Annals of B-Pod: Hereditary Angioedema

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Annals of B-Pod: Hereditary Angioedema

There are not many universal, unequivocal truths in medicine, but we can mostly agree that breathing is pretty important. It follows that diseases, injuries, or illnesses that interfere with our airways are problematic. Hereditary angioedema is a uniquely terrifying pathology in which the body’s inflammatory system is aberrantly activated, leading to swelling and collapse of a patient’s larynx. In this case, Dr. Shaw walks us through a presentation and management of a patient with hereditary angioedema in the emergency department.

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Annals of B-Pod Summer 2018 Issue!

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Annals of B-Pod Summer 2018 Issue!

Hot off the presses, be the first to take a gander at the Annals of B-Pod summer 2018 issue! From neurosyphilis to pneumomediastinum to life-threatening baclofen withdrawal, you'll find that it's not just the summer heat making you sweat as we recount tales of these "great imitators" - clinical conditions that may present perniciously or deceive providers with their nebulous constellation of symptoms. Read about all of these and more on the latest issue of Annals of B-Pod!

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Annals of B-Pod: Baclofen Pump Failure

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Annals of B-Pod: Baclofen Pump Failure

Muscle relaxants see a wide variety of uses in the emergency department. From the treatment of sprains and strains to the management of spasticity in patients with upper motor neuron disease, agents like baclofen, cyclobenzaprine, and methocarbamol are well-established elements of an emergency physician’s armamentarium. With prolonged utilization, however, patients may develop dependence on these agents. Furthermore, this dependence may progress to potentially life-threatening withdrawal symptoms should the muscle relaxants be abruptly discontinued. In this article, Dr. Gottula walks us through the presentation and management of a patient suffering from a severe baclofen withdrawal following the failure of her intrathecal pump, including a discussion of the underlying pathophysiology and diagnostic considerations in the emergency department.

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Annals of B-Pod: Neurosyphilis

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Annals of B-Pod: Neurosyphilis

One of the fundamental axioms of medicine, passed down from generation of physicians to generation of physicians, “it could be syphilis” Perhaps no spirochete has garnered such infamy nor acrimony as Treponema pallidum. In this impeccably researched piece, Dr. Hall delves into a presentation of neurosyphilis, a devastating manifestation of the infection stemming from transmission of the bacterium into the central nervous system. Dr. Hall details the presenting symptoms, diagnostic approach, and emergent management of syphilis before delving into the various other forms this “great imitator” might take.

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Annals of B-Pod: Spontaneous Pneumomediastinum

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Annals of B-Pod: Spontaneous Pneumomediastinum

Air. It’s generally considered a pretty good idea. A fundamental aspect of aerobic metabolism and an essential need for most organisms on earth, it’s safe to say that life without air for a human isn’t much of a life at all. But what happens when air starts making mischief? What happens when air shirks the restrictive confines of the alveoli and elects instead to explore the muscle and subcutaneous tissue, seeks to admire the heart and great vessels, opts to race unencumbered along fascial planes and aponeuroses - what do you have then?

Well, a pneumomediastinum for one. In his article, Dr. Skrobut does a breathtaking job of detailing the presentation of a young patient with spontaneous pneumomediastinum, delving into the diagnostic modalities of choice, its emergent management, and the longterm prognosis. His article also seeks to clear the air about more controversial topics, including the role of empiric antibiotics and the need for surgical intervention.

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Annals of B-Pod - The Spring Issue is Sprung!

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Annals of B-Pod - The Spring Issue is Sprung!

And lo, as the gellid depths of winter give way to the fairer climes of spring, another issue of the Annals must too follow. The spring issue focuses primarily on perplexing neurological maladies that plague our patients, including a case series on meningitis as well as Dr. Makinen's phenomenal write-up of a fascinating presentation of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Also be on the look-out for an excellent review of anticoagulant reversal agents and my own piece on a caustic laundry pod ingestion. So take a moment to stop and smell the roses as we welcome another edition of #AoBP!

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Annals of B-Pod: Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease

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Annals of B-Pod: Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease

What's in a name? That which we call Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease by any other name would be as devastating. And how, do neurologists ever love their names! CJD - also known as "spongiform encephalopathy" and the comically grim "mad cow disease" - is an uncommon but uniformly fatal form of rapidly progressive dementia. In this case, Dr. Makinen takes us through the presenting features, definite diagnosis, and emergent management of the prion-mediated encephalopathy we call CJD. An entity which would, were it not CJD call'd, retain its dear morbidity.

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Annals of B-Pod: Caustic Ingestions

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Annals of B-Pod: Caustic Ingestions

If nothing else, the "Tide Pod challenge" has demonstrated that these versatile detergents truly excel in their intended purpose, cleaning not only dirt and sweat from your clothes but also purging the naive, vain preadolescent innocence from society. Join me - Dr. Scanlon - as I detail a fascinating case of a caustic ingestion, exploring the natural history, emergent management, and ultimate sequelae of this potentially devastating exposure.

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Annals of B-Pod - Winter Issue Release!

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Annals of B-Pod - Winter Issue Release!

In the chilling Winter edition of Annals of B-Pod, we're getting visceral. Delve into the nuances of hematologic emergencies  with Dr. Shaw's phenomenal discussion of disseminated intravascular coagulopathy or Dr. Baez's fascinating case of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. Keep your hand on the pulse as Dr. Klaszky discusses ulnar artery pseudoaneurysm. Keep an eye out for these excellent articles and more as we delve into the gritty inner-workings of the human machine in the latest edition of #AoBP!

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Annals of B-Pod: Disseminated Intravascular Coagulapathy

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DIC is a much dreaded dysregulation of the body's natural coagulation infrastructure associated with very high morbidity and mortality. DIC is a diagnosis that emergency providers cannot miss, and in his case Dr. Shaw walks us through the timely identification and treatment of DIC in the emergency department while simultaneously shedding light on much of the controversy that surrounds DIC. Do blood products help correct the coagulopathy?  Find out inside!

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Annals of B-Pod: Ulnar Artery Pseudoaneurysm

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Annals of B-Pod: Ulnar Artery Pseudoaneurysm

Pseudoaneurysms are a potentially deadly complication of any traumatic injury to or manipulation of a patient's vascular structures, and are highly morbid when not identified and treated appropriately by medical personnel. In this fascinating case, Dr. Klaszky walks us through the presentation, diagnosis, and management of a traumatic pseudoaneurysm.

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Annals of B-Pod: Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura

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Annals of B-Pod: Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura

TTP, ITP, HUS, DIC - the category of hematologic emergencies is rife both with three-letter acronyms and potentially devastating complications for those patients afflicted with them. Told from the perspective of an internist, this article by medicine chief resident Dr. Baez details a case of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) through the entirety of the patient's care, beginning with its presentation in the ED and ending with patient's ultimate recovery. In this article, Dr. Baez also details the newly minted, clinically-validated PLASMIC score, a scoring system that can be used in the ED to facilitate diagnosis of TTP. Check it out!

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Annals of B Pod - Fall 2017 Issue Release!

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Annals of B Pod - Fall 2017 Issue Release!

In the Fall 2017 edition of Annals of B Pod, our focus is on ocular emergencies. Dr. Murphy-Crews starts off with a case of acute angle closure glaucoma. This is followed by a detailed discussion of infectious keratitis and a procedure piece focusing on ocular ultrasound. Dr. Jarrell details a case of a traumatic
lens dislocation. In addition to these ophthalmologic-focused articles, Dr. Habib expertly discusses placenta previa and important management techniques of patients with abnormal placentation. The recurring pharmacology article details medication safety in pregnancy. Finally, Dr. Scanlon's EKG Focus discusses the evaluation and management of wide complex tachycardias.

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Angle Closure Glaucoma

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Angle Closure Glaucoma

For many emergency physicians, ophthalmologic complaints are seemingly shrouded in mystery and pose a distinct diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. What the heck is gonioscopy? Which eye does OU refer to again? Does latanoprost really change the color of your iris? In this case, we join Dr. Murphy-Crews as he parses the enigma of acute closure glaucoma, its pathophysiology, and the appropriate management in the emergency department.

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Placenta Previa

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Placenta Previa

Delivering neonates in the emergency department can be a stressful process, in part due to the potential for serious maternal or infant morbidity. In this article, Dr. Habib will discuss a case of placenta previa and walk us through how to recognize placental pathology, its pathophysiology, and appropriate emergent management.

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