Medical Music Mondays: Numb the Edge
Don't forget to use lidocaine when performing painful procedure sin children - even if the child is going to be sedated. Also nu-metal wasn't that bad... was it?
Don't forget to use lidocaine when performing painful procedure sin children - even if the child is going to be sedated. Also nu-metal wasn't that bad... was it?
There are several things you can do to increase your likelihood of success when performing a lumbar puncture in children. Local anesthesia! Early stylet removal! Needle bevel to the hips!
MRSA is the main cause of cutaneous abscesses. You treat them with incision and drainage. remember the lidocaine field block, and break up those locations with a hemostat. Packing isn't necessary for most abscesses.
Ketamine is an amazing drug for procedural sedation in the Emergency Department. Kids also look wild when they're on it - some people call that look the "K-Hole." Imagine a creepy industrial metal song about that... go ahead... I'll wait.
Intranasal dexmedetomidine is a versatile and safe sedative, offering “cooperative” sedation ideal for non-painful procedures. Its effects start within 7 to 15 minutes and last up to 30 minutes. Minimal side effects make it preferable to benzodiazepines. Doses of 1-2 mcg/kg are effective for minimal sedation, especially in imaging and minor laceration repairs.
Dog bites are unfortunately common in the Emergency Department. Remembering which ones to suture for cosmetic concerns while assuring we reduce the risk of infections is important. Also, most should get antibiotics. Which one? Dogmentin! (It's a portmanteau of Dog and Augmentin)...
If you are a pediatric resident in a large hospital you may end of replacing more dislodged G-tubes than performing lumbar punctures. Seriously. Learn about the procedure in this post.
Is there any evidence to suggest that J-Tip can replace or supplement injected lidocaine for local anesthesia during infant LP? Read on!
Peritonsillar Abscesses are the most common deep neck infection in adolescents and young adults. You will see them in grade schoolers as well. Learn about the diagnosis and management, including making the choice between needle aspiration versus wielding a scalpel for incision and drainage.
Tongue lacerations are surprisingly common in the Emergency Department. Fortunately most of them don't require any specific interventions. You just let them go and they heal on their own. Really. But if you do have to repair I offer advice in this brief podcast episode.