Pediatric EM Morsels

APRIL 19, 2024

Trauma season is at hand and like all other pediatric emergency departments in the country, we find our ED breaking ( pun intended ) at the seams with orthopedic injuries. We see all different flavors of upper extremity injuries. The minority of parents would have wanted clinic follow up (6%) and reimaging (14%).

ALS 286

ALS ACS Emergency Department ED 286

REBEL EM

SEPTEMBER 21, 2023

What Your Gut Says: The patient has a tachydysrhythmia which may be the presentation of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) even though the patient has no ischemic symptoms. Type 2 MI is common in the ED and can result from vigorous exercise (common in athletes after marathons), sepsis, trauma and tachydysrhythmias including SVT.

Coronary 143

Coronary ACS ED OR 143

Emergency Medicine Cases

JULY 30, 2019

In the age of high sensitivity troponins and the HEART pathway, which patients are safe to discharge home from the ED? What are the most useful historical factors to increase and decrease your pretest probability for ACS? Which cardiac risk factors have predictive value for ACS? Which delta troponin is best - 1hr, 2hr or 3hr?

ACS 130

ACS ED OR EMS 130

EMDocs

MAY 15, 2024

Other causes of sickling: acidosis, dehydration, inflammation, infection, fever, and blood stasis Sickling leads to vascular occlusion, end-organ ischemia, and decreased RBC lifespan, which, in turn, leads to pain crisis, acute anemia, sequestration, infection, and acute chest syndrome (ACS.) Each episode of ACS has a 9% mortality rate.

E-9-1-1 77

E-9-1-1 ACS ALS OR 77

EMDocs

MAY 28, 2024

Sickling leads to vascular occlusion, end-organ ischemia, and decreased RBC lifespan, which, in turn, leads to pain crisis, acute anemia, sequestration, infection, and acute chest syndrome (ACS). ACS is lung injury due to vaso-occlusion in the pulmonary vasculature; many with ACS will have a concomitant vaso-occlusive pain crisis.

ACS 75

ACS E-9-1-1 ALS OR 75

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JULY 25, 2024

The patient was brought to the ED and had this ECG recorded: What do you think? Then assume there is ACS. After 1 mg of epinephrine they achieved ROSC. Total prehospital meds were epinephrine 1 mg x 3, amiodarone 300 mg and 100 mL of 8.4% sodium bicarbonate. And what do you want to do? Cardiac arrest #3: ST depression, Is it STEMI?

Defibrillator 110

Defibrillator Coronary Epinephrine ACS 110

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

MARCH 13, 2023

This is acute ACS, but it almost always seen in a pain free state. An ED ECG, if recorded with pain, should show LAD OMI. That said — severe chest pain was present at the time the patient arrived in the ED ( corresponding to the time ECG #2 was recorded ). Low TMP grade correlates very well with resolution of ST Elevation.

ED 52

ED ACS Coronary Paramedic 52

The Skeptics' Guide to EM

JULY 2, 2022

Case: You are working a shift in your local community emergency department (ED) when a 47-year-old male presents with chest pain. Background: Chest pain is one of the most common presentations to the ED. In prior decades nearly all patients presenting to EDs with chest pain were admitted to hospital. AEM June 2022.

Coronary 100

Coronary Heart Attack ACS CAD 100

EMDocs

SEPTEMBER 25, 2023

However, RSI has never been shown to reduce the risk of aspiration in the ED (13) or during emergent OR cases (14). While RSI should remain the gold standard in the vast majority of patients in the ED, FI presents an additional technique to mitigate anatomic or physiologic risk.

ED 65

ED Emergency Department ALS Paramedic 65

The Skeptics' Guide to EM

JANUARY 18, 2020

You turn to the attending and ask, “do you really think this could be acute coronary syndrome (ACS)?” ACS is usually amongst this differential, as cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in this population. The proportion of patients with ACS at the index visit or within 30 days. *

ACS 130

ACS Coronary Emergency Department OR 130

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

NOVEMBER 10, 2024

The ECG was transmitted to the Emergency Medicine physician who recognized inferior and posterior OMI findings, and confirmed that the patient has potential ACS symptoms. Here is her ECG on arrival to the ED: Improved, but still some signal of posterior OMI. Figure-1: Comparison between the initial EMS ECG and the repeat ECG in the ED.

STEMI 81

STEMI OR ED EMS 81

EMS 12-Lead

JUNE 20, 2022

Although the attending crews did not consider the ECG pathognomonic for occlusive thrombosis, they nonetheless considered the patient high-risk for ACS and implored him to reconsider. Here is the final ECG just prior to ED transfer. Moreover, he had no pertinent medical history to report in terms of CAD, HTN, HLD, or DM, for example.

ACS 130

ACS Coronary STEMI CAD 130

ACEP Now

JUNE 6, 2023

Notoriously elusive, with a high misdiagnosis rate, thoracic aortic dissection (AD) can mimic many conditions, including acute coronary syndrome (ACS, the most common), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), stroke, and spinal-cord compression. The patient is admitted for ACS to a cardiologist who says he will see the patient in the morning.

ACS 85

ACS ALS ED OR 85

Don't Forget the Bubbles

OCTOBER 7, 2024

This is supplied via alternating current (AC), increasing the risk of titanic contraction of skeletal muscle, leading to kids holding on to the electrical power source. Up to 5% of burns occur secondary to electrical injuries, and this rises to 27% in developing countries. Was the voltage high or low (as below)? Was there any syncope ?

ACS 80

ACS Life Support OR CPR 80

EMS 12-Lead

JULY 24, 2023

David Didlake Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Firefighter / Paramedic (ret) @DidlakeDW Expert commentary and peer review by Dr. Steve Smith [link] @smithECGBlog A 57 y/o Female with PMHx HTN, HLD, DM, and current use of tobacco products, presented to the ED with chest discomfort. A 12 Lead ECG was captured on her arrival.

Coronary 130

Coronary ACS CAD ED 130

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

MAY 3, 2024

But this time the Queen gets it wrong (thinks it is not OMI): There were runs of VT: Tha patient arrived in profound shock and had an ED ECG: Now there is some evolution to include the ST elevation (rather than ST depression) in V4-V6. RBBB + LAFB in the setting of ACS is very bad. There is STE in aVR. Posterior and high lateral OMI.

ACS 114

ACS ED Coronary EMS 114

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JUNE 17, 2024

showed that , when T-waves are inverted in precordial leads, if they are also inverted in lead III and V1, then pulmonary embolism is far more likely than ACS. In this study, (quote) "negative T waves in leads III and V 1 were observed in only 1% of patients with ACS compared with 88% of patients with Acute PE (p less than 0.001).

E-9-1-1 137

E-9-1-1 ACS Emergency Department Coronary 137

EMS 12-Lead

JULY 30, 2023

David Didlake, FF/EMT-P, AG-ACNP @DidlakeDW An elder female presented to the ED with worsening shortness of breath. This should prompt immediate investigation into supply-demand mismatching, or ACS. She was known to have a history of poorly controlled COPD, AFib, and multivessel coronary disease.

EMT 130

EMT EMT ACS Coronary 130

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

OCTOBER 20, 2024

The ST segment changes are compatible with severe subendocardial ischemia which can be caused by type I MI from ACS or potentially from type II MI (non-obstructive coronary artery disease with supply/demand mismatch). Those who make it to the ED usually have transient occlusions with reperfusion.

Coronary 125

Coronary ACS Emergency Department Defibrillator 125

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

MAY 20, 2024

This was sent by an undergraduate (not yet in medical school, but applying now) who works as an ED technician (records all EKGs, helps with procedures, takes vital signs) and who reads this blog regularly. Smith comment : Is the ACS (rupture plaque) with occlusion that is now reperfusing? The ST depressions in I and aVL have resolved.

CAD 123

CAD STEMI Coronary ACS 123

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

APRIL 17, 2023

One case sent by Dr. Sean Rees MD, written by Pendell Meyers, other case by Sam Ghali and Steve Smith Take a look at these two ECGs below from two patients in the ED, first without any clinical context. He had no symptoms of ACS. Full case details and outcomes are below. Case 1: Case 2: Case 1: What do you think? Physician: "No STEMI."

OR 52

OR STEMI ACS Emergency Department 52

The Skeptics' Guide to EM

FEBRUARY 27, 2021

Case: A 46-year-old female presents to the emergency department (ED) with sudden onset, severe right flank pain. Delays in providing adequate analgesia leads to poorer patient outcomes, prolonged ED length of stay and reduced patient satisfaction (17, 18). AEM Feb 2021. Reference: Brichko et al.

Emergency Department 130

Emergency Department ACS ALS ED 130

Don't Forget the Bubbles

JULY 22, 2024

Pre-school wheezers remain a poorly understood cohort of children despite seeing them every day in paediatric EDs. However, there was no difference in LOS (83 minutes for placebo vs 79 minutes for prednisolone) in participants who were discharged straight from the ED ( 32% ). Compare this with the Panickar et al. study from 200 9.

E-9-1-1 105

E-9-1-1 ALS ACS ED 105

EMDocs

OCTOBER 8, 2024

Episode 108: Unexplained Sinus Tachycardia Mental Model Background: When a patient in the ED has sinus tachycardia our job as emergency physicians is to identify and treat of the underlying pathology. Today on the emDOCs cast Brit Long interviews Zachary Aust on the use of a mental model for patients with unexplained sinus tachycardia.

E-9-1-1 94

E-9-1-1 Emergency Department ED ALS 94

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

DECEMBER 5, 2023

An ECG was perfomed on arrival to our ED: NSR with ST elevation II,III, aVF with reciprocal depression in aVL Would you refer this pediatric patient for emergent PCI? Pediatric cardiology performed a bedside echo in ED with EF estimation of 60%, no pericardial effusion, and no regional wall motion abnormalities.

Coronary 112

Coronary CAD ACS ALS 112

The Skeptics' Guide to EM

SEPTEMBER 11, 2021

He is interested and experienced in healthcare informatics, previously worked with ED-directed EMR design, and is involved in the New York City Health and Hospitals Healthcare Administration Scholars Program (HASP). She arrives in the emergency department (ED) with decreased level of consciousness and shock.

EMR 130

EMR Coronary Defibrillator Life Support 130

EMS 12-Lead

APRIL 14, 2022

It should be emphasized here that this is a presentation of high-pretest probability for Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS). ACE inhibitors, or potassium-sparing diuretics), are particularly susceptible. In the case of ACS, the ECG can rapidly change from this. Chou's Electrocardiography in Clinical Practice, 6th ed.

ACS 130

ACS Paramedic Coronary ALS 130

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

DECEMBER 11, 2023

The neighbor recorded a systolic blood pressure again above 200 mm Hg and advised her to come to the ED to address her symptoms. Smith : As Willy states, ACS with persistent symptoms is a guideline recommended indication for ＜2 hour angio (both ACC/AHA and ESC). She contacted her neighbor, a nurse, for help. At midnight.

E-9-1-1 121

E-9-1-1 ACS Coronary STEMI 121

Don't Forget the Bubbles

JULY 5, 2023

Haematology specialist clinics are key to manage the chronic side of the disease, while ED doctors should be able to act rapidly on the common acute emergencies. with thanks A 15-month-old Kenyan boy presents to ED with right hand swelling. In addition, free haem and haemoglobin contribute to the vascular damage.

E-9-1-1 126

E-9-1-1 ACS OR ICU 126

EMDocs

SEPTEMBER 24, 2024

Key: Consider eclampsia in any pregnant and postpartum woman presenting to the ED, especially in patients with symptoms such as headache, confusion/altered mental status, vision changes, and hypertension. ED Evaluation: Assessment focuses on looking for complications and mimics. This is not borne out in the literature.

ED 82

ED OR ACS ALS 82

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

NOVEMBER 15, 2023

[link] Case continued She arrived in the ED and here is the first ED ECG. Angiogram No obstructive epicardial coronary artery disease Cannot exclude non-ACS causes of troponin elevation including coronary vasospasm, stress cardiomyopathy, microvascular disease, etc. I don't know if her pain was getting better or not.

Coronary 102

Coronary E-9-1-1 STEMI ACS 102

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

SEPTEMBER 10, 2023

References: 1) See this study showing an association between morphine and mortality in Non-STE-ACS: Meine TJ, Roe M, Chen A, Patel M, Washam J, Ohman E, Peacock W, Pollack C, Gibler W, Peterson E. Link to abstract Link to full text 2) Use of Morphine in Non-STE-ACS is independently associated with mortality, at odds ratio of 1.4

E-9-1-1 78

E-9-1-1 ACS STEMI Coronary 78

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

NOVEMBER 1, 2022

After discussing all of the above with ED staff, we have made a decision to get stat echocardiogram and assess overall LV function and wall motion abnormalities and defer cath lab activation at the time." He had been smoking an opiate and suddenly collapsed. He was ventilated with BVM on arrival. He awoke with naloxone.

Overdose 52

Overdose OR Coronary ACS 52

ACEP Now

MARCH 14, 2024

A 44 year-old male with unknown past medical history came by emergency medical services (EMS) to the emergency department (ED) for an electrical injury and fall from a high voltage electrical pole. 2,3,5 Except for laundry or electrical car outlets (240 V AC), all U.S. household outlets are rated at 120 V AC. Click to enlarge.)

Operating Room 52

Operating Room ACS Critical Care Coronary 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

MARCH 1, 2023

Sent by anonymous, written by Pendell Meyers A man in his late 40s presented to the ED with concern for allergic reaction after accidentally eating a potential allergen, then developing an itchy full body rash and diarrhea. In the ED he received methylprednisolone, diphenhydramine, and epinephrine for possible anaphylaxis.

Allergic Reaction 52

Allergic Reaction E-9-1-1 Epinephrine Coronary 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

FEBRUARY 1, 2023

But it still doesn’t meet STEMI criteria, so the patient was referred to cardiology as ACS. Are there any signs of occlusion or reperfusion? There’s normal sinus rhythm, normal conduction, normal axis, normal R wave progression and normal voltages.

OR 52

OR STEMI Coronary ACS 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

OCTOBER 2, 2021

Submitted by Benjamin Garbus, MD with edits by Bracey, Meyers, and Smith A man in his early 30s presented to the ED with chest pain described as an “explosion" of left chest pressure. At the time of arrival to the ED, the patient reported 1/10 chest pain with normal vital signs. There is no age cut-off for ACS.

OR 52

OR ACS STEMI Coronary 52