Medical Category: Head, Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat

Background: The increased utility and accessibility of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) has allowed clinicians the freedom to rethink their diagnostic approach for many common diseases, including peritonsillar abscess (PTA). Clinical evaluation may prove difficult since many PTA and peritonsillar cellulitis symptoms overlap. …

Take Home Points: Assess patients with floaters or flashers for retinal or vitreous detachment. Rapid diagnosis and emergency referral improves outcomes of ophthalmologic interventions. CRAO is a stroke of the eye; patients should be considered for a complete stroke work …

Take Home Points: Suspect glaucoma in any patient with an acute change in vision and get an intraocular pressure measurement First line treatment in acute angle closure glaucoma is a topical beta blocker Consider giant cell arteritis in patients with …

Take Home Points: Fluorescein is an essential tool in the diagnosis of HSV keratitis Identifying the type of HSV keratitis is crucial, as it will guide treatment Update tetanus vaccination Consult ophthalmology if there is concern for HSV keratitis as …

Take Home Points Perichondritis is an infection of the cartilage and connective tissue of the ear Perichondritis can be recognized clinically by erythema, swelling and tenderness of the auricle. The most common organism in perichondritis is P. aeruginosa and antibiotics …