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...