Emergency Medicine Board Bombs

In Part 2 of this topic on diverticulitis, we cover risk stratification, red flags, and when antibiotics are appropriate. Learn how to safely discharge diverticulitis patients without antibiotics, counsel them effectively, and avoid common medico-legal pitfalls. This is outpatient diverticulitis management the way boards (and modern practice) expect it. Want to experience the greatest in board studying? ⁠⁠Check out our interactive question bank podcast- the FIRST of its kind here⁠⁠ Cite this podcast as: Briggs, Blake, Husain, Iltifat, Wosiski-Kuhn, Marlena. 274. Diverticulitis: Outpatient Management Without Antibiotics (Part 2). Accessed [date]. ⁠⁠⁠Check out our Youtube channel!⁠⁠⁠

For years, antibiotics were automatic for diverticulitis—but the evidence has changed. So has the Board exam. In Part 1, we break down uncomplicated diverticulitis, why most outpatient cases don’t need antibiotics, and how to confidently manage these patients without over-treatment. If you’re still reflexively reaching for ciprofloxacin and metronidazole, this episode will blow your mind.

Holiday Heart Syndrome is back for the season—and so are the AFib patients who swear they “only had a few drinks.” In this high-yield episode, we break down exactly who you can cardiovert safely in the ED. Learn the real <48-hour rule, how stroke risk actually changes the decision, and why holiday-triggered AFib is often the best rhythm to fix quickly. Fast pearls, no fluff, pure ED mastery. Want to experience the greatest in board studying? ⁠Check out our interactive question bank podcast- the FIRST of its kind here⁠ Cite this podcast as: Briggs, Blake, Wosiski-Kuhn, Marlena. 271. Nov 10th, 2025. Accessed [date]. ⁠⁠Check out our Youtube channel!⁠⁠

CT or not CT? That is the PECARN question. Quick hits on when to scan (and when to save that kid from a lifetime of unnecessary radiation). Want to experience the greatest in board studying? ⁠Check out our interactive question bank podcast- the FIRST of its kind here⁠ Cite this podcast as: Briggs, Blake, Wosiski-Kuhn, Marlena. 271. Nov 10th, 2025. Accessed [date]. ⁠⁠Check out our Youtube channel!⁠⁠

Hypoglycemia can mimic anything — from altered mental status to stroke. In this episode, we break down how to recognize, treat, and prevent rebound hypoglycemia in the ED. Learn the key pitfalls, IV vs oral glucose strategies, and when to think beyond insulin. Want to experience the greatest in board studying? ⁠Check out our interactive question bank podcast- the FIRST of its kind here⁠ Cite this podcast as: Briggs, Blake, Husain, iltifat. 270. Hypoglycemia- you're not you when you're hungry. Oct 28th, 2025. Accessed [date]. ⁠⁠Check out our Youtube channel!⁠⁠

This is Part 2 of our special on PNA. Do all admitted pneumonia patients need IV antibiotics? What if they ate kale chips on arrival? In Part 2, we break down IV vs PO data, inpatient CAP regimens, when to cover for MRSA and Pseudomonas, and how to distinguish hospital-acquired from community-acquired pneumonia. Want to experience the greatest in board studying? ⁠Check out our interactive question bank podcast- the FIRST of its kind here⁠ Cite this podcast as: Briggs, Blake, Husain, iltifat. 269. CAP Simplified. Oct 13th, 2025. Accessed [date].

**This is Part 1 of a 2 part episode**. Your patient believes antibiotics are a conspiracy. But you just diagnosed him with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). In Part 1, we cover outpatient antibiotic choices, resistance trends, ED decision tools, and why his “wellness spa” doesn’t change your diagnosis. Want to experience the greatest in board studying? ⁠Check out our interactive question bank podcast- the FIRST of its kind here⁠ Cite this podcast as: Briggs, Blake, Husain, Iltifat. 268. Kale Chips and CAP. Oct 6th, 2025. Accessed [date]. ⁠⁠Check out our Youtube channel!⁠⁠

When wheezing goes silent, things get real. Let's do a rapid-fire breakdown of how to manage life-threatening asthma in the ED — with pearls that might just save a life. Vent settings, epi hacks, ketamine tricks, and more in under 15 minutes. Want to experience the greatest in board studying? ⁠Check out our interactive question bank podcast- the FIRST of its kind here⁠ Cite this podcast as: Briggs, Blake. 267. Crashing Asthmatic: ED Management That Saves Lives. Sep 29th, 2025. Accessed [date]. ⁠⁠Check out our Youtube channel!⁠⁠

A 56-year-old with a punch card’s worth of back pain visits shows up again. Half the time he gets an MRI, the other half he gets Tylenol and a pat on the back. Today, though, there’s a twist—maybe some new weakness. Is this just another routine shift… or the epidural abscess we’ve all been dreading? Tune in as we cut through the noise and break down what to actually do next. Want to experience the greatest in board studying? ⁠Check out our interactive question bank podcast- the FIRST of its kind here⁠ Cite this podcast as: Briggs, Blake, Husain, Iltifat. 266. Spinal Epidural Abscess. Sep 15th, 2025. Accessed [date]. ⁠⁠Check out our Youtube channel!⁠⁠

This is not your grandma's insulin. You need to know how to treat beta blocker overdose- flawlessly. Let's talk first-line antidotes, and life-saving interventions. Want to experience the greatest in board studying? ⁠Check out our interactive question bank podcast- the FIRST of its kind here⁠ Cite this podcast as: Briggs, Blake, Husain, Iltifat. 265. Beta Blocker Overdose: There's only one real antidote. Sep 1st, 2025. Accessed [date]. ⁠⁠Check out our Youtube channel!⁠⁠

This week we chat about a scary OD that honestly we are surprised isn't more common given the incidence of this medication in society. Let's learn how to recognize and diagnose beta blocker overdose. Key signs, symptoms, and ED evaluation for this life-threatening toxicology emergency. Want to experience the greatest in board studying? Check out our interactive question bank podcast- the FIRST of its kind here Cite this podcast as: Briggs, Blake, Husain, Iltifat. 264. How not to miss a Beta Blocker Overdose in the ED. August 25th, 2025. Accessed [date]. ⁠Check out our Youtube channel!⁠

Let’s review the CLASSIC case of Sympathetic Crashing Acute Pulmonary Edema (SCAPE) in the ED with high-yield EM treatment strategy. This plan will make your patient better in <20 minutes. Want to experience the greatest in board studying? Check out our interactive question bank podcast- the FIRST of its kind here Cite this podcast as: Briggs, Blake. 263. SCAPE in the ED: Rapid Recognition and management. August 19th, 2025. Accessed [date].

In this episode we dive into what a labubu is (Blake still doesn't really know). Also we plan to master key PALS concepts for emergency medicine with this high-yield episode. Perfect for board prep and real-world pediatric codes. Want to experience the greatest in board studying? Check out our interactive question bank podcast- the FIRST of its kind here Cite this podcast as: Briggs, Blake; Wosiski-Kuhn, Marlena. 262. PALS in the ED: What Every EM Doc Needs to Know. July 28th, 2025. Accessed [date].

Learn when and how to perform a lateral canthotomy to prevent blindness in orbital compartment syndrome. A must-know emergency procedure for every EM physician. Join us in Knoxville, TN August 20 for the UT Emergency & Trauma Symposium. EM Board Bombs is sponsoring! Register here: utmedicalcenter.org/ut-lifestar-emergency-trauma-symposium Want to experience the greatest in board studying? Check out our interactive question bank podcast- the FIRST of its kind at emboardbombs.com/interactive-question-bank/ Cite this podcast as: Briggs, Blake. 261. Lateral Canthotomy in the ED: Time is Retina! July 13th, 2025. Accessed [date].

If you’ve seen Fast & Furious, you already get the vibe—speed saves lives. In this episode, we break down the Massive Transfusion Protocol (MTP): when to activate it, how to do it right, and ratios. We also hit key points on TXA, resuscitation strategy, and common mistakes in trauma care.

Struggling with the EM Shelf or your Emergency Medicine rotation? We’ve listened. We got you. Check out this free sample episode from EM Critical Hits — a brand-new 33-episode series built for med students. High-yield and under 10 minutes. Here’s the link to the med student podcast: https://www.emboardbombs.com/med-student-em-podcast/ Cite this podcast as: Briggs, Blake. 259. EM Critical Hits: The Ultimate EM Shelf Podcast for Med Students . June 16th, 2025. Accessed [date].

This place is stunning—and deadly. Filmed live at Great Sand Dunes NP, home to one of the most lethal infections you’ve never heard of: Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome. This episode breaks down Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome: signs, exposure risks, and what every EM doc must know. Know the early signs. Know when to worry. Because you don’t need to be a hiker to encounter this. Want to experience the greatest in board studying? Check out our interactive question bank podcast- the FIRST of its kind at here. Cite this podcast as: Wosiski-Kuhn, Marlena. 258. Hantavirus: desert killer you can’t miss . June 2nd, 2025. Accessed [date].

Learn how to diagnose and manage aspiration pneumonia in the ED with a twist. There's a board test answer and a "real life" answer for this one...Let's talk risk factors, key imaging findings, antibiotic choices, and when to worry. Want to experience the greatest in board studying? Check out our interactive question bank podcast- the FIRST of its kind at here. Cite this podcast as: Briggs, Blake. 257. Aspiration Pneumonia: ED diagnosis, treatment. May 26th, 2025. Accessed [date]. ⁠Check out our Youtube channel!⁠

We’re in Philadelphia for SAEM and we want to meet YOU. Swing by our hangout this Thursday 5/15 from 12 to 2pm. We’ll be live on-site, hanging out, and giving away some EM Board Bombs swag. Don’t miss this—your subscription finally comes with a handshake and head nod of respect.

Master the first 5 minutes of managing a hypotensive patient. Learn how to rapidly identify shock types, apply the RUSH exam, and stabilize critically ill patients in the ED. Want to experience the greatest in board studying? Check out our interactive question bank podcast- the FIRST of its kind at here. Cite this podcast as: Briggs, Blake, Wosiski-Kuhn, Marlena. 256. Shock and Hypotensive? Do this FIRST. May 11th, 2025. Accessed [date]. Check out our Youtube channel!