911cast EMS Podcast

Scott Topiol, MSN, RN, CEN, MICN

Practical EMS topics in about 10 minutes, brought to you by EMS Educator and Certified Emergency Nurse Scott Topiol.

  1. 06/06/2024

    Episode 28 - A Spine Tingling Tale - Central Cord Syndrome

    Have feedback? You can now send us a text message! We're back!  Have you ever had a patient who suffered a seemingly minor injury and was complaining about weakness in their hands and odd sensations in their legs?  This week we're discussing the most common spinal cord injury: Central Cord Syndrome.  We'll also touch briefly on neurogenic and spinal shock.  During this episode I mention a technique for placing a C-collar that was a "game changer" in my practice and promised to include a link to the video in the show notes.  When you're done listening, go ahead and check out the video below.  The "sweeping motion" made a huge difference in helping the collar sit better on the patient's neck and has reduced the number of patients that seemingly "can't tolerate" the procedure.  I hope you find it helpful! C-collar video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydljBEN2RU8 This episode is sponsored by CPR Ready Los Angeles, an American Heart Association Training Site offering BLS, ACLS, and PALS classes as well as California EMT Skills Verification services.  Book your class today at cprreadyla.com! References: Ameer, M. A., Tessler, J., Munakomi, S., et al. (2023). Central cord syndrome. In StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing. Available from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441932/ Brooks, N. P. (2017). Central cord syndrome. Neurosurgery Clinics, 28(1), 41-47. EMCrit  (2023, February 12). Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI). EMCrit Project. https://emcrit.org/ibcc/sci/ Fehlings, M. G., Tetreault, L. A., Wilson, J. R., Aarabi, B., Anderson, P., Arnold, P. M., ... & Harrop, J. S. (2017). A clinical practice guideline for the management of patients with acute spinal cord injury and central cord syndrome: Recommendations on the timing (≤ 24 hours versus > 24 hours) of decompressive surgery. Global Spine Journal, 7(3_suppl), 195S-202S. Harrop, J. S., Sharan, A., & Ratliff, J. (2006). Central cord injury: Pathophysiology, management, and outcomes. The Spine Journal, 6(6), S198-S206. Skrabal, R. (2019, October 28)  Central cord syndrome.  https://coreem.net/core/central-cord-syndrome. CPR Ready Los AngelesOffering AHA BLS, ACLS, and PALS classes plus California EMT Skills Verification.Madison Programs BrooklynCPR and First Aid training in New York. Available to train your personnel at your locationDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

    9 min
  2. 09/01/2023

    Episode 27 - Blow By Baby - Does Blow By Oxygen Work?

    Have feedback? You can now send us a text message! We've all been taught that the last thing you want to do to a sick child in respiratory distress is upset them by sticking an oxygen mask to their face. For many of us, "blow by" oxygen is our go-to in these situations.  But is it actually the right choice?  In this episode we'll take a closer look at the practice and the evidence. (Spoiler alert: it doesn't work). References: Barends, C. R. M., Yavuz, P., Molenbuur, B., & Absalom, A. R. (2018). Performance of blow-by methods in delivering oxygen to pediatric patients during transport: A laboratory study. Pediatric Anesthesia, 28(12), 1142-1147. https://doi.org/10.1111/pan.13515  Blake, D. F., Shih, E. M., Mateos, P., & Brown, L. H. (2014). The efficacy of oxygen wafting using different delivery devices, flow rates and device positioning. Australasian Emergency Nursing Journal, 17(3), 119-125. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aenj.2014.05.002  Davies, P., Cheng, D., Fox, A., & Lee, L. (2002). The efficacy of noncontact oxygen delivery methods. Pediatrics, 110(5), 964-967. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.110.5.964  Harris, M., Lyng, J. W., Mandt, M., Moore, B., Gross, T., Gausche-Hill, M., & Donofrio-Odmann, J. J. (2022). Prehospital Pediatric Respiratory Distress and Airway Management Interventions: An NAEMSP Position Statement and Resource Document. Prehospital Emergency Care, 26(sup1), 118-128. https://doi.org/10.1080/10903127.2021.1994675

    8 min
5
out of 5
32 Ratings

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Practical EMS topics in about 10 minutes, brought to you by EMS Educator and Certified Emergency Nurse Scott Topiol.