We are excited to introduce the Fifth edition of The Ottawa Handbook of Emergency Medicine. Your bedside guide for approaches to various Emergency Medicine presentations.
Highlights of the Fifth edition include the addition of: general surgery emergencies, pediatric orthopedic presentations, and updates in pediatric fever + more!
Factors associated with treatment failure in non-purulent skin and soft tissue infections
Non-purulent skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs; i.e. cellulitis or erysipelas) account for up to 3% of all emergency department (ED) visits. Once the diagnosis of a non-purulent SSTI is made, the emergency physician must select the appropriate antibiotic agent,...
Canadian Syncope Risk Score – Duration of Cardiac Monitoring
Syncope constitutes 1% of Emergency Department (ED) visits, and approximately 10% of these patients will have serious underlying conditions causing syncope (arrhythmia, MI, serious structural heart disease, pulmonary embolism, subarachnoid or severe hemorrhage)....
A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Ketamine as an Alternative to Opioids for Acute Pain in the Emergency Department
Journal Club Summary Methodology Score: 4/5 Usefulness Score: 2/5 Karlow N, et al. Acad Emerg Med. 2018 Oct;25(10):1086-1097. Question and Methods: This was a systematic review and meta-analysis of low dose ketamine (LDK 0.3 – 0.5mg/kg) vs opioids for acute pain...
Wellness Week – closing thoughts
In 2018, CAEP endorsed the creation of a Wellness Committee, led by Drs. Roderick Lim (chair), Sara Gray (vice-chair), Louise Rang (communications), Lisa Fischer (secretary), Jada Fitzpatrick (resident representative). To conclude the Canadian EM Wellness Week, the...
Wellness in Emergency Medicine: A letter to my younger self – Dr. Hazel Park
Dr. Park is an Emergency physician and trauma team leader at Lions Gate Hospital, North Vancouver. She is also the Medical Director of the Regional Trauma Program at Vancouver Coastal Health, and a simulation instructor/enthusiast. Additionally, Hazel, a University...
Sandwich Generation – an interview with Ken Milne and nutritional advice
Today, we're fortunate enough to be joined by Dr. Ken Milne, also known as BATDOC, from the Skeptics Guide to Emergency Medicine Ken has an impressive social media reach, and has managed to become a successful emergency medicine clinician, researcher, an...
You’ve got a friend in me: the Importance of Social Wellness & being a new parent
Despite what you might think when you initially hear the term, there is more to social wellness than having an active social life. Social wellness is the positive effect that friends and loved ones have on your mental and physical health.(1,2) Sure, spending time with...
Finessing your Finances in residency
It’s no surprise to any resident that debt is a large contributor to stress. We have high debt levels that continue to rise1, and less job security as employment and career opportunities become harder to secure. We rarely talk about money during our training, and...
Canadian Emergency Medicine Wellness Week!
We’re back! Move aside John Snow, winter has arrived. The ED’s are crowded, influenza droplets permeate the air, and many of us are still recovering from the working blitz that is required of us during the holiday season (24/7/365 after all). We are feeling the...
Outpatient Management of Acute Exacerbations of COPD
In this post, we review an approach to antibiotics, bronchodilators, and corticosteroids in the outpatient management for acute exacerbations of COPD. COPD - The Basics What is it? An incompletely reversible obstructive lung disease due to airway and/or alveolar...