From the Archives: Spring Break Edition
Yes, I'm on Spring Break this week. So, no "new" content. But what if you haven't dove into the PEMBlog Archives? Check out a few of my educational series posts here.
Kidney Stones 04: Treatment
This is part 4/4 of the series on kidney stones. The focus is on treatment, including which pain medicine is best, the use of Flomax and more.
Kidney Stones 03: Imaging
This is part 3/4 of the series on kidney stones. The focus is on imaging where I discuss whether or not ultrasound or CT should be the first choice.
Kidney Stones 02: Labs
This is part 2/4 of the series on kidney stones. The focus is on labs - specifically the urinalysis which is helpful, but not diagnostic.
Kidney Stones 01: Presentation
This is part 1/4 of the series on kidney stones. The focus is on presentation, which should help you ask the right historical questions to help narrow your differential diagnosis.
Both of the substances in this diaper are normal
You'll see all sorts of things in the Emergency Department - sometimes the concern is related to the appearance of bodily fluids. You will, at one point or another, undoubtedly encounter parental concerns about the potential presence of blood in the diaper of a newborn. As you could imagine this is potentially scary. In the included image you will note [...]
Positively Painful Private Parts IV: Epididymitis
Any part of the male reproductive tract can hurt. One of the more common locations for pain in the Pediatric Emergency Department is the epididymis - or as I have referred to it on occasion, the "mullet of the testicle" From wikipedia A. Head of epididymis, B. Body of epididymis, C. Tail of epididymis, and D. Vas deferens The [...]
Positively Painful Private Parts III: Torsion of the appendix testis and appendix epididymis
Another potential cause of acute testicular pain involves vestigial structures that you may remember in the deepest recesses of you medschool brain. Appendix testis Derived from the Müllerian system They are paired embryonic structures that eventually regress in males and form the Fallopian tubes, uterus, cervix and upper third of the vagina in girls. Appendix epididymis Derived [...]
Positively Painful Private Parts II: Testicular Torsion
It should be no surprise that acute testicular torsion is a surgical emergency. The testicle twists on the spermatic cord which leads to the following sequence: Venous compression Edema of testicle and cord Arterial occlusion Ischemic testicle The risk 1/4000 for males < age 25. There is a bimodal distribution, with rates peaking in the neonatal period and again during [...]
Positively Painful Private Parts I: History and Physical
This is the beginning of a new series - the focus will be limited to the 50% of the population - but, in reading the theme I think you'll understand why we left the girls out. The first post will focus on how to do an effective H&P focused on acute testicular and scrotal pain. History First and foremost you'll want [...]
