Key Points Print Section Listen Traumatic brain injury can be classified by severity into mild (Glasgow Coma Scale [GCS] ≥14), moderate (GCS 9–13), and severe (GCS ≤ 8) categories. An…

Key Points Print Section Listen Time is brain. Time of symptom onset is key to acute stroke treatment. Hypoglycemia and hypoxia can mimic stroke. Assess and treat these conditions early…

Key Points Print Section Listen Assess all trauma patients with a rapid primary survey followed by a more comprehensive secondary evaluation. Address all emergent life threats in a stepwise manner…

Key Points Print Section Listen Anterior epistaxis is more common than posterior epistaxis. Anterior epistaxis generally stops with pressure, but may require nasal packing. Posterior epistaxis requires emergent ear, nose,…

Key Points Print Section Listen Consider emergent causes of headache first. Have a low threshold to perform a computed tomography (CT) scan on patients with a possible emergent cause for…

Key Points Print Section Listen Familiarity with the controls is critical to performing a slit lamp examination. When positioning the patient for the exam, make sure that their forehead is…

Key Points Print Section Listen In addition to any focused or antidotal therapy available, aggressive symptom-based supportive care is important for all envenomations. Knowledge of local venomous species may be…

Key Points Print Section Listen Do not delay bedside glucose determination, administration of glucose, and naloxone, if indicated. These interventions may prevent the need for endotracheal intubation. Talk to the…

Key Points Print Section Listen In a critically ill patient with a goiter or history of hyperthyroidism, consider and treat thyroid storm early. Thyroid storm and myxedema coma are clinical…

Key Points Print Section Listen Obtain an electrocardiogram (ECG) early in patients with suspected hyperkalemia and never ignore a K+ >6.0 mEq/L. Patients with ECG changes consistent with hyperkalemia require…