MedWorm.com provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest items from the 'Scalpel or Sword?' source. Mon, 17 Nov 2008 22:54:06 +0100 http://scalpelorsword.blogspot.com/2008/11/admittophiliacs.html Some people really want to be admitted to the hospital. Here are some of their more common presentations:1) They have a flare-up of their fibromyalgia, their chronic low back pain, or their migraines, and they "just can't take it anymore." Unfortunately, in the absence of intractable vomiting or acute neurologic deficit there really isn't a good reason to admit these patients. Nowadays, patients only get admitted if there is a reasonable chance that some harm will come to them if they are sent home. "My pain is worse than usual" just doesn't qualify, and there is nothing that I can do about that. If these patients have a personal physician who compassionately agrees to admit them, I'm happy to call their doctor to arrange it. If they expect the "no doc" physician on call for the hospital (... Scalpel or Sword? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1951854 Tue, 11 Nov 2008 17:03:00 +0100 1951854 http://scalpelorsword.blogspot.com/2008/11/couple-of-great-blogs.html Street Watch - Notes of a Paramedic is an old blog but it's new to me. Here is a great post on STEMI with evolving ECGs. I was going to do a post on the Autopulse but while researching it I found that Peter had not only found the same key studies that I had, but he beat me to the post by like a year and a half.Dr. Whitecoat's favorite new blog title, Your ER Doc is unusual among our genre in that Dr. Brian Evans not only blogs without a pseudonym but he answers specific medical questions from readers. Hey man, you should charge a fee. Talk to the MDOD guys, they're floating the idea in a poll in their sidebar. (Source: Scalpel or Sword?) Scalpel or Sword? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1951855 Tue, 11 Nov 2008 14:05:00 +0100 1951855 http://scalpelorsword.blogspot.com/2008/11/thank-you.html To those who served our country, know that your service is appreciated. (Source: Scalpel or Sword?) Scalpel or Sword? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1951856 Tue, 11 Nov 2008 11:31:00 +0100 1951856 http://scalpelorsword.blogspot.com/2008/11/warthog.html (Source: Scalpel or Sword?) Scalpel or Sword? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1933207 Wed, 05 Nov 2008 10:20:00 +0100 1933207 http://scalpelorsword.blogspot.com/2008/11/hes-catflushing-toilet.html Pretty self-explanatory, really.via CollegeHumor. (Source: Scalpel or Sword?) Scalpel or Sword? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1927810 Sun, 02 Nov 2008 20:36:00 +0100 1927810 http://scalpelorsword.blogspot.com/2008/10/idiot-of-day.html via InstapunditIf I'm the one who is going to put gas in your car and pay your mortgage, how about making me a sammich? (Source: Scalpel or Sword?) Scalpel or Sword? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1924475 Fri, 31 Oct 2008 18:57:00 +0100 1924475 http://scalpelorsword.blogspot.com/2008/10/feline-attack.html This poor young girl was viciously attacked by an unknown animal and will likely require major reconstructive surgery if she is going to survive.There were no witnesses, and the prime suspect is still at large: (Source: Scalpel or Sword?) Scalpel or Sword? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1914626 Tue, 28 Oct 2008 16:26:00 +0100 1914626 http://scalpelorsword.blogspot.com/2008/10/tranquilizer-dart.html I have long wondered if these might be a good idea in the ER instead of the two imperfect options we currently use for involuntary sedation:1) The long drawn-out negotiation followed (sometimes) by grudging acceptance of sedativeOR2) The takedown followed by physical restraints and surprise manual injection of sedative into whatever meaty body part is availableIf the patient is going to get a shot against his will, then a tranquilizer gun might be safer for everyone involved.But would it work?via CollegeHumor.I wish the video was just a little bit longer.... (Source: Scalpel or Sword?) Scalpel or Sword? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1911356 Tue, 28 Oct 2008 05:04:00 +0100 1911356 http://scalpelorsword.blogspot.com/2008/10/spreading-wealth.html Since it appears that America is headed towards obligatory Socialism courtesy of our imminent Democrat overlords, I have come up with a plan to spread the wealth in the Emergency Department. Instead of providing excellent medical care to the relatively few patients who are fortunate to receive my outstanding personal attention, I have decided that after the election I will redistribute my efforts so that I can provide average care to a few more patients per shift. I don't mind lowering my standards for the benefit of society as a whole, and hopefully the patients who wanted superior medical treatment will be satisfied with the assembly line experience instead. If they are patriotic, they will understand.It seems that the sickest 5% of patients are taking up entirely too much of my time, so... Scalpel or Sword? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1908769 Mon, 27 Oct 2008 02:54:00 +0100 1908769 http://scalpelorsword.blogspot.com/2008/10/medical-oddities.html Number 4 - World's largest handOddee is a very interesting site. I'm hooked!Check out the cat bomb. (Source: Scalpel or Sword?) Scalpel or Sword? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1894947 Wed, 22 Oct 2008 07:47:00 +0100 1894947 http://scalpelorsword.blogspot.com/2008/10/small-and-enormous-thing.html "I saw some things I can’t get out of my head."A first year med student is "incredibly freaked out" after a day at Planned Parenthood.via Conservative Grapevine (Source: Scalpel or Sword?) Scalpel or Sword? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1891975 Mon, 20 Oct 2008 16:22:00 +0100 1891975 http://scalpelorsword.blogspot.com/2008/10/want-motorcycle.html Are you sure?Be cautious of the "real nasty stuff" link at the bottom of the page. Not for the faint of heart.I'm sort of fond of the Honda in the picture above, myself. (Source: Scalpel or Sword?) Scalpel or Sword? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1888120 Sat, 18 Oct 2008 12:50:00 +0100 1888120 http://scalpelorsword.blogspot.com/2008/10/history-of-obama.html A comprehensive analysis. This is an extremely long article that chronicles in painstaking detail Obama's life from his formative years to his current position, revealing the influences that shaped his character and the methods he employed during his rise to power. I wager that you won't find a more detailed or better-researched overview of his life or what makes him tick anywhere else. An introduction:Barack Obama talks a good game about being a reformer, a good government, "new politics" guy. But somehow his priorities never extended to actually doing anything that would rock the boat in Chicago politics or get in the way of his climb up the greasy pole of the Chicago machine. Instead, his rise has depended on the exchange of favors with crooked patrons and extremist friends and on the f... Scalpel or Sword? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1876029 Wed, 15 Oct 2008 08:25:00 +0100 1876029 http://scalpelorsword.blogspot.com/2008/10/utmb-hit-hard-by-ike.html The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, TX was established in 1891 and is known as the oldest medical school west of the Mississippi River. Last year, there were more than 37,000 admissions to UTMB hospitals, nearly 764,000 outpatient visits, and almost 71,000 emergency room visits. More than 12,000 faculty and staff work at UTMB’s main campus and its network of community-based clinics, making UTMB by far the biggest employer on Galveston island. After sustaining a direct hit by Hurricane Ike, UTMB has been slow to recover and its future is in jeopardy. UTMB suffered over $700 million in damages from Ike with only $100 million covered by insurance, and given their $50 million per month payroll and impaired ability to generate income, this week university officials were warni... Scalpel or Sword? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1862742 Thu, 09 Oct 2008 04:49:00 +0100 1862742 http://scalpelorsword.blogspot.com/2008/10/excuses.html Expanding on the previous post, here are some of the reasons people give for not wanting to be admitted to the hospital, along with my replies:1) I don't want my (family member) to worry about me.How worried will they be when they find your cold dead body in the morning?2) I need to feed my dogs.Who is going to feed them after you're dead? Call them.3) I have a big presentation tomorrow.This is what sick days are for. A heart attack is an excused absence.4) I'm flying to ______ in the morning.It's not safe for you to fly. 5) I can't afford to be admitted.You can't afford not to be. (Source: Scalpel or Sword?) Scalpel or Sword? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1856036 Mon, 06 Oct 2008 14:59:00 +0100 1856036 http://scalpelorsword.blogspot.com/2008/10/things-to-do.html Two patients in the aftermath of the hurricane both had problems with perspective, and both produced the exact same quote.The first had suffered a minor laceration and was in a big hurry to get back to her un-air-conditioned powerless home."How long is this going to take? I've got things I need to do."Yeah, I had a few things I needed to do too, but instead I came to work on my day off so you could get on with your life just a little bit sooner. You're welcome. And no, I don't think I can get a plastic surgeon to come put three stitches in your leg, sorry.The second patient appeared to have suffered a stroke earlier in the day, but she refused admission. She also had some things she needed to do. I hope she finished them all. (Source: Scalpel or Sword?) Scalpel or Sword? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1853594 Mon, 06 Oct 2008 05:31:00 +0100 1853594 http://scalpelorsword.blogspot.com/2008/09/bill-whittles-kidney-stone.html You know you're a political junkie when..."Do you want to know what my honest-to-God first thought was when the pain got manageable enough to be able to hold a thought? I tell you: I thought of John McCain. And I’ll tell you what hit me the hardest: not his pain lasted for five years when mine lasted for four hours. But to add to that raw fear, lying in filth and knowing that those footsteps in the hall would bring not relief but more pain . . . my God! When I think about those men on those fields from Bunker Hill to Baghdad, lying there for hours, awaiting rescue and relief that often simply never came . . . I end up — and I don’t expect any of you to actually believe this — I end up grateful for those few hours." (Source: Scalpel or Sword?) Scalpel or Sword? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1841013 Wed, 01 Oct 2008 04:27:00 +0100 1841013 http://scalpelorsword.blogspot.com/2008/09/catnap.html I've got my board examination coming up very soon, so the light blogging will likely continue for a bit longer. (Source: Scalpel or Sword?) Scalpel or Sword? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1841014 Tue, 30 Sep 2008 15:18:00 +0100 1841014 http://scalpelorsword.blogspot.com/2008/09/nonpolitical-pictures.html She's not a kitten anymore. (Source: Scalpel or Sword?) Scalpel or Sword? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1837191 Mon, 29 Sep 2008 16:12:00 +0100 1837191 http://scalpelorsword.blogspot.com/2008/09/uh.html via IMAO (Source: Scalpel or Sword?) Scalpel or Sword? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1837192 Mon, 29 Sep 2008 04:41:00 +0100 1837192 http://scalpelorsword.blogspot.com/2008/09/how-affirmative-action-damaged-our.html "The mortgage bubble was essentially a bet on the purportedly increased creditworthiness of the bottom half of the American population. After three decades of the home ownership rate stalling at around 64 percent, a series of federal initiatives to increase minority and low-income ownership helped push the rate up to just below 70 percent. The housing bubble ... never made much sense. The lower half of American society, where the new homeowners had to come from, isn’t getting better educated, is not settling down to more stable family structures, and is not developing a more rigorous code of honor about paying debts.Nor was the government doing much of anything to help the bottom half earn more in order to afford home ownership. Indeed, by not enforcing the laws against illegal immigrati... Scalpel or Sword? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1825638 Wed, 24 Sep 2008 07:34:00 +0100 1825638 http://scalpelorsword.blogspot.com/2008/09/picture-of-day_23.html No, that's not really 911doc. It's from a really funny website I just found. (Source: Scalpel or Sword?) Scalpel or Sword? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1815305 Tue, 23 Sep 2008 08:16:00 +0100 1815305 http://scalpelorsword.blogspot.com/2008/09/im-not-bitter-im-blessed.html from the NRA, via Hot Air (Source: Scalpel or Sword?) Scalpel or Sword? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1815306 Mon, 22 Sep 2008 20:34:00 +0100 1815306 http://scalpelorsword.blogspot.com/2008/09/blogging-buzz-killer.html ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Two University of New Mexico Hospital employees have been fired for using their cell phone cameras to take photos of patients receiving treatment and then posting the images to a social networking Web site.Director of Public Affairs Sam Giammo said Sunday the photos — mainly close-ups of injuries being treated in the Albuquerque hospital's emergency room over the past few months — were posted on an employee's private MySpace page.Giammo said he's never heard of a similar incident at the University of New Mexico Hospital or any other hospital.The patients in the photos could not be notified that their pictures had been taken because their faces and personal identifying features had been removed from the photos, Giammo said.Giammo said the MySpace page could only be... Scalpel or Sword? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1815307 Mon, 22 Sep 2008 15:44:00 +0100 1815307 http://scalpelorsword.blogspot.com/2008/09/quote-of-day.html "In the concerted effort to destroy Sarah Palin, her husband, and her children, we've seen the progressive blogosphere and professional media adopt the no-holds barred, street-fight viciousness of a community organizer fighting for scraps. The petty brutality has trickled down from the man they idolize, a man cool enough to befriend and use aging terrorists and racist ministers as they can help him, and callous enough to discard friendships decades old if it suits him, without a backward glance.For all his eloquence behind a teleprompter, Barack Obama is still at heart a thug, and his disciples learned well from their master."- Confederate Yankee (Source: Scalpel or Sword?) Scalpel or Sword? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1809758 Fri, 19 Sep 2008 13:40:00 +0100 1809758 http://scalpelorsword.blogspot.com/2008/09/picture-of-day_17.html Medical clinic reopens on the West end of Galveston Island.via the Houston Chronicle (Source: Scalpel or Sword?) Scalpel or Sword? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1798128 Wed, 17 Sep 2008 11:14:00 +0100 1798128 http://scalpelorsword.blogspot.com/2008/09/letter-to-clich.html Dear Mademoiselle:I'm so sorry that your visit to our storm-ravaged ER was less than satisfactory to you. I must admit that working for 20 hours straight in a facility without air conditioning might have made me slightly less than optimally compassionate, therefore I was not inclined to repeat my explanation to you why you couldn't have a fifth round of intravenous narcotic for your "migraine."A delicate migraineur like yourself obviously ravaged by pain to the point that you "almost threw up" once and bearing such a tortured expression when I would enter the room to interrupt your cell phone conversation obviously needed much stronger medication more frequently than I was willing or able to provide to you. Our nurses definitely got the message because you were hitting that call bell like ... Scalpel or Sword? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1798129 Tue, 16 Sep 2008 14:24:00 +0100 1798129 http://scalpelorsword.blogspot.com/2008/09/lessons-from-ike.html 1) The generator I was thinking about buying a couple of months ago? That would have been nice to have. And maybe one of these too. If I had to choose between water and air conditioning, I'd choose air conditioning. One more night without power and I'd have slept in my car with the engine running.2) When there is no electricity, ice is the next best thing. Ice is worth waiting in line for several hours to obtain. 3) If you have a headlamp, then you don't have to hold a flashlight in your teeth when you pee.4) Despite the tragedy and inconvenience of hurricanes, I still enjoy them. As an extreme weather junkie, I feel energized by their awesome power. The aftermath of a disaster helps us to view (and live) our lives with a new perspective. Sitting in a dark hot room listening to a radio by ... Scalpel or Sword? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1798130 Tue, 16 Sep 2008 10:00:00 +0100 1798130 http://scalpelorsword.blogspot.com/2008/09/was-it-her.html I wish. (Source: Scalpel or Sword?) Scalpel or Sword? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1779226 Tue, 09 Sep 2008 15:38:00 +0100 1779226 http://scalpelorsword.blogspot.com/2008/09/ideal-vs-reality.html There's more funny drawings and witty insights over at Indifferential Diagnosis. I'm a new fan.(click on picture to enlarge) (Source: Scalpel or Sword?) Scalpel or Sword? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1779227 Tue, 09 Sep 2008 12:18:00 +0100 1779227 http://scalpelorsword.blogspot.com/2008/09/chronic-pain-and-suidical-ideation.html If you tell me that that your chronic pain is so bad that you are thinking about killing yourself, then I'm not going to administer any opiates to you in the ER but I'll gladly arrange a psychiatric admission for you. You've had a sad and painful life for many years - I seriously doubt that another shot of Dilaudid is suddenly going to make your world full of rainbows and unicorns. Once you drop the S bomb, either you're really suicidal or you are a manipulative scumbag. Either way, the administration of opiates in the ER is unlikely to be beneficial and is relatively contraindicated. I doubt they are going to give you parenteral narcotics at the psych facility, so you might as well start to come to terms with your psychiatric condition. Suicide may be painless, but manipulative "suicida... Scalpel or Sword? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1775558 Tue, 09 Sep 2008 01:42:00 +0100 1775558 http://scalpelorsword.blogspot.com/2008/09/picture-of-day.html via Gateway Pundit (Source: Scalpel or Sword?) Scalpel or Sword? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1773208 Mon, 08 Sep 2008 09:36:00 +0100 1773208 http://scalpelorsword.blogspot.com/2008/08/show-of-force.html An intoxicated gentleman who was assaulted by two dudes and knocked unconscious was brought to the ER for evaluation. He was confused, agitated, and irrational, he couldn't stand up well, and he certainly couldn't walk a straight line. Yet he was coherent enough to tell us that he wasn't going to lie down for that f-ing CT scan and he was going to walk the f*** out the door.Umm, no sir, you aren't.Unfortunately we had no security on duty in that particular suburban ER, and we were staffed with only diminutive female nurses. I didn't really want to sedate the gentleman given his possible concussion, and physically taking him down was likely to be an unpleasant, complicated, and potentially dangerous situation. So I asked one of the nurses to call 911.Since there usually isn't much action in... Scalpel or Sword? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1773209 Sun, 07 Sep 2008 14:09:00 +0100 1773209 http://scalpelorsword.blogspot.com/2008/09/sarah-barracuda.html Behind the scenes look at the VP negotiations.One of the funniest videos I've ever seen.Language Warning!via Ace (Source: Scalpel or Sword?) Scalpel or Sword? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1759887 Wed, 03 Sep 2008 17:47:00 +0100 1759887 http://scalpelorsword.blogspot.com/2008/09/my-new-favorite-pizza.html Since Pizza Hut finally fired their delivery driver who defended himself during an armed robbery, I've had to get my pizza fix elsewhere. There are several other places that deliver pizzas around here, but none that I like all that much.So now, I just keep some of these in the freezer. Good stuff. (Source: Scalpel or Sword?) Scalpel or Sword? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1754680 Tue, 02 Sep 2008 23:19:00 +0100 1754680 http://scalpelorsword.blogspot.com/2008/09/hurricane-hunter-aircraft.html What types of aircraft does NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) use to fly through the eye of a hurricane to measure its strength and make their amazing predictions?The P-3 turoprop, among others:"Slicing through the eyewall of a hurricane, buffeted by howling winds, blinding rain, hail, and violent updrafts and downdrafts before entering the relative calm of the storm's eye, NOAA's two P-3 turboprop aircraft probe every wind and pressure change, repeating the grueling experience again and again during the course of a ten-hour mission.Scientists aboard the aircraft deploy instruments called GPS (Global Positioning System) dropwindsondes as the P-3 flies through the hurricane. These devices continuously radio back measurements of pressure, humidity, temperature, and w... Scalpel or Sword? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1750123 Mon, 01 Sep 2008 10:15:00 +0100 1750123 http://scalpelorsword.blogspot.com/2008/09/earwax-is-good-for-you.html "[Earwax] is not intrinsically evil stuff, and consequently does not have to be removed merely because it's present," said Peter Roland, an ear, nose and throat doctor at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. "In fact, it serves a function and so if you don't need to take it out, you should just leave it alone." (Source: Scalpel or Sword?) Scalpel or Sword? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1750124 Mon, 01 Sep 2008 09:59:00 +0100 1750124 http://scalpelorsword.blogspot.com/2008/08/tracking-gustav.html Here is the best tracking map I've come across. I like it because it shows the previous path as well as several forecast pathways (click the buttons on the right).Good luck to those in New Orleans, get out safely while you can. (Source: Scalpel or Sword?) Scalpel or Sword? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1746073 Sun, 31 Aug 2008 08:51:00 +0100 1746073 http://scalpelorsword.blogspot.com/2008/08/magnifying-glass.html Note to patients:When you bring your very own magnifying glass so the doctor can maybe see the very subtle rash with which you have been stricken, that's an indication that perhaps your condition isn't quite as much of an emergency as you thought it was. (Source: Scalpel or Sword?) Scalpel or Sword? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1746074 Sat, 30 Aug 2008 13:00:00 +0100 1746074 http://scalpelorsword.blogspot.com/2008/08/quote-of-day.html Regarding the Sarah Palin pick for VP, some on the left are exercising extremely poor judgment by questioning her experience."Do we really need to put another wildly inexperienced, purely political choice into the White House," they ask?No, we don't. We could elect McCain.- Ace (Source: Scalpel or Sword?) Scalpel or Sword? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1742743 Fri, 29 Aug 2008 19:50:00 +0100 1742743 http://scalpelorsword.blogspot.com/2008/08/days-of-yore.html To the Honorable Judge of the 7th Judicial District of Pecos County:Now come Jed Dawson, individually, hereinafter called Plaintiff, complaining of and about Dr. Scalpel Orsword (my great-great-great-grandfather) hereinafter called Defendant, and for cause of action would show unto the Court the following:Mr. Jed Dawson was a patient of Defendant, having sought Defendant's professional expertise, judgment, skill, competence, advice, and treatment on or about the Fifth of September in the Year of our Lord 1868.As a result of the negligent acts on the part of the Defendant, Mr. Jed Dawson suffered needlessly with anxiety, pain, and illness resulting in damages more fully set forth below.On or about the Fifth of September in the Year of our Lord 1868, Plaintiff presented to the medical office... Scalpel or Sword? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1733944 Wed, 27 Aug 2008 05:12:00 +0100 1733944 http://scalpelorsword.blogspot.com/2008/08/senator-ted-kennedys-kidney-stone.html "Senator Edward M. Kennedy had just left a hospital bed here when he delivered his speech to the Democratic National Convention on Monday night, after suffering a debilitating bout of kidney stones Sunday upon arriving in town, aides said.His aides said that after Mr. Kennedy finally decided he was well enough to come to Denver over the weekend, they became alarmed when he arrived on Sunday after a long charter airplane flight, accompanied by family members, aides and doctors, and reported being in excruciating pain.Their first concern was that the pain was somehow related to his cancer, or the chemotherapy and radiology he had undergone, and that it had been complicated by the long flight or the high altitude of the city. A visit to a local hospital Sunday night revealed it was kidney sto... Scalpel or Sword? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1733945 Wed, 27 Aug 2008 00:16:00 +0100 1733945 http://scalpelorsword.blogspot.com/2008/08/classic-heather-locklear-snl-skit.html Funnier than Joe Biden (and much better looking). (Source: Scalpel or Sword?) Scalpel or Sword? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1733946 Tue, 26 Aug 2008 06:32:00 +0100 1733946 http://scalpelorsword.blogspot.com/2008/08/physics-of-batman.html Yeah, I know, it's just a movie. But still... (Source: Scalpel or Sword?) Scalpel or Sword? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1730674 Mon, 25 Aug 2008 04:47:00 +0100 1730674 http://scalpelorsword.blogspot.com/2008/08/photo-of-day.html Awesome. (Source: Scalpel or Sword?) Scalpel or Sword? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1717160 Tue, 19 Aug 2008 21:41:00 +0100 1717160 http://scalpelorsword.blogspot.com/2008/08/sad-and-frustrating-case.html The chief complaint was possible sexual abuse of a child. I was just coming on shift, and neither the physician I was relieving nor the swing shifter had picked up the chart yet despite the patient's relatively long wait in the department (or room). Nobody wants these cases because they are usually sad, frustrating, and time-consuming. This one was no exception.As I entered the room, I found a happy playful 3 year old girl accompanied by her grandmother and a few slightly older siblings and cousins. The grandmother alleged that the girl had reported that her mother's boyfriend had touched her inappropriately. The incident supposedly had occurred sometime during the previous month.There was no evidence of external injury, so my main concerns were to make sure the girl was not in danger of f... Scalpel or Sword? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1713931 Mon, 18 Aug 2008 13:08:00 +0100 1713931 http://scalpelorsword.blogspot.com/2008/08/thank-you-john-edwards.html (Source: Scalpel or Sword?) Scalpel or Sword? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1709102 Fri, 15 Aug 2008 21:11:00 +0100 1709102 http://scalpelorsword.blogspot.com/2008/08/reality-of-anwr.html Brilliant article that puts the situation in perspective. (Source: Scalpel or Sword?) Scalpel or Sword? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1709103 Fri, 15 Aug 2008 18:29:00 +0100 1709103 http://scalpelorsword.blogspot.com/2008/08/counterproductive-jerk.html You can learn a lot about a person by sticking a needle into them. I've seen 8 year old kids lie perfectly still without a whimper as I inject a painful anesthetic into their lacerations, and I've seen plenty of otherwise seemingly normal grown men and women scream, flop around, and bawl for their mommies with the first tiny prick of the smallest needle available. "Are you done yet?" they will sob, shuddering. Umm, no...I have to actually inject some of the medication for it to work. Try to keep still. The vast majority of people fall somewhere in between the two extremes.I understand that the ER can be a scary and uncomfortable place, and I always try to make the process as painless and relaxing as possible for my patients. If you seem like the excitable low-pain-tolerance type and you ha... Scalpel or Sword? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1696178 Sun, 10 Aug 2008 10:13:00 +0100 1696178 http://scalpelorsword.blogspot.com/2008/08/batman-and-joker-spoof.html This guy does an awesome impersonation of both characters. h/t HotAir (Source: Scalpel or Sword?) Scalpel or Sword? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1693636 Sat, 09 Aug 2008 19:08:00 +0100 1693636