Headache Algorithm

  • Post category:Neurology

Emergency department evaluation relies on excluding life-threatening causes of Headache (killers), specifically SAH and meningitis. Then consider other serious causes of headache that can debilitate the patient (the maimers). When these have been excluded, we can then diagnose primary headache syndromes.

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Upper Abdominal Pain in the Emergency Department

Work-up for upper abdominal pain begins with resuscitation and exclusion of critical diagnoses. Then, through a detailed history and physical, consider all the causes of upper abdominal pain. The differential may then come down to Gallstone etiology vs Gastritis/PUD → will need further imaging based on suspicion (US abdomen)

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Acute Illnesses that Lead to Rapid Deterioration in Pulmonary Hypertension

Read more about the article Acute Illnesses that Lead to Rapid Deterioration in Pulmonary Hypertension
WHO Classification System of Pulmonary Hypertension
  • Post category:Pulmonology

Sudden deterioration in RV function can rapidly lead to shock, cardiovascular collapse, and death. In the ED, it is important to rapidly recognize and treat common precipitants of acute decompensation. These include sepsis, tachyarrhythmias, hypoxia, pulmonary embolism (PE), and the abrupt withdrawal of vasodilator medications.

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