Core EM Clerkship Topics
Shock
by Maryam AlBadwawi Introduction Shock, in simple terms, is a reduced circulatory blood flow state within the body. The inadequate circulation deprives the tissues of its
Chest Pain
by Asaad S Shujaa Introduction Chest pain is one of the most common symptoms presented in the emergency department (ED), and it is worrisome because
Gastrointestinal Bleeding
by Moira Carrol, Gurpreet Mudan, and Suzanne Bentley Case Presentation A 61-year-old man with a history of liver cirrhosis secondary to chronic EtOH abuse presents to
Headache
by Matevz Privsek and Gregor Prosen Introduction Headache is a subjective feeling of pain, crushing, squeezing or stabbing anywhere in the head. They are typically
Respiratory Distress
by Ebru Unal Akoglu Case Presentation A 40-year-old female with a history of diabetes mellitus presents with a complaint of 6 days cough and muscle
Multiple Trauma
by Pia Jerot and Gregor Prosen Case Presentation A 28-year old male was a restrained driver in a head-on motor vehicle collision. He was entrapped and
Poisonings
by Harajeshwar Kohli and Ziad Kazzi Case An 18-year-old, previously healthy female, presents to the Emergency Department with nausea, vomiting, and tremors. She states 45
Cardiac Arrest
by Abdel Noureldin and Falak Sayed Quick link to Spanish Version Introduction A 23-year-old female was brought into the emergency department. Her frantic family members
Altered Mental Status
by Murat Cetin, Begum Oktem, Mustafa Emin Canakci Case Presentation An 80-year-old female presents to the emergency department with a tendency to sleep (altered mental
Abdominal Pain
by Shaza Karrar Case Presentation A 39-year-old female presented to the emergency department (ED) complaining of right-lower-quadrant (RLQ) pain; pain duration was for 1-day, associated
Fall From Bicycle!
In case you didn’t encounter a child fallen from a bicycle today!
A Little White Coat and A Stethoscope
I will never forget the time that I acted as a “medical doctor” at the 1st year-end show of the elementary school. A little white coat tailored for me and a stethoscope that my dad borrowed from a nurse were all the needs to become a “medical doctor” for my little self. When I appeared on the scene, saw the audience and realized glimpses of admiration in their eyes, I realized that I want to become a medical doctor. Not for wealth or fame or glory; but for the single cause of “love.” I loved medicine. I loved medicine even before I learned anything about it. I wanted to become a “medical doctor”! Period.
Years passed by and hundreds of exams later, I had the opportunity to graduate from the school of medicine. Here I was, fulfilled the dream of my profession. But there was another fork in the road. Which specialty would I choose? I knew that I want diversity among my patients, and I was eager to work across disciplines. I liked performing diagnostic and therapeutic procedures together in a timely manner. I believed that emergency care should be free and available to everyone. For these reasons, it was obvious to me that I have to select Emergency Medicine. Fast forward, and I am a third-year emergency medicine resident now.
I think I don’t have the authority to write about the opportunities that emergency medicine offers or to mentor you about choosing any specialty. Among these brilliant minds of iEM family, I am pretty sure there are dozens of experts to guide you for your destination.
But let me just remind you this: Hundreds of thousands of people arrive at emergency departments every day throughout the world. They receive the best care possible, thanks to the Emergency Medicine specialists. They are there 24/7, 365 days of the year with one rule: “Anyone, anything, anytime.” I personally can’t see a more noble approach than that.
Helen Keller once said “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing,” and Emergency Medicine is, for sure, a daring adventure. If you feel the same, then Emergency Medicine is the right choice for you.
Suggested Chapters
My Leg Is Swollen!
A New Chapter Is Just Uploaded To The Website!
An 85-year-old woman, with a history of congestive heart failure, presented with right leg pain and swelling of 2 days’ duration. She had been hospitalized for pneumonia one week earlier. Her vitals on arrival were: Blood Pressure: 138/84 mmHg, Pulse Rate: 65 beats per minute, Respiratory Rate: 14 breaths per minute, Body Temperature: 37°C (98.6°F), Oxygen Saturation: 96%. On examination, her right calf was reddish, tender, edematous and 4 cm greater in circumference than the left when measured 10 cm below the tibial tuberosity. Her Wells’ Score for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) was 4 and suggested high-risk for DVT. Compression ultrasonography showed a thrombus in the popliteal vein. Enoxaparin (1 mg/kg, twice a day, SC) was started. No signs and symptoms of pulmonary embolism were observed. The patient was referred to a cardiovascular surgeon as an outpatient after discussion and confirmed understanding of discharge instructions.
Three days of constant shortness of breath
Do you recognize these findings in the US and CT scan?
iEM Weekly Feed 2
Welcome to iEM Weekly Feed!
With this feed, you do not miss anything. You will find all published blog posts during this week. Click the “title” or “read more” to open each page you interested in.
Today’s Headache
July 13, 2018
In case you didn’t encounter headache today! Read “Headache” Chapter Listen “Headache” Chapter iEM Education Project Team uploads many clinical picture and videos to the
Managing Psychosis In The ED
July 11, 2018
Case 1. It is a quiet Wednesday night in the emergency department when you suddenly hear someone coming down the hall continuously spouting out a
A Kid With Wrist Pain!
July 11, 2018
In case you didn’t encounter a wrist pain today! See Lateral X-ray iEM Education Project Team uploads many clinical picture and videos to the Flickr
Don’t Touch My Belly!
July 10, 2018
A New Chapter Is Just Uploaded To The Website! A previously healthy 42-year-old male presented to the Emergency Department (ED) with a 3-day history of
Elbow Pain
July 10, 2018
In case you didn’t encounter a child with elbow pain today! See Lateral X-ray iEM Education Project Team uploads many clinical picture and videos to
Doc! My Hand Hurts.
July 9, 2018
In case you didn’t encounter a patient with hand pain today! iEM Education Project Team uploads many clinical picture and videos to the Flickr and
ACS in 12 minutes!
July 8, 2018
The chapter is just uploaded to the website! Acute Coronary Syndrome by Khalid Mohammed Ali, Shirley Ooi from Singapore. A 46 years old man with
Being A Woman In Emergency Medicine
July 8, 2018
Gül Pamukçu Günaydın Turkey Watching the famous TV series “ER” in my 3rd year of medical school I decided to be an “ER doctor.” I
I can’t breath Doc!
July 7, 2018
In case you didn’t encounter shortness of breath today! Go To “Respiratory Distress” Chapter Go To “Chest Pain” Chapter iEM Education Project Team uploads many
A 68-year-old with wheezing
July 7, 2018
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) by Ramin Tabatabai, David Hoffman, and Tiffany Abramson, USA A 68-year-old male presents to the emergency department (ED) with audible
Today’s Headache
In case you didn’t encounter headache today!
Managing Psychosis In The ED
Case 1. It is a quiet Wednesday night in the emergency department when you suddenly hear someone coming down the hall continuously spouting out a string of profanities. You leave the comfort of your chair to see what the commotion is all about only to find a 37-year-old female brought in by police for altered mental status. She is acutely agitated on presentation, spouting obscenities non-stop, refusing to answer questions and uncooperative with a physical exam.
Case 2. As you are pondering your next step, you see the paramedics wheeled an older gentleman past you and into the next room. You step into the next room to get a report. The family is at the bedside and states the patient is an 82-year-old male with a history of hypertension and BPH who has been increasingly confused and aggressive over the past two days. You note that he is mildly tachycardic when you hear the PA system announce, “Security is needed in the critical care hallway.”
Case 3. A nurse pops her head into the room and requests your immediate assistance. You follow him down the hall and see your charge nurse along with three security officers trying to hold down a male patient. The patient, who appears to be in his late twenties, is actively kicking and trying to bite and spit at the medical staff. He appears flushed and diaphoretic.
by Michelle Chan, Nidal Moukaddam, and Veronica Tucci from USA.
A Kid With Wrist Pain!
In case you didn’t encounter a wrist pain today!
Don’t Touch My Belly!
A New Chapter Is Just Uploaded To The Website!
A previously healthy 42-year-old male presented to the Emergency Department (ED) with a 3-day history of worsening abdominal pain. He felt nauseated and vomited twice. His pain started around the umbilicus, moved to the left side of his abdomen and then become generalized. It peaked the last few hours, and the painkillers did not work. His social history revealed that he was non-drinker, non-smoker and did not use any illicit drugs. The past and family histories were unremarkable. His blood pressure was 100/60 mmHg, pulse rate 120/min, the temperature 37.8°C (100°F), and respiration rate 24/min. Physical examination showed diffuse abdominal tenderness and voluntary guarding. Bowel sounds were not heard.
Bedside ultrasonography (USG) exhibited increased echogenicity of the peritoneal stripe, with corresponding horizontal reverberation artifacts over the liver. Plain chest radiographs confirmed the presence of free abdominal air. Oral intake was stopped, intravenous (IV) catheter was inserted, fluid therapy was started, and cefoperazone sodium was administered intravenously. Blood type and cross, complete blood count and coagulation were ordered. He transferred to the operation theater with the diagnosis of the perforated viscus.
Elbow Pain
In case you didn’t encounter a child with elbow pain today!
