Jonathan G. Wagner

Myth: Parenteral ketorolac provides more effective analgesia than oral ibuprofen

Acute pain is an extremely common presenting symptom to the emergency department (ED), making it imperative that emergency physicians provide adequate, safe and cost-effective analgesia. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are often first-line treatments for moderate to severe pain. Physicians can choose between intramuscular (IM) or intravenous (IV) ketorolac and an oral NSAID. The mechanism of action (reversible inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis at the level of cyclooxygenase) is identical irrespective of the route the medication is given. Despite the similar pharmacodynamics, many physicians believe that parenteral ketorolac is more efficacious, despite a greater cost and a more invasive route of administration. To investigate this myth (i.e., that parenteral ketorolac provides greater analgesic effect than an oral NSAID), we conducted a review of the literature, with specific focus on ibuprofen as the prototypical — and least expensive — oral NSAID.

Survival from Cervical Necrotizing Fasciitis

Cervical necrotizing fasciitis (CNF) is an uncommon, yet clinically significant infection that rapidly progresses to involve the deep neck spaces. Early recognition and aggressive surgical intervention and debridement are important, as this disease is associated with a high morbidity and mortality. In this report, we present a case of CNF and descending mediastinitis from a non-odontogenic source in a patient presenting with neck swelling and odynophagia.

Flipping the Classroom in Medical Student Education: Does Priming Work?

Introduction The emergency medicine (EM) clerkship curriculum at Los Angeles County + University of Southern California Medical Center includes monthly lectures on pediatric fever and shortness of breath (SOB). This educational innovation evaluated if learning could be enhanced by “priming” the students with educational online videos prior to an in-class session. Factors that impacted completion rates were also evaluated (planned specialty and time given for video viewing). Methods Twenty-minute videos were to be viewed prior to the didactic session. Students were assigned to either the fever or SOB group and received links to those respective videos. All participating students took a pre-test prior to viewing the online lectures. For analysis, test scores were placed into concordant groups (test results on fever questions in the group assigned the fever video and test results on SOB questions in the group assigned the SOB video) and discordant groups (crossover between video assigned and topic tested). Each subject contributed one set of concordant results and one set of discordant results. Descriptive statistics were performed with the Mann-Whitney U test. Lecture links were distributed to students two weeks prior to the in-class session for seven months and three days prior to the in-class session for eight months (in which both groups included both EM-bound and non-EM bound students). Results In the fifteen-month study period, 64% of students rotating through the EM elective prepared for the in class session by watching the videos. During ten months where exclusively EM-bound students were rotating (n=144), 71.5% of students viewed the lectures. In four months where students were not EM-bound (n=54), 55.6% of students viewed the lectures (p=0.033). Participation was 60.2% when lecture links were given three days in advance and 68.7% when links were given two weeks in advance (p=0.197). In the analysis of concordant scores, the pre-test averaged 56.7% correct, the immediate post-test averaged 78.1% correct, and the delayed post-test was 67.2%. In the discordant groups, the pretest averaged 51.9%, the immediate posttest was 67.1% and the delayed by 68.8%. In the concordant groups, the immediate post-test scores improved by 21.4%, compared with 15.2% in the discordant groups (p = 0.655). In the delayed post-test the concordant scores improved by 10.5% and discordant scores by 16.9 percent (p=0.609). Sixty-two percent of students surveyed preferred the format of online videos with in-class case discussion to a traditional lecture format. Conclusion Immediate post-tests and delayed post-tests improved but priming was not demonstrated to be a statistically superior educational method in this study. Medical student completion of the preparatory materials for the EM rotation session increased when the students were EM-bound. Participation rates were not significantly different when given at two weeks versus three days.

Oncologic Metabolic Emergencies

Cancer and its therapies may lead to several metabolic emergencies that emergency providers (EPs) should be well-versed in identifying and managing. With prompt recognition and treatment initiation in the emergency department, lives can be saved and quality of life maintained. Most oncologic metabolic emergencies occur in advanced cancer states, but some follow initiation of treatment or may be the presenting syndrome that leads to the cancer diagnosis. This article reviews the 2 most emergent oncologic metabolic diagnoses: tumor lysis syndrome and hypercalcemia of malignancy. A discussion on associated cancers and conditions, pathogenesis and pathophysiology, and management recommendations is included.

An Unusual Case of Angiotensin-Converting-Enzyme Inhibitor-Related Penile Angioedema with Evolution to the Oropharynx

A 52-year-old African American male with a long history of poorly controlled hypertension presented to the emergency department (ED) with two days of genital edema and pain. During ED work-up, the patient developed sudden onset of non-pitting, non-pruritic, and non-urticarial upper lip edema. Review of his antihypertensive medication list revealed that he normally took benazepril, highly suggestive of a diagnosis of angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitor-related angioedema (ACEI-RA). We present the first reported case of penile ACEI-RA that progressed to involve the oropharynx. The ED management of the condition and some of the newer treatment options available for ACEI-RA is also briefly discussed.

A Missed Case of Occult Bilateral Temporomandibular Dislocation Mistaken for Dystonia

A 24-year-old male with a history of psychiatric disorder and no prior significant temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pathology presented to the emergency department for “lockjaw.” Plain film X-rays of the mandible were read as unremarkable by an attending radiologist, leading to the initial diagnosis of medication-induced dystonic reaction. Following unsuccessful medical treatment a maxillofacial computed tomography (CT) was ordered. CT confirmed bilateral dislocation, illustrating the importance of clinical judgment, and limitations of certain radiographic images. The authors believe this case to be the first reported case in the medical literature of bilateral anterior TMJ dislocation with a false negative X-ray.