@precordialthump I totally forgot about the EKG library! Awesome stuff. Keep up the great work (when do you sleep?!)
259 days ago
@emeducation Perfect, thanks for the suggestions! Turns out one is co-authored by Jeff Tabas. He already gave them all books.
259 days ago
Recommendations for an EKG resource to review bread & butter cases for senior residents? Pre-graduation panic setting in for our residents.
259 days ago
@danipedia Good point. I use the studies to convince the trauma consults NOT to get c-spine imaging on EVERYONE (citing distracting injury)!
264 days ago
@doctorflash Hi there. Just wanted to drop a note to thank you for all the extra traffic you're sending to blog. Much appreciated!!
275 days ago
Paucis Verbis card: Ascites assessment with paracentesis
Posted Jun 25 2010 12:00am
A paracentesis procedure is often performed in the Emergency Department to rule a patient out for spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP).
Do you check coagulation studies before performing the procedure?
How comfortable do you feel that the patient has SBP with an ascites WBC > 500 cells/microliter or ascites PMN > 250 cells/microliter?
This installment of the Paucis Verbis (In a Few Words) e-card series provides an evidence-based review of the literature on topics related to the paracentesis procedure. Especially helpful is the pooled data of likelihood ratios. Like most everything in medicine, a lab test should be used in conjunction with your pretest probability in clinical decision making, and LR's help with with this.
Feel free to download this card and print on a 4'' x 6'' index card.
Reference Wilkerson, R., & Sinert, R. (2009). The Use of Paracentesis in the Assessment of the Patient With Ascites. Annals of Emergency Medicine, 54 (3), 465-468 DOI: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2008.09.005
Wilkerson, R., & Sinert, R. (2009). The Use of Paracentesis in the Assessment of the Patient With Ascites. Annals of Emergency Medicine, 54 (3), 465-468 DOI: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2008.09.005