A 48 year-old female with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), with recent shunt removal, presented with increasing right eye vision loss over the last week, headache, and left-sided weakness. Her outpatient neuro-ophthalmologist referred her to the emergency department from clinic for a question of intracranial abscess, optic neuritis, or worsening IIH. She needed an MRI as soon as possible to rule-out these dangerous pathologies. A quick chart review showed that she has needed multiple central lines placed in the past, due to difficult IV access. The nurse was unable to place a peripheral IV…
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Paronychia drainage can be daunting for the new clinician. This video from Brown Emergency Medicine faculty members Dr. Amy Matson and Dr. Nick Musisca will walk you through it step-by-step…
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An 11 year-old female presents with approximately 2 weeks of bilateral lower extremity pain that is localized to her knees and calves. The pain is worse with ambulation and not relieved with ibuprofen. She has difficulty ascending the stairs at school and recently started having trouble walking on flat ground. The patient also endorses neck, back, and shoulder pain that are less severe. She recalls an illness associated with vomiting and diarrhea that started approximately 1 week ago, which has still not resolved…
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A 50-year-old female presents to the emergency department complaining of two days of gradually worsening left lower quadrant abdominal pain. She endorses anorexia and multiple episodes of vomiting. She is slightly tachycardic, but afebrile. She is noted to have tenderness to palpation to the left lower quadrant but no significant rebound or guarding. Given her presentation, diverticulitis becomes the leading differential diagnosis, although renal colic is also a possibility. For that reason a non-contrast CT scan of the abdomen/pelvis is ordered for further evaluation…
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