Resident Journal Review: Low Risk Chest Pain

Originally Published: Common Sense, Winter 2011

Original Authors: Susan Cheng, MD MPH; Jonathan Yeo, MD; Eli Brown, MD; Allison Regan, MD

Edited by Michael C. Bond, MD FAAEM; and Alena Lira, MD

This Resident Journal Review focuses on a common problem faced in the adult emergency department (ED) – the “low risk” chest pain patient. How do you efficiently evaluate chest pain and plan a safe disposition? What are the latest guidelines, methods of risk stratification, diagnostic aids and strategies for laboratory testing and imaging? Finally, what are the criteria for further cardiac testing?

Spotlight on Leaders in Emergency Medicine: Larry Weiss, MD JD FAAEM

Originally Published: Common Sense, Winter 2011
Original Author: Leana S. Wen, MD MSc

Larry Weiss, MD JD FAAEM

Past President of AAEM and professor of emergency medicine at the University of Maryland
 
This is a new column in Common Sense where Dr. Leana S. Wen, AAEM/RSA secretary-treasurer, interviews leaders in emergency medicine about their experiences, perspectives and insights. The second installment is a conversation with Dr. Larry Weiss, immediate past president of AAEM and professor of emergency medicine at the University of Maryland.

Resident Journal Review: Post Resuscitation Care

Originally Published: Common Sense, Fall 2011

Original Authors: Daniel Boutsikaris, MD; Michael Scott, MD; Samantha Wood, MD; David Wacker, MD; Ali Farzad, MD; Michael Allison, MD

Edited by Chris Doty, MD FAAEM; and Michael C. Bond, MD FAAEM

This edition of Resident Journal Review starts with a brief review of the current guidelines regarding therapeutic strategies and care of the post cardiac arrest patient.

From there, the article reviews several recently published studies relating to this topic. The intent of this format is to provide the reader with both the most current guidelines, as outlined by the American Heart Association (AHA), in addition to a literature update since their publication.

Spotlight on Leaders in Emergency Medicine: Robert McNamara, MD FAAEM

Originally Published: Common Sense, Fall 2011
Original Author: Leana S. Wen, MD MSc

Robert McNamara, MD FAAEM

Former President of AAEM and current professor and chair at Temple University

 
This is a new column in Common Sense where Leana S. Wen, AAEM/RSA secretary/treasurer, interviews leaders in emergency medicine about their experiences, perspectives and insights. The inaugural conversation is with Robert McNamara, MD, former president of AAEM and current professor and chair at Temple University.

How to maximize your time and get the most out your training!

Originally Published: Common Sense, Fall 2011
Original Article Author: Ali Farzad, MD

The new academic year is in full swing, and all across the nation students, residents and new attendings continue adjusting to their new roles and responsibilities. During emergency medicine (EM) training, we encounter new and exciting challenges on a daily basis and must use this important time to develop our skills and improve the care we deliver to patients. Regardless of your level of training, balancing the long hours and the demanding nature of our job with the time needed for personal wellness can be difficult. We have all become accustomed to working hard, but to avoid neglecting ourselves and our personal lives, we need to also work smart.

Cardiology Pearl: Wellens' Syndrome

Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Click to Enlarge

Originally Published: Modern Resident, Aug/Sep 2011

Original Author: Alan Sielaff, MS IV Loyola University Chicago, Stritch School of Medicine

Submitted by: Rachel Engle, DO Communications Committee Co-Chair
 
A 63 year old female with a history of hepatitis C and diabetes mellitus presents to the emergency department after experiencing acute substernal chest pain, SOB and emesis during a routine visit to her PCP earlier this afternoon. All symptoms spontaneously resolved shortly prior to her arrival in the ED. She has no other complaints and a normal physical exam. Her EKG is shown above.

The EM Resident as Teacher

Originally Published: Common Sense, Spring 2011
Original Author: Leana Wen, MD MSc

It’s the start of your shift, and every bay is full. There are 37 patients in the waiting area. A bright-eyed third year medical student runs up to you and tells you that he has a new patient. “He’s a 40-year old with lung cancer with a chief complaint of fever and chills. He says he has a cough and hasn’t been eating well at

Board Review: The Use of CT in Children with Head Trauma

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Originally Published: Modern Resident, Feb/Mar 2011

Original Author: Michael Holman, MSIII
Georgetown University School of Medicine

Submitted by: Rachel Engle, DO, Communications Committee Chair  

Every year, more than 650,000 children are seen in emergency departments across North America for mild head injuries, about half of which will receive CT scans. In fact, in the last decade, the pediatric population saw the largest increase in use of diagnostic CT. It has been estimated that the attributable lifetime risk of death from cancer ranges from 0.065% per head CT in neonates to 0.005% per scan in teens.

Clinical Pearl: Managing Hypoglycemia in Acute Renal Failure

Originally Published: Modern Resident, Dec/Jan 2011

Original Author: Cameron McLaughlin, OMS IV Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine

Submitted by: Rachel Engle, DO, COmmunication Committee Chair

Recently, I saw a patient in the ED who was hyperkalemic and hypoglycemic. The patient was in acute renal failure secondary