Of course, Scotch is a colloid

In discussing blood pressures, and fluid resuscitation, my current precept asked a simple question, “When would you use crystalloids over colloids, assuming both were available?”.  Further discussion led to a narrowing of the question to, “When would you use crystalloids and pressors, rather than simply switching to colloids?” Since there are a variety of reasons [...]

Science!

Blinded Enlightened by Science! In the post, Reading a Map, we found our hero DTs attempting to yet again simplify EMS math, as he has done so successfully in the past.  And lo! it seemed he had again succeeded! Indeed.  Behold the hideous formula for mean arterial pressure, ((Diastolic BP * 2) + Systolic BP) [...]

Reading a MAP

I’ve figured a 2-am cheat for the MAP, which doesn’t work half-bad.  Not the linesy-roadsy MAP, the other kind. Blood pressure is one of the more important measurements we can take, we all know that and I won’t belabor the point.  If we’ve been in the business long enough, we get a feel for a [...]

The Cause of, and Solution to, All Life’s Problems

I wandered into the TV room and sat as my family watched the old, 1978 version of Battlestar Galactica.  The scene on the bridge was tense, as some poofy-haired guy wandered up to the admiral and reported, “Sir!  An incredible number of Cylons are approaching!”, at which line we all burst into laughter.  “Incredible number?”  [...]

The Numbers Game

Is anybody using anything other than the GCS for field assessment of head injuries? Way, way back in 2003 DTs pointed out in a paper that there were only two GCS scores that were reliable:  GCS 3 and GCS 15.  And a 3 can be obtained by the CPR dummy, a chair, a rock… The [...]