In this episode, I’ll discuss a cost-avoidance study of a redistribution process to reduce waste of emergency medications in drug boxes. Subscribe on iTunes, Android, or Stitcher Placing emergency medications throughout the hospital in drug boxes is essential to ensure their availability when emergencies arise. However, this leads to a large number of medications that […]

In this episode, I’ll discuss the role for ketamine in status epilepticus. Subscribe on iTunes, Android, or Stitcher The initial therapy for status epilepticus is to use one of the following benzodiazepines: Lorazepam 0.1 mg/kg capped at 4 mg IV Midazolam 0.2 mg/kg capped at 10 mg IM Diazepam 0.15 mg/kg capped at 10 mg IV […]

In this episode, I’ll discuss using heparin anti-Xa levels to evaluate apixaban, rivaroxaban, fondaparinux, and danaparoid levels. Subscribe on iTunes, Android, or Stitcher Anti-Xa inhibitors such as apixaban, rivaroxaban, fondaparinux, and danaparoid do not have readily available assays, yet there is often a clinical need to determine their presence or absence. Because heparin anti-Xa assays are […]

In this episode, I’ll discuss three ways to tell the difference between serotonin syndrome and neuroleptic malignant syndrome. Subscribe on iTunes, Android, or Stitcher Muscular rigidity, significant hyperthermia, and autonomic instability are all common features of serotonin syndrome and neuroleptic malignant syndrome. While these two syndromes are very similar in presentation, they can usually be differentiated by looking […]

In this episode, I’ll discuss a systematic review of the ketorolac dose ceiling for ED analgesia. Subscribe on iTunes, Android, or Stitcher Ketorolac is FDA approved for a dose of 30 mg IV for analgesia however there is extensive research dating back as far as 30 years that supports a ceiling dose in the 10 […]

In this episode, I’ll discuss early as compared with later initiation of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in patients with atrial fibrillation who have had an acute ischemic stroke. Subscribe on iTunes, Android, or Stitcher   How soon to start anticoagulation after stroke due to afib is a matter of significant debate as there is a […]

In this episode, I’ll discuss probiotic-associated central venous catheter bloodstream infections in the ICU. Subscribe on iTunes, Android, or Stitcher   While probiotics are typically seen as a harmless intervention that may have benefits related to antibiotic-associated diarrhea, bloodstream infections caused by organisms contained within probiotics have been reported in ICU patients. A group of […]

In this episode, I’ll discuss an alternative definition of oliguria. Subscribe on iTunes, Android, or Stitcher   The commonly used definition of oliguria is a urine output of 0.5 mL/kg/hr over a 6 hr period. However some small studies have suggested that this definition of oliguria is too liberal. To bring clarity to this clinical […]

In this episode, I’ll discuss torsemide vs furosemide for symptoms and quality of life among patients hospitalized for heart failure. Subscribe on iTunes, Android, or Stitcher   Whether torsemide improves patient Heart Failure (HF) symptoms and quality of life better than furosemide is a matter of debate among clinicians, and a group of authors recently […]

In this episode, I’ll discuss the Management of muscle relaxation with rocuronium and reversal with neostigmine or sugammadex guided by quantitative neuromuscular monitoring. Subscribe on iTunes, Android, or Stitcher   Sugammadex is an effective but expensive neuromuscular blocking reversal agent compared with the previous standard of care, neostigmine. In many cases neostigmine will work adequately, […]

In this episode, I’ll discuss the dose of IV levothyroxine used for myxedema coma. Subscribe on iTunes, Android, or Stitcher   Myxedema coma is a rare medical emergency with in-hospital mortality of ~30% When it occurs, myxedema coma is often a result of either: 1. Withdrawal of thyroid therapy or 2. The first sign of thyroid […]

In this episode, I’ll discuss the dose of inhaled tranexamic acid used for nonmassive hemoptysis. Subscribe on iTunes, Android, or Stitcher   Tranexamic acid (TA) is an antifibrinolytic medication. It forms a reversible complex that displaces plasminogen from fibrin resulting in inhibition of fibrinolysis. Tranexamic acid is commonly used systemically to reduce bleeding in trauma or […]