-ray (CXR) findings. However, lung ultrasound (US) has been shown to be a reasonable alternative to CXR in children, and may be an appropriate alternative diagnostic imaging modality in the Emergency Department (ED). [+]
Jessica Zhang, MD
University of California San Francisco
60 Second Soapbox: Autoimmune Disease, Ultrasound Teaching, 3rd Nerve Palsy
It’s time for another installment of 60 Second Soapbox! Each episode, 1 lucky individual gets exactly 1 minute to present their rant-of-choice to the world. Any topic is on the table – clinical, academic, economic, or whatever else may interest an EM-centric audience. We carefully remix your audio to add an extra splash of drama and excitement. Even more exciting, participants get to challenge 3 of their peers to stand on a soapbox of their own! [+]
AIR Series: Gastrointestinal 2017
Welcome to the Gastrointestinal 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 online gastrointestinal content. 8 blog posts related to gastrointestinal emergencies within the past 12 months (as of September 2017) met our standard of online excellence and were curated and approved for residency training by the AIR Series Board. We identified 1 AIR and 7 Honorable Mentions. We recommend programs give 3 hours (about 22.5 minutes per article) of III credit for this module. [+]
ACMT Toxicology Visual Pearls: Toxic “Weed”
A patient presents to the ED after eating seeds from a plant to “get high.” What toxidrome is expected after ingesting these seeds? Antimuscarinic Cholinergic Nicotinic Opioid Sympathomimetic [+]
Director of Growth, Strategic Alliance Initiative, Center [+]
Strategies for Surviving the IV Fluid Shortage: Antibiotic IV to PO Conversions & First Dose via IV Push
Hurricane Maria ravaged Puerto Rico almost 3 months ago, destroying factories that manufacture and distribute medications and related supplies. Healthcare facilities across the nation are now experiencing a critical shortage of small-volume intravenous (IV) fluids, which impacts the supply of IV antimicrobials. With no end in sight, ED providers can protect the quality of patient care by considering 2 strategies: IV to PO conversion and first-dose antimicrobials via IV push. [+]
Chest Pain and Making the Most of Observation: ACEP-EQUAL Network Podcast
Emergency Medicine has made significant contributions to the proliferation of Observation Medicine, an attractive alternative to admission for patients with low- and moderate-risk chest pain. Selecting the right patient, identifying appropriate interventions, and documenting appropriately are just some of the challenges discussed in the latest ACEP E-QUAL Network podcast, a partnership with ALiEM to promote clinical practice improvements. We review highlights from a podcast with experts Dr. Anwar Osborne (Emory University) and Dr. Michael Granovsky (LogixHealth). [+]
SplintER Series: Splint Application Principles 102
The SplintER Series is back with its second installment! In the first post, Splint 101, we discussed the indications and relative contraindications to splinting. In this post, we focus on the materials used in splinting and some key steps in splint application. Learning Objectives List the materials that are required to place a splint. Be able to discuss some basic principles about the application of a splint. The Bottom Line A splint consists of 3 layers:1 Deep layer = padding Middle layer = splint material Outer layer = compressive dressing There are 2 types of traditional splinting material – [+]
Trick of the Trade: Topical Treatment of Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome
A 23-year-old female with no past medical history presents to the ED for the 4th time this month complaining of severe “10-out-of-10” abdominal pain, nausea, and intractable vomiting. She denies alcohol use, but reports she has smoked at least 1 marijuana “bud” daily for the last 3 years. In an attempt to relieve her symptoms, she has increased her marijuana use, however she has found that her pain is actually increasing, and the only thing that appears to help is taking a hot shower or bath. With this statement, the provider immediately considers cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS). [+]
Director of Growth, Strategic Alliance Initiative, Center for Innovation and Digital Health
Massachusetts General Hospital;
Chief Scientific Officer, Conductscience.com
Latest posts by Shuhan He, MD (see all)
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