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Emergency Medical Minute

 

Dec 20, 2018

Author: Don Stader, MD

Educational Pearls:

 

  • Etripamil is an intranasal calcium channel blocker in development for use in SVT
  • A recent study showed that etripamil has an SVT conversion rate of around 80%
  • Etripamil does not have the same feeling of “impending doom” that can occur with adenosine

Editor's note:...


Dec 17, 2018

Author: Don Stader, MD

Educational Pearls:

  • Vertebral artery dissection (VAD) contributes to just 2% of strokes overall but ~25% of strokes for patients < 30
  • VAD is associated with minor trauma (chiropractic manipulation, yoga), typically with neck extension and rotation.
  • VAD can cause posterior stroke symptoms...


Dec 15, 2018

Author: Katie Sprinkle, MD

Educational Pearls:

  • Hyponatremia results when patients over hydrate and dilute their sodium with too much free water
  • Symptoms of hyponatremia can mimic symptoms of dehydration (dizziness,  lightheadedness, general malaise)
  • With severe hyponatremia patients can progress to seizure, coma, and...


Dec 12, 2018

Author: Aaron Lessen, MD

Educational Pearls:

  • Defined as QRS over 120 ms and rate over 120
  • Two major rhythms = Vetricular tachycardia (VT) or SVT with aberrancy
  • Safest approach is to assume it is VT
  • Synchronized Cardioversion is preferred even for stable VT for multiple reasons including safety and efficacy
  • Procainamide...


Dec 10, 2018

Author: Ryan Circh, MD

Educational Pearls:

  • Myofascial pain syndrome (MFPS) is typically unilateral with discrete points of palpable pain
  • Often secondary to repeated use and poor posture.
  • MFPS typically responds very well to trigger point injections.
  • Fibromyalgia is bilateral and diffuse and is thought to have a...