Is That a Thing?

Dive deep into the history of medicine to explore the origins of penicillin and the development of cephalosporins.  From the dank corners of Alexander Fleming's lab to the sewers of Sardinia we explore the history and controversy behind some of the most common antibiotics.  We will also discuss whether or not penicillin allergy is real and if you can give a penicillin allergic patient a cephalosporin and still keep your license to practice medicine.

This episode explores the history and use of magnesium in modern medicine from discovery to its modern applications.  We examine the data regarding magnesium for everything from eclampsia, headache, asthma and even arrhythmia.    Is magnesium a super drug or just voodoo? 

This episode explores the fascinating history of aspirin and dives deep into the recent recommendations regarding not using aspirin for the primary prevention of cardiac disease.  This is part one of a multi-part series on NSAIDS, drugs we use every day but take for granted the most.

This episode dives deep into one of the more common issues in emergency medicine: first trimester bleeding.  Traditionally, it has been a topic that both doctors and patients have felt helpless about but in this cast we review the physiology and reams of new evidence that can help us make outcomes better for these patients.  

Disclaimer: Please excuse the audio quality of this episode, it’s a great talk we had some connection issues while recording this month due to distance and location of our hosts. 

This cast explores why and how cannabinoids cause hyperemesis and looks at why the prevalence of this syndrome has increased in clinical practice.  We also explore what treatments actually work for these patients.

This episode examines the role of corticosteroids in cardiac arrest and in the post-arrest state.  We look at literature from several well-known trials and examine whether or not steroids improve survival and neurologic outcomes.

This episode explores fever from its physiology and function to common conceptions (or misconceptions?) about fever.  We dive into how high of a fever is safe, when does a high fever mean serious illness, and do people really run hot (or cold)?  We also use the evidence to answer whether or not vaccine-related fever is a thing and if teething and fever are actually related in children.

This episode explores whether some patients with diverticulitis can be treated without antibiotics and if so who are these patients.  Additionally, when we chose an antibiotic for patients going home on them which one is best the old standard ciprofloxacin and Flagyl combination or augmentin?

This episode examines the history and development of nitroglycerin from volatile dynamite component to essential cardiac medication.  We examine the use of nitroglycerin in historic and modern times and its relevance as a cardiac medication in the post-PCI era.  We also dive deep into equivalent doses of nitro when given as a paste, drip, or tabs.  Finally, we look at the effective dose of nitro in several different conditions and explore whether or not there's any mortality benefit gained from nitro use.

This episode discussed two major concepts, the optimal blood pressure target for trauma patients and the use of vasopressors in trauma (WHAT!).  We look at the use of permissive hypotension in trauma and discuss its applications and indications as well as its history.  This of course is merely a prelude to our discussion of the use of pressors in trauma, which many of us know is true sacrilege... or is it?  We examine the question through the lens of the AVERT-SHOCK trial and discuss this in-depth.