Earlier Lumbar Puncture for Suspected Acute Bacterial Meningitis Leads to Better Outcomes

Joseph Esherick, M.D., FAAFP, FHM
More Articles – Lumbar Puncture, medical procedures, Neurological diseases
More Tags – bacterial meningitis, HPC updates, lumbar puncture, meningitis
Although adult bacterial meningitis (ABM) is rare, the outcomes can be devastating. An area of controversy concerns when to perform lumbar puncture (LP). Because of the possibility of brain herniation, it has been recommended that cerebral computed tomography (CT) be…
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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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Lumbar puncture characteristics of traumatic LP versus subarachnoid hemorrhage

Joseph Esherick, M.D., FAAFP, FHM
More Articles – Hematology, Lumbar Puncture, medical procedures, Traumatology
More Tags – HPC updates, lumbar puncture, subarachnoid hemorrhage, traumatic lumbar puncture
Differences between Traumatic LPs and SAH. How Traumatic lumbar punctures Impact Healthcare Decisions.How to Differentiate Traumatic Lumbar Punctures from Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage The diagnosis of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) often requires lumbar puncture, however, in an estimated 10% to 30% of…
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The clinical characteristics of acute encephalitis

Joseph Esherick, M.D., FAAFP, FHM
More Articles – Lumbar Puncture, Mechanical Ventilation, medical procedures
More Tags – autoimmune encephalitis, encephalitis, HPC updates, paraneoplastic encephalitis, viral encephalitis
In a review of 198 cases, the principal etiologies were viral infection and autoimmune disease; outcomes were good in about 50%. Due to its relatively low incidence, acute encephalitis remains poorly studied. To better define the etiology, clinical presentation, and…
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Epidural steroid injections are ineffective for both sciatica and lumbar spinal stenosis

Joseph Esherick, M.D., FAAFP, FHM
More Articles – Lumbar Puncture, medical procedures, Traumatology
More Tags – epidural steroid injections, HPC updates, lumbar spinal stenosis, sciatica
Two systematic reviews and meta-analyses have demonstrated no long-term benefit for back pain, leg pain, or disability using epidural steroid injections for either sciatica or lumbar spinal stenosis. The first systematic review and meta-analysis in 2012 analyzed 23 trials of…
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