The Poisoned Patient
Key Points Print Section Listen A thorough history of present illness including information gathered from available friends, family, and emergency medical service personnel can be invaluable in the management of…
Abdominal Pain
Key Points Print Section Listen Currant jelly stool is a late finding in intussusception. In appendicitis, young children have a very high rate of rupture on presentation. If bilious vomiting…
Dehydration
Key Points Print Section Listen Dehydration is not a disease; the underlying cause must be identified and treated. Severity of dehydration can be classified using clinical assessment. Management priorities in…
Pediatric Fever
Key Points Print Section Listen Regardless of age, all toxic-appearing infants and children with fever require a full septic work-up, urgent treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics, and admission. Initial management of…
The Pediatric Patient
Key Points Print Section Listen Inherent differences exist between pediatric and adult patients. Physicians have to treat both the parent and the child. The older the child, the more reliable…
Penile Disorders
Key Points Print Section Listen Priapism and paraphimosis are urologic emergencies. Prolonged priapism (>6 hours) may result in impotence. Paraphimosis may lead to glans ischemia and necrosis. Corpus cavernosum aspiration…
Soft Tissue Infections
Key Points Print Section Listen Most cases of cellulitis can be safely managed as outpatients with oral antibiotics, elevation, and recheck in 24-48 hours. All abscesses require drainage. Most patients…
Preeclampsia and Eclampsia
Key Points Print Section Listen Gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, and eclampsia represent a spectrum of potentially life-threatening diseases that must be diagnosed and treated aggressively. Consider preeclampsia in any pregnant patient…
Vaginal Bleeding
Key Points Print Section Listen Obtain a pregnancy test in any woman of childbearing age who presents with vaginal bleeding or abdominal pain. Risk factors are absent in more than…
Nephrolithiasis
Key Points Print Section Listen Analgesic administration should not be delayed while obtaining laboratory and radiology studies. Abdominal aortic aneurysm should be considered in the differential of elderly patients being…
