Low Risk Chest Pain in the ED

I had a conversation with a few of the residents about the management of low risk chest pain in the Emergency Department. The issues which always seem to come up are: If the first troponin is normal, can I send them home? I don’t think this is cardiac, let’s just get one troponin and then…More

ACLS – Therapeutic Hypothermia

This final video looks at post-resuscitative care. This includes proper management of blood pressure, blood sugar, treatment of coronary artery disease and initiation of therapeutic hypothermia. So I focus mostly on that last one: pay attention mostly to how to induce it and in whom you’d induce it.More

ACLS 2010 – Tachycardias

First of three parts, this one just goes over the algorithm. Then we’ll look at some of the details. This one looks at some of the tachycardias and why the drugs work (and why to avoid others). More on tachycardic rhythms: namely the wide complex and irregular tachycardias. Pay attention mostly to the general concepts.…More

Approach to the ED Patient

In this video, you’ll follow a patient (me) who develops chest pain then makes the decision to come to the ER. After calling an ambulance, the patient is triaged (sorted) and then the doctor (you) assesses the primary survey and initial actions.More

SBP: Understanding Malpractice

Just a little education on medicine and the law There are two kinds of legal action within the law. Criminal action is when the government sues an individual for going against public interest – such as murder, rape, robbery. Physicians usually are not subject to these sorts of cases, unless they wilfully hurt their patients.…More

Teaching in the ER

Effective teaching in the ED. Teaching is one of the legs in our promotion. The core themes: Teaching in the ER The core themes revolve around improving the educator, the learner and the institutional system. Improve the education Announce the teaching moment Turn work into teaching Think out loud Teach beyond the shift Create mini-teaching…More

ACLS 2010 – Bradycardias

This video goes over the algorithm for bradycardias. I love the fact that they really simplified everything quite a bit. I’m not as sleepy in this video… no, I actually am. The key points are really that the main drug here is atropine. If that doesn’t work then you can try one of three options:…More

ACLS 2010 – Cardiac Arrest

Here are the 2010 ACLS Guidelines for Cardiac Arrest. This catch-all category encompasses anything without a pulse, but what had previously been separated out into the separate rhythms of ventricular fibrillation, pulseless ventricular tachycardia, asystole and pulseless electrical activity. I love the fact that they simplified this into one algorithm – and they stress: early,…More

Inservice in the Breakroom: ACLS 2010 – Intro

Here’s an introduction to ACLS 2010, an important skill we all need to know. I’m trying a different way to get the information across. Sorry about the sedate voice, but the kids are sleeping so I have to be quiet. Let me know if you have any questions. These three videos cover airway. I’ll be…More

ACLS 2010 – Intro & Airway

Here’s an introduction to ACLS 2010, an important skill you should pick up not only for your ER rotation, but for all your rotations! Let me know if you have any questions. I’ll be putting up more vids as I make ’em. Again, leave me feedback in the comments. The first part of ACLS is…More