Explore every episode of the podcast EM Clerkship

Learn about Maddie’s experience in New Zealand as well as unique aspects of New Zealand medical practice. Disclaimer: This is based on personal experience. If you’d like to learn more, some resources are listed below. https://www.mcnz.org.nz/about-us/glossary https://pharmac.govt.nz/about/what-we-do/how-pharmac-works https://www.acc.co.nz https://www.luc.edu/media/lucedu/law/centers/healthlaw/pdfs/advancedirective/pdfs/8/robin.pdf https://nzformulary.org

You are working at Clerkship General when the triage nurse walks back and gets you. “Hey doc, we just put a hypoxic infant in bed 7”. Initial Vitals: HR: 168 RR: 44 BP: 81/40 O2: 81% (Room Air) Critical Actions:

You are working at Clerkship General on New Year’s Day when you see a nurse running from triage. He is carrying an unresponsive child to the resuscitation bay. Initial Vitals: HR: 43 BP: 47/20 Temp: 66F RR: 4 O2: 95% (BVM) Critical Actions:

You are working at Clerkship General when you hear an EMS call on the base command radio. “Clerkship General. We are bringing you a minimally responsive 79 year-old female found lying on the floor inside her apartment. ETA 5 minutes” Initial Vitals: HR: 143 BP: 160/105 Temp: 106.3F RR: 22 O2: 99% Room Air Critical […]

Introduction: You are working at Clerkship General when the next chart is handed to you. It’s a 35-year-old female with a chief complaint of dizziness and fatigue. She is here accompanied by her husband. Initial Vitals: HR: 118 BP: 150/91 Temp: 100.4F RR: 20 O2: 99% Room Air Critical Actions:

Transcript/Summary coming soon!

You are working at Clerkship General when you hear a woman screaming from triage… It’s baby time! Initial Vitals: HR: 120 RR: Shallow O2: 58% Critical Actions:

Transcript coming soon!

You are working at Clerkship General when the nurse comes up to you and says, “Hey doc, EMS dropped off this guy named Randy from the memory care unit at the nursing home down the street. He’s in the hall bed outside of room 7. EMS says he’s here for confusion, we will get him […]

Episode summary coming soon!

You are working at Clerkship General when you hear an EMS call on the radio. “Clerkship General, we are bringing you a 3 year old female with complaints of altered mental status. We are pulling in now.” Initial Vitals: HR: 129 BP: 98/66 Temp: 99.7F RR: 35 O2: 99% Room Air Critical Actions:

Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) – Autoimmune polyneuropathy that results in widespread demylination of peripheral nerves Typically occur 1 week after a triggering infection Paresthesias/Neuropathic Pain -> Ascending symmetric paralysis -> Respiratory Failure Major Diagnostic Criteria Treatment – IVIG and monitor respiratory status

Critical Actions:

Orbital Compartment Syndrome – needs to be diagnosed CLINICALLY On exam, LOOK for: Proptosis, Ophthalmoplegia, Afferent Pupillary Defect, Vision Loss On exam, FEEL for: Rock hard globe, tense eyelids, resistance to retropulsion IOP > 40 means immediate canthotomy is indicated! Don’t perform if open globe is present Lateral Canthotomy Procedure: Anesthetize, Devascularize, Canthotomy, Cantholysis (inferior […]

You are working at Clerkship General when the next chart is put into your rack. It’s a 76 year-old male who has fallen. Initial Vitals: HR: 101 BP: 138/85 Temp: 98.0F RR: 20 O2: 99% (Room Air) Critical Actions:

Symptoms of stroke – weakness, facial droop, slurred speech. vision loss, vertigo, ataxia, confusion or changes to mental status.   The “typical” stroke workup – blood glucose level, CTH non-con, CTA head/neck, CT Perfusion, CBC BMP Troponin EKG CXR and Coags.  Common stroke mimics – hypoglycemia, drug/alcohol intoxication, Bell’s palsy, aortic dissection, complex migraines, and […]

You are working at Clerkship General when one of the nurses comes and grabs you. “Hey doc, we need you in bed 10. I think this patient is having a stroke.” Initial Vitals: HR: 51 BP: 201/98 Temp: 98.0F RR: 18 O2: 99% (Room Air) Critical Actions:

You are working at Clerkship General when the next patient is put into your rack. It is an 8 year-old male with vomiting Initial Vitals: HR: 119 BP: 104/63 Temp: 98.0F RR: 20 O2: 99% (Room Air) Critical Actions: References: Mellick LB, Sinex JE, Gibson RW, Mears K. A Systematic Review of Testicle Survival Time […]

Phase One: CNS Phase Two: Cardiopulmonary Phase Three: Renal Diagnosis: Treatment: Further Reading: EMCrit Toxic Alcohols

You are working at Clerkship General when you hear an EMS call on the radio. Clerkship General, we are bringing you Arthur. He is intoxicated… Again Initial Vitals: HR: 116 BP: 150/70 Temp: 98.8 RR: 26 O2: 85% (Room Air) Critical Actions:

Hypertensive Emergencies of Pregnancy PreEclampsia, Eclampsia, HELLP syndrome Diagnosis: BP >140/90 plus end organ dysfunction Treatment

You are working at Clerkship General when the next chart is put in your rack. It’s a 41-year-old female with a chief complaint of headache. Initial Vitals: HR: 56 BP: 172/93 Temp: 98.8F RR: 18 O2: 97% Critical Actions:

Diagnosing PE: Step 1: Consciously consider the diagnosis Step 2: Risk Stratify into low, intermediate, and high risk Step 3: Choose appropriate testing based on pre-test probability Classification of PE Treatment of PE

You are working at Clerkship General when you overhear the base command radio. “Clerkship General. We have a 57 year-old female coming in for leg pain. She just had surgery at your hospital. Her blood pressure is 85/50. We’ll be there in 5 minutes.” Initial Vitals: HR: 122 BP: 75/40 Temp: 100.1 RR: 24 O2: […]

Shock – A state of deranged physiology characterized by systemic, widespread hypoperfusion

You are working at Clerkship General when you hear and EMS call on the radio. “Clerkship General, we are activating a trauma alert. We are bringing you a 33 year old male from a high-speed single vehicle collision” Initial Vitals: HR: 65 BP: 88/50 Temp: 97.0F RR: 20 O2: 96% Room Air Critical Actions:

You are working a beautiful sunny day in Pennsylvania when the next chart gets put in your rack. It is a 2 year-old male with a leg injury. Initial Vitals: HR: 112 BP: 97/67 Temp: 99.2F RR: 20 O2: 97% Room Air Critical Actions:

You are working at Clerkship General when you hear an EMS call: “Clerkship General, we are bringing you a young female in respiratory distress. ETA 2 minutes” Initial Vitals: HR: 123 BP: 142/78 Temp: Unknown RR: 36 O2: 97% (NonRebreather) Critical Actions:

Introduction Clinical Presentation Treatment

You are working at Clerkship General when you hear an EMS call on the radio. “Clerkship General. We are bringing you an unresponsive 6-year-old female found foaming at the mouth by her babysitter. ETA 2 minutes.” Initial Vitals: BP: 125/80 HR: 62 RR: 34 O2: 81% (Non Rebreather) Critical Actions:

Shoulder dystocia is an OB emergency. Remember McRobert’s maneuver and suprapubic pressure. For more information, take a look at the resources below. References ACOG- Shoulder Dystocia AAFP- Shoulder Dystocia

Maddie’s 7 Cardinal Movements of a Successful Delivery: 1. Head comes out 2. Head turns 3. Cord Assessment 4. Anterior shoulder delivered 5. Posterior shoulder delivered 6. Body delivered. 7. Baby on mom’s chest T’s of Postpartum Hemorrhage: 1. Tone 2. Trauma 3. Tissue 4. Thrombosis

The 6 STEMI Equivalents: Other atypical ischemic EKG findings: Further Reading (see photos in the article): ECG Diagnosis of Life-Threatening STEMI Equivalent’s: Journal of the American College of Cardiology

You are working at Clerkship Rural when the nurse hands you your next chart to see. It’s a 59 year old farmer with chest pain. Initial Vitals: BP: 156/97 HR: 110 RR: 22 O2: 98% (Room Air) Temp: 98.8F Critical Actions:

Consider removing the terminology “Agitated Delirium” from your vocabulary, as there is significant racial bias behind this term.

You are working at Clerkship General when you hear an EMS call on the radio… “CLERKSHIP GENERAL – We are bringing you an agitated and combative 30 year old male, we’ll see you in 5 minutes.” Initial Vitals: BP: 192/105 HR: 134 RR: 22 O2: 99% (Room Air) Temp: 98.8 F Critical Actions: Dangerous Actions: […]

Indications for LP: CNS infection, SAH, Guillian Barree, IIH Contraindications for LP: Space occupying lesion with mass effect ; severe thrombocytopenia and coagulopathy; cellulitis over LP site or concern for epidural abscess ; traumatic injury to spine Complications for LP: Post LP Headache, spinal hematoma, brainstem herniation Technique for LP: Positioning is everything.  Use US […]

You are working at Clerkship General when the charge nurse comes and grabs you… “Hey doc, we need you in room 2, this kid looks sick…” Initial Vitals: BP: 68/40 HR: 128 RR: 22 O2: 99% (Room Air) Temp: 103.5F Critical Actions: Check Out: Pearson Ravitz Webinar – “Disability Insurance 101 for Residents” https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/1416806357023/WN_ziYRNc0kT8yAyOOJZ-Xk2g