ACMT Toxicology Visual Pearl: Blue to the Rescue
The medication shown in the image is used to treat which type of toxic exposure? Beryllium Cadmium Cesium Iron [Image from Saalebaer via Wikimedia Commons] [+]
Victoria Soewarna, MD
Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, NC
Latest posts by Victoria Soewarna, MD (see [+]
SAEM Clinical Images Series: Painful Red Eye
The patient is a 60-year-old male with a history of insulin-dependent diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia who presents to the Emergency Department after one day of sudden onset right eye pain associated with nausea and vomiting. He notes progressively blurring vision and vision loss in his right eye since the onset of the pain. His wife noted redness of his sclera and urged him to go the emergency department. He can now only sense light and shadows with his right eye. He denies traumatic injury or any history of serious ophthalmological pathology. [+]
Trick of Trade: Using Sterile Lubricating Gel to Manage Bloody Scalp Lacerations | A Simple Gel, a Big Fix
One of the classic scenarios encountered in the emergency department involves an elderly patient with medium to long hair who sustains a scalp laceration after a ground-level fall. They often arrive hemodynamically stable and without bony crepitus, yet the wound itself is challenging to evaluate. During transport, clotted blood frequently becomes entangled in their hair, forming a dense mat that obscures the laceration. The care team—technicians, nurses, residents, and physicians alike—may spend several minutes painstakingly separating hair and pressing on a tender scalp in an effort to expose the wound. This process is uncomfortable for the patient, time-consuming for [+]
SAEM Clinical Images Series: Perioral Facial Swelling
The patient is a 40-year-old male with no significant past medical history who presents to the Emergency Department with perioral rash and swelling. He had been in his normal state of health the day before and woke up in the morning with an itchy rash around his mouth. He denies lip, tongue, or intraoral swelling, throat itching or sensation of throat swelling, trouble swallowing, or swelling or itching of any other part of his face. The rash has not changed locations nor has it spread beyond the perioral area. He noted [+]
ALiEM AIR Series | Endocrine Module (2025)
Welcome to the AIR ENDOCRINE Module! After carefully reviewing all relevant posts in the past 12 months from the top 50 sites of the Digital Impact Factor [1], the ALiEM AIR Team is proud to present the highest quality online content related to endocrine emergencies in the Emergency Department. 11 blog posts met our standard of online excellence and were approved for residency training by the AIR Series Board. More specifically, we identified 6 AIR and 5 Honorable Mentions. We recommend programs give 5.5 hours of III credit for this module. AIR Stamp of Approval and Honorable Mentions In an [+]
SAEM Clinical Images Series: Green Foot
The patient is a 59-year-old male with a history of prior DVT, atrial fibrillation, HTN, alcohol use and COPD who presents to the Emergency Department with chest pain, dyspnea, and left lower extremity swelling and pain. He had a prior hospital admission two weeks ago for leg swelling and cellulitis. He was previously prescribed oral gentamicin and topical mupirocin for concerns of foot infection, which he has been compliant with taking. He has been working long hours as a construction worker, but knows of no chemical exposure to his feet and [+]
ACMT Toxicology Visual Pearl – Master of Deceit
What venomous marine animal is pictured? Fire coral Lionfish Sea urchin Stonefish [Image from Rapheal Duprat via Wikimedia] [+]
Andrew Scott, MD
Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center
Latest posts by Andrew Scott, MD (see all)
SAEM Clinical Images Series: Connect the Dots
The patient is a 39-year-old female with past medical history of polysubstance use disorder and seizures who presents to the Emergency Department complaining of bilateral leg pain, primarily in her joints. She states that she was seen by her PCP today and was given a shot of Toradol, but she reports that her pain has continued to worsen to the point that she has difficulty ambulating. She states that two days ago she developed pruritic blisters on her feet and her feet began to swell. She reports the blisters have worsened [+]
SAEM Clinical Images Series: A Grain of Sand… or Something More Sinister?
A 54-year-old male with a history of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus presented with one day of atraumatic left eye pain. He reports pain with blinking and a sandy foreign body sensation. Patient denies new discharge from the eye, though endorses increased tearing. He reports no recent trauma to the face or chemical exposures. He has had no recent rashes or sick contacts and no associated infectious symptoms. Patient does not wear contact lenses. Vitals: BP 159/98, HR 73, Temp [+]
ACMT Toxicology Visual Pearl: Sleeping with the Fishes
What recreationally used substance has been dispensed in this fish-shaped dropper? Amyl nitrite Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) Heroin Ketamine [Author’s own image] [+]
