Conference Summary 8/18/21

Residency updates/news:

  • GI CODE reminder from Dr. Kindschuh
    • Rockall >3 (10% mortality risk) →  activate GI CODE
    • Glasgow-Blachford >6 (50% of intervention) → activate GI CODE
    • Only for UPPER GI BLEED
    • Call GI code because you think you need endoscopy
    • Get emergency release blood, should be within 20 minutes!
    • Hgb <7 and tachycardia? Get emergency release blood!
    • Hgb >7 and needs blood? Get crossmatched blood within 60 minutes
    • When in doubt, check wall in resuscitation room for GI Code guidelines

  • 7a: Resident Lectures – Raj – Pediatric Respiratory Distress / Mike Cat – Acetaminophen Toxicity 
  • 8a: EM/Cardiology STEMI series: Cath cases (on WebEx) – Dr Jeong + Cardiology Faculty
  • 9a: Mike Cyd – EKG CCU lecture #3 // BREAK
  • 10a: Stuart Rosenhaus – STOP THE BLEED course (w/ ability to become an instructor)
  • 11a: Dr Michael – US lecture: Pregnancy Complications 

  • Resident Lectures – Raj – Pediatric Respiratory Distress
    • Moved to 9/1/25 (Raj was overnight)

  • Resident Lectures – Mike Cat – Acetaminophen Toxicity 
    • Suspect ingestion: found w tylenol bottle
    • Airway questionably intact: GCS 8/9
    • Questions we need to know: 
      • ABCs
      • FS
      • How many pills did she take?
      • What time did she take them?
      • Istat
      • Intention
      • Anything else on board (60%ish of acetaminophen overdoses have opioids involved)
    • MC cause of acute liver failure in US
    • Adult 
      • MAX dose: 4,000mg/24hr
      • Single dose amounts: 325mg to 1000mg
    • Children 
      • MAX 80mg/kg per 24hrs
      • 10-15mg/kg/dose
    • TJ TIDBIT: Max daily dose for someone with liver failure? 2000mg
    • TJ TIDBIT: Max daily dose changes from 4000mg → 3000mg (source)
    • Four stages of tylenol toxicity:
    • When to treat? Need 4 hour tylenol level (Rumack-Matthew Nomogram)
      • Only indicated for single, acute ingestion occurring <24 hr prior to presentation
      • Consider activated charcoal if <3 hours
      • Not useful for chronic ingestion
  • NAC via Tox rotation:
    • NAC provides cysteine for glutathione synthesis, interacts with the toxic metabolite of acetaminophen NAPQI and forms a nontoxic compound.
    • What histological pattern of liver injury is caused by acetaminophen toxicity?
    • Do patients recover from this liver injury?
      • Increased hepatocyte necrosis–centrilobular necrosis
  • When/why would you choose oral vs IV NAC?
    • PO within 8-10hrs of OD; >10h post ingestion IV formulation works
    • PO NAC smells like rotten eggs
    • IV NAC can → anaphylactic rxn (10-20% of pts)
  • The 150 Rule
    • Toxic dose is 150 mg/kg
    • Give NAC if level is >150 mcg/mL four hours post-ingestion
    • Initial loading dose of NAC is 150 mg/kg IV (140 mg/kg PO)
  • TJ TIDBIT: convulsive vs non-convulsive status, consider non-convulsive status when patient is thought to be post-ictal

  • EM/Cardiology STEMI series: Cath cases (on WebEx) – Dr Jeong + Cardiology Faculty
    • Interventional Conference – Presented by Wes Romney, MD CIH Cards fellow
    • Multiple cases with HPI, EKG, echo, and angiogram finding
    • Sgarbossa criteria sensitivity/specificity:
    • Q: Is there a way in the ED to tell if you need to transfer for a complex PCI or is it after cath that you can tell?
      • A: No–cannot determine high risk PCI until after cath
      • A: Cath lab can do high risk STEMIs–if it is a STEMI we can cath, even if it is after a CABG. 
    • Q: Activate STEMI post-arrest w/ ROSC? Yes (if there is ST elevation)
    • Q. Is a 30% STEMI cancellation rate acceptable? (7/30? cases)
      • A: 2 of the cases had STE changes
      • A: Most cases did not have chest pain or stories consistent with chest pain/ACS
    • Q: What if you have a good presentation, but you have a STEMI mimic (deWinters, TWI in AVL, Wellens, etc.)
      • A: The state doesn’t penalize you for cases that are unclear on actual straight forward criteria; but for straight forward STEMI patients door to balloon time counts. These changes can also occur in SAH, ICH. Make sure you stabilize the patient first. 
    • Q: How are things going <60min DTB time? 
      • A: Things are going well, there are little things we need to work out…we want to make sure the patient is safe and stable prior to cath. 

  • Mike Cyd – EKG CCU lecture #3
    • 53yoM history of colon polyps, DLD, anxiety, smoker 60 pack years, with CP and diaphoresis w nausea, exertional. 
    • EKG @ triage:
      • Rate 75ish, normal axis, Sinus rhythm, STE in aVR, STD V4-V6, Lead I, Biphasic T wave in V2 (wellens?)
      • Repeat EKG: no abnormalities seen on repeat
    • Wellens Syndrome
      • LifeInTheFastLane LINK (CLICK ME)
      • Deeply inverted (Type B) or biphasic TW in V2, V3 (Type A) (may extend from V1-V6)
      • Minimally elevated ST segment (<1mm)
      • EKG pattern present in pain-free state
      • Normal or slightly elevated serum cardiac markers

  • Stuart Rosenhaus – STOP THE BLEED course (w/ ability to become an instructor)
    • How to put on tourniquet
    • QuikClot to pack wounds
    • Tourniquets are rated for adults, however they can be used for some pediatric patients

  • Dr Michael – US lecture: Pregnancy Complications 
    • First trimester pregnancy emergencies
    • US in 1st trimester
      • Abdominal (curvilinear) probe
      • BHCG discriminatory zone
        • TAUS 4000-6500
        • TVUS 1000-2000
      • Sono signs of pregnancy
        • Intradecidual sign (FIRST sign of preg)
          • Uterus is in implantation mode (does not indicate IUP)
          • Hcg <1000-2000
        • Double decidual sign
          • ~5 weeks
          • Likely true IUP, does not confirm IUP (does not rule OUT ectopic)
          • Normal GS should be oval or rounded in appearance
        • Yolk sac (“cheerio” in the middle of double decidual space)
          • FIRST definitive sign of IUP
          • MUST confirm in 2x views (trans & sag) 
        • Fetal Pole
          • 2nd structure visualized
          • TV US ~ 6 weeks
          • BHCG ~10,000-20,000
        • Fetal Heart Rate
          • TA US ~7-9 wks
          • M Mode
          • Normal 120-180 
            • Do not need to document RATE, can state “there is fetal heart activity/rate”
          • Fetal viability: nonviable <24 weeks
        • Endomyometrial mantle
          • EMM >8mm at thinnest point
          • Otherwise, suspect at interstitial ectopic
          • Correlate with centrally located GS
          • Measured the from the gestational sac to edge of myometrium
        • ** 3 REQUIREMENTS TO CONFIRM IUP **
          • 1) Gestational sac
          • 2) Presence of a yolk sac OR fetal pole within the sac
          • 3) EMM >8mm
          • *Our role in ED is to confirm an IUP, NOT to rule out ectopic*
    • Miscarriage
      • = spontaneous abortion = early pregnancy loss
      • Loss of IUP within first trimester
      • Overall risk: 7-27%
      • Risk increases with age (35yo ~20%; 40yo ~40%)
      • ALWAYS reassure patients that miscarriages are not their fault. 
      • No cardiac activity on US or HR <80bpm
      • Management threatened abortion
        • Most have normal pregnancy (3-4% have miscarriage)
        • ALWAYS Check Rh status (Rh- needs RhoGAM)
        • Close follow-up (within 1-2 days)
      • Management missed/incomplete/inevitable
        • ALWAYS Check Rh status (Rh- needs RhoGAM)
        • Consult OB
        • Medical vs surgical management options
    • Ectopic pregnancy
      • Fun facts
        • 2% of all pregnancies
        • #1 cause of maternal deaths in 1st trimester
        • 98% in fallopian tube
      • Heterotopic pregnancy: coexistence of an IUP and an ectopic pregnancy
        • Usually 1/4000 to 1/30,000
        • If IVF pregnancy? 1/100
      • ACEP Position Statement: “Unstable patients in 1st trimester of pregnancy should be assumed to have ectopic pregnancy until proven otherwise” 
        • Unstable = altered mental status, hypotensive, tachycardic, ABD pain, or peritoneal signs; or presenting s/p syncopal episode
      • Sen/spec for needing OR after positive RUQ FAST
        • Specificity of RUQ US = 99.9% 
        • Sensitivity ~50%
      • Methotrexate management with (ACOG)
        • Absolute contraindications
          • Breast-feeding
          • Laboratory evidence of immunodeficiency
          • Preexisting blood dyscrasias (bone marrow hypoplasia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, or clinically significant anemia)
          • Known sensitivity to methotrexate
          • Active pulmonary disease
          • Peptic ulcer disease
          • Hepatic, renal, or hematologic dysfunction/disease
          • Coexisting viable IUP
          • Does not have timely access to medical institution, or unwilling/unable to comply with post-MTX monitoring
        • Relative contraindications
          • Adnexal mass >3.5 cm in largest diameter
          • Presence of fetal heart rate
          • Free fluid visualized in Pouch of Douglas
          • Beta-HCG >5000mIU/mL
  • Hyperemesis gravidarum
    • Dfn: loss of 5% of pre-preg weight with n/v/ketosis
    • Diagnosis of exclusion!
    • 3% of pregnancies
    • Dx: exclude other pathologies, check electrolytes, check UA for ketones
    • Tx: 
      • IVF, Pyridoxine B6, Doxylamine
      • 2nd line: Metoclopramide
      • 3rd line: Odansetron (small risk of fetal cardiac abnormalities)
  • UTI and asymptomatic bacteriuria
    • Treat every asymptomatic bacteriuria
    • Tx: 
      • Cephelexin
      • Amoxicillin
      • Nitrofurantoin (ACOG: safe in 2nd and 3rd trimester–avoid in 1st)
    • Pyelonephritis: ALWAYS ADMIT
  • Acute Appendicitis
    • 1st line: US (18% sensitive)
    • Gold standard: Noncontrast MRI
    • CT if no MRI available, ionizing radiation for single study for appendicitis does not exceed the threshold dose for fetal harm (likely without contrast-gadolinium has fetal mal-effects)
    • Tx: surgical intervention, do NOT get sole antibiotic treatment
  • REMINDER: Indications for Emergent MRI (at coney)
    • Posterior stroke
    • Pregnant appendicitis
    • Spinal epidural abscess

Authors