Jun 2, 2019
Author: Michael Hunt, MD
Educational Pearls:
- A recent study evaluated the relationship between abnormal orthostatic vital signs and serious outcomes within 30 days in patients over 60 presenting to the ED with syncope
- Of the roughly 2000 patients enrolled, about ⅓ had abnormal orthostatic vital signs
- There was no...
May 29, 2019
Author: Peter Bakes, MD
Educational Pearls:
- The differential diagnosis for pedal edema includes issues in the heart, kidney, and liver
- Obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS) is an important and common cause of right heart failure. Nighttime hypoventilation leads to pulmonary hypertension, causing right heart strain...
Feb 27, 2019
Author: Don Stader, MD
Educational Pearls:
- Recent study demonstrated patients with non-STEMI treated with heparin had no difference in survival, but had an increased risk of major bleeding
- Heparin may be an outdated medication in the era of dual anti-platelet therapy and PCI
- Heparin may fall to the wayside like other...
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 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...