Author: EMKF
Emergency Medicine Kenya Foundation (EMKF) is a not-for-profit (NGO) public benefit organisation registered in Kenya
TMJ Dislocation Reduction Made Easy
Syringe Technique: With the patient in a sitting position, the physician places a 5 or 10 ml syringe between the posterior upper and lower molars or gums on the affected side. The patient is asked to gently bite down and grasp the syringe as the patient is instructed to roll the syringe back and forth, resulting in the reduction of the dislocated TMJ.
COPD Exacerbation – GOLD 2023 Guidelines
An exacerbation of COPD is defined as an event characterized by dyspnea and/or cough and sputum that worsen over < 14 days. Exacerbations of COPD are often associated with increased local and systemic inflammation caused by airway infection, pollution, or other insults to the lungs.
How emergency response failed Baby Travis in his hour of need
Unfortunately, these cases were purely about poor responses to medical emergencies. The emergency was not what the child presented with, but the need for initial resuscitation and ensuring the patient is comfortable, meaning they are not in pain, even though the theatre was not available.
Hands-Only CPR – Videos
On October 16th, the world is once again coming together to celebrate World Restart a Heart Day. It is an opportunity to emphasize the importance of bystander CPR. We at EMKF invite you to be part of this global campaign! Join us and our global partners in sharing a crucial message: Anyone can do basic CPR and that if done within the first minutes of a cardiac arrest, it double someone’s chances of survival.
If you see a teen or adult suddenly collapse, hands-only CPR is the recommended form of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). It not only increases the likelihood of surviving breathing and cardiac emergencies that occur outside of medical settings, but it’s simple to learn and easy to remember.
Click ≡ to see all the videos in the series
Learn Point of Care Ultrasonography (POCUS)
If you take care of sick patients, you owe it to them to learn POCUS. You will save lives!
CT before LP?
- If you think CT will show a cause for the headache, do a CT
- If a CT is indicated for other reasons (depressed conscious level, focal neurology), do a CT
- If a GCS 15 patient is to undergo LP for suspected (or to rule out) meningitis, and they have a normal neurological exam (including fundi), and are not elderly or immunosuppressed, there is no need to do a CT first.
- If you’re seriously worried about meningitis and are intent on getting a CT prior to LP, don’t let the imaging delay antimicrobial therapy.
