SEMS Podcast

SEMS

Welcome to the SEMS Podcast! We are a Singapore-based podcast, and we aim to provide a platform for emergency medicine updates and education as well as inter-hospital sharing of medical knowledge and experiences. Episodes will be published once or twice a month, tune in and follow us to be notified of new episodes! 

  1. FEB 28

    Geriatric Emergency Medicine

    In this episode, Dr Eunizar Omar interviews Dr Colin Ong and Dr Juliana Poh on the  topic of Geri EM! They discuss CFS, safe discharge measures, falls, frailty and gait assessments and more! Tune in to find out more.  Timestamps 01:03 Tell us about GeriEm in your department? 04:50 Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS): Why it is important, evidence supporting it, and applicability.  06:03 Falls: What are the issues with the term “mechanical fall”, and what questions should we be asking to uncover the truth behind the fall? 07:51 Minimum falls history; SPLATT mnemonic (Symptoms, Previous falls, Location, Activity, Time of fall, Trauma/ post fall complications) 09:36 Reversible causes of falls to look out for MAPHD (Medications, visual Acuity, Postural Hypotension, 4 Ds - Delirium, Dementia, Depression, Vitamin D)  10:47 Gait assessment: Timed up and go test, Gait Speed Test 13:56 Safe alternatives to admissions 17:17 Polypharmacy High risk meds mnemonic: ABCS (anticholinergics, benzodiazepines and sedating drugs, cardiovascular medications).  22:33 Safe discharge measures  24:36 Advice for those who would like to learn more about the GeriEM scene 26:13 Practical takeaways References 1. Sri-on J, Tirrell GP, Lipsitz LA, Liu SW. Is there such a thing as a mechanical fall? Am J Emerg Med. 2016 Mar;34(3):582-5. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2015.12.009. Epub 2015 Dec 12. PMID: 26795891; PMCID: PMC6785031. 2. American College of Surgeons Geriatric Trauma Management: Best Practice Guidelines Nov 2023 3. https://www.facs.org/media/ubyj2ubl/best-practices-guidelines-geriatric-trauma.pdf 4. GeriatricsCareOnline.org 5. https://gedcollaborative.com/  Credits Music: Life-line by Colorful Sound via Pixabay  SGH Podcast Studio Any comments or feedback? Suggestions for future episodes? Send us a message! https://semspodcast.buzzsprout.com/

    28 min
  2. JAN 26

    Hyperacute Stroke in the ED

    In this episode, Matthew and Elizabeth interview Dr Sohil Pothiawala and Dr Nijanth M Raj about hyperacute stroke in the Emergency Department. Ever wondered what was the evidence behind the time cut-offs for thrombolysis, tried to recall all the relative and absolute contraindications for thrombolysis, or wondered what was the optimal blood pressure for your patient and which anti-hypertensive to choose? Tune in to find out more!  Timestamps 02:52 NINDS trial 04:20 ECASS III trial  04:59 RTPA absolute (ABCDES mnemonic) and relative contraindications, pearls and pitfalls  08:44 BP targets and preferred antihypertensives for BP control  10:03 Permissive Hypertension  12:22 Alteplase vs Tenecteplase (AcT trial, TIMELESS trial, ETERNAL-LVO trial)  16.27 Thrombectomy (EXTEND IA trial, MR CLEAN trial, SWIFT PRIME trial, DAWN & DEFUSE-3 trials) 18.08 LVO (Large Vessel Occlusion)  20:25 Basilar strokes/ Posterior Circulation Strokes 24:33 Combining Thrombolysis and EVT  27:05 WAKE-UP trial 28:52 More on the DAWN & DEFUSE-3 trials 30:39 What works for shortening door to intervention times?  32.40 What’s on the horizon?  Credits Music: Life-line by Colorful Sound via Pixabay/ SGH Podcast Studio References Clinical Policy: Critical Issues in the Management of Adult Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department With Acute Ischemic Stroke. Ann Emerg Med. 2023 Aug;82(2):e17-e64. doi: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2023.03.007.American College of Emergency Physicians Clinical Policies Subcommittee (Writing Committee) on Thrombolytics; Lo BM et al. Clinical Policy: Use of Thrombolytics for the Management of Acute Ischemic Stroke in the Emergency Department. Ann Emerg Med. 2024 Dec;84(6):e57-e86. doi: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2024.07.023. PMID: 39578010.Note: This episode was recorded in 2025. Any comments or feedback? Suggestions for future episodes? Send us a message! https://semspodcast.buzzsprout.com/

    39 min
  3. Episode 10: Plant Toxicology - Leaf it alone!

    07/18/2025

    Episode 10: Plant Toxicology - Leaf it alone!

    In this episode, Jocelyn and Elizabeth interview Prof Phua Dong Haur about the exciting topic of Plant Toxicology! Interested to find out what makes plant poisoning unique, what are the common toxidromes and clinical features as well as management? Tune in to find out more!  References  D Frohne Et Al.Poisonous Plants: A Handbook For Pharmacists, Doctors, Toxicologists, Biologists And Veterinarians, 2nd Edition 2005Kent R. Olson, Et Al. Poisoning & Drug Overdose, 7th Ed.Neal Flomenbaum, Et Al. Goldfrank's Toxicologic Emergencies, Eighth EditionPhua DH, Cham G, Seow E. Two instances of Chinese herbal medicine poisoning in Singapore. Singapore Med J. 2008 May;49(5):e131-3. PMID: 18465037.Fuchs J, Rauber-Lüthy C, Kupferschmidt H, Kupper J, Kullak-Ublick GA, Ceschi A. Acute plant poisoning: analysis of clinical features and circumstances of exposure. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2011 Aug;49(7):671-80. doi: 10.3109/15563650.2011.597034. Epub 2011 Aug 2. PMID: 21809910.Krenzelok EP, Mrvos R. Friends and foes in the plant world: a profile of plant ingestions and fatalities. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2011 Mar;49(3):142-9. doi: 10.3109/15563650.2011.568945. PMID: 21495882.Credits Music: Life-line by Colorful Sound via Pixabay, Best Day by OctoSound via Pixabay/ SGH Podcast Studio/ SEMS All recordings should not be taken by users/ audience as medical advice. Everyone is encouraged to see their physicians for proper medical consultation.  Any comments or feedback? Suggestions for future episodes? Send us a message! https://semspodcast.buzzsprout.com/

    18 min
  4. Episode 9: Sepsis in the ED

    06/29/2025

    Episode 9: Sepsis in the ED

    In this episode, Dr Liu Zhenghong interviews Dr Koh Shao Hui about Sepsis in the ED, including definitions, the Marik and Rivers studies, treatment principles and goals as well as the evidence behind them, and future directions.  Timestamps: 01:51 Sepsis definitions (SOFA, qSOFA, NEWS, Sepsis 3, Septic shock) 09:37 Treatment principles and goals: Fluid Resuscitation  11.03 POCUS directed fluid resuscitation & Passive Leg Raise 14:23 Vasopressors in Sepsis 17:57 Time to Antibiotics  20:29 Steroids in Sepsis  21:36 Marik & Rivers studies  25:30 Target Hb/ Glucose control  28:43 Intubating a septic patient 30:22 (More about) POCUS in septic patients  33.41 Disposition  36:21 Future Directions For more on use of vasopressors in shock, check out Episode 8. Keen listeners may find some differences in nuances across episodes; we strive to represent this diversity and complexity in our field, and encourage listeners to engage with the evidence and contextualise it to their own practice. References: Evans et al. Surviving Sepsis Campaign: International Guidelines for Management of Sepsis and Septic Shock 2021. Critical Care Medicine 49(11):p e1063-e1143, November 2021. Bannard-Smith J et al. The efficacy, safety and effectiveness of hyperoncotic albumin solutions in patients with sepsis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Intensive Care Soc. 2024;25(3):308-318. Deng J et al. Efficacy and Safety of Hydrocortisone, Ascorbic Acid, and Thiamine Combination Therapy for the Management of Sepsis and Septic Shock: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials. Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2024;185(10):997-1018. Fernando SM et al. Methylene Blue in Septic Shock: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Crit Care Explor. 2024;6(7):e1110.Killu K et al. The association between integrating echocardiography use in the management of septic shock patients and outcomes in the intensive care unit: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Ultrasound. 2024 Oct 17. Credits:  Music: Life-line by Colorful Sound via Pixabay SGH Podcast Studio SEMS  Any comments or feedback? Suggestions for future episodes? Send us a message! https://semspodcast.buzzsprout.com/

    39 min

About

Welcome to the SEMS Podcast! We are a Singapore-based podcast, and we aim to provide a platform for emergency medicine updates and education as well as inter-hospital sharing of medical knowledge and experiences. Episodes will be published once or twice a month, tune in and follow us to be notified of new episodes!