PEM Currents: The Pediatric Emergency Medicine Podcast

In lieu of a traditional episode this holiday season I wanted to share a reading of the Pediatric Emergency Medicine version of a famous Christmas poem. Transcript ‘Twas the night before Christmas, and I’m working a shift, The symptoms were varied, the pace was quite swift. The screens glowed with orders, the rooms filled with care, In hopes that discharge summaries soon would be there. The nurses were moving with hustle and speed, While families recounted each child’s urgent need. And I at my computer, my coffee in hand, Prepared for the onslaught that none could have planned. When out in the lobby there arose such a clatter, I sprang from my chair to see what was the matter. Away to the triage I flew like a flash, Dodging spilled apple juice and a child with a rash. The ambulances were wailing, the scene quite a sight, As the complaints rolled in on this hectic night. When what to my weary eyes did appear, But a febrile infant, his parents in fear. A nursemaid’s elbow in need of a tug, And a kid with a cough wrapped tight in a hug. A forehead lac with blood streaming red, And a teen who proclaimed, “I think I’m half-dead!” With quick-thinking teamwork, the cases we tamed, And I whistled and shouted and called them by name: “Now flu! Now croup! Now migraines and pain! On seizures! On sepsis! That ankle is sprained! To the trauma bay stat, through triage with speed, Move quickly, move calmly, and meet every need!” As the snow flakes that fall when wild winter winds fly, We hustled and triaged as new patients arrived. And then, in a twinkling, I heard down the hall, The sound of retching – a vomiting call. Ondansetron ordered, the nurse prepping the dose, I saw a pale toddler, looking morose. He was sick from his tummy to the tip of his nose, And the sounds of his misery steadily rose. His eyes were all sunken, his cheeks far too pale, But a popsicle bribe led to a triumphant exhale. The shift rolled along with splints left and right, Broken forearms galore on this holiday night. And ketamine laughter soon filled the air, As a lac repair finished with great skill and care. Abdominal pains brought more to the bays, With parents repeating, “He’s been sick for days.” A scan ruled out danger, the appendix intact, While the next patient arrived with an asthma attack. The hours wore on, the crowd didn’t cease, Yet amidst all the chaos, we found moments of peace. A mom’s grateful smile, a child’s sleepy yawn, Reminded us why we keep carrying on. So I sat at the computer and typed one last note, Cleared my inbox of tasks and the orders I wrote. And I heard myself whisper as I turned off the light, “Merry Christmas to all, and to all a calm night!”

Dive into the world of pertussis, also known as whooping cough, and uncover its persistent public health challenges despite vaccination efforts. Learn about the disease's three distinct stages and key symptoms, especially in infants and older children. Discover effective management strategies, including supportive care and the importance of post-exposure prophylaxis. Additionally, the discussion highlights vaccination schedules and addresses concerns about vaccine hesitancy, all crucial for effective infection control in clinical settings.

Join an engaging exploration of gastroesophageal reflux and gastritis in children and adolescents. Discover the critical distinction between gastritis and dyspepsia and how it impacts diagnosis. Dive into the latest clinical guidelines and evidence-based treatments. Learn about the role of lifestyle changes in management and the use of various pharmacological options, including proton pump inhibitors and antacids. Unpack current controversies surrounding treatments and the significance of Helicobacter pylori in gastritis management.

This episode of PEM Currents discusses ECPR (Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation), an advanced procedure used in cases of cardiac arrest when traditional CPR fails. ECPR involves using ECMO (Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation) to take over heart and lung functions, offering a last-resort option that is becoming more common in large pediatric hospitals. While ECPR shows promise in […]

Syphilis has gone by many nicknames over the years including “The Great Pretender” and “The Great Imitator.” Emily Labudde, MD, a Pediatric Emergency Medicine fellow at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and recent pediatric residency graduate from Cincinnati Children’s discusses the various manifestations of this sexually transmitted infection, and how we can’t miss this very treatable, […]

Cervical Spine Injuries are fortunately rare in children. this episode is all about learning when to suspect them, how to immobilize the C-spine properly, and which imaging test to choose. It was inspired by a hot-off-the-presses publication from the Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PECARN) focused on clinical decision rules for cervical spine imaging […]

Learn about febrile seizures in children, including prevalence and causes. Explore the relationship between fever and seizures, post-vaccination risks, and management strategies. Discover effective communication strategies for families dealing with febrile seizures.

Join first-year resident Emily Groopman, with her expertise in genetic diagnosis and rare diseases, as she sheds light on managing children with inborn errors of metabolism in emergency settings. They discuss the genetic foundations of these conditions and the urgency of early recognition. Emily emphasizes the importance of newborn screening and biochemical testing due to non-specific symptoms. The conversation also covers critical management steps, including glucose administration and the role of genetic consultations in ensuring optimal care.

Newborn infants need intramuscular injections of Vitamin K in order to produce critical clotting factors. If they don’t get it they can have potentially life threatening bleeding. PEMBlog @PEMTweets on… sigh “X” (Twitter) My Instagram My Mastodon account @bradsobo References Transcript Note: This transcript was partially completed with the use of the Descript AI Welcome […]

This episode will help you recognize cellulitis and even differentiate it from erysipelas which is totally a different thing. You’ll also learn about treatment, whether or not a blood culture is necessary, and a whole lot more! PEMBlog @PEMTweets on… sigh “X” (Twitter) My Instagram My Mastodon account @bradsobo References Chen AE, Carroll KC, Diener-West […]