loader from loading.io

Podcast 684: Acidosis

Emergency Medical Minute

Release Date: 06/23/2021

Episode 934: Subendocardial Ischemia show art Episode 934: Subendocardial Ischemia

Emergency Medical Minute

Contributor: Travis Barlock MD Educational Pearls: What is the ST segment? The ST segment on an ECG represents the interval between the end of ventricular depolarization (QRS) and the beginning of ventricular repolarization (T-wave).  It should appear isoelectric (flat) in a normal ECG. What if the ST segment is elevated? This is evidence that there is an injury that goes all the way through the muscular wall of the heart (transmural) This is very concerning for a heart attack (STEMI) but can be occasionally caused by other pathology, such as pericarditis What if the ST...

info_outline
Episode 933: Benign Convulsions with Gastroenteritis show art Episode 933: Benign Convulsions with Gastroenteritis

Emergency Medical Minute

Contributor: Alec Coston MD Educational Pearls: Causes of seizures in a fairly well-appearing child with diarrhea: Electrolyte abnormalities: hypocalcemia, hyponatremia Also hyperkalemia which causes arrhythmias and syncope - can appear like seizures Hypoglycemia If the child has diarrhea and appears very sick, differential diagnosis may include: Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS): simultaneous occurrence of microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and acute kidney injury Typically caused by Shiga-like toxin producing Escherichia coli (also known as EHEC, or...

info_outline
Episode 932: Induction Agent Hypotension show art Episode 932: Induction Agent Hypotension

Emergency Medical Minute

Contributor: Aaron Lessen MD Educational Pearls: Induction agent selection during rapid sequence intubation involves accounting for hemodynamic stability in the post-intubation setting Many emergency departments use ketamine or etomidate A recent study sought to explore the rates of post-induction hypotension of ketamine compared with propofol Single center retrospective cohort study of patients between 2018-2021 Ketamine and propofol were both significantly associated with post-induction hypotension Ketamine adjusted odds ratio = 4.50 Propofol adjusted odds ratio = 4.88 50%...

info_outline
Episode 931: Naloxone in Cardiac Arrest show art Episode 931: Naloxone in Cardiac Arrest

Emergency Medical Minute

Contributor: Aaron Lessen MD Educational Pearls: Can opioids cause cardiac arrest? Opioids can cause respiratory suppression and the subsequent low oxygen levels can lead to arrhythmias and eventually cardiac arrest. In 2023, 17% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA) were attributable to opioids. Given that this is a rising cause of cardiac arrest, should we just treat all cardiac arrest with naloxone (Narcan)? Naloxone is correlated with an increased chance of return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) Additionally, a wide variety of individuals can be exposed to opioids and...

info_outline
Episode 930: Holding Costs show art Episode 930: Holding Costs

Emergency Medical Minute

Contributor: Aaron Lessen MD Educational Pearls: A study evaluated the patient-care impact and financial costs of holding patients in the ED, a nationwide issue Prospective, observational study of acute stroke management Conducted at a large urban, comprehensive stroke center The study evaluated patients in multiple categories:  admitted to med/surg admitted to med/surg but held in the ED admitted to the ICU Admitted to ICU but held in the ED Examined the amount of time nurses and providers spent with each patient This was analyzed in conjunction with the...

info_outline
Episode 929: Traumatic Aortic Injury show art Episode 929: Traumatic Aortic Injury

Emergency Medical Minute

Contributor: Aaron Lessen MD Educational Pearls: Aortic injury occurs in 1.5-2% of patients who sustain blunt thoracic trauma Majority are caused by automobile collisions or motorcycle accidents Due to sudden deceleration mechanism accidents Clinical manifestations Signs of hypovolemic shock including tachycardia and hypotension, though not always present Patients may have altered mental status Imaging Widened mediastinum on chest x-ray, though not highly sensitive CT is more sensitive and specific, and signs of thoracic injury include an intimal flap, aortic wall...

info_outline
Laboring Under Pressure Episode 4: Obstetric Emergency in South Africa with Dr. Meghan Hurley show art Laboring Under Pressure Episode 4: Obstetric Emergency in South Africa with Dr. Meghan Hurley

Emergency Medical Minute

Laboring Under Pressure Episode 4: Obstetric Emergency in South Africa with Dr. Meghan Hurley Contributors: Meghan Hurley MD, Travis Barlock MD, Jeffrey Olson MS3 Show Pearls Map of South Africa Referenced South Africa Geography Lesson There is a big disparity between Cape Town and its neighbor Khayelitsha. Cape Town is the legislative capital and economic hub of South Africa, known for its infrastructure, tourist attractions, and developed urban areas. Khayelitsha Township is a large informal settlement on the outskirts of Cape Town, with limited infrastructure and services compared to...

info_outline
Episode 928: Neutropenic Fever show art Episode 928: Neutropenic Fever

Emergency Medical Minute

Contributor: Taylor Lynch, MD Educational Pearls: What is neutropenic fever? Specific type of fever that is seen in cancer patients and other patients with impaired immune systems These patients are highly susceptible to infection Typically occurs 7-10 days after the last chemotherapy dose, this is when the immune system is the weakest It is useful to know the specific type of malignancy. For example, heme malignancies (ALL, AML, etc.) have more intense chemo and are at higher risk of neutropenic fever To qualify as a neutropenic fever, a patient must have one recorded temperature...

info_outline
Episode 927: Functional Gallbladder Syndrome show art Episode 927: Functional Gallbladder Syndrome

Emergency Medical Minute

Contributor: Jorge Chalit-Hernandez, OMS3 Typically presents with biliary colic Right upper quadrant abdominal pain lasting more than 30 minutes and subsiding over several hours Often associated with fatty meals but not always Must rule out other causes of pain Peptic ulcer disease - typically presents with epigastric pain Pancreatitis - pain that radiates to the back or family history of pancreatitis Laboratory workup  LFTs including ALT, AST, and alkaline phosphatase are within the reference range Lipase and amylase within the reference range Imaging workup ...

info_outline
Episode 926: Supraventricular Tachycardia show art Episode 926: Supraventricular Tachycardia

Emergency Medical Minute

Contributor: Taylor Lynch MD Supraventricular tachycardias (SVTs) arise above the bundle of His The term SVT includes AV nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT), atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia (AVRT), atrial tachycardia, atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, and multifocal atrial tachycardia  AVNRT is the most common form of SVT Paroxysmal Spontaneous or provoked by exertion, coffee, alcohol, or thyroid disease More common in women (3:1 women:men ratio) HR 160-240 Narrow complex with a normal QRS Unstable patients receive synchronized cardioversion at 0.5-1 J/kg ...

info_outline
 
More Episodes

Contributor:  Nick Tsipis, MD

Educational Pearls:

  • pH <7.35 = acidemia; pH>7.45=alkalemia
  • If pH low and pCO2 high, indicates a respiratory acidosis
  • If pH low and pCO2 low, indicates metabolic acidosis
  • After determining type of acidosis, check bicarb to determine compensation for acidosis and check electrolytes to calculate anion gap
  • Metabolic acidosis can present with tachypnea (Kussmaul breathing) and hypotension due to loss of catecholamine function and suboptimal cardiac function at low pH
  • Treat with IV fluids and address the underlying cause, limited role for bicarb

References

Burger MK, Schaller DJ. Metabolic Acidosis. [Updated 2020 Nov 20]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2021 Jan.

Cadogan M. Acid Base Disorders. Life in the Fast Lane • LITFL. https://litfl.com/acid-base-disorders/. Published November 3, 2020. Accessed June 23, 2021.

Summarized by John Spartz, MS4 | Edited by Erik Verzemnieks, MD

 

The Emergency Medical Minute is excited to announce that we are now offering AMA PRA Category 1 credits™ via online course modules. To access these and for more information, visit our website at www.emergencymedicalminute.com/cme-courses/ and create an account. 

Donate to EMM today!