EMCrit Podcast

On this podcast, I recap from last show, especially the concept of bare minimum normotension (called erroneously permissive hypotension by just about everyone else) and why we should keep the MAP higher if there is suspected elevations in intracranial pressure I then talk about massive transfusion. This is probably the best strategy for a patient that will require greater than 8-10 units of PRBCs. What may be the best review of the topic is by Spinella and Holcomb: (Blood Reviews 2009;23:231-240) I talk about 1:1:1 transfusion PCC, Factor VIIa, Cryo Calcium IV Access coming up in the next few podcasts: Sedatives for Intubation, Trauma Airway Management, The Crashing A-fib patient

Thought we'd talk about some trauma stuff, specifically the resuscitation of the critically ill hemorrhagic shock patient. There is much to discuss, so this will be a multi-episode affair. Today, we'll concentrate on the Lethal Triad and BP Goals. Lethal Triad The picture says it all. Bleeding causes acidosis, hypothermia, and coagulopathy. Then the cycle begins as they all beget each other. If this continues for too long, it is irreversible. We can iatrogenically make things worse by keeping our patients exposed and infusing ice cold fluids and products. By diluting their existing clotting factors and platelets with too much fluid and red cells. And by not ensuring adeqaute perfusion to counter acidosis. BP Goals Your goal is a MAP of 65. This is not hypotensive resus, which is still not proven. It is normotensive resuscitation; beyond 65, no additional benefts will be seen, but you do risk increased bleeding and dilutional coagulopathy. If MAP < 65 - give fluids/products If MAP > 65 - check perfusion there are monitors for this such as NIRS measurement of thenar eminence, but at this stage, I recommend using the presence of a nice strong pulse and warm hands. MAP > 65 & Good Perfusion-stand tight MAP > 65 & Bad Perfusion-give fentanyl 20-25 mcg why fentanyl? b/c taking away pain and fear will limit endogenous catecholamines and the pt's bp will drop slightly from vasodilation. Now give fluids/products to take the MAP to > 65. Here are the articles resus of crit ill trauma patients damage_control_anesthesia Next Time: Massive Transfusion Protocols

The management of severe ETOH withdrawal and Delirium Tremens

Mohamed, a listener from Sudan, emailed asking about the treatment of acute pulmonary edema in patients with low blood pressure. This is in distinction to SCAPE patients (see podcast 1). If the patients have pulmonary edema and low BP from a cardiac cause, then they are in Cardiogenic shock. First, consider the etiology: Rate-related Valve Disorder Ischemic (Right sided infarct, STEMI, NSTEMI) Cardiomyopathy Toxicologic At the same time, you are treating the patient with: Inotropes (dobutamine, milrinone, calcium) Pressors to achieve a MAP > 65 (allows coronary perfusion) (Meta-Analysis demonstrates norepi superior to dopamine Medicine. 96(43):e8402, OCT 2017) Oxygenation support, most likely with intubation Optimize O2 carrying capacity (Hb>10) Here is a fantastic set of guidelines to manage these patients Update: Contemporary Management of Cardiogenic Shock Circulation 2017;136:e232 Journal Feed Summary

Does the EM ban on letting sick patients go to CT scan make sense? Listen to the podcast and then register your opinion.

So after the intubation video went up on emrap tv, I got a flurry of emails telling me how cool the concept is, but questioning who this would actually be usable on. To answer that question, we first must discuss who actually requires intubation. If you wait until the patient is apneic, then of course you can't use awake intubation. The idea is to intubate before the patient stops breathing.

Ok, Ok, I promise this is the last airway episode for at least a little while. I am perhaps a bit obsessed. Had this show in the works for a while. The cric is the last barrier between a failed airway and death. EM docs need to be able to perform this procedure without hesitation. This requires training and practice until you can perform the procedure in < 30 seconds literally with your eyes closed!

Young patient, lactate of 5.2, pneumonia... You know what you're supposed to do--put in the central line and start early goal directed therapy. Problem is, most people can't see sticking a central line in a patient that does not need pressors and otherwise looks well. Yet these patient have an annoying habit of going on to decompensate and perish. Well now there may be another way. Thanks to an article just published in JAMA, we may have a path to non-invasive treatment of severe sepsis. In this EMCrit Podcast, I interview Dr. Alan E. Jones, author of the article, Lactate clearance vs central venous oxygen saturation as goals of early sepsis therapy: a randomized clinical trial. Then I discuss how this article changes the game when it comes to caring for severe sepsis patients.

This week's podcast is on the management of a the patient with SAH. It's not a complete review, just some tips and reminders. Best article for EM that I've found, comes out of Columbia For more reviews on mostly ICU issues see here and here. Update: Critical Care Management of Patients Following Aneurysmal SAH Guidelines from NCC 1. Get a neuro exam before you intubate 2. Intubation Give pretreatment, now just lidocaine and fentanyl Etomidate or propofol; plus sux. Most experienced intubater should perform laryngoscopy 3. Treat Pain and if intubated, give sedation 4. Treat Vasospasm give nimodipine 60 mg PO or NGT 5. BP Control place a-line treat pain first Give Labetalol or Nicardipine to achieve the patient's baseline BP if the patient has good mental status if they are obtunded, be a bit more conservative until ICP monitoring is in place If MAP is below 80, give fluids, pressors, and inotropes 6. Anti-seizure prophylaxis Load with phenytoin or fosphenytoin 7. Anti-fibrinolytics Amicar is the main one these days; ask your neurosurgeon/neurointensivist on a case-by-case basis see ehced.org for drip sheets 8. Reverse Coagulopathy 9. Think Heart these patients can get EKG changes, dysrhythmias, LV stunning, and frank infarcts from their SAH 10. ICP ASAP get the neurosurgeons to get the EVD (external ventricular drain) aka IVC (intraventricular catheter) in place as soon as possible keep ICP < 20 and CPP > 55-60 Please Subscribe and Please Comment! .

Hi folks, this podcast is really brief--I gave a lecture at Jacobi last week (thanks for having me Jacobites!), and in response to a question I gave this rant on my vision of sedation after intubation.