Sean Lowe

Administrative Fellow Emory University, Department of Emergency Medicine Attending Physician

Most commented posts

  1. Followup on Dr. Pendley’s Nailbed Post — 5 comments
  2. How not to get sued…and just good patient care! — 4 comments
  3. Radiation Risk — 3 comments
  4. Anaphylaxis — 3 comments
  5. EKG of the Day? — 3 comments

Author's posts

Followup on Dr. Pendley’s Nailbed Post

This is a piece of suture foil that is used to repair a partial nail avulsion.  Remember, you can use non adherent gauze or suture foil to lift the nail fold off of the nail bed.

DKA and HHS

  HHS v. DKA:   1) What’s the difference? HHS patients, as opposed to DKA patients, usually have some residual circulating insulin that prevents secretion of glucagon and glucocorticoids. These hormones are responsible for the breakdown of free fatty acids and the formation of ketone bodies seen in DKA.   2) What about this patients …

Continue reading

Mallet Finger

Mallet Finger Mechanism: Forceful flexion of distal phalanx results in disruption of extensor apparatus. Patients often present with a flexor deformity. Pathophysiology: This is classified as a type of zone 1 injury involving the DIP joint. 4 Types: Type 1: closed without fracture Type 2: Open tendon laceration without fracture Type 3: Open tendon injury …

Continue reading

Anaphylaxis

Anaphylaxis:  5 Clinically Relevant Questions:  1)       Whats the difference between anaphylaxis and anaphylactoid?  Anaphylaxis:  IgE mediated  Anaphylactoid:  Direct degranulation of mast cells 2)       What are the main causes? Main classes:  Food, insects, medications.  –PCN Cross Reactivity with Cephalosporin?  True incidence  <0.1% true anaphylactic cross reactivity –Radiocontrast material(RCM):  Shellfish and iodine allergies are not relevant!  That being …

Continue reading

How not to get sued…and just good patient care!

Without slowing you down… Sean’s TOP 5  Every patient: 1)  Vital Signs:  Never ignore them, and never discharge an abnormal one (without a good reason!) 2)  Nursing Notes:  Read them, and explain any contradictions 3)  Reexamination:  Document a reexamination on every patient in plain language 4)  Shared Decision Making:  “Mr. Jones and I discussed the …

Continue reading

Teaching Ultrasound: Cholangitis-Choledocolithiasis

The IOW this week comes from Drs. Dustin Hill and Katie Dean. Their patient is 40’s year old male, who presented to the ER with fever, tachycardia, and  RUQ abdominal pain. He had a history  of cholecysttitis previously and had undergone cholecystectomy.  Bedside ultrasound below was obtained. It can be challenging to get oriented when imaging …

Continue reading

Angioedema-Hereditary

How would people manage this case if it were hereditary???

EKG of the Day?

Anyone want to guess this rhythm and the treatment of choice?

Quiz of the Day

EKG of the Day

Remember:  Heart attacks occur in paced rhythm’s! Sgarbossa’s Criteria: Concordant ST elevation > 1mm in leads with a positive QRS complex (score 5) Concordant ST depression > 1 mm in V1-V3 (score 3) Excessively discordant ST elevation > 5 mm in leads with a negative QRS complex (score 2). A total score of ≥ 3 …

Continue reading