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CAUTION: THESE NOTES CONTAIN SPOILERS!!!
Case Introduction
A notorious, disheveled frequent flyer presents to your emergency department for her back pain and is asking for more Dilaudid…
Initial Vitals
- Temp 99.0
- HR 99
- RR 18
- BP 118/78
- O2 99%
Critical Actions
- Ask about Red Flags for Spinal Infection
- Perform a Thorough Spinal Exam
- Obtain MRI Spine with Contrast
- Initiate Broad Spectrum Antibiotics
- Treat Pain when Pathology Identified
Final Diagnosis
Spinal Epidural Abscess
Tips and Tricks
Don’t let consultants or other members of your team talk you out of appropriate management of a patient
Additional Reading
- Basic approach to Back Pain (EM Clerkship)
- Epidural Abscess Overview (AAFP Website)
Hello Dr.,
I believe you referenced ‘The Acute Abdomen’ as a book resource that you found helpful in this episode (i may be wrong, it could’ve been case 5 too, not 100% sure as I listened to them in succession and thought of this now). Was wondering if you could provide the author name for this resource as I’m very interested in checking it out. Always enjoy your content, have learned a lot thus far!
Copes Early Diagnosis of the Acute Abdomen. William Silen
https://www.amazon.com/Copes-Early-Diagnosis-Acute-Abdomen/dp/0199730458/ref=sr_1_2?crid=32BES2OWTJISE&keywords=early+diagnosis+of+the+acute+abdomen&qid=1577456615&sprefix=Early+diag%2Caps%2C152&sr=8-2
Hey Zack, I really dig your idea of checking out med mal cases. Any suggestions for where we can check some out? Cheers