In Defense of Succinylcholine

It was the tweet heard far and wide: When the NRA claimed doctors "should stay in their lane," physicians took aim at firearm safety as a matter of public health, policy, advocacy, and patient care. EMRA*Cast host Lauren Rosenfeld, MD, dives into this issue with author and policy guru Cedric Dark, MD, MPH, FACEP.

When it comes to the airway, roc rocks and succ sucks, right? You’ve heard it more than once. But EMRA*Cast host Peter Lorenz, MD, presents a nuanced argument in defense of succinylcholine, with guests Mike Perza, PharmD, and Patricia Simmer, MD.

In this episode of EMRA*Cast's “Vacation Gone Deadly: Toxins in Paradise,” hosts Maiya Smith, MD, and Lauren Rosenfeld, MD, speak with Kenneth Katz, MD, a toxicologist and practicing EM physician at Lehigh Valley Health, about toxins you might encounter while traveling, inspired by Season Three of The White Lotus. 

Mental health concerns drive a large number of emergency department visits in the United States. When a patient presents with an acute crisis, it’s important for emergency medicine and psychiatry to work as a seamless team. Drs. D’Monte Farley and Caylon Pettis talk about how to ensure an effective psychiatry consult in the ED.

In this episode of EMRA*Cast's "Bridging Health and Humanity" series, host Natalie Hernandez, MD, MPH, speaks with Aslam Akhtar, MD, PhD, a fourth-year EM resident at Harbor UCLA, about his experience volunteering on a medical mission trip to Northern Gaza.

Navigating EM residency can be tricky and often difficult. EMRA*Cast host Nishant Gogna, DO, presents a group discussion navigating the tips, tricks, and pitfalls to watch out for in your EM residency, with Joanne Bethencourt, DO, PGY-3 and chief resident at UF Health Shands Hospital; Mario Hernandez, MD, PGY-3 at UF Health Shands Hospital; and Wade Chen, MD, PGY-3 at UF Health Shands Hospital. 

This episode of EMRA Cast features Dr. Jody Kieffer, a pediatric EM attending physician at Nemours Children's Hospital. Dr. Blythe Fiscella, EMRA*Cast host, gets expert advice on examination strategies for pediatric patients. Learn about newborn-specific exams, strategies, and holding techniques to conduct ear and throat exams in toddlers; the use of metered dose inhalers; the appropriate use of ibuprofen and acetaminophen; and guidelines for discharge counseling for bronchiolitic patients. 

In this bonus episode co-produced with Vital, we're talking patient satisfaction: how to create a meaningful connection in a short amount of time, and why it matters. (Spoiler alert: It's not all about metrics.) Join EMRA*Cast alumni Masood Mohammed and guest Gus Garmel for this practice-elevating conversation.

In this episode, @ucmax_show host and @embouncebacks author Dr. Michael Weinstock chats with EMRA*Cast's Dr. Lauren Rosenfeld, breaking down documentation to avoid litigation with a focus on a common presentation: chest pain. Learn how to use the HEART score and avoid a courtroom.

Refractory hypoxemia in the intubated patient is one of the scariest situations any emergency physician can face. In this episode of EMRA*Cast, Drs. Peter Lorenz and Steven Haywood discuss a stepwise approach to managing this worst-case scenario.