Podcast 1016: Hypokalemia
Emergency Medical Minute
Contributor: Meghan Hurley, MD Educational Pearls: What is hypokalemia? Hypokalemia is when the measured blood level of potassium falls below 3.5 mEq/L (normal 3.5 - 5.2 mEq/L). Can generally be considered in mild (3.0 - 3.5 mEq/L); moderate (2.5 - 2.9 mEq/L); and severe (<2.5 mEq/L) categories with differing treatment goals based on levels. Should be noted that blood levels of potassium can be low while total body potassium is normal due to intracellular shift by certain agents like β-2 agonists (e.g. Albuterol) or insulin. There is no appreciable loss of insulin despite...
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Podcast 1015: Calcium in Hyperkalemia
Emergency Medical Minute
Contributor: Meghan Hurley, MD Educational Pearls: What is hyperkalemia? Hyperkalemia is when the measured blood level of potassium reaches above 5.2 - 5.5 mEq/L (normal 3.5 - 5.2 mEq/L). What are common causes of hyperkalemia? Chronic or acute kidney disease. Medications that impact the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone-System (RAAS). Hypoaldosteronism and primary adrenal insufficiency (Addison’s Disease). What are concerns of hyperkalemia? The biggest concern with hyperkalemia is the impact on the cardiac conduction system. At differing levels of...
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Podcast 1014: Eating and Drinking on Shift
Emergency Medical Minute
Contributor; Aaron Lessen, MD Educational Pearls: A 2026 survey asked Canadian emergency medicine (EM) physicians about their eating and drinking habits while on shift. Among 527 respondents, 35% reported that they never or hardly ever ate during shifts, and 37% said the same about drinking water. Lack of time was the most commonly cited barrier, reported by 91% of respondents. Lack of available food, personal health goals, perceived mental clarity, and emergency department culture were also commonly identified factors. Physicians who did not eat or drink on shift often reported...
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Podcast 1013: Thoracotomy Indications
Emergency Medical Minute
Contributor; Taylor Lynch, MD Educational Pearls: Thoracotomy Thoracotomy is used in traumatic cardiac arrest to replace conventional CPR with direct access to the chest. Goals include identifying and controlling reversible causes of bleeding, prioritizing blood flow to the heart and brain, and performing open cardiac massage. Trauma categories Penetrating trauma: Gunshot wounds and stab wounds. Has a higher chance of survival because the injury may be localized and directly repairable. Cardiac stab wounds may have the highest survivability because the defect can be...
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Podcast 1012: Meth Sedation
Emergency Medical Minute
Contributor: Aaron Lessen, MD Educational Pearls: Agitated patients who are intoxicated with methamphetamine pose a unique challenge when selecting a sedative to counter their symptoms. Is there a superior medication? A recent study compared the efficacy of commonly used medications for methamphetamine-induced agitation in the emergency department. The study compared IM Droperidol 5mg, IM Olanzapine 10mg, IM Midazolam 5mg, and IM Lorazepam 2mg. The study concluded that Droperidol, Olanzapine, and Midazolam performed similarly, with a median time to adequate sedation of...
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Podcast 1011: Creepy Crawlies
Emergency Medical Minute
Contributor: Meghan Hurley, MD Educational Pearls: What animal is the most lethal to humans? Depending on how we define lethal, and animal, this answer is actually not straight forward. Globally and in the U.S. the most lethal animal is humans, accounting for ~436,000 to ~20,000 deaths (homicides) per year on average respectively. In the United States the most lethal animal is of the Hymenoptera order (bees, wasps, and hornets). It accounts for approximately ~60 deaths per year from anaphylaxis. Globally the number is harder to track, but is estimated between...
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Podcast 1010: First Pass Intubation Success
Emergency Medical Minute
Contributor: Travis Barlock, MD Educational Pearls: First-pass success is critical to limit complications from apnea, hypoxia, and airway trauma. Complication rate for patients intubated on the first pass is 14% Complication rates increase to 47% after two attempts, 64% after three, and 71% after the fourth attempt How to improve likelihood of first-pass success: Use Video laryngoscopy (VL). VL increases chance of first-pass success to 85% from 71% Use a bougie, especially in patients with anatomically difficult or otherwise obstructed airways. The BEAM study...
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On the Streets- Zero to Rodeo
Emergency Medical Minute
Dan Orbidan, OMS-II and Dr. Travis Barlock, MD discuss a real out of hospital call. This episode covers the implications of a pharmacologically abnormal patient presentation and the pre and post hospital considerations for patient management and care.
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Carepoint Journal Club- Neurology
Emergency Medical Minute
Carepoint Journal Club is a quarterly series with discussions about a medical topic, brought to you by Carepoint's Emergency Physicians.
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Podcast 1009: Prevention for Recurrent UTI
Emergency Medical Minute
Contributor: Aaron Lessen, MD Educational Pearls: UTIs are commonly seen in older women We often see them taking long-term prophylactic antibiotics because of common recurrence. Around 20-30% of older women who develop a UTI have a recurrence due to either diagnostic failure, treatment failure or non-compliance with treatment. UTI signs and symptoms Burning sensation when urinating Strong urge to urinate Urinating often and passing small amounts of urine. Pelvic pain There are currently more guidelines and studies on treatments to prevent these...
info_outlineContributor: Aaron Lessen, MD
Educational Pearls:
- An endotracheal tube introducer or bougie are often used as a rescue device during difficult intubations as they are small and can be placed blindly
- Large randomized-controlled trial looked at first-pass bougie use versus standard intubation to determine if there was improvement in first-pass success rate
- No difference in first-pass success rate, about 80% for both techniques
- This does not mean that bougies are not great rescue devices or options for managing an airway
References
Driver BE, Semler MW, Self WH, et al. Effect of Use of a Bougie vs Endotracheal Tube With Stylet on Successful Intubation on the First Attempt Among Critically Ill Patients Undergoing Tracheal Intubation: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2021;326(24):2488–2497.
Summarized by John Spartz, MS4 | Edited by Erik Verzemnieks, MD
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