FOAMcast - An Emergency Medicine Podcast

We review a trick of the trade from Academic Life in Emergency medicine for temporomandibular joint (TMJ)  dislocation, the extra-oral reduction as well as other methods of TMJ reduction.

We delve into core content on dental injuries including fractures, avulsion, luxations, pulpitis and more using Rosen’s Emergency Medicine (8th edition) Chapter 70 "Oral Emergencies" and Tintinalli’s Emergency Medicine (8th edition) Chapter 245 "Oral and Dental Emergencies" as a guide.

Thanks for listening!
Jeremy Faust and Lauren Westafer

Direct download: Foamcast_TMJ_and_dental_.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:09pm EDT

We review a podcast from Dr. Tim Horeczko's Pediatric Emergency Playbook on elbow injuries including identifying normal ossification centers (CRITOE), radial head subluxation, and supracondylar fractures.

Then, we delve into core content on other elbow adjacent injuries including elbow dislocations, humerus fractures, and olecranon bursitis using Rosen’s Emergency Medicine (8th edition) Chapter  and Tintinalli’s Emergency Medicine (8th edition) Chapter  as a guide.

Thanks for listening!
Jeremy Faust and Lauren Westafer

Direct download: FOAMcast_nursemaids_and_humerus.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:54am EDT

We review a talk by Dr. Sara Gray from SMACC (Social Media and Critical Care) conference in June 2016, Resuscitative hysterotomy, which is the new name for perimortem c-section [1]. In this talk she challenges the "4 minute" rule: if resuscitative efforts following maternal circulatory arrest are unsuccessful, cesarean delivery should be commenced at 4 minutes and completed by 5 minutes to optimize fetal outcome. 

Then we delve into core content on pregnancy emergencies using Rosen’s Emergency Medicine (8th edition) Chapter 98and Tintinalli’s Emergency Medicine (8th edition) Chapter 178 as a guide, discussing nausea and vomiting, hyperemesis gravidarum, bacteriuria, and vaginal bleeding in the first trimester.

Thanks for listening!
Jeremy Faust and Lauren Westafer

Direct download: FOAMcast_Resuscitative_Hysterotomy.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

The PESIT study in the New England Journal of Medicine stirred up controversy in the FOAM world earlier in October 2016.  In this episode we cover the following posts on this article on pulmonary embolism in syncope:

Then, We delve into core content on syncope usingRosen's Emergency Medicine (8th edition) and Tintinalli's Emergency Medicine (8th edition) Chapter 52

 

Thanks for listening!

-Jeremy Faust and Lauren Westafer

Direct download: FOAMcast_syncope_and_PE_v2.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:31pm EDT

We are bringing y'all pearls from ACEP 2016 in Las Vegas.

Today we cover Bell's Palsy (are you sure it's not a stroke?), burn dogma, and some hot abstracts of the year.

Thanks for listening!

Jeremy Faust and Lauren Westafer

Direct download: FOAMcast_ACEP_16_Day_3.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:00pm EDT

We are at ACEP 2016 summarizing the hottest pearls

Today we cover placebos in the ED for back pain, nausea, and upper respiratory tract infections as well as atrial fibrillation management controversies and vaccine side effects.

Thanks for listening!

Jeremy Faust and Lauren Westafer

Direct download: FOAMcast_Vaccine_side_effects_and_Placebos_ACEP_16_Day_2_.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:28am EDT

We bring you highlights from ACEP2016 in Las Vegas.


Today we focus on the care of the transgender patient and some pearls on caring appropriately for our diverse patients.

We also cover active shooters and lawsuit pearls

 

Thanks for listening!
Jeremy Faust and Lauren Westafer

Direct download: FOAMcast_ACEP16_Transgender.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:27am EDT

We cover an incredible ophthalmology resource, OphthoBook.com, by Dr. Tim Roots.  This resource has a free book and excellent free video lectures.  Specifically, we detail a hilarious video on eye exam tricks, especially targeting individuals who "can't see."

We previously reviewed eye trauma in this podcast. In this episode, we review ophthalmology basics using Tintinalli’s Emergency Medicine (8e), Chapter 241

Visit FOAMcast.org for more and Rosh Review questions. Thanks for listening! 

Jeremy Faust + Lauren Westafer

Direct download: nks..mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:30pm EDT

The Free Open Access Medical Education (FOAM) 

We cover a post from Dr. Josh Farkas on PULMcrit on lithium toxicity. The key message from the post is: a single serum lithium level doesn't necessitate dialysis, despite a recommendation from the EXTRIP working group  to initiate dialysis in patients with a lithium level > 5 mEq/L [1].  Dr. Farkas advocates for aggressive management in asymptomatic patients with chronic lithium toxicity and patients without impaired renal function.

Core Content

We review rhabdomyolysis using Rosen's Emergency Medicine (8e)  Chapter 160 and Tintinalli's Emergency Medicine (8e), Chapter 181.

 

Show notes at FOAMcast.org

Thanks for listening!

Jeremy Faust & Lauren Westafer

Direct download: foamcast_57_lithium_and_rhabdo.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:33pm EDT

We review a FOAM post by Dr. Matthew MacPartlin on Rollcage Medic on flying after a pneumothorax.

Then we delve into a core content review of altitude sickness, high altitude pulmonary edema, high altitude cerebral edema, and altitude related problems using Tintinalli and Rosen's Emergency Medicine as a guide.

Thanks for listening!
-Jeremy Faust & Lauren Westafer

Direct download: foamcast_56_Aviation_and_Altitudes_.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:35am EDT

We cover several excellent post on rashes, including:

Next, we dive into core content on platelet problems including problems caused by drugs, immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP/idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura) and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) using Tintinalli Chapter 233 (8th ed) and Rosen's Chapter 122 (7th ed) as a guide.

 

Thanks for listening!

Jeremy Faust and Lauren Westafer

Direct download: Foamcast_55_Purpura_Show_.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:12am EDT

We cover ultrasound guided pericardiocentesis using the posts from EMin5, CoreEM, and the Ultrasound Podcast.

Then, we delve into core content on the pericardium using Rosen’s (8th ed) Chapter 82 and Tintinalli (8th ed) Chapter 55 covering pericardial effusions, pericarditis, and myocarditis.

 

Thanks for listening!

Jeremy Faust & Lauren Westafer

Direct download: foamcast_54_pericardiocentesis.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:28am EDT

We cover a post by Dr. Rory Spiegel, EMNerd: The Case of Differing Perspectives, on the results of the ATACH-2 trial on blood pressure control in intracranial hemorrhage (ICH). This study sought to determine the safety and efficacy of the

Population: adults (>18 y/o) with ICH on CT scan, GCS ≥ 5 and <4.5 hours since symptom onset (changed mid-study)

Intervention: Reduce and maintain the hourly minimum systolic blood pressure in the range of 110 to 139 mm Hg throughout the period of 24 hours after randomization ("intensive treatment"). Preferred agents for blood pressure control in order of preference were 1. nicardipine 2. labetalol (diltiazem or urapidil if not available)

  • Mean minimum in hours 0-2: 128.9±16 mm Hg

Control: Reduce and maintain the hourly minimum systolic blood pressure in the range of 140 to 179 mm Hg throughout the period of 24 hours after randomization.

  • Mean minimum in hours 0-2: 141.1±14.8 mm Hg

Outcome: The primary outcome was the proportion of patients who had moderately severe or severe disability (modified Rankin scale score (mRS) 4-5) or those who had died (mRS 6; hereafter referred to as “death or disability”) at 3 months.

  • death or disability: Intensive treatment = 186 participants (38.7%) vs Standard treatment = 181 (37.7%)

We also discuss the history of blood pressure control in ICH and the pendulum swing on this in recent years, using an episode of the Skeptic's Guide to Emergency Medicine, Episode 73. This episode covers the Interact-2 trial.

Core Content

We delve into core content on ICH using Rosen’s (8th ed) Chapter  and Chapter in Tintinalli (8th ed).

We also discuss the PATCH trial with regard to ICH management in patients on antiplatelet agents, discussing a REBELEM post on this trial.

 

 

Direct download: FOAMcast_53_ICH.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:06am EDT

Just in time for the new interns, we answer the most common question asked of us - our favorite resources to use on shift.

Free Open Access Medical Education (FOAM) exists in forms that are suitable for self-study or function as resources and those that are easy to use resources to consult on shift, Just In Time (JIT) Resources. We review our favorite FOAM JIT resources.

Direct download: FOAMcastini_July_1_Just_in_time_FOAM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:35am EDT

We cover a Scancrit post on the Back Up Head Elevated (BUHE) intubation position.  This post details a multicenter retrospective observational study by Khandelwal et al in Anesthesia & Analgesia.  Intubating with the head elevated (ear to sternal notch) and the back of the bed up reduces complications.

We delve into core content on the esophagus using Rosen’s (8th ed) Chapter 71 and Chapter 77 in Tintinalli (8th ed). We discuss dysphagia, food impaction, and esophagitis.


Thanks for listening!

JEremy Faust and Lauren WEstafer

Direct download: Foamcast_52_Back_up_head_elevated_intubation_-_6-25-16_5.17_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:56am EDT

ITUNES OR LISTEN HERE

We cover pearls from smaccDUB (Social Media and Critical Care Conference in Dublin, Ireland), Day 3. We are here thanks to the Rosh Review.

Dr. Scott Weingart - "Post-Intubation Sedation"

  • Analgesia first. Try a hydromorphone 1mg push while you're waiting for the fentanyl drip. The endotracheal tube is uncomfortable.
  • Minimize sedation. There's this principle: eCASH: early Comfort using Analgesia, minimal Sedatives and maximal Humane care [1]. 
  • Sedation: go for dexmedetomidine if you have it (but it's expensive) or propofol. This is supported by the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) Pain, Agitation, and Delirium guidelines [2].
  • Be careful with rocuronium.  The long duration of rocuronium means that you can't assess for pain or discomfort so you must be responsible and get these

Dr. David Carr - "The Aorta Will #!&?% You Up"

Screen Shot 2016-06-16 at 6.57.56 PM

Dr. Kathleen Thomas - "Oh Sh**! They’re bombing the hospital!"

We should not need a website entitled STOPBOMBINGHOSPITALS.ORG but, unfortunately, over the past 4 years, 400 hospitals have been bombed. This passionate, wrenching talk is a "must see" and "must listen" when the free talks are released on the SMACC podcast over the course of the next year.

ive use in the emergency department. Emergency medicine journal : EMJ. 30(11):893-5. 2013. [pubmed]

  1. Imamura H, Sekiguchi Y, Iwashita T et al. Painless Acute Aortic Dissection. Circ J. 75(1):59-66. 2011. [article]
  2. Diercks DB, et al. Clinical policy: critical issues in the evaluation and management of adult patients with suspected acute nontraumatic thoracic aortic dissection. Ann Emerg Med. 2015 Jan;65(1):32-42.e12. PMID: 25529153.
  3. Hagan PG, Nienaber CA, Isselbacher EM. The International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection (IRAD): new insights into an old disease. JAMA. 283(7):897-903. 2000. [pubmed]
Direct download: Foamcastini_smaccdub_day_3_aorta_and_pain.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:01pm EDT

#smaccDUB day 2

Dr. Reuben Strayer - “Disruption, Danger, and Droperidol: Emergency Management of the Agitated Patient."  

Dr. Strayer presented a brilliant talk on dealing with the quintessential Emergency Medicine patient - the undifferentiated acutely agitated patient. These patients are high risk and require emergent stabilization and resuscitation.

Dr. Haney Mallemat - "The PEA Paradox"

The typical way we think about PEA, the "H's and T's," is overly complicated. Further, we are horrendous at pulse palpation (see this for more), and so what we think is PEA may not actually be PEA.  Dr. Mallemat proposed QRS duration as one way to think about PEA, although this has limitations.

Dr. Michele Dominico - "How Usual Resuscitative Maneuvers Can Kill Paediatric Cardiac Patients"

Interventions we jump to in sick patients - oxygenation, ventilation, vasopressors - these can kill pediatric patients with cardiac pathology. She gave examples of some high yield pearls in these already terrifying patients.

EM Literature update by Drs. Ashley Shreves and Ryan Radecki

Interesting and Ridiculous Research Pearls from Drs. Ashley Shreves and Ryan Radecki

  • Perception of dyspnea and pulmonary function tests change with stress - and rollercoaster rides.  Rietveld S, van Beest I. Rollercoaster asthma: when positive emotional stress interferes with dyspnea perception. Behaviour research and therapy. 45(5):977-87. 2007. [pubmed]
  • Cured pork for epistaxis? Possibly. Researchers will try everything, especially if it involves bacon. Humphreys I, Saraiya S, Belenky W, Dworkin J. Nasal packing with strips of cured pork as treatment for uncontrollable epistaxis in a patient with Glanzmann thrombasthenia. The Annals of otology, rhinology, and laryngology. 120(11):732-6. 2011. [pubmed]
Direct download: FOAMcastini_smacc_dub_day_2_undiff.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:23pm EDT

We are at SMACC in Dublin - thanks to the Rosh Review, an excellent board review question bank. Here are some of our favorite pearls.

Do We Make Saves?

Dr. Mervyn Singer "Is Survival Predetermined in the Critically  Ill?"

  • Many critical care studies are negative, but in some cases this may be because critically ill patients don't have a uniform prognosis.
  • Dr. Singer argues that some people may be "destined to die" and some may be "destined to live."  So, it's not really us "saving the patient", it's just the math playing out. Interventions may be harmful or futile in one group but beneficial in the other.  For example, Dr. Singer references the CORTICUS trial of steroids in septic shock. This was a negative trial.  Dr. Singer asserts that some evidence (of not great quality), purports that the sickest patients could benefit from steroids, while this same intervention could be deleterious in the healthier ones.
  • Problem: many of the studies that go back and re-analyze these groups looking at the sickest or least sick patients? They perform subgroup analyses, a form of data dredging that must be taken with a huge grain of salt.

Favorite Pearls

Dr. Suzanne Mason - "Acute Care of the Elderly"

  • Hospital admission may not benefit geriatric patients - interdisciplinary interventions involving nurses, consultants, pharmacists, physical therapy may be best.
  • If there is a single, free intervention that providers can do it's assessing for polypharmacy. Polypharmacy in the elderly is a huge problem.  Check the patient's medication list and beware adding new medications that may not be absolutely necessary.

Dr. Victoria Brazil - "So You Think You're a Resuscitationist?"

  • The Dunning-Kruger effect is real in medicine and this is why we MUST have and provide feedback.  A review of the Dunning-Kruger effect can be found here.  Essentially, people tend to overestimate what they know (i.e. overly confident in their knowledge). The exception?  Masters tend to underestimate their knowledge.
    • Our perception of reality is very skewed so, again, feedback is crucial. For example, Cemalovic and colleagues found that intubators underestimated the time they took to intubate: they estimated 23.5 seconds on average vs the 45.5 seconds intubation actually took. Additionally, they thought 13% of their patients desaturated during intubation but 23% actually desaturated.

 

Direct download: FOAMcastini_SmaccDub_Saves_day_1_-_6_14_16_7.56_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:05pm EDT

We cover this short video from EMRAP on lateral canthotomies.  This is one of those rare procedures that is vision saving; hence, it is worthy of frequent review.

Then, we delve into core content on orbital fractures, hyphemas, and ocular burns using Tintinalli and Rosen's Emergency Medicine as a guide.

Show notes and references at foamcast.org

Thanks for listening!

Jeremy Faust and Lauren Westafer

Direct download: foamcast_51.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:59am EDT

We review the FOAM video by Dr. Anna Pickens of EMin5.com on "Special Seizures" including hyponatremia, isoniazid toxcitiy, alcohol withdrawal, and eclampsia.


Then we review core content on seizures using Rosen's Emergency Medicine and Tintinalli's Emergency Medicine: A Comprehensive Review.


Thanks for listening!

Jeremy Faust and Lauren Westafer

Direct download: FOAMcast_50_Seizures_v2.mp3
Category:neurology -- posted at: 11:51pm EDT

ALTE is out and BRUE is in.

We review the American Academy of Pediatrics guideline on Brief Resolved Unexplained Events (Formerly Apparent Life-Threatening Events) and Evaluation of Lower-Risk Infants 

Direct download: FOAMcast_49_BRUE.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:58am EDT

We cover a post by Dr. Seth Trueger (@MDaware) on false positives in the urine drug screen and review limitations of this test. 

Then we review some toxicology, including toxicity associated with cocaine and PCP using Rosen's Emergency Medicine (8e) and Tintinalli's (8e) as a guide.


Thanks for listening!

Lauren Westafer and Jeremy Faust

Direct download: FOAMcast_48_The_U_tox_v2.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:36pm EDT

In this episode we cover a post from Dr. Smith's ECG blog investigating ways to read ischemia on a ventricular paced ECG:  A Patient with Ischemic symptoms and a Biventricular Pacemaker.

Then we delve into core content on the Sgarbossa/modified Sgarbossa criteria as well as pacers and implantable defibrillators and their complications.

Thanks for listening!

Jeremy Faust and Lauren Westafer

Direct download: FOAMcast_47_pacers_.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:01am EDT

We cover a podcast from HEFT EMcast  demonstrating that needle decompression at the 2nd intercostal space at the midclavicular line (2ICS MCL) is likely to fail.  They review a systematic review and meta-analysis by Laan et al in 2015 that suggests the fifth intercostal space at the anterior axillary line (5ICS AAL) is less likely to fail.

Then we delve into core content on pneumothoraces and empyemas using Tintinalli and Rosen's Emergency Medicine as a guide.

Thanks for listening,

Jeremy Faust and Lauren Westafer

Direct download: FOAMcast_46_Needle_decompression_-_3-19-16_4.28_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:43pm EDT

We cover a post from Life in the Fast Lane Research and Reviews (LITFL R&R) #121  featuring a section on the new American Gastroenterology Association (AGA) guidelines on diverticulitis. The game changer?  Antibiotics aren't a requirement in select patients with uncomplicated acute diverticulitis.

Then we delve into core content on diverticulosis, diverticulitis, and clostridium difficile using Rosen's Emergency Medicine (8e) and Tintinalli: A Comprehensive Review (7e).

Show notes at FOAMcast.org

Thanks for listening!

Jeremy Faust and Lauren Westafer

Direct download: FOAMcast_45_Diverticulitis_export.mp3
Category:gastroenterology -- posted at: 7:18am EDT

We bring you breaking news on the updated sepsis definition from the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) and the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine.

SIRS and Severe Sepsis?   Out.

qSOFA (HAT - Hypotension, AMS, Tachypnea)?  In.

Septic Shock?  Sepsis + Vasopressors needed to maintain MAP >65 mmHg + Lactate >2 mmol/L (*after adequate fluids)

 

 

Direct download: FOAMcast_44_SEPSIS_DEFINITIONS.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:22pm EDT

We cover the Skeptic's Guide to Emergency Medicine Episode 144, "That Smell of Isopropyl Alcohol for Nausea in the Emergency Department." This podcast reviews an article by Beadle et al, an RCT on the use of inhalational isopropyl alcohol for nausea.

Then we delve into core content on vertigo using Rosen’s Medicine (8e) and Tintinalli’s Emergency Medicine: A Comprehensive Study Guide  (7e) on all things toxic alcohols

 

Thanks for listening!
Jeremy Faust and Lauren Westafer

Direct download: FOAMcast_43_toxic_alcohols.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:59am EDT

We cover an EMcrit episode on Semantics of End of Life Discussions with Dr. Ashley Shreves as well as pearls from another favorite episode with her, Episode 93 - Critical Care Palliation.  We can't do these episodes justice summarizing them so listen to them.

Key Pearls on moving away from "DNAR" and moving towards "AND" - Allow Natural Death, how to have the conversation, and with whom to have the end of life discussion.

Then we delve into core content on vertigo using Rosen’s Medicine (8e) electronic chapter, "End of Life,"  and Tintinalli’s Emergency Medicine: A Comprehensive Study Guide  (7e) Chapter 297 “Death and Dying.”

Thanks for listening!
Jeremy Faust and Lauren Westafer

Direct download: FOAMcast_42_Palliative_Care.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:38am EDT

We cover two bits of FOAM,Emergency Medicine Literature of Note - Dr. Ryan Radecki - on the use of meclizine for vertigo and EMcrit - Dr. Scott Weingart on the HiNTs exam.

Then we delve into some of the problems with the HiNTs exam including it can only be performed on patients with continuous vertigo and that external validity is a major issue with HiNTs.

Then, we delve into core content on vertigo using Rosen’s Medicine (8e) Chapter 19,  and Tintinalli’s Emergency Medicine: A Comprehensive Study Guide  (7e) Chapter 164 “Vertigo and Dizziness."

Thanks for listening!

Jeremy Faust and Lauren Westafer

Direct download: FOAMcast_41_HiNTs_and_Vertigo.mp3
Category:emergency medicine, neurology -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

In this special episode we review some of the top items of 2015*

David Newman:

  • Opioids for back pain - falling out of favor.
  • Risk stratifying (and testing) low risk chest pain.

Haney Mallemat:

Michelle Lin

  • Merging of FOAM with traditional journals 
  • Merging of FOAM resources into conglomerates
  • More medical education FOAM (ex: ICEnet, EMin5)

Rob Orman

Thanks for listening!

Jeremy Faust and Lauren Westafer

*Chosen by people smarter than we are.

(nb: Lauren initially wrote "smarter than us," but I fixed it. You're welcome, universe. -JF)

Direct download: FOAMcast_42_Best_new_pearls_and_biggest_trends_of_2015.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:19pm EDT

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