neurology

By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail. –Benjamin Franklin Welcome back to RoshCast for Episode 44! We are back to an every other week schedule covering core content. Let’s start out with a rapid review of neonatal conjunctivitis. The three dangerous causes of neonatal conjunctivitis that you need to consider in the ED read more…

Sample question: A 71-year-old man presents to the emergency department after falling on ice outside his home. He complains of neck pain. He has an abrasion to his chin and decreased strength in his bilateral upper extremities. Strength is intact in his lower extremities. Which mechanism of trauma is most consistent with the suspected diagnosis?

Reach for it. Push yourself as far as you can. -Christa McAuliffe Welcome back to Roshcast Episode 35! It was great chatting with a bunch of listeners at ACEP last week. We received a lot of excellent feedback. This week, we’ll be doing a couple of diarrhea questions to link up with the last EM Clerkship read more…

Keep your eyes on the stars and your feet on the ground. -Theodore Roosevelt Welcome back to Roshcast Episode 34! This week we continue our collaboration with the EM Clerkship podcast, focusing on appendicitis. Don’t forget that we launched another trauma ring tone contest last week, so listen up through episode 38 to win the read more…

Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known. -Sharon Begley Welcome back to Roshcast Episode 32! We are returning to our regular format – letting the question back randomly generate this week’s material. We will have another collaborative episode with the EM Clerkship podcast soon. We start this episode off with another rapid review based on read more…

Only I can change my life. No one can do it for me. -Carol Burnett Welcome back to Episode 30! First, we must congratulate Sean for winning the trauma ring tone challenge by being the first to respond after the episode release. An honorable mention goes out to Nich and Dhinakar. Stay tuned for future read more…

Anticholinergic Toxidrome PE will show hyperthermia, tachycardia, mydriasis, and dry skin Treatment is supportive care alone or in combination with antidotal therapy with physostigmine Comments: Classes of medications with anticholinergic properties include antihistamines, tricyclic antidepressants, and sleep aids Mnemonic: “Mad as a hatter” (AMS), “blind as a bat” (mydraisis), “red as a beet” (flushed skin), “hot as a hare”(anhydrosis), and “dry as read more…

Wernicke Encephalopathy Patient will be a chronic alcoholic Complaining of ataxia and confusion PE will show nystagmus Most commonly caused by thiamine (B1) deficiency Treatment is aggressive thiamine repletion Comments: replace thiamine BEFORE glucose Sample question: A 53-year-old woman with chronic alcohol use presents with confusion and blurred vision. Her vital signs are normal. Physical examination reveals a wide-based gait, inability to abduct her read more…

Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out. -Robert J. Collier Welcome back to Episode 29! This week we are starting out with a bit of psychiatry before swinging over to the Pediatric ER for a quick neonatal resuscitation. We may even stop by the trauma bay to see what read more…

Welcome back to Episode 28! We are already well into intern year. Remember it is a roller coaster, with ups and downs, but in the end, you will really appreciate just how far you have come. This week we start off with a quick ophthalmology review and then dive into the new material, covering ob/gyn, pediatric dermatology, torsades de pointes and much more. Let’s get started.

Subdural Hematoma Patient will be elderly or alcoholic With a history of a fall or traumatic head injury Complaining of headache, mental status changes, seizures, or focal deficits Diagnosis is made by non-contrast CT, crescent-shaped hematoma Most commonly caused by rupture of the bridging veins Treatment is neurosurgical consultation Sample question: A 68-year-old man presents to the ED after a fall down 12 stairs. read more…

Patient will be complaining of proximal muscle weakness, ptosis, and diplopia that is worse at the end of the day PE will show ice test improves sx Diagnosis is made by edrophonium (tensilon) test, EMG Most commonly caused by autoimmune destruction of acetylcholine receptors Treatment is acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, such as pyridostigmine Comments: associated with thymoma Example: A 28-year-old read more…

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Patient will have a history of previous extremity injury or fracture Complaining of light touch causing extreme pain and allodynia (pain felt from a nonpainful stimulus, such as clothes or bed sheets on the skin) Treatment is NSAIDs, gabapentin, sympathectomy

Absence Seizures Patient will be a 5–10 years old Sudden mental status alteration without motor activity or a blank stare EEG during an event would show symmetric 3 Hz spike and wave activity Treatment is ethosuximide Comments: There will be no aura or postictal state

Welcome back to Episode 23! It was great running into a few listeners at CORD last week and hearing your feedback. This week, we start off with an OB/GYN related pharmacology review before jumping into the new material. Hope you enjoy!