Emergency Medicine Board Bombs

Some medications are technically available to us in the ED—but that doesn’t mean they’re good choices. EM Board Bombs teams up with Lil Pharma (@lilpharma2026) to break down five medications we think emergency clinicians should avoid giving or prescribing, why they can get you into trouble, and what to use instead.Want to experience the greatest in board and CME studying? ⁠⁠Check out our interactive question bank podcast- the FIRST of its kind here⁠⁠⁠⁠Cite this podcast as: Briggs, Blake; Briscoe, Abbi; Husain, Iltifat. 295. 5 Medications You Should NEVER Give or Prescribe in the ED. October 5, 2026. Accessed [date].⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out our Youtube channel!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Starting emergency medicine residency can feel like drinking from a fire hose. In this episode, we share practical advice for early intern year—from seeing and presenting patients efficiently to calling consultants, staying organized, asking for help, and becoming a stronger emergency physician.Want to experience the greatest in board and CME studying? ⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out our interactive question bank podcast- the FIRST of its kind here⁠⁠⁠⁠Cite this podcast as: Briggs, Blake; Husain, Iltifat. 294. EM Intern Year: Tips Every New EM Resident Should Know. September 13, 2026. Accessed [date].⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out our Youtube channel!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Testicular torsion and tension pneumothorax are two classic emergency medicine diagnoses where waiting for another test can cause harm. In this Immediate Action episode, we review when to stop imaging and start treating.Want to experience the greatest in board and CME studying? ⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out our interactive question bank podcast- the FIRST of its kind here⁠⁠⁠⁠Cite this podcast as: Briggs, Blake; Wosiski-Kuhn, Marlena. 293. Testicular Torsion and Tension Pneumothorax: treat before imaging. September 1, 2026. Accessed [date].⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out our Youtube channel!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

VT vs SVT with aberrancy is one of the classic EKG debates in emergency medicine...but honestly the debate itself is the problem. In this episode, we simplify the approach. Let's talk why one diagnosis should remain at the top of your differential, why a stable patient can absolutely still be in VT, and which EKG findings can make the diagnosis much easier. Also, we have a MEGA announcement regarding a new way of CME here at EMBB!Want to experience the greatest in board and CME studying? ⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out our interactive question bank podcast- the FIRST of its kind here⁠⁠⁠⁠Cite this podcast as: Briggs, Blake; Husain, Iltifat. 292. VT vs SVT With Aberrancy: Stop Debating Wide-Complex Tachycardia? Accessed [date].⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out our Youtube channel!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

A bruise may be harmless—or it may be the first visible sign of serious child abuse. In this episode, we review non-accidental trauma in the ED, including the historical clues, physical examination findings, injury patterns, and inconsistencies that should raise concern for abuse. Special thanks to Nicole Kopel, MD from the University of Cincinnati Emergency Medicine Residency, who researched and wrote the script for this episode.Want to experience the greatest in board studying? ⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out our interactive question bank podcast- the FIRST of its kind here⁠⁠⁠⁠Cite this podcast as: Briggs, Blake; Kopel, Nicole; Wosiski-Kuhn, Marlena. 291. Non-Accidental Trauma: Recognizing Child Abuse Before It’s Missed. Accessed [date].⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out our Youtube channel!⁠⁠⁠⁠

A cirrhotic patient with ascites presents confused—but no fever or abdominal pain. Should you just treat hepatic encephalopathy, or are you missing spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP)? In this episode of EM Board Bombs, we review when diagnostic paracentesis is indicated, why ammonia levels are often misleading, the diagnosis and evidence-based management of SBP in the ED.Want to experience the greatest in board studying? ⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out our interactive question bank podcast- the FIRST of its kind here⁠⁠⁠⁠Cite this podcast as: Briggs, Blake; Husain, Iltifat. 290. Should every ED cirrhosis patient get a paracentesis? Accessed [date].⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out our Youtube channel!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

What should you do when a patient presents after radiation exposure?In this episode of EM Board Bombs, filmed on location at White Sands National Park, we review the emergency department approach to acute radiation syndrome (ARS), including exposure assessment, decontamination, diagnosis, laboratory monitoring, and lifesaving treatment.Want to experience the greatest in board studying? ⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out our interactive question bank podcast- the FIRST of its kind here⁠⁠⁠⁠Cite this podcast as: Wosiski-Kuhn, Marlena. 289. Radiation Poisoning: Emergency Medicine Review. Accessed [date].⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out our Youtube channel!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Managing mild traumatic brain injury can be challenging in the ED. Which patients need admission? Who requires repeat imaging? And who can safely go home without any imaging? In this episode, we welcome Dr. Jeff Cloyd, Medical Director of UT LIFESTAR, to discuss the Modified Brain Injury Guidelines (mBIG) and how they help emergency physicians risk stratify patients with mild traumatic brain injury and traumatic intracranial hemorrhage.We also discuss the upcoming UT LIFESTAR Emergency & Trauma Symposium on August 19, featuring cutting-edge trauma and emergency medicine education.Want to experience the greatest in board studying? ⁠⁠⁠Check out our interactive question bank podcast- the FIRST of its kind here⁠⁠⁠Cite this podcast as: Briggs, Blake; Cloyd, Jeff. 288. Managing Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in the ED. Accessed [date].⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out our Youtube channel!⁠⁠⁠⁠

Sometimes in EM, less thinking is a good thing. It's one of the most important concepts in EM board preparation: recognizing when immediate action is required before additional testing.Through high-yield board-style cases, we review common exam traps and the critical interventions that should never be delayed. Whether you’re preparing for ABEM boards, in-training exams, or simply want to sharpen your emergency medicine decision-making, this episode focuses on the moments where acting quickly changes patient outcomes...for real.Want to experience the greatest in board studying? ⁠⁠⁠Check out our interactive question bank podcast- the FIRST of its kind here⁠⁠⁠Cite this podcast as: Briggs, Blake, Wosiski-Kuhn, Marlena. 287. Critical Decision moments in EM: when the right answer is act now. Accessed [date].⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out our Youtube channel!⁠⁠⁠⁠

A post-op shortness-of-breath case sparks a breakdown of ECG clues for pulmonary embolism. They explain why sinus tachycardia is the common finding and why the famed S1Q3T3 sign often misleads. The episode highlights ECG patterns that suggest right ventricular strain and which new changes signal more severe clots. Final rapid pearls emphasize that a normal ECG does not rule out PE.