15 Oct 2019

October 15, 2019

Written by REBEL Crit
Background: Evidence from the CRASH-2 trial showed an absolute reduction in mortality of 1.5% (NNT = 67) in patients with extracranial bleeding treated with tranexamic acid  (TXA) within 3 hours of injury. However, CRASH-2 did not answer the question of effect on mortality in patients with intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), as these patients were excluded from the trial.  It makes biologic sense that administration of TXA in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) might prevent or reduce ICH expansion and thus avert brain herniation and death.  There were two smaller RCTs [2] that showed a reduction in death with TXA in patients with ICH. However, both of these trials were small and considered to be hypothesis generating only. TICH-2 [3] was an international, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial in adults with ICH from acute stroke with ≈2300 patients and showed no difference between groups in functional status at day 90. TICH-2 did show a small improvement in hematoma expansion at day 2 and death by day 7.  Due to the fact that these  findings were secondary outcomes they were also hypothesis generating. All of the above positive findings therefore required confirmation in a larger randomized trial, which has finally arrived…CRASH-3.
Medical Categories: Trauma
4 Likes
14 Oct 2019

October 14, 2019

Written by REBEL Crit
Shock is defined as circulatory failure leading to decreased organ perfusion.  In a shock state there is an inadequate delivery of oxygenated blood to tissues that results in end-organ dysfunction.  Effective resuscitation includes rapid identification and correction of inadequate circulation.  the finding of normal hemodynamic parameters (i.e. normal blood pressure) doe not exclude shock itself.  In this 17 minute and 26 second video, I will review the management shock - part 2b (Dobutamine, Milrinone, Vasopressin, Angiotensin II, & Selepressin).
Medical Categories: Resuscitation
2 Likes
10 Oct 2019

October 10, 2019

Written by REBEL EM
Background: Serial lactate measurements is a common core measure that we follow in septic shock resuscitation. A number of readers have written in enquiring about whether resuscitation with lactated ringers instead of 0.9% saline would lead to increases in serum lactate.   It’s a great question, and one that I am not sure I had a solid answer for before reviewing this topic.  LR contains 28 mmol/L of sodium lactate and, on the surface, it seems reasonable to think that infusion of LR would lead to lactate increases. This could potentially confound the interpretation of serial serum lactate measurements.
Medical Categories: Endocrine, Metabolic, Fluid, and Electrolytes
3 Likes
9 Oct 2019

October 9, 2019

Written by REBEL Cast, REBEL Core
Take Home Points 
  • Acute closed angle glaucoma is an ophthalmologic emergency that usually presents with sudden, painful, monocular vision loss.
  • Physical exam will reveal conjunctival redness, corneal haziness or cloudiness due to edema and a pupil that is mid sized and minimally reactive to light, a rock hard globe and IOP >/= 21.
  • These patients require emergent ophthalmology evaluation but treatment should be started empirically while waiting for the evaluation. Initial treatment to decrease IOP usually includes a topical BB such as timolol and topical AB such as apraclonidine and either IV or PO acetazolamide.  
 
Medical Categories: Head, Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat
0 Likes
7 Oct 2019

October 7, 2019

Written by REBEL Crit
Shock is defined as circulatory failure leading to decreased organ perfusion.  In a shock state there is an inadequate delivery of oxygenated blood to tissues that results in end-organ dysfunction.  Effective resuscitation includes rapid identification and correction of inadequate circulation.  the finding of normal hemodynamic parameters (i.e. normal blood pressure) doe not exclude shock itself.  In this 15 minute and 46 second video, I will review the management shock - part 2a (Norepinephrine, Epinephrine, Dopamine, Phenylephrine, and Push-Dose Pressors).
Medical Categories: Resuscitation
3 Likes
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