Succinylcholine and the Risk of Hyperkalemia
July 31, 2021
Background Succinylcholine is frequently used in the ED to facilitate intubation, but it may be avoided in some cases due to the risk of hyperkalemia....
Bryan D. Hayes, PharmD, DABAT, FAACT, FASHP
High-Dose Nitroglycerin for Sympathetic Crashing Acute Pulmonary Edema
July 10, 2021
Background Nitroglycerin (NTG) is an important intervention to consider for patients with Sympathetic Crashing Acute Pulmonary Edema (SCAPE) as it significantly reduces preload, and even...
Beta-Blockers for Inhalant-Induced Ventricular Dysrhythmias
June 26, 2021
Background There are a few unique scenarios when beta-blockers may be indicated for patients in cardiac arrest. Use of esmolol for refractory ventricular fibrillation was...
Utility of Nebulized Naloxone
May 29, 2021
Background Naloxone can be administered via multiple routes, with nebulization gaining popularity in the past decade. A previous ALiEM Trick of the Trade presented this...
Bupropion Overdose: Factors Associated with Seizures
May 8, 2021
Background Bupropion ingestions are one of the scarier poisonings due to a relatively narrow therapeutic index and the numerous adverse effects that may occur. Medical...
One-Time Vancomycin Doses in the Emergency Department
May 1, 2021
Background A previous ALiEM post from 2013 by an EM pharmacist colleague argued the case against one-time vancomycin doses in the ED prior to discharge....
Safety and Efficacy of Clevidipine for Acute Blood Pressure Control
April 24, 2021
Background Rapid and precise control of blood pressure is vital for patients with a hypertensive emergency or an acute stroke. Commonly, nicardipine is utilized in...
Mike O'Brien, PharmD
Droperidol for Agitation in Older Adults in the Emergency Department
April 17, 2021
Droperidol is safe and effective for the treatment of severely agitated patients in the ED [1-3]. But what about its use for agitation in elderly...
Is Lactated Ringer’s Solution Safe for Hyperkalemia Patients?
April 10, 2021
Background There are three primary fluids used for resuscitation, each contains varying amounts of potassium per liter (Table 1): 0.9% Sodium Chloride (normal saline) Lactated...
Does the Combination of Parenteral Olanzapine with Benzodiazepines for Agitation in the ED Increase the Risk of Adverse Events?
March 13, 2021
A previous EM Pharm Pearl focused on the adverse events associated with the use of IV olanzapine for agitation. This pearl addresses concerns around using...
Adverse Events from IV Olanzapine for Agitation in the ED
February 20, 2021
The ability to safely and effectively sedate agitated patients in the emergency department (ED) is paramount to provide prompt medical care and protect ED staff....
Colchicine Toxicity: A New Threat from COVID-19 Treatments
January 30, 2021
In the continued fight against COVID-19, a January 22, 2021 press release from the Montreal Heart Institute touted the potential of colchicine, citing results from...