Heart disease in the shadows: a closer look at cardiac sarcoidosis
My new internist began my annual checkup with a nervous confession: “You are my first patient with cardiac sarcoidosis.” Even during an urgent care visit for potential cellulitis, I was met with raised eyebrows from the treating physician who reviewed my chart: “Very interesting, I’ve never seen a case of this heart disease.” With over
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Heart disease in the shadows: a closer look at cardiac sarcoidosis originally appeared in KevinMD.com. (Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog)
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - August 14, 2023 Category: General Medicine Authors: Kamal Bharucha, MD, PhD Tags: Conditions Rheumatology Source Type: blogs
October 2022: A Case of Ankle Annihilation
“Has your ankle been a problem for a long time?"I felt a sense of déjà vu looking at my patient's foot. I had seen this before: Someone with diabetes who had worsening, long-standing ankle pain, and had seen various doctors over the years.As before, my patient's foot was swollen, without ulcerations or signs of cellulitis or acute trauma. Perhaps we would do better this time. We could optimize our resource utilization, have him spend less time in the emergency department, and offer better care.Still, we began with an x-ray, and predicted that this symptom was one that some people with diabetes develop chronica...
Source: Lions and Tigers and Bears - October 6, 2022 Category: Emergency Medicine Tags: Blog Posts Source Type: blogs
Welcome To The Virtual Ward!
The expression ‘virtual ward’ is trending. But is it just the expression we hear about more often, or is there a real trend? And by the way: what is a virtual ward? And what is it good for?
It is yet difficult to find one, generally accepted definition for the new phenomenon. The same phrase is used for a number of quite different solutions. For the sake of understanding, here is what we think about when we speak of virtual wards.
“A virtual ward is a solution that supports patients who would otherwise be in hospital to get the acute care, remote monitoring and treatment in their own homes, with the use o...
Source: The Medical Futurist - April 5, 2022 Category: Information Technology Authors: Andrea Koncz Tags: TMF Artificial Intelligence in Medicine Digital Health Research E-Patients Future of Medicine Health Sensors & Trackers Healthcare Policy Telemedicine & Smartphones virtual ward Source Type: blogs
The Candy in My Pocket with John Robert Wiltgen
I had a chance to catch up with John Robert Wiltgen, the fascinating international award-winning JRW Design founder. I’m enjoying his recent blog posts and stories and want to spread the word in case you might enjoy them too.
John was diagnosed with diabetes at 8 years old. He’s lived with diabetes for more than 53 years now and has faced many challenges. I enjoy his positive attitude and how he continues to charge forth and do what he loves. Over the course of his life, he built an incredible design business. He’s won more than 40 major design awards, and his work has brought him from Chicago̵...
Source: Scott's Diabetes Blog - February 23, 2021 Category: Endocrinology Authors: Scott K. Johnson Tags: Blog Posts Source Type: blogs
I Cured My Patient, But What Was His Diagnosis?
By HANS DUVEFELT
He cancelled his followup appointment because he was feeling fine. He didn’t see the point in wasting a Saturday to come to my clinic when he had lawns to mow and chores to do.
Less than two weeks before that he was sitting on the exam table in my office, again and again nodding off, waking up surprised every time his wife prodded him. The stack of printouts from the emergency room illustrated all the normal testing they had done.
He had experienced a brief episode of numbness in the left side of his face and felt tired with just a slight headache. When I saw him the headache was a bit more ...
Source: The Health Care Blog - August 14, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Christina Liu Tags: Medical Practice Physicians Primary Care Hans Duvefelt Source Type: blogs
Resolve Otitis Externa Fast with an Ear Wick
Emergency providers expeditiously sift and sort patients on their shifts and streamline procedures like how to place an ear wick in a patient with otitis externa, a quick and useful procedure for a patient who will reap the rewards.Standard ear wicks. The material is made from a dehydrated sponge composed of hydroxylated poly(vinyl acetate). It increases in size when liquid is applied. Photo by M. Roberts.Otitis externa can cause significant swelling, irritation, pruritis, and pain to the ear canal. Occasionally, the canal is so swollen it may be difficult to administer ear drops. An ear wick can be inserted between the...
Source: The Procedural Pause - June 2, 2020 Category: Emergency Medicine Tags: Blog Posts Source Type: blogs
Part One: Tapping the Wrist
The wrist is not commonly aspirated in the emergency department, but emergent arthrocentesis may be indicated for extreme or concerning cases, and tapping the wrist to determine the underlying pathology or relieve pain may be of great value. The synovial fluid from the joint space can be analyzed for crystals, infection, and blood. This information may help determine the overall plan and aid in decision-making and consultation. The ultimate treatment plan may include admission, intravenous antibiotics, multiple aspirations, and even surgical washout.A swollen, painful wrist that is hot to the touch is concerning for sep...
Source: The Procedural Pause - April 1, 2020 Category: Emergency Medicine Tags: Blog Posts Source Type: blogs
I Can’t Hear You!
A 50-year-old man presented to the emergency department complaining of ringing in his ears and difficulty understanding what people were saying. He was concerned that he was having a stroke. A full neurological exam was unremarkable aside from decreased hearing, but his hearing deficits appeared to be equal bilaterally. Otoscopic exam demonstrated a normal tympanic membrane, and the rest of his physical exam was unremarkable. The patient's past medical history was significant for hypertension and hypercholesterolemia, for which he took lisinopril and atorvastatin. He was recently treated with a 10-day course of doxycycl...
Source: The Tox Cave - April 1, 2019 Category: Emergency Medicine Tags: Blog Posts Source Type: blogs
Distinguishing between Orbital and Preseptal Cellulitis
Some medical conditions have signs and symptoms that significantly overlap, making a diagnosis a little more difficult. Epididymitis, testicular torsion, and torsion of the testicular appendage are examples, but orbital and preseptal cellulitis are others that can cause significant diagnostic confusion.Both conditions are more common in children than in adults, and preseptal or periorbital cellulitis is more common in children under 5. The preseptal and orbital spaces are separated by only a thin membranous septum that originates in the orbital periosteum and inserts into the tarsal plates. It is only this thin septum t...
Source: M2E Too! Mellick's Multimedia EduBlog - December 31, 2018 Category: Emergency Medicine Tags: Blog Posts Source Type: blogs
Medmastery: Soft tissue ultrasound
LITFL • Life in the Fast Lane Medical Blog LITFL • Life in the Fast Lane Medical Blog - Emergency medicine and critical care medical education blog
The team at Medmastery are providing LITFL readers with a series of FOAMed courses from across their website.
Exploring the Point of Care Ultrasound Essentials course with a video demonstrating soft tissue ultrasound for the diagnosis of abscesses and cellulitis.
Further reading:
LITFL Medmastery Courses
Medmastery on Facebook and Twitter
Guest post: Viveta Lobo, MD (@vivetalobo). Attending Emergency Medicine Physician and Associate Director, Emergency Ultrasound Fe...
Source: Life in the Fast Lane - May 9, 2018 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Mike Cadogan Tags: Medmastery abscess cellulitis POCUS Ultrasound Viveta Lobo Source Type: blogs
LITFL Review 329
LITFL • Life in the Fast Lane Medical Blog LITFL • Life in the Fast Lane Medical Blog - Emergency medicine and critical care medical education blog
Welcome to the 329th LITFL Review! Your regular and reliable source for the highest highlights, sneakiest sneak peeks and loudest shout-outs from the webbed world of emergency medicine and critical care. Each week the LITFL team casts the spotlight on the blogosphere’s best and brightest and deliver a bite-sized chunk of FOAM.
Readers can subscribe to LITFL review RSS or LITFL review EMAIL subscription
The Most Fair Dinkum Ripper Beauts of the Week
Laura Duggan re...
Source: Life in the Fast Lane - April 29, 2018 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Marjorie Lazoff, MD Tags: LITFL review LITFL R/V Source Type: blogs
LITFL Review 326
LITFL • Life in the Fast Lane Medical Blog LITFL • Life in the Fast Lane Medical Blog - Emergency medicine and critical care medical education blog
Welcome to the 326th LITFL Review! Your regular and reliable source for the highest highlights, sneakiest sneak peeks and loudest shout-outs from the webbed world of emergency medicine and critical care. Each week the LITFL team casts the spotlight on the blogosphere’s best and brightest and deliver a bite-sized chunk of FOAM.
Readers can subscribe to LITFL review RSS or LITFL review EMAIL subscription
The Most Fair Dinkum Ripper Beauts of the Week
Read this speci...
Source: Life in the Fast Lane - April 8, 2018 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Marjorie Lazoff, MD Tags: LITFL review LITFL R/V Source Type: blogs
Some Details about Hospital-at-Home (HaH) Services for Selected ER Patients
In a recent note, I discussed the question of whether hospitals are becoming obsolete (see: Are Hospitals Becoming Obsolete; Consequences for Pathology and the Labs). I believe that the answer to this question is partly true with some supporting evidence provided by the emergence of"bedless hospitals." They are being built primarily to provide ambulatory care services, clinical labs, radiology, operating rooms, and telemedicine (see, for example:The Design of Bedless Hospitals Continue to Evolve Based on Cost and Technology;Some Additional Ideas About the Bedless Hospitals of the Future). These ideas ...
Source: Lab Soft News - April 2, 2018 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: Bruce Friedman Tags: Healthcare Delivery Healthcare Innovations Hospital Financial Quality of Care Telemedicine Source Type: blogs
Weird and Wild: The Hidden Compartment Syndrome
Compartment syndrome made it on our weird and wild list not only because it is uncommon but also because it is difficult to identify. It presents in strange ways, and is often missed the first time a patient seeks care. This rare but serious condition may result in permanent contractures or even loss of a limb. Complications from compartment syndrome escalate quickly if they're not treated promptly. Early recognition and treatment of this problem is imperative.The increased pressure in the space around certain muscles that creates compartment syndrome can be caused by fractures, bleeding, recent surgeries, burns, rhabdo...
Source: The Procedural Pause - April 2, 2018 Category: Emergency Medicine Tags: Blog Posts Source Type: blogs
LITFL Review 324
LITFL • Life in the Fast Lane Medical Blog LITFL • Life in the Fast Lane Medical Blog - Emergency medicine and critical care medical education blog
Welcome to the 324th LITFL Review! Your regular and reliable source for the highest highlights, sneakiest sneak peeks and loudest shout-outs from the webbed world of emergency medicine and critical care. Each week the LITFL team casts the spotlight on the blogosphere’s best and brightest and deliver a bite-sized chunk of FOAM.
Readers can subscribe to LITFL review RSS or LITFL review EMAIL subscription
The Most Fair Dinkum Ripper Beauts of the Week
Nice discussio...
Source: Life in the Fast Lane - March 25, 2018 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Marjorie Lazoff, MD Tags: LITFL review LITFL R/V Source Type: blogs
