Lauren Westafer

Dr. Lauren Westafer, a PE researcher and Foamcast host, along with Dr. Justin Morgenstern, a regular contributor to EM platforms, and Dr. Bourke Tillman, an intensivist, dive into the complexities of managing intermediate-risk pulmonary embolism (PE). They discuss vital risk stratification techniques, including the use of biomarkers and imaging. The conversation also highlights crucial treatment decisions, weighing thrombolysis against anticoagulation, and the role of clinical judgment in dynamic situations. Their insights aim to enhance emergency care strategies for this challenging condition.

In this discussion, Dr. Lauren Westafer, an Assistant Professor and pulmonary embolism expert from the University of Massachusetts Medical School, delves into the nuances of D-dimer testing. She highlights the challenges of ruling out pulmonary embolism (PE) in high-risk patients, spotlighting striking findings from recent research. The conversation critically assesses the reliability of D-dimer levels and biases in existing studies, urging a need for reevaluation of testing strategies for better outcomes in emergency medicine.

Dr. Lauren Westafer, an expert in emergency medicine and co-founder of FOAMcast, and Dr. James Paxton, lead author of a pivotal COVID-related study, discuss groundbreaking advancements in prehospital stroke detection. They explore the challenges of identifying large vessel occlusion strokes and introduce the Harmony 5000 cranial accelerometry device, showcasing its enhanced sensitivity. The conversation also delves into biases in stroke research funding, the evolution of stroke detection technologies, and their implications for improving patient outcomes.