Seminar Goals & Objectives

During your rotation in the Emergency Department, there will be three seminars. Each seminar will be three hours in duration and will cover the topics listed below. Following each topic is a list of the main goals for that topic. The Med558 Website will contain your pre-reading links for each topic. The location of the seminar will vary from week to week. The seminar is usually held on Monday morning at 9 am. Seminars booked on holiday Mondays will be held on the following Tuesday at 9:00 am.

A. Trauma

Discuss the emergency department management of the acutely traumatized patient including:
  • How to recognize and deal with:
    • Difficult airways using the modified chin lift and jaw thrust maneuver while maintaining c-spine precautions.
    • Pneumothorax, tension pneumothorax, massive hemothorax using needle decompression and chest tube placement.
    • Pericardial tamponade using needle pericardiocentesis.
    • Hypovolemic shock using crystalloid and blood transfusions.
    • Head injury using the Glasgow coma scale.
    • The primary and secondary survey including the disposition of the trauma patient.
    • The concept of the golden hour.

B. The Weak and Dizzy Patient

  • To discuss the emergency evaluation of a patient with vague symptoms of weakness or dizziness.
  • To discuss the emergency management of these patients.
  • To appreciate and respect the possible significance of these symptoms in an emergency setting.

C. Chest Pain

To gain an understanding of the differentiating features in the history and physical and investigations of the 5 important presentations of chest pain seen in the emergency department including:
  • Acute coronary syndrome
  • Pulmonary embolism
  • Aortic dissection
  • Pericarditis
  • Pneumothorax

D. Shortness of Breath

  • Rapidly assess a patient with shortness of breath
  • Recognize that treatment may often precede a full history and physical.
  • Formulate a differential diagnosis for the patient is dyspneic/short of breath.
  • Discuss different airway and breathing interventions.

E. Toxicology

  • Discuss the essentials of management of the intoxicated emergency.
  • Discuss some of the pitfalls of management of dealing with the intoxicated patient.
  • Discuss the aspects of the safe disposition of the intoxicated patient.

F. Abnormal Behaviour

  • To be competent in the clinical assessment of the patient with abnormal behaviour.
  • To be able to distinguish psychiatric from organic causes of abnormal behaviour.
  • The proper use of laboratory and radiological investigations with such patients.

G. Abdominal Pain

  • To be competent in clinical assessment of the patient with abdominal pain.
  • To have an understanding of the pathophysiology of pain referral patterns in the patient with abdominal pain.
  • The proper use of laboratory and radiological investigations with such patients.

H. Allergic Reaction

  • Identify and treat mild allergic reactions.
  • Identify and treat life-threatening anaphylactic reactions

I. Headache

  • Identify the high-priority headache patient.
  • Identify and treat migraines.
  • Investigate and treat life-threatening headaches.