by Aaron Farney, MD Citation Alter, S. M., Haim, E. D., Sullivan, A. H., & Clayton, L. M. (2018). Intubation of prehospital patients with curved laryngoscope blade is more successful than with straight blade. The American journal of emergency medicine. Background/Rationale There are two direct laryngoscope blades available to EMS: the curved Macintosh and the straight
by Aaron Farney MD Clinical Scenario You are called for a 25-year-old male, possible overdose, unknown if breathing. On arrival, the patient is unresponsive on his bathroom floor. Family reports they found him on the floor not breathing just prior to calling 911. They had last seen him well 15 minutes prior. He has a
Analysis of Out-of-Hospital Pediatric Intubation by an Australian Helicopter Emergency Medical Service. Burns BJ, Watterson JB, Ware S, Regan L, Reid C. Analysis of Out-of-Hospital Pediatric Intubation by an Australian Helicopter Emergency Medical Service. Ann Emerg Med. 2017;70(6):773-782.e4. [PMID: 28460858] Background & Objectives: Adequate establishment and maintenance of a patent airway is one of the hallmarks of
Clinical Scenario: In June, we posted the following scenario for comment: EMS is called to the scene of a “possible stroke”. The patient is a 75 yo female who was last known normal at 8 pm the night before when she went to bed with plans to watch TV before going to sleep. She fell when she
Article: Association of Prehospital Blood Product Transfusion During Medical Evacuation of Combat Casualties in Afghanistan With Acute and 30-Day Survival Shackelford SA, Del junco DJ, Powell-Dunford N, et al. Association of Prehospital Blood Product Transfusion During Medical Evacuation of Combat Casualties in Afghanistan With Acute and 30-Day Survival. JAMA. 2017;318(16):1581-1591. [PMID: 2906742] Background & Objectives:
By Christopher Galton, MD NRP When we start our EMS careers, the path forward seems easy. You want to run every great call there is to run and you tell yourself that the path to becoming the best paramedic or EMT is through sticking tubes into people, covering up holes in the chest, and driving fast
by David Ismael Arbona Calderón, MD Case Scenario: A 48 y/o unconscious male presented with dizziness and weakness in his office. On arrival of paramedics, patient is diaphoretic and unresponsive, but with pulse and spontaneous respirations. Initial assessment reveals a glucose level of 23 mg/dL. Paramedics find the patients current medication list in the patient’s
by Stephanie Louka, MD Case Scenario: Paramedics are called to the home of a 59 year old male patient with an LVAD who was found unconscious and unresponsive by family members. He was last seen 2 hours earlier acting normally. There is no evidence of trauma. Family members are unaware of any recent illness or
by Melody Glenn, MD From 2008-2012, Francisco Cantú worked as an agent with the U.S. Border Patrol in the deserts of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. The Line Becomes a River is a memoir describing his experience, and like any talented memoirist, he uses his individual story to tell a bigger truth: violence has a
On March 3rd, we published the following case stem: EMS is dispatched to the home of a 75 yo female for a “lift assist”. Reportedly, the patient slipped out of bed when getting up in the morning and needs assistance in getting off the floor. Per dispatch, she is alert and denies other complaints. This is not the
