Category 2013 Morsels

Aspirated Foreign Body

We all have great respect for potential airway disasters. The bouncy ball that lodges in the kids airway leading to respiratory arrest is commonly spoken off and often contemplated.  We are ever ready to perform transtracheal ventilation in instances such…

Down’s Syndrome Considerations

During the course of a shift in the Emergency Department, I occasionally need to remind myself to rethink my diagnosis.  Fighting diagnostic momentum can be difficult.  That is why we look thoroughly for “Red Flags” (like we’ve talked about with…

Rhabdomyolysis

Vigilance in the face of apparently common or benign presentations is a common theme of the PedEM Morsels.  As we have said, Grandma can diagnose the gastroenteritis; we need to consider the other sinister ailments that masquerade as the benign. …

Heat-Related Illness

With the subtly that only Mother Nature has, the days in the Northern Hemisphere have started to get longer and become consistently warmer.  This, along with the fast approaching end of the school year, heralds the beginning of summer time. …

Hypertensive Crisis in Kids

I think that we’d all agree that 144/89 is not a normal blood pressure, but it is one that those of us who have the pleasure of caring for adults will look at with almost a sense of comfort –…

Diarrhea and Dehydration

We have all been there: listening to the family describe, with great concern, the apparent tremendous volume of emesis that their child produced prompting the ED visit.  Everyone is knowledgeable about “dehydration” and is aware of the potential dangers it…

Melanoma in Kids

So, while many of us don’t want to admit it, a lot of what we do in the Emergency Department does not specifically qualify as an “emergency.”  Of course, while what constitutes an emergency is somewhat relative to the individual, for…