A 56-year-old female with a past medical history of seronegative rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, hypothyroidism, and asthma presents to the emergency department for concern of "abnormal EKG" from the cardiology clinic. The patient states that she was previously told she has bradycardia and does endorse the occasional symptoms of palpitations, lightheadedness, and shortness of breath. She has a remote history of a stress test that was normal. The vital signs at time of assessment are shown: BP 151/74, HR 55, RR 20, O2 Sat 98% on room air. Laboratory testing in the emergency department is unremarkable and a chest x-ray showed no acute cardiopulmonary process. The patient had an EKG (Figure 1) completed in cardiology clinic.
Erica Dolph, MD, Michael Hohl, MD, and Ari Edelheit MD
Read MoreWelcome to this week's edition of The Cheese where we will discuss an ED classic, the incision and drainage. Get your scalpels ready as we dive into this cheesy topic!!
You’re on green team and your patient in bed 8 arrives with a fluctuant back mass. It started as a small pimple, but now it’s a full blown abscess and it’s up to you to pop it. So what’s the deal, can I just suck the pus out, do they need antibiotics, and what about packing? Deep breath, we’re here to discuss all you need to know about this common ED procedure.
Samsom Frendo, MD and Eric Leser, MD
Read MoreA 70 year old female with HIV, diabetes, hypertension, COPD/asthma, and CKD3 presents to the emergency department with a complaint of worsening shortness of breath. She believes her shortness of breath is typical of her COPD exacerbation but notes new, intermittent left-sided chest pressure. The initial lab results are significant only for a BNP of 545. The vitals are notable for bradycardia with a rate in the 40s. The patient's initial EKG (Figure 1).
Abish Kharel, MD and Ari Edelheit, MD
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