Category Archives: Uncategorized

Should I consider atrial fibrillation a risk factor for pulmonary embolism? Most of us have probably learned that a pulmonary embolism can cause right heart strain and lead to atrial fibrillation. But why can’t the reverse be true? Why isn’t atrial fibrillation considered a risk factor for pulmonary embolism? If the right atria is beatingContinue reading “Episode 68 – A fib about PE”

Why do steroids reduce cerebral edema? Steroids are used a lot in medicine. They are prescribed to treat exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma, as part of initiation and maintenance therapy of autoimmune diseases, and to treat airway swelling, gout, and many others. We also use steroids to treat cerebral edema related toContinue reading “Episode 67 – Crossing a Barrier”

Why is tricuspid valve endocarditis more common in persons who inject drugs? On this episode of the podcast, we continue the discussion of valvular heart disease, moving from the left heart to the right heart. In Episode 65, we talked about the curious predilection of rheumatic heart disease for the mitral valve. On this episode,Continue reading “Episode 66 – More Right Than Left”

In this episode, The Curious Clinicians took things to heart and unpacked both why rheumatic heart disease so often involves heart valves, and why the mitral valve is by far the most commonly affected. See below for our take home points and other episode information! Take Home Points CME/MOC Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1Continue reading “Episode 65 – Taking Things to Heart”

Why does meperidine treat rigors? When a patient is having rigors that are causing them to desaturate or become tachypneic, you may have turned to meperidine to stop them. Meperidine is an opioid that has fallen out of common use for most indications, but remains a go-to agent for many to stop disadvantageous rigors. HowContinue reading “Episode 64 – Stopping the Shakes”