Medical Music Mondays: Convulsive Syncope
At least 40% of the time when someone faints they have some abnormal movements. These aren't seizures! Convulsive syncope is what we call it when someone faints and jerks a bit.
Caring for Patients with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy in the Emergency Department: A Problem-Based Approach
Emergency care for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) patients involves managing respiratory failure, cardiac dysfunction, and orthopedic risks. Prioritize non-invasive ventilation, MRI for cardiac assessment, and vigilant monitoring for fat embolisms. Use Cystatin C and bilirubin for renal and liver function evaluation.
Medical Music Mondays: Turn the Heart Rate Down
Converting SVT is super fun. Vagal maneuvers are like little interactive games that make heart rates slow down and stuff. Also disco music wasn’t that bad.
A review of the utility of the ECG in Pediatric Syncope
Syncope is described as a brief loss of consciousness and postural tone caused by transient global cerebral hypoperfusion. It is followed by a complete recovery. An estimated 80% of pediatric syncope is due to autonomic (vasovagal or neurocardiogenic) syncope. Our role as providers is to [...]
Tools you should use: Subtle Anterior STEMI Calculator
This post highlights the online calculator that helps differentiate STEMI from benign early repolarization. Something we see often in healthy adolescents in the Pediatric Emergency Department.
My commotio cordis podcast episode
Commotio cordis is caused by the blunt impact of a hard object directly over the heart occurring during a specific window of ventricular repolarization leading to immediate collapse, ventricular fibrillation, and cardiac arrest. This episode focuses on risk factors and management of this rare but catastrophic injury.
PEMPix 2022 Online Case 04: Space Mountain
PEMPix is the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Emergency Medicine’s annual visual diagnosis competition. This year, in addition to the 10 finalists I will be presenting at the National Conference and Exhibition I will be sharing four cases online in advance of the conference. This is the last of the four cases. See if you can conquer all four "mountains" and guess the correct diagnosis.
A podcast episode on return to sports guidelines after a COVID-19 diagnosis
Even though we won't be "clearing" patients in the ED we still need to be familiar with return to sports recommendations for children and adolescents who have had COVID-19. Remember, these are just recommendations and are based off of practice patterns at many centers and on the AAP guideline. Consult with your local hospital and Cardiology groups for up to date information. The information in this episode is intended for any young person (21 and under) who tests positive for COVID-19 and wants to return to sports. It is structured based on the severity of initial presenting symptoms.
Briefs: Breath holding spells
Breath holding spells are common and often mistaken for seizures or more worrisome events. Learn about the basic types and clinical presentation in this post.
A GREAT EKG review from Don’t Forget the Bubbles
dontforgetthebubbles.com/ten-not-to-be-missed-paediatric-ecgs/ Do you struggle with EKGs sometimes? I'll admit it, I do. That's why the above linked post from Don't Forget the Bubbles was so incredibly helpful, and well done. Do yourself a favor and check it out.!