Most Recent
Ep 216 Cardiac Arrest Update: Beyond the 2025 ACLS Guidelines Part 2 – Medications, Airway, Termination and Post-ROSC Care
In this Part 2 or our 2-part EM Cases podcast series on Cardiac Arrest Update, Dr. Sheldon Cheskes and Dr. Rob Simard take us beyond the algorithms and into the real-world decision-making of cardiac arrest care. We answer questions like: Do vasopressin and steroids improve survival or just ROSC? Should we be giving amiodarone earlier—and is lidocaine just as good? When should we use calcium, bicarbonate, or magnesium, and when should we avoid them? What role does ketamine play in CPR-induced consciousness? How should we choose between supraglottic airways and endotracheal intubation? What are the pitfalls of waveform capnography (ETCO2) to help guide CPR quality, detect ROSC, and inform prognosis? What is the role of PoCUS and TEE during cardiac arrest? When should we terminate resuscitation—and how do ETCO2 and POCUS factor into that decision? Should we widen the criteria to consider thrombolytics and who should go to the cath lab, and should we be ordering whole-body CT after ROSC for everyone who isn't going to the cath lab or getting ECMO? And finally, what are the key post-ROSC targets that actually impact neurologic outcomes in cardiac arrest patients? and many more...Please consider a donation to EM Cases to support ongoing high quality Free Open Access Medical Education https://emergencymedicinecases.com/donation/
ECG Cases 61 ACLS Dysrhythmia Pitfalls Part 4: Stable Wide Complex Tachycardia
In this month's ECG Cases Dr. Jess McLaren explains how to differentiate various causes and mimics of Wide Complex Tachyardia: Artifact can mimic wide complex tachycardia, but have unaffected leads recorded at the same time, and regular narrow QRS complexes marching through the noise. Too wide or not fast enough? Consider hyperkalemia (empiric calcium) or sodium channel toxicity (empiric sodium bicarbonate). Regular wide complex tachycardia driven by P waves? Treat the secondary cause of sinus tachycardia. VT vs SVT? If the wide complex tachycardia is regular and not driven by P waves, and the differential is VT vs SVT, assume VT regardless of age or hemodynamic instability (eg fascicular VT in young patients) and much more...Please consider a donation to help ensure we continue to provide high quality Free Open Access Medical Education here: https://emergencymedicinecases.com/donation/
Ep 215 Cardiac Arrest Update: Beyond the 2025 Guidelines Part 1: CPR, Defibrillation and Ventilation
In this EM Cases update on cardiac arrest management, Dr. Sheldon Cheskes and Dr. Rob Simard join Anton to walk us through the evolving science and bedside practicalities of cardiac arrest management in the wake of the 2025 ACLS Guidelines. They answer questions such as: What are the most common failures in CPR quality, and how can we recognize and correct them in real time? Should we employ head up CPR, and if so how? How should we interpret ETCO₂ during cardiac arrest, and why shouldn’t we chase a single number? How can we minimize peri-shock pauses and optimize defibrillation success at the bedside? Is the traditional two-minute CPR cycle too rigid, and should we be shocking earlier in cases of refibrillation? What is the evidence behind dual sequential external defibrillation (DSED), and when should we use it? After 3 shocks or earlier? How does hyperventilation during cardiac arrest harm patients, and what strategies can reliably prevent it? What is compression-adjusted ventilation (CAV), and how can it improve ventilation consistency during resuscitation? What is the optimal dose of epinephrine in patient with Ventricular Fibrillation? and many more... Please donate to EM Cases to ensure ongoing Free Open Access Medical Education here: https://emergencymedicinecases.com/donation/ This is a deep dive into the critical inflection points in resuscitation where small changes in technique and decision-making may have the greatest impact on outcomes.
Global EM 10 – A Thousand Metres Above: Bringing Medical Care to the High Himalayas
In the remote high-altitude regions of Ladakh, access to healthcare is often seasonal, fragile, and sometimes nonexistent. This EM Cases guest post by Dr. Indy Sahota explores how the nonprofit A Thousand Metres Above delivers longitudinal, locally partnered medical care in one of the world’s most challenging environments—and what emergency providers can learn from practicing with limited resources, uncertain follow-up, and a deep reliance on clinical judgment...
EM Quick Hits 71 EMC²: Fever Without a Source, Coaching the EM Mind Part 1, Traumatic Pneumothorax Part 2, PECARN C-spine Rule, Medetomidine Withdrawal, EMS Handover
In this month's EM Quick Hits Podcast we introduce not one, but two new series! First, "EMC²" - EM Cases Cases (we know, horrible name ;) where Anton or Katie discuss a knowledge building case with a special guest. And second, "Coaching the EM Mind" with Dr. Sara Gray a professional coach for EM providers, where Katie discusses with her the science and best expert advice on how to perform your best in the ED. Plus, a withdrawal syndrome that is new EDs, life-threatening and requires specific treatment - metetomadine withdrawal, EMS handover done right, why community ED docs should not use the PECARN C-spine Rule and Part 2 of Petro's tips on management of traumatic pneumothorax... Please consider a donation to ensure EM Cases continues to be Free Open Access here: https://emergencymedicinecases.com/donation/
Ep 214 Bridging the Gap in Endometriosis Care: Recognition, Risk Stratification, and ED-Initiated Management
We walk you through what Emergency Physicians need to know to recognize, risk stratify, and manage endometriosis safely and pragmatically. We answer question such as: When should endometriosis rise to the top of the differential for pelvic pain? How do we distinguish an endometriosis flare from a dangerous endometriosis complication? from Pelvic Inflammatory Disease? Why hemorrhagic cyst the most common misdiagnosis for endometriosis and how can we tell the difference between hemorrhagic cyst and endometrioma? Which hormonal therapy is safe, reasonable and effective to start in the ED? What are the most common life-threatening complications of endometriosis we should be on the lookout for in the ED? How do we discharge patients with suspected endometriosis safely and reduce repeat visits? and many more... Please consider a donation to EM Cases to ensure continued free open access medical education here: https://emergencymedicinecases.com/donation/
