Key Points Print Section Listen Place all patients with syncope on a cardiac monitor, obtain a STAT bedside glucose level, and check continuous pulse oximetry. Obtain a detailed history of…

Key Points Print Section Listen Hypertension is a very common finding in emergency department patients. Evidence of acute end-organ dysfunction in the setting of hypertension is rare but requires emergent…

Key Points Print Section Listen Focus on diagnosing pneumonia early. Identify risk factors that influence treatment decisions (eg, antibiotic choice and disposition). Blood cultures and empiric antibiotics should be started…

Key Points Print Section Listen The ability to access the central venous circulation is an imperative skill for emergency physicians and is often needed for life-saving measures. The central venous…

Key Points Print Section Listen The timing of wound closure is determined by balancing the risk of infection with the likelihood of scarring. Identify and remove foreign bodies before wound…

Key Points Print Section Listen Chest pain is a very common complaint in emergency department patients. A rapid electrocardiogram and chest x-ray will help distinguish between multiple emergent causes of…

Key Points Print Section Listen Use of ultrasound by emergency physicians has grown significantly in the last decade. Emergent applications include the setting of trauma, abdominal aortic aneurysm, ectopic pregnancy,…

Key Points Print Section Listen Do not wait for hypotension to diagnose shock. Early identification and initiation of aggressive therapy can significantly improve patient survival. Initiate early goal-directed therapy in…

Key Points Print Section Listen Do not confuse a pulmonary bleb or bullae for a pneumothorax. The neurovascular bundle runs inferior to each rib. Always enter the thoracic cavity over…

Key Points Print Section Listen Cardiac disease is the most common cause of nontraumatic death in the United States. There are more than 300,000 sudden cardiac deaths (SCD) each year…