Feb 24, 2026
Contributor: Travis Barlock, MD
Educational Pearls:
- Foul-smelling urine and cloudy urine are commonly misinterpreted as indicators of a UTI. However, these findings alone are not diagnostic.
- Criteria for UTI:
- Presence of localized urinary symptoms:
- Suprapubic pain
- Dysuria
- Hesitancy
- Urgency
- Urinalysis with WBC >...
Feb 16, 2026
Contributor: Aaron Lessen, MD
Educational Pearls:
What is anaphylaxis and what are its treatments?
- Anaphylaxis is a broad term for potentially life threatening allergic reactions that can progress to cardiovascular collapse (anaphylactic shock).
- It is triggered by IgE and antigen cross-linking on mast cells to induce...
Feb 9, 2026
Contributor: Alec Coston, MD
Educational Pearls:
Disclaimer: this has nothing to do with the ER but is too cool to not talk about.
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Condition: Carbamoyl phosphate synthetase 1 (CPS1) deficiency
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Rare inborn error of metabolism
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Inability to properly break down ammonia
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Leads to severe hyperammonemia and hepatic...
Feb 4, 2026
Contributors: Travis Barlock MD, Ian Gillman PA, Jacob Altholz MD, Jeffrey Olson MS4
In this episode, EM attending Travis Barlock and medical student Jeffrey Olson listen in to the two remaining cases presented from EMM’s recent event, Tox Talk 2025.
Talk 1- Methemoglobinemia- Ian Gillman
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Cyanosis +...
Feb 2, 2026
Contributor: Alec Coston, MD
Educational Pearls:
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BiPAP is often effective in severe asthma, but many patients struggle with mask tolerance due to intense air hunger–driven anxiety, often compounded by hypoxia.
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Benzodiazepines are commonly used for anxiety, but they can depress respiratory drive, making clinical...