Tactical Medicine News Blog

A Practical Approach to Care after SMARCH-E-PAWS-B: RAVINES

The RAVINES Mnemonic was created to help the medical provider on the ground in an austere environment with a very sick patient. Most medics will do a decent TCCC SMARCH...

Paul | September 1, 2020

Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) vs Kawasaki Disease

Case Presentation: A 4-year-old previously healthy Hispanic female presented to the ED with a diffuse rash and facial swelling, concerning for an apparent allergic reaction. She was rushed into the...

Marco Torres | August 31, 2020

Infectious Acute Transverse Myelitis Secondary to COVID-19

The Coronaviridae family and its genera coronaviruses have been implicated as having neurotropic and neuroinvasive capabilities in human hosts (Bohmwald 2018). They have been associated with the development of neuropsychiatric...

Marco Torres | August 27, 2020

STARRT-AKI Trial: Timing of Renal Replacement Therapy Initiation in Acute Kidney Injury

Background Information: It is well documented throughout the literature that critically ill patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) with acute kidney injury have a higher morbidity and mortality.1–4...

Marco Torres | August 24, 2020

GRECCO-19: Colchicine for COVID-19?

Background: The most severe SARS-CoV-2 infections result in an intense inflammatory response which can lead to acute lung injury and/or acute respiratory distress syndrome.  Theoretically, potential treatments for severe disease...

Marco Torres | August 17, 2020

The VEINART Trial: VBG vs ABG

Background: Patients coming to the ED frequently have several interventions performed in their evaluation and management.  Blood draws, for the most part, are venous. Occasionally, however, arterial sampling is used...

Marco Torres | August 10, 2020

Can We Predict Which COVID-19 Patients Will Decompensate?

Background: As the COVID-19 pandemic continues a number of challenges have arisen. Amongst these is the ability of clinicians to predict which patients will suffer from early decompensation. It is...

Marco Torres | August 6, 2020

REBEL Core Cast 38.0 – Productivity

Marco Torres | August 5, 2020

Therapy Options in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

 Background Information: The care and management of patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is complex and follows an inciting injury to the lungs. This constellation of symptoms is characterized...

Marco Torres | August 3, 2020

Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH): A Zebra Diagnosis We Should All Know

What is it HLH? Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare and often fatal syndrome of uncontrolled and ineffective inflammatory response to a certain trigger. It is characterized by excessive proliferation...

Marco Torres | July 30, 2020

Thrombolysis in Acute Ischemic Stroke: Now We Have No Positive RCTs

Background: The scientific process in medicine is complicated. Obtaining high-quality data to guide management requires hypothesis formulation, data to support the hypothesis and study replication. Time and again beneficial findings...

Marco Torres | July 27, 2020

Traumatic Cardiac Arrest – Can we Find Prognostic Factors that Predict Survival?

Background: Trauma remains the leading cause of death in the United States for those aged less than 45 years old. Those who arrest from hemorrhage or other traumatic mechanism often...

Marco Torres | July 23, 2020

REBEL Core Cast 37.0 – Spinal Epidural Abscess

Take Home Points Spinal Epidural Abscess may present insidiously and patients often lack the classic triad of fever, back pain and neurologic symptoms Empiric Antibiotics should cover Staphylococcus (including MRSA)...

Marco Torres | July 22, 2020