Updated International Guidelines for Post–Cardiac Arrest Care

Joseph Esherick, M.D., FAAFP, FHM
More Articles – Arterial line, Cardiovascular diseases, Chest Tube, Emergency Procedures, Hematology, Medical General, medical procedures
More Tags – cardiac arrest, coronary angiography, HPC updates, percutaneous coronary intervention, post-cardiac arrest care, return of spontaneous circulation, ROSC, vasopressors
These guidelines are for physicians who care for patients with return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) after cardiac arrest, including emergency physicians, critical care physicians, and cardiologists These guidelines update the 2010 International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation guidelines for patients with…
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The Reasons Hospitalists Should Learn Hospital Procedures

Joseph Esherick, M.D., FAAFP, FHM
More Articles – Arterial line, Central line, Chest Tube, Emergency Procedures, Endotracheal Intubation, FAST Exam, Glidescope Intubation, Hospital Procedures, King Tube, Lumbar Puncture, Medical General, medical procedures, Needle Decompression, Paracentesis, RUSH Exam, Thoracentesis, Ultrasound-Guided Peripheral IV
More Tags – emergency procedures, hospital procedures, HPC updates, medical procedures, simulation-based procedural training
Hospitalists are in the ideal position to perform bedside procedures on their patients. They know every aspect about their patients and have had the opportunity to develop a good rapport and the trust of their patients. So, why are they…
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Transtracheal Ultrasound Can Confirm Endotracheal Intubations

Joseph Esherick, M.D., FAAFP, FHM
More Articles – Chest Tube, Emergency Procedures, Endotracheal Intubation, medical procedures
More Tags – endotracheal intubation, HPC updates, transtracheal ultrasound
In the emergency department (ED), colorimetric or quantitative capnography is the gold standard for confirmation of endotracheal tube placement. Capnography may be unreliable in patients with severe pulmonary obstruction, greatly reduced pulmonary circulation, or cardiac arrest. Transtracheal ultrasound imaging with…
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COPD Exacerbations: Low-dose vs High-dose Steriods

Joseph Esherick, M.D., FAAFP, FHM
More Articles – Chest Tube, medical procedures, Respiratory diseases
More Tags – care quality, COPD, Exacerbations, high-dose, HPC updates, ICU, low-dose, steriods
Preface: Patients with COPD exacerbations requiring ICU admission did better with low-dose steroids vs high-dose steroids Cohort study of 17,239 patients with COPD exacerbations admitted to the ICU * ​1/3 required noninvasive ventilation * 15% were intubated * Virtually all…
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Continuous capnography beneficial during mechanical ventilation

Joseph Esherick, M.D., FAAFP, FHM
More Articles – Chest Tube, Mechanical Ventilation, medical procedures, Respiratory diseases
More Tags – capnography, Capnometry, HPC updates, mechanical ventilation
The American Association of Respiratory Care developed a clinical policy describing the benefit of continuous capnography during mechanical ventilation.  This policy statement recommends continuous capnometry during mechanical ventilation for a number of reasons:   1.  It confirms that the endotracheal…
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Ultrasound is More Sensitive Than Chest X-ray for Detection of a Pneumothorax

Joseph Esherick, M.D., FAAFP, FHM
More Articles – Chest Tube, Emergency Procedures, FAST Exam, Medical General, medical procedures, Respiratory diseases
More Tags – E-FAST, HPC updates, pneumothorax, POCUS
Pneumothoraces are a common problem in the ER and the ICU.  The traditional screening test for a pneumothorax in the hospital is the chest radiograph; however, chest radiographs are not very sensitive in the setting of trauma and in ventilated…
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Simulation-Based Procedural Training Improves Job & Patient Satisfaction

Joseph Esherick, M.D., FAAFP, FHM
More Articles – Arterial line, Central line, Chest Tube, Emergency Procedures, medical procedures, Paracentesis
More Tags – HPC updates
Are you a hospitalist who would like to incorporate procedures into your practice but don’t feel competent or confident in your skills?  Are you a hospitalist who does procedures so infrequently that you feel more comfortable referring your patients to…
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Ultrasound-guided Thoracentesis Reduces the Rate of Pneumothorax and Tube Thoracostomy

Joseph Esherick, M.D., FAAFP, FHM
More Articles – Cardiovascular diseases, Central line, Chest Tube, Emergency Procedures, medical procedures, Paracentesis, Thoracentesis
More Tags – HPC updates, thoracentesis, ultrasound-guided procedures, Ultrasound-guided thoracentesis
Numerous studies have shown that ultrasound guidance lowers the rate of complications and increases the success rate for virtually every hospital procedure compared with traditional landmark-based techniques. This has proved to be the case for ultrasound-guided central lines, ultrasound-guided paracentesis,…
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