EM Pulse Podcast™

Pulmonary embolism (PE) in pediatric patients is high stakes but less frequent diagnosis. Because missing a PE can be devastating, clinicians frequently order diagnostic workups, including labs and imaging. The adult PERC rule identifies adults at very low risk for PE but includes age <50 and adult heart rate cutoffs, making it inapplicable to pediatric patients. And, as we all know, children are not small adults! To help identify children at low risk for PE and prevent unnecessary radiation ex

Caring for patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI)—especially pediatric patients—is high-stakes and high-stress. In severe TBI, primary brain injury occurs at the moment of impact; our primary goal in the emergency department is preventing secondary brain injury caused by hypoxia, hypoperfusion, elevated intracranial pressure (ICP), seizures, hyperthermia, and dysglycemia. In this episode, ED Clinical Pharmacist Haley Burhans returns to walk us through key medications for the acute ma

Ultrasound-guided nerve blocks are no longer just a niche skill for fellowship-trained ultrasound specialists—they are a core component of modern multimodal pain management in the ED. Endorsed by ACEP, nerve blocks can offer rapid, targeted pain relief without relying solely on systemic opioids, making everything from rest to imaging and procedural workups significantly more comfortable for patients. Today, Dr. Carlos Mikell, UC Davis Emergency Ultrasound Faculty and nerve block expert, joins u

The Outbreak With over 17,000 cases reported across the U.S., a massive Cyclospora outbreak has taken center stage in public health news, marking it as the third-largest foodborne outbreak in modern American history (behind the 1994 Schwan’s ice cream salmonella outbreak and the 1985 Illinois milk outbreak). Infection causes gastrointestinal symptoms, including diarrhea, bloating, nausea and sometimes vomiting. So, what’s actually driving this surge? Is it safe to eat salad? Pediatric infectious

Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS) continues to be a major clinical challenge in the emergency department. Patients present with severe abdominal pain, intractable vomiting, and significant fluid and electrolyte derangements. CHS often affects people who have been using cannabis routinely for months to years – it can be difficult for patients to understand that their symptoms are related to cannabis. Today, emergency pharmacist Haley Burhans joins us to discuss first-line treatments, fluid m

A landmark international trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine evaluated whether fluid type impacts patient outcomes.