Upper airway emergencies
Allergic• Anaphylaxis• Angioedema Infectious• Ludwig’s angina• Retropharyngeal abscess/other deep space infections of the neck• Peritonsillar abscess• Epiglottitis Traumatic and caustic• Thermal burn• Traumatic hematoma• Caustic ingestion• Inhaled toxins Anatomical and…
Thoracic trauma
Chest radiography findings concerning for blunt aortic injury Widened mediastinum (>8 cm on supine or >6 cm on upright film) Obscured aortic knob Left apical cap (blood above apex of…
Mechanical ventilation
Strategies of ventilation Outlined below are two ventilation strategies that can be used in critically ill patients in the emergency department. Both of these strategies utilize the assist control (AC)…
Acute spinal cord compression
Neoplastic disease• Most common presentation is metastatic lesion(lung/prostate/breast > renal/gastrointestinal/lymphoma) Mechanical/structural abnormalities• Traumatic/bony injury• Osteoporosis/pathological fracture• Degenerative joint disease• Postsurgical complication Infectious causes• Extradural spinal abscess (IVDU, HIV, tuberculosis, immunosuppression)•…
Status epilepticus
Metabolic Primary central nervous system Toxidromes/toxins • Hypoxia• Hypoglycemia• Hyponatremia• Hypocalcemia• Hypomagnesemia• Inborn errors of metabolism • Trauma• Infections• Cerebral vascular accident• Hemorrhage• Vasculitis• Seizure disorder with other medical condition•…
Intracranial hemorrhage
Type Location Subarachnoid hemorrhage Bleeding into the potential space between the arachnoid and pia mater Subdural hematoma Bleeding into the potential space between dura and arachnoid membrane Epidural hematoma Bleeding…
Compartment syndrome
Classic The hallmark presentation is pain that is out of proportion to injury or findings. Patients will describe the pain as “deep”, “burning,” and “unrelenting” with difficulty in localization. Pain…
Neck trauma
Zones Landmarks Structures/considerations I Defined inferiorly by clavicles and superiorly by the cricoid cartilage In addition to neck structures (e.g., trachea, esophagus, neck vessels), consider injuries to thoracic structures, i.e.,…
