Academic Life in EM
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This blog aims to disrupt how medical providers and trainees can gain public access to high-quality, educational content while also engaging in a dialogue about best-practices in EM and medical education. We strive to reshape medical education and academia in their evolution beyond the traditional classroom.
Academic Life in EM
1d ago
What is the primary cause of death following ingestion of the plant pictured?
Acute liver failure
Arrhythmia
Disseminated intravascular coagulation
Status epilepticus
Reveal the Answer
2. Arrhythmia
The primary cause of death from plants of the Aconitum spp (aka Monkshood, Wolfsbane) is refractory ventricular arrhythmia and asystole.
Background:
Aconitine and its related alkaloids, mesaconitine and hypaconitine, are extremely potent cardiotoxins and neurotoxins found in the Aconitum species of plants [1,2]. There are high levels of aconite alkaloids in all parts of the plant, with ..read more
Academic Life in EM
6d ago
A 53-year-old woman with no significant past medical history presented to the emergency department with a 3-day history of double vision on leftward gaze. She initially presented to urgent care with a chief complaint of chest heaviness and concern that her blood pressure was too high, but was sent to the emergency department for further cardiac and neurological evaluation after her urgent care provider noticed abnormal eye movement. She endorsed mild, intermittent headaches associated with diplopia when looking to the left. However, she denied any blurry vision when looking forward. She de ..read more
Academic Life in EM
1w ago
A 30-year-old female with a past medical history of Crohn’s Disease presented to the ED for evaluation of an acutely bruised right 4th finger. She stated she was typing on a computer keyboard approximately 10 minutes prior to presentation and she noticed a sudden popping sensation at the base of her right ring finger. After the popping sensation, she noticed a cool sensation of the finger and numbness to the entire finger. Shortly after that, the finger turned purple, so she came to the Emergency Department for evaluation. She denied pain in the hand and has had no problems moving the fing ..read more
Academic Life in EM
1w ago
A 28-year-old male presented to the ED for evaluation of an injury to his right eye. While working out with an exercise band, it snapped back, hitting the patient in the right eye. He experienced blurry vision and excess eye tearing immediately after the incident occurred. The patient also developed gross blood over the front of the eye.
Physical Exam
Vitals: Temp 98°F, HR 73, BP (135/77), RR 16, SpO2 99%
HEENT: Gross blood in the anterior portion of the right eye (grade I). The right pupil is dilated with minimal responsiveness to light. Visual Acuity: OD 20/70, OS 20/10, Both 20/10 ..read more
Academic Life in EM
2w ago
In July 2022, a 32-year-old male with a past medical history of HIV (on antiretroviral therapy, CD4 390, viral load undetectable) presented to the emergency department with constitutional symptoms and a rash for 4-5 days. His symptoms included malaise, body aches, subjective fevers, a sore throat, tender, swollen neck glands, body rash, and irritation of his left eye. He also noticed fluid-filled vesicles on his face, neck, trunk, and extremities. He denied travel outside the U.S. but reported a recent trip to New Orleans. He denied any new sexual partners or known exposure to individuals ..read more
Academic Life in EM
3w ago
Read this tutorial on the use of point of care ultrasonography (POCUS) for pediatric renal and bladder ultrasonography. Then test your skills on the ALiEMU course page to receive your PEM POCUS badge worth 2 hours of ALiEMU course credit.
Take the ALiEMU Quiz: Pediatric Renal and Bladder Ultrasound
Module Goals
List the indications for performing a pediatric renal/bladder point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS)
Describe the technique for performing renal/bladder POCUS
Identify hydronephrosis and its appearance at different severities
List the limitations of renal/bladder POCUS
A ..read more
Academic Life in EM
3w ago
Which medication can be derived from the bark of the pictured tree?
Aspirin
Atropine
Colchicine
Quinine
Reveal the Answer
1. Aspirin Background
The photo shows a weeping willow, a member of the Salix genus of trees. Willow tree bark contains salicin from which aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) can be derived.
For over 3500 years, willow bark has been used as a traditional medicine to treat fevers and pain [1]. The active compound, salicin, is metabolized to salicylic acid in the body providing analgesic and antipyretic effects [2]. In 1897, Dr. Felix Hoffman modified salicylic acid and cre ..read more
Academic Life in EM
3w ago
A 24-year-old female with no pertinent PMHx presents to the ED with a chief complaint of eye pain. She reported a 10-day history of worsening right eye pain following being punched in that eye. She had been managing her pain with ice and had not taken any OTC medications. Her mom convinced her to go to the ED and she first went to an outside hospital, but was referred to come to our institution. She endorsed photophobia and blurry vision but denied double vision. She further noted occasional left-sided headaches.
Additional Images
Physical Exam
Vitals: Within normal limits ..read more
How to Cite Videos, Podcasts, Apps, Media, and Blogs in a Publication or CV (AMA style 11th edition)
Academic Life in EM
1M ago
As medical education podcasts, videos, and blogs continue to grow in popularity it is crucial that we cite them correctly, both in publications and on our CVs. We also must recognize the important contributions of media such as clinical photographs, radiology images, and ECGs. The American Medical Association (AMA) Manual of Style released its 11th edition in 2020. This blog post provides an update to our 2018 blog articles to reflect these changes.
Video Publications
Last Name First Initial. Video Title. Publication Title. Year of publication. Date accessed. URL.
Example:
Mason J. Zipper ..read more
Academic Life in EM
1M ago
An 18-day-old male presented for a rash on his face for two days. The patient was born via spontaneous vaginal delivery full term without complications to a mom who has a history of genital HSV but without active lesions at delivery and on acyclovir. The patient presented with a vesicular rash on his face including around his eyes. He had conjunctival discharge noted by mom. Otherwise, he was well-appearing, acting normally, and eating/voiding/stooling normally.
Additional Images
Physical Exam
General: Well appearing, acting appropriately for age
HEENT: Scalp normal. Anter ..read more