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EM Pulse Podcast™

EM Pulse Podcast™

By: UC Davis Department of Emergency Medicine
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Bringing research and expert opinion to the bedside2023 UC Davis Emergency Department Education Hygiene & Healthy Living Physical Illness & Disease
Episodes
  • Scorpions and Spiders
    Sep 19 2025
    Dive into the second half of our envenomation series! Dr. Jonathan Ford, a UC Davis Medical Toxicologist and Professor of Emergency Medicine, returns to the podcast to tackle scorpions and spiders. We're going beyond the basics to discuss the "why" and "how" of these bites and stings. Learn about the neurotoxic effects of bark scorpion venom and the life-threatening airway risks. Explore the mechanism behind black widow bites that leads to intense pain and spasms, and the crucial role of antivenom in severe cases. Plus, we're setting the record straight on a common myth—the brown recluse—and the proper supportive care for its nasty bite. Join us to discover the latest evidence-based approaches that could change how you manage your next bite or sting. Have you had a patient with a serious or challenging envenomation? How did you manage it? Share your story with us social media @empulsepodcast or connect with us on ucdavisem.com Hosts: Dr. Julia Magaña, Professor of Pediatric Emergency Medicine at UC Davis Dr. Sarah Medeiros, Professor of Emergency Medicine at UC Davis Guest: Dr. Jonathan Ford, Professor of Emergency Medicine and Medical Toxicologist at UC Davis Resources: Quan D. North American poisonous bites and stings. Crit Care Clin. 2012 Oct;28(4):633-59. doi: 10.1016/j.ccc.2012.07.010. PMID: 22998994. Levine M, Friedman N. Terrestrial envenomations in pediatric patients: identification and management in the emergency department. Pediatr Emerg Med Pract. 2021 Sep;18(9):1-24. Epub 2021 Sep 2. PMID: 34403224.. ***\ Thank you to the UC Davis Department of Emergency Medicine for supporting this podcast and to Orlando Magaña at OM Productions for audio production services.
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    19 mins
  • Time is Tissue
    Sep 5 2025
    Summer hikes and backyard play mean we’re bound to see a few snakebites in the ED—and getting the first steps right makes all the difference. In the first half of this 2 part series, Medical Toxicologist Dr. Jonathan Ford joins us to walk through the key steps in caring for patients with snake envenomations. We’ll walk through what to do (and not to do) in terms of pre-hospital care, how to triage and assess patients when they arrive in the ED, and how to decide which patients need antivenom. Dr. Ford reviews dosing strategies, monitoring, and key considerations for children, elderly, and pregnant patients. And we discuss practical guidance on supportive care, from pain control to wound management. By the end of this episode, you’ll be ready to provide effective, evidence-based care for your next snakebite patient. Have you had a patient with a serious or challenging envenomation? How did you manage it? Share your story with us social media @empulsepodcast or connect with us on ucdavisem.com Hosts: Dr. Julia Magaña, Professor of Pediatric Emergency Medicine at UC Davis Dr. Sarah Medeiros, Professor of Emergency Medicine at UC Davis Guest: Dr. Jonathan Ford, Professor of Emergency Medicine and Medical Toxicologist at UC Davis Resources: Seifert SA, Armitage JO, Sanchez EE. Snake Envenomation. N Engl J Med. 2022 Jan 6;386(1):68-78. doi: 10.1056/NEJMra2105228. PMID: 34986287; PMCID: PMC9854269. **** Thank you to the UC Davis Department of Emergency Medicine for supporting this podcast and to Orlando Magaña at OM Productions for audio production services.
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    37 mins
  • Resus Update: Part 2
    Aug 18 2025
    In the second half of this two part episode, Dr. David Leon unpacks some of the most hotly debated topics in resuscitation—fluids, blood products, ECMO, and post-arrest care. He breaks down the pros and cons of crystalloids (yes, even the “pasta water” debate), explains why lactated Ringer’s is often preferred over normal saline, and dips into the use of albumin and colloids. Dr. Leon also discusses the promise and challenges of extracorporeal life support (ECLS), the evolving role of targeted temperature management (TTM), and even peeks into what advances the future might hold. It’s a thoughtful, forward-looking conversation every resuscitationist should hear. What do you think of Dr. Leon’s tips? Are you using these tools in your practice? We’d love to hear from you. Share them with us on social media @empulsepodcast or connect with us on ucdavisem.com Hosts: Dr. Julia Magaña, Professor of Pediatric Emergency Medicine at UC Davis Dr. Sarah Medeiros, Professor of Emergency Medicine at UC Davis Guest: Dr. David Leon, Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine and Anesthesia at UC Davis Resources: American Heart Association (AHA) Algorithms Perman SM, Elmer J, Maciel CB, Uzendu A, May T, Mumma BE, Bartos JA, Rodriguez AJ, Kurz MC, Panchal AR, Rittenberger JC; American Heart Association. 2023 American Heart Association Focused Update on Adult Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support: An Update to the American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care. Circulation. 2024 Jan 30;149(5):e254-e273. doi: 10.1161/CIR.0000000000001194. Epub 2023 Dec 18. PMID: 38108133. **** Thank you to the UC Davis Department of Emergency Medicine for supporting this podcast and to Orlando Magaña at OM Productions for audio production services.
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    18 mins
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