Are You CO Aware?
October 24, 2018With the onset of colder weather, many households in the UK are turning on their heating for the first time in months. Heating appliances need… Read more
Assessing Functional Leg Weakness
November 21, 2020When patients present with functional symptoms. It can be difficult to discern whether if it is an actual or functional weakness. And it can be… Read more
Bell’s Palsy
May 2, 2018Bell’s Plays is a lower motor neurone (LMN) lesion of the facial nerve (CN VII), which causes one side of the face to “droop” [1%… Read more
Cervical (Carotid OR Vertebral) Artery Dissection
November 24, 2018Cervical artery dissection is a rare but significant cause of stroke and headache/neckache, which is easy to overlook. Leading to a typically delay in diagnosis… Read more
Dabigatran Reversal
September 16, 2019Bleeding on Dabigatran? <C>ABCD – as usual trying to stop bleedBloods: FBC, Clotting, U&E, G&SDiscuss with Haematologist (esp. if taken within 12-24hr)Idarucizumab (PRAXBIND) 5g IVFound… Read more
Delirium in the ED
March 11, 2019Delirium is one of a number of geriatric syndromes and has significant associated morbidity and mortality. 3 subtypes of delirium Hyperactive – easies to spot,… Read more
DVLA – Driving & Medical Conditions
May 8, 2018For many conditions the patient should be informed to stop driving and inform the DVLA of their condition. It is the patients responsibility to inform the… Read more
Giant Cell Arteritis – GCA
March 13, 2018GCA is a is a vasculitis generally seen in the over 50’s and associated with polymyalgia rheumatic (PMR). However, unlike a lot of rheumatology, GCA… Read more
Head Injury
February 27, 2018Background Defined as any traumatic injury to the head other than superficial facial injuries. The commonest cause of death and disability in people age 1-40… Read more
Headache
February 27, 2018There are numerous causes of headache, however, the pressing question in the ED is, Is this a primary or SECONDARY headache? Primary headaches [e.g. tension… Read more
Hypomagnesaemia
December 11, 2019Classification Normal: 1.1-0.7 Mild: 0.69-0.5 Moderate: 4.9-4.0 Severe: <0.4 Signs/Symps (normally <0.5) MSK: Muscle Twitch, Tremor, Tetany, Cramps CNS: Apathy, Depression, Hallucination, Agitation, Confusion, Seizure… Read more
Meningitis – Adults
December 16, 2017Keep your suspicions high – early signs it may not be clear Sepsis Kills – give antibiotics & fluid early Consider Acyclovir Give Dexamethasone with… Read more
MRI Questionnaire
March 21, 2018When we need to book an MRI e.g. for Cauda Equina, we need to print the MRI Questionnaire and complete it! Although, most of this… Read more
Octaplex – work fast its an EMERGENCY!
December 16, 2017In recent incidents we have had significant delays in giving OCTAPLEX, So ….. Activate EARLY in head injury patients on warfarin. Order on EPR &… Read more
Ottawa SAH Rule
June 27, 2019Headache is a common presentation to ED and Subarachnoid is the diagnosis we never want to miss. However, working out who needs a scan can… Read more
Parkinson’s Disease & can’t swallow
October 2, 2019We all recognise the importance of ensuring patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) get their medication, but.. What do you do if the patient can’t swallow?… Read more
Primary Intracerebral Haemorrhage
December 1, 2020In anybody who there is suspicion of a non-traumatic haemorrhage arrange an urgent CT Head. All patients need IV access and U&E, FBC, Coag If… Read more
Proximal Myopathy/Muscle Weakness
May 1, 2018The Case An elderly patient attends the ED with difficulty mobilising, Nursing staff tell you that the patient needs a CT head for STROKE? –… Read more
Purple Glove Syndrome – Case
September 23, 2018Is a rare complication of I.V. Phenytoin, which presents with a triad of: Pain, Oedema & Discolouration, typically in the hand. In our case a… Read more
RCEM CPD 2019 Day 1
April 2, 2019HEAD AND NECK Tracheostomy Emergency Care – Dr Brendan McGarth www.Tracheostomy.org.uk Needs to distinguish Tracheostomy from laryngectomy as a laryngectomy has no connection to the… Read more
RCEM CPD 2019 Day 2
April 3, 2019NEUROLOGY #RCEMcpd @RCEMevents Advances in Acute Stroke Intervention Dr Ian Rennie Acute Stroke Thrombolysis only recannulates approximately 10% of large vessels. MR CLEAN trial reduced… Read more
Stroke – BE FAST
January 12, 2021As we know “TIME is BRAIN” so early recognition of stroke is vital so BE FAST! Read more
Syncope – ESC 2018
September 25, 2018Defintion:Transient Loss of Consciousness (TLOC) due to cerebral hypoperfusion, characterised by a rapid onset, short duration, and spontaneous complete recovery. Common ED Complaint: 1.7% of all attendances Difficult… Read more
Tick-Bourne Diseases
August 6, 2020The prevalence of diseases transmitted by tick bite have increased in recent years, within the UK. And it is now recognised that there are 3… Read more
Vertigo in ED
December 20, 2017Vertigo is not always labyrinthitis!! There are some potentially serious conditions to think about. Your main question should be is it peripheral [good] or central… Read more
