Archives: BETs

PONV is a common problem after general anesthetic and has the possibility to cause delays from the recovery room. What is the incidence of post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in fast-track patients after cardiac surgery?

An adult male presents to the ED with flashes and floaters, and a curtain falling across the eye. Following standard ocular examination, there is a suspicion of RD, PVD or VH. Could ocular ultrasound performed by an ED physician help in confirming the diagnosis and accelerate his further management?

Whilst working in the Emergency Department you assess a 44 year old male patient with a large intracerebral haemorrhage. He only scores 2 on his early warning score due to his decreased level of consciousness, his other physiological variables being normal. Based on clinical indications, he is intubated and ventilated and taken to intensive care but dies two days later. Whilst reflecting on this case you wonder whether early warning scores are sensitive and specific enough to predict mortality in ED patients.

A 65-year-old man is brought to the Emergency Department with no recordable blood pressure and a temperature of 39°C. You attempt unsuccessfully to insert a peripheral line several times and you decide to cannulate a central vein. Your colleague asks you if it would not be wiser to wait for the patient’s blood coagulation profile to avoid potential bleeding complication.

A 64 year old male presents with epistaxis. Your usual approach is to attain haemostasis, check for hypertension and coagulopathy. As you prepare to gain IV access and take blood you wonder whether there is any evidence to show that checking the clotting is warranted.

As you prepare one of your patients for conscious sedation in the emergency department she tells you that she has been allergic to eggs since childhood. Your colleague states that a documented egg allergy is a contraindication for the use of propofol but you have your doubts. You wonder if there is any published evidence or whether this is another medical myth.

A 59 year old women has painful osteoarthritis of the 1st MTPJ (great toe). She has been told that a MTPJ fusion is the best surgical solution but has read on t'internet that there are now joint replacements for the big toe MTPJ. She asks for your advice but before imparting wisdom, you wonder if there has been any study comparing the two techniques.

A 65 years old male patient is admitted through your Emergency department with severe sepsis. Early Goal Directed Therapy (EGDT) was started within one hour of patient’s arrival. You are aware that sepsis has a very high mortality and you wonder is there anything else you can do to improve the chances of your patient surviving. ITU registrar mentions the possible role of statins in the management of septic patients. On your search you realized that 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-COA) reductase inhibitors (statins), possess a number of pleiotropic effects that are thought to have a beneficial effect in septic patients. Data from animal models has shown promising results in improving survival in mice with sepsis, and you wonder if statins could be the new breakthrough drug in the management of these patients.

A 24 year old man presents to the A&E minors department referred by the dental emergency unit. He is complaining of a dull and constant pain localised to the lower right 4th, 5th and 6th. Although he is systemically well you can feel a submandibular swelling just below the affected teeth.