Point-of-care ultrasound diagnosis of acute valvular emergencies.

Introduction: Acute valvular emergencies, a time-sensitive diagnosis, are nearly impossible to diagnose without ultrasound, and missing the diagnosis can significantly impact patient outcomes. Many emergency physicians lack access to echo technicians and may be uncomfortable performing the ultrasound themselves. Approaching the paucity of review articles, none of which are focused for the emergency physician, can be quite daunting, even for those with extensive ultrasound training.

Large-scale Implementation of Fascia Iliaca Compartment Blocks in an Emergency Department.

Introduction: A robust body of literature supports the use of fascia iliaca compartment blocks (FICB) for improving outcomes in hip fractures, especially in the geriatric population. Our objective in this project was to implement consistent pre-surgical, emergency department (ED) FICB for hip fracture patients and to address barriers to implementation.

Methods: With the support of a multidisciplinary team, including orthopedic surgery and anesthesia, a core team of emergency physicians developed and implemented a departmentwide FICB training and credentialing program.