Lower Extremity Landmarks
Lower Extremity Landmarks DERMATOMES MYOTOMES OSTEOTOMES SCIATIC NERVE Inferior division of lumbar L4, L5 and sacral S1, S2, S3 nerves. Emerges from the greater sciatic foramen. Lies below the piriformis…
Upper Extremity Landmarks
Upper Extremity Landmarks DERMATOMES MYOTOMES OSTEOTOMES BRACHIAL PLEXUS BLOCK Formed from anterior primary rami of C5-T1. 5 roots, 3 trunks, 3 cords, 5 nerves. 3 trunks: upper (C5, C6), middle…
Acid-Base Disorders
Acid-Base Disorders KEY POINTS 1 Viewed in isolation, most ABGs defy unique interpretation for cause or mandate immediate action; each blood gas must be evaluated in light of clinical information…
Burns and Inhalational Injury
Burns and Inhalational Injury KEY POINTS 1 For burn victims, the keystones of initial therapy are large-volume crystalloid resuscitation and maintenance of the airway. Commonly, isotonic crystalloid (4 mL/kg/% body…
Gastrointestinal Bleeding
Gastrointestinal Bleeding KEY POINTS 1 Prophylactic treatments can reduce the incidence of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in patients at high risk (e.g., chronic mechanical ventilation, coagulation disorders). Prophylactic methods include acid…
Chest Trauma
Chest Trauma Coauthored with David Dries, MD KEY POINTS 1 Victims of chest trauma who survive to hospital admission have a generally good prognosis and generally do not require thoracotomy;…
Acute Abdomen
Acute Abdomen KEY POINTS 1 Patients in the ICU rarely have typical presentations of acute abdominal conditions —low-grade fever, mild agitation, or tube-feeding intolerance may be the only clues. 2…
Neurological Emergencies
Neurological Emergencies KEY POINTS 1 With the exception of head trauma, metabolic encephalopathy is the most common cause of delirium seen in the ICU. Drug effects, severe sepsis, and hepatic…
Oxygenation Failure, ARDS, and Acute Lung Injury
Oxygenation Failure, ARDS, and Acute Lung Injury KEY POINTS 1 Six mechanisms may contribute to arterial oxygen desaturation: (a) inhalation of a hypoxic gas mixture, (b) alveolar hypoventilation, (c) impaired…
Endocrine Emergencies
Endocrine Emergencies KEY POINTS 1 Severe hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism must be suspected and treated on clinical grounds; laboratory tests are often delayed too long to be useful. When beginning treatment…
