Search results

So... wait. If the PE resolved itself then how do you know it was a PE? What tests would show that you recently had a PE, but do not anymore? How would the body so quickly breakdown a PE that is big enough to be symptomatic when patients on warfarin can take months to break down a PE?

As far as I know, no imaging technique has 100% sensitivity and specificity for anything. MRI is considered to be sensitive and specific for detecting subdural bleeds (not at all the standard of care in the ED). Anyhow, if a bleed is too small to be seen and the patient has a non-focal exam...

That's how it works in Medicine, not just EMS. Findings are presented at conferences prior to publication, if they get published at all. Many times, abstracts are presented but the full study never gets published for one reason or another. It's usually not until the whole study is published...

How many swollen "twisted" ankles would have to be imaged just to find one clot. How many would have to be found to prevent one death? This sounds more like a highly unusual bad outcome of a common injury and not a result of bad care.

I remember when the first occurred because it made the news back then. There's actually some video footage of them placing the patient onto the stretcher and then into the ambulance if I recall. PFD has some weird policies about what to bring on to a scene. When I did my ride time with...

Definitely not in 1 year. More like 2-3. I'm not sure getting an AAS first is necessary, but it may be cheaper to do that and then transfer credit to a 4-year school vs. doing all the course-work at a 4 year. Also, I am a little familiar with Camden County College's paramedic program, but...

They're call volume has dropped. 4500 in 2006 down to 2900 last year (with 7 helicopters in service).

Seriously...

As an EMT, you're going to be much more limited as to what you can do with the medical kit. As a paramedic, some (all?) US airlines have a way to get you in touch with a physician. I know Univ. of Pittsburgh provides online medical control for a number of airlines and can grant a paramedic...

Yes, in EMS, it is often who you know not what you know. I started out doing non-911 transport (fulltime) and volunteered with a 911 service (6 hours a week). Almost a year later I got hired with a volunteer fire company that paid EMTs to staff their ambulance (pay was worse than IFT). Then...

No bugs. Good test; not easy at all! My results: Your accuracy was: 83 % Your sensitivity was: 88 % Your specificity was: 75 % You had 3 false positive(s) and 3 false negative(s).

This potential confounder is why you keep the colormetric device on for at least 6-10 ventilations or keep an eye on the wave form and number. If it is in the stomach and there is CO2 in the stomach, you'll quickly blow it off. With each ventilation the number should come down precipitously to...

The association between eating ice chips and iron deficient anemia is something that is taught. But, in 2 years of medical school, Fe deficient anemia (well, anemia in general) is dime-a-dozen and I never encountered any with pica. If I recall, there were some physicians who had encountered...

Indications and method to intubate, realistically, is going to vary depending on your training and experience. An EM physician may intubate patients that you would not, an experienced anesthesiologist or CRNA will intubate some patients that an EM physician would not, and an otolaryngologist...

Yes, as you now know, it is totally possible for a patient to breath with an ETT in place. I've seen patient 30+ minutes into cardiac arrest still breath through an ETT (yeah, seriously, it was bizarre), and plenty of RSI patients who resumed spontaneous respiration after the succs wore off. I...

It is my understanding that this is about the patient being able to communicate effectively and the need for the patients sensorium to not be clouded by intoxicants. You may have to go back to the original studies to get an answer.

I think someone is misleading you. Every assault on medical staff is by someone intoxicated? I do not believe you. (Unless your hospitals ONLY serve people who are high.) Patients with head injuries never assault? Delirious octogenarians never assault? Psych patients never assault? What...

I did a cursory search of pubmed and didn't find anything either. I don't think it is a bad idea to have PD on scene when you can. But, their presence does not make it nearly as "safe" as some would like. An overdose is not necessarily a police matter. It is if there is a death, for sure...

I think I can hear the sound of stretching fabric as the collective pants of gun nuts get tighter... count down to the hyperbolic sarcasm of "OMG, ban knives!"

To a point, I'd say it is your job/duty to "wrestle" with an out-of-control patient. Again, lets remember, we're talking patients, not a$$holes. If you and your partner(s) have the means and strength to physically control a patient, you should do so as safely as possible, but backing off...