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You must know the FOUR emergent causes of sore throat! Step 1: Apply the Centor Criteria Determines if patients is at risk for Group A strep (“strep throat”) 4 Criteria Fever No cough Tonsiller exudates Lymphadenopathy Interpretation If patient has ALL of the criteria Treat for strep throat If patient has NONE of the criteria […]

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Procedural sedation is one of the core procedures in Emergency Medicine. You WILL see this during your clerkship Common Scenarios Cardioversion Orthopedic reductions Painful procedures Three Step Approach to Procedural Sedation Step 1: Risk stratify the patient Mallampati score (aka “How visible is the uvula?”) Level 1: Can visualize THE WHOLE uvula Level 2: Can […]

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Step 1: Identify Classic Red Flags for Can’t Miss Diagnoses Aortic Dissection and Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Age >50 Hypertension “Ripping” or “Tearing” pain Absent pulses in lower extremities Spinal Infections Fever Immunocompromized HIV Diabetes mellitus Transplant patients Spinal cord compression (especially cauda equina) Urinary retention Consider obtaining post-void residual Saddle anesthesia Fecal incontinence/decreased rectal […]