Flakka - Synthetic New drug Hits South Florida!

/
Flakka - Synthetic New drug Hits South Florida!

Great NYT article about Flakka, the new next generation bath salt stimulant.

It’s actually quite sad but since the beginning of this year we’ve seen a spike of these patients hit our Emergency Department.

I know from firsthand experience treating these patients that it is true they experience delirium, psychosis, elevated temperatures, muscle breakdown and in some cases renal failure and death.  

Terrible drug, terrible effects on the patients.  

Read More

What Should You Do?

/
What Should You Do?

42 y/o M is bibems for AMS.  The patient has signs of head trauma and will likely need a HCT.  The patient becomes lethargic, shows signs of respiratory distress and is safely intubated via RSI with pretreatment.  Tube placement is confirmed via ETCO2.  Although sick, the patients vs are normal.  The patient is tx to radiology where the HCT is negative for acute pathology.  Upon return to the ED, the patient begins to desaturate and becomes hemodynamically unstable. 

What should you do?  If the patient was an asthmatic, what should be your first action?

Read More

Identify the Condition

/
Identify the Condition

A 66 y/o M with pmh of HTN presents to the ED for evaluation of acute onset right eye pain, blurred vision, nausea and vomiting.  The patient reports being in his usual state of health until he took a small dose of benadryl to help him sleep.  

Please identify this patient’s condition and comment on its management.  

Read More

What Do You Suggest?

/
What Do You Suggest?

A 61 y/o F presents to the ED for evaluation of generalized weakness, the patient is unable to provide further history as she transiently becomes unconscious before regaining consciousness during your evaluation.  

The patient is now conscious and the below EKG is obtained, what electrolyte abnormality is suggested by this EKG?  What should your mgmt plan include?

Read More