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  • How To Adult: Kitchen Hacks #5 | Doc on the Run

    Ratios < Back Kitchen Hacks #5 Ratios Cooking with Ratios Bread 5:3 flour to water- for example, 300g flour and 180g water. With this ratio in your arsenal, the world of bread is at your fingertips. You can explore different flours, hydrations, and additions like seeds and nuts from here. Salt: Around 2% of the flour weight (e.g. 6g salt for 300g flour) Yeast: Around 1% of the flour weight (e.g. 3g yeast for 300g flour) Muffin/Quick Breads 2:2:1:1 flour:liquid:eggs:fat Baker Move: Baking times and temps can vary based on something as simple as the humidity in the air. Pros test the doneness of muffins, quick breads and cakes by simply inserting a toothpick. If it comes out clean, they are ready to cool. Biscuit 3:2:1 flour:liquid:fat Baker Move: Pros always scoop flour, sugar or other dry ingredient into a measuring cup, then use the back of a knife or other straight edge to level it off. Vinaigrette 3:1 oil to vinegar. Add herbs, garlic, or mustard to elevate your dressing Cookies 3:2:1 flour:butter:sugar Other ingredients like eggs, baking powder, and flavourings can be added, but the core 3:2:1 ratio for the main dry, fat, and sweet components is the foundation. Baker Move: Using a dough scoop (like a small ice cream scoop) to portion equal-size cookies adds a professional touch to your finished cookie plate. Pound Cake 1:1:1:1 flour: egg: fat (unsalted butter): sugar Baker Move: Pull your butter and eggs out of the fridge a couple of hours before you're ready to bake. Room-temperature butter is better for creaming, and you'll want the eggs at the same temperature to prevent them from seizing. Pancakes 2 parts flour: 2 parts liquid: 1 part eggs: 1/2-part fat Baker Move: Slowly incorporate the liquid into the dry ingredients while whisking constantly for effortless, lump-free pancake batter. Meringue 2 parts sugar: 1 part egg whites or 1 part sugar: 1 part egg yolks Baker Move: Avoid cracks in your perfectly piped meringues by keeping your oven door closed while they dry out. Yep, that means no peeking. Pie Dough 3:2:1 flour:butter:water Baker Move: Soggy-bottomed pie crusts, be gone! Pros know to par-bake their crusts for fresh fillings. Fritter 2:2:1 flour:liquid:egg Baker Move: The key to a crispy fritter is to never crowd the pan. Drop too many in the frying oil at once and the temperature will plummet, producing a greasy, mushy fritter. Custard 2:1 eggs:liquid Baker Move: Once you have that ratio down, remember to strain your cooked custard through a fine mesh sieve to remove any lumps. Crepes 1/2:1:1 flour:liquid:egg Baker Move: Crepe batter needs time to set up, preferably overnight in the fridge. Links Cooking with Ratios Food Network Previous Next

  • Wound Care | Doc on the Run

    < Back Wound Care American College of Surgeons: Home Skills for Patients Adult Colostomy/Ileostomy - collection of resources to help you prepare for managing your ostomy, including videos and a home skills kit. Your Colostomy/Ileostomy Ostomy Home Skills Kit: Adult Colostomy/Ileostomy Wound Management Home Skills Program Drain Care Jackson-Pratt (JP) Drainage Tube: After Hospital Care [Northwestern Medicine] Previous Next

  • Vignette: Guts on the Floor and Exposed Spine | Doc on the Run

    < Back Guts on the Floor and Exposed Spine Patient #1 A 32-year-old male was involved in a head-on motor vehicle collision. He was ejected and pinned between two vehicles. He was brought in by EMS and on arrival to the trauma bay, he was covered with a sheet. When he was transferred to the gurney, it was clear that there was something unusual. He was eviscerated with a large wound in his right lower abdomen just above his inguinal ligament, and his intestines were entangled in his clothing. Patient #2 A patient was brought in by EMS following a motorcycle accident with a report of "exposed spine". Primary survey unremarkable, hemodynamically stable. FAST revealed fluid in the abdomen. A secondary survey revealed multiple extremity abrasions. When the patient was log rolled, he was noted to have a full-thickness degloving injury of the soft tissue and partial avulsion of the back musculature with exposed spinous processes. What are the management priorities? Prioritize primary and secondary survey, treat life-threatening injuries first. Secure airway. Evaluate for concomitant injuries, including thoracoabdominal injuries, requiring emergent surgical intervention. The challenge of Distracting injuries Remember- very painful or frightening injuries may distract from pressing clinical priorities. Regardless of how horrifying or novel an injury is, the goal of rapid evaluation and management of trauma patients is to identify and treat the most life-threatening injuries first. Remember to evaluate the airway, breathing, and circulation, and don't be concerned with the exposed intestine until you have ensured the patient doesn't have a pending loss of airway, tension pneumothorax, cardiac tamponade, etc. Control active arterial hemorrhage. Don't let the patient die from an unsecured airway while you are frantically attending to grass and flecks of wood and rock covering the exposed back muscle overlying the spine. Previous Next

  • Snowboarding | Doc on the Run

    < Back Snowboarding Gear and Resources I currently ride a true twin snowboard. Brand- Arbor Cadence Size- 147 cm Profile- System Rocker What kind of board I'm looking for? All-mountain Shape- directional twin Profile- rocker/ reverse camber Flexibility- medium Website Links On the Snow Up-to-date information about snow conditions. Projected resort opening/ closing dates. State Level Information- V irginia Snow Report Specific Resort Information- Jay Peak Apps On the Snow (see above) Epic Pass Slopes How to Choose a Snowboard Snowboardingdays.com REI.com How to Set Up Your Snowboard Burton.com Mounting Burton Bindings Miscellaneous Seven Most Dog-Friendly Ski Resorts in North America Previous Next

  • ICU | Doc on the Run

    < Back ICU Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM): Patient and Family Resources Meet the Critical Care Team Learn about the members of the ICU care team. Patient Communicator Application This free app by SCCM is designed to improve communication between patients, families, and caregivers. Critical Care FAQs Learn about which patients require care in the ICU, what things commonly happen in the ICU, as well as find a more detailed explanation of common medical conditions seen in the ICU. Resource Library The MyICUCare.org Resource Library includes complimentary materials aimed at educating patients and families about the critical care journal, both during an ICU stay and after discharge. Understanding Your ICU Stay: Information and Patients and Families booklet. American Thoracic Society- Patient Education | INFORMATION SERIES Managing the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Experience: A Proactive Guide for Patients and Families Mechanical Ventilation What is Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome? What is ECMO? Central Venous Catheter Arterial Catheterization What is Hemodialysis for Acute Kidney Failure? What is Sepsis? Palliative Care for People with Respiratory Disease or Critical Illness Tracheostomy in Adults Living with a Tracheostomy Venous Thromboembolism- Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) and Pulmonary Embolism (PE) Preventing Venous Thromboembolism [John Hopkins Medicine: Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality ] Previous Next

  • Book Review: Made to Stick | Doc on the Run

    11 Made to Stick Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die 6 Principles of Sticky Ideas - Simple - Unexpected- crash at the end of the car commercial. - Concrete - Credibility- the ability to test. Before you vote ask yourself if you are better off today than you were 4 years ago- Reagan. - Emotions - Stories Curse of knowledge- we find it hard to imagine not knowing what we have learned. Can’t imagine what it’s like not to understand a certain concept that we accept as fact Previous Next

  • Medical Literature | Doc on the Run

    Medical Literature Evidence-Based Medicine After you have established a firm foundation of the basics of your chosen specialty, you're ready to develop regular habits to stay up to date on the newest research. Evidence-based medicine is the basis of high-quality patient care, but it can seem overwhelming to try to keep up with the ever-growing body of research. There are countless journals, and it would be time-consuming to search them regularly. So how does one go about navigating the vast ocean of available data? Registering for email alerts is a simple way to get notified when there are new publications. With a quick skim through the article titles to see if anything is relevant, followed by a review of the abstract/ article itself, you can be on the cutting edge of the latest information in your field. Several require individual registration, but it's a very simple and quick process. Many journals require a subscription, often available through your medical school or hospital library. If you are military, you have access to AMEDD Virtual Library (abundant medical resource collection). Thankfully, three publishers (LWW Wolters Kluwer , Springer and Elsevier ) have centralized their journals, so you can quickly subscribe to several journals [these journals are designated by L, S or E]. Medicine and Critical Care Journal of the Ameri can Medical Association New England Journal of Medicine Intensive Care Medicine Critical Care Medicine (L) Current Opinions in Critical Care (L) Journal of Intensive Care (S) Critical Care (S) Journal of Critical Care (E) Critical Care Clinics (E) Surgery World Journal of Surgery World Journal of GI Surgery JAMA Surgery J Gastrointestinal Surg Advances in Surgery Annals of Surgery (L) Annals of Surgery Open (L) BMC Surgery (S) Surgery (E) American Journal of Surgery (E) Journal of the American College of Surgeons (E) Surgical Clinics of North America (E) Advances in Surgery (E) Trauma and Emergency Surgery European J Trauma and Emergency Surgery Trauma Surgery and Acute Care Open Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery (L) World Journal of Emergency Surgery (S) World Neurosurgery (E) Other Specialities Journal of Neurotrauma World Journal of Cardiology JAMA Cardiology JAMA Neurology JAMA Network Open Anesthesia and Analgesia (L) Current Opinion in Anesthesiology (L) Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition (L) Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases (L) Current Opinion in Neurology (L) Diseases of the Colon and Rectum (L) Journal of the American College of Cardiology (E)

  • Collaboration | Doc on the Run

    Surgery trainee education. Trauma surgeon. Acute Care Surgery. Collaboration Interested in being a guest contributor? Any suggestions and contributions will be promptly reviewed and added to the appropriate page/ subpage. The contributor will be noted on the website- you can choose if you want your name or Twitter handle or whatever other identification you would like (or none at all if you would like to be anonymous). Content currently under development. Note- this list is NOT all-inclusive. Database of clinical vignettes in key topics of trauma, critical care and emergency general surgery. Focused on more complex scenarios (ie not run-of-the-mill appendicitis)! Please check out the vignettes I currently have to get an idea of what I’m trying to create- and reach out with any suggestions or cases. Literature reviews - deep dives, high-yield articles, etc Procedural or skill tutorials (pre-peritoneal packing, using the ultrasound in critical care, reading a chest x-ray). Each tutorial is followed by a list of primary sources, encouraging readers to pull information from multiple references. If there is any particular procedure or skill that you would like to create a tutorial for, or something that is currently on the website that you would like to enhance (for example, more advanced ultrasound techniques or ventilator settings), please feel free to reach out with suggestions! There is a wide array of other content that you can add to as well. Note templates Recommendations on networking opportunities Recommendations on social media accounts to follow Educational resources (textbooks, journal articles, training courses, web based open access medical education) Please send me an email (form at the bottom of the page) or contact me on Twitter @doc_on_the_run if you have any questions or want to submit something.

  • FAQs | Doc on the Run

    Surgery trainee education. Trauma surgeon. Acute Care Surgery. FAQs Why did you make this website? Over these years of learning about the practice of surgery, I've also learned a lot about myself. I am not an expert, and I did not follow a typical pathway- but I have some knowledge and resources to share. As I transition into my new Acute Care Surgeon role after 17 years in training, I'm pausing to share my experience, tips for success, and random nuggets of wisdom. This will be a work in progress, and I look forward to seeing how it evolves. My goal is to share my experience and knowledge in the hopes of helping those who desire to follow this path. But why do we need another medical education website? There are so many good resources already... There are endless ways to explain clinical concepts- pictures, text, analogies, clinical cases, podcast discussions of cases or principles, review articles, etc. There are also different learning styles. When I was trying to grasp advanced ventilator management, I read basic critical care textbooks, a book dedicated solely to ventilator management, and various websites and journal articles. This website is another way to interact with the information. Hopefully you will understand some of the concepts in a new way that helps you remember and apply them in clinical scenarios. In addition, I have also tried to create a comprehensive collection of all the useful resources I know, like apps and open access medical education resources (websites, clinical guidelines, etc) in one place for trainees to What does Doc on the Run mean? The summer before my last year of medical school was the start of my running career. My focus was enjoying the outdoors, not pace or distance. During my residency, I met someone who helped me refine my running. I started timing myself, training, and racing. Within a year or two, I pushed through personal barriers to become a "runner." My first half marathon was on Thanksgiving in my third year of surgical residency. I am at the end of my formal training, I am now an Acute Care Surgeon. As a surgeon, there are numerous factors that I can't control. It's fast-paced, demanding, and dynamic. I enjoy the organized chaos and high-stakes cases. Running is key to my work-life balance. Unlike in the operating room or the trauma bay, I have control over most aspects of my runs- pace, distance, route, and thoughts. It's not chaotic- it's basically the polar opposite of my work. During the day, my mind is going a million miles an hour. When I run, everything becomes clearer- I can solve problems, mull over ideas, or process dilemmas. And perhaps the most concrete impact is the runner's high that I enjoy after finishing. I have continued to run 10Ks, 10 milers, and the occasional 5K or 15K. I have learned more about the science of running (HR training zones, different paces for tempo/ interval/ long runs/ short runs) and I've learned how to adapt training schedules to fit my life. Unfortunately, I have suffered my share of injuries, including most recently nerve impingement in my foot. While I may have scaled back, running will always be part of my identity. Did you really build this website yourself? Yes, I did. No, I didn't do all the intricate coding by myself. But I did design, format, and create the content. So are you a computer/ technology guru? Whatever I know about technology, I learned from my brother and from spending many hours researching problems online. While my parents might consider me an expert, I literally just search online to solve most issues. When I get to the end of the internet and still haven't found the solution, my next step is Apple tech support (obviously only if the problem is with my iPhone or Mac). What did you learn while making this website? - Formatting the working space on a website - URL redirect - Domains and subdomains - Search engine optimization (SEO) - Establishing custom domains - Which text/ background colors are easiest to read - Anchors If you weren't an Acute Care Surgeon, what would you do? I'd be a chef. I love cooking! Is there anything that is overwhelmingly gross in your job? I have had almost every body fluid on me- stool, urine, blood, etc. So very little grosses me out. But I can't stand oral or nasal secretions (aka saliva, slobber, snot, etc.).

  • Tutorial: Ultrasound: Cardiac Exam | Doc on the Run

    < Back Ultrasound: Cardiac Exam Purpose: identify possible causes of hemodynamic instability, respiratory distress, assessment of volume status. Probe The phased array can be used for the entire exam. The curvilinear can also be used for the subxiphoid and IVC views. Views There are 4 basic views, including the parasternal long axis, parasternal short axis, the apical four chamber and the subcostal view. Additionally, the inferior vena cava can be visualized. Cardiac ultrasound is more challenging to learn than most other ultrasound studies, because probe usage (position, angle, rotation, translation, etc) have drastic impact on visualization. It’s necessary to understand what is shown in each view, so take time reviewing these so you can have a better appreciation for what you are seeing when you perform a study on a real patient. One recommendation, if it is difficult to visualize the heart, moving the patient into the lateral decubitus with their left side down can significantly improve visualization as the heart is closer to the chest wall in this position. For video and pictorial explanations of the views, please refer to these sites. Basic Cardiac Views, #1 Basic Cardiac Views, #2 Findings Gross abnormalities- decreased ventricular function, arrhythmias Profound hypovolemia Small hyperdynamic left ventricle with end-systolic collapse Inferior vena cava- assess volume status, either static measurement of diameter or calculation of collapsibility (>50% correlates with volume responsiveness). Respiratory variation (collapsibility/distensibility index). Takotsubo cardiomyopathy Akinesia of the apical and mid-ventricular segment, hypercontractile basal segments. Apical sparing (dilated). Acute cor pulmonale Respiratory disorder→ pulmonary hypertension→ right heart failure. Dilated right heart. Cardiac tamponade Effusion with end-diastolic collapse of the right atrium, effusion in front of the aorta Pulmonary embolism Free-floating thrombus in the right ventricle or pulmonary artery; right ventricular dilation/ systolic dysfunction; septal bowing into the left ventricle; dilated IVC without inspiratory collapse. Most sensitive/ specific indirect sign- right ventricular apical sparing (McConnell's sign). References Guidelines for Performing a Comprehensive Transthoracic Echocardiographic Examination in Adults: Recommendations from the American Society of Echocardiography Previous Next

  • Tutorial: Cardiac Physiology | Doc on the Run

    < Back Cardiac Physiology Cardiovascular Physiology Oxygen Delivery Adequate cardiovascular function is vital to maintaining perfusion to the organs and tissues in the body. Perfusion drives oxygen delivery (O2) and removal of byproducts of cell metabolism (CO2). The amount of oxygen that is delivered (DO2) is a function of cardiac output (CO; the volume of blood ejected from the heart every minute) and the arterial oxygen content (amount of oxygen in the blood). Cardiac output is determined by the volume of blood the heart pumps out into the body with each heartbeat (stroke volume, SV) and the frequency of the heartbeat (heart rate, HR). Stroke volume depends on preload (blood volume returned to the heart), contractility (effectiveness of cardiac muscle activity), and afterload (pressure in the peripheral vasculature that the heart has to overcome to eject blood). Arterial oxygen content (CaO2) is the amount of O2 in the blood that is ejected from the heart. This is determined by dissolved O2 + O2 bound to hemoglobin. Hemoglobin carries O2, and the percentage of Hgb molecules that are saturated (bound) with O2 is determined by arterial blood gas (SaO2, arterial oxygen concentration) or pulse oximetry (SpO2, peripheral arterial oxygen concentration). Pulse oximetry is non-invasive and is a reliable surrogate (as long as SaO2 >90%). The O2 carrying capacity of one gram of hemoglobin is 1.38 (this is a constant in the equation). So this is the first part of the equation: the number of hemoglobin molecules x the % of those molecules that are saturated with O2 x how much O2 saturated hemoglobin can carry . The second part of the equation is the dissolved oxygen (partial pressure of arterial oxygen, PaO2, reported as mmHg). This value is multiplied by the constant 0.003, which is the mL of O2 dissolved per mmHg plasma. This number is infinitesimally small relative to the other half of the equation and it is typically ignored when determining oxygen concentration. This means that the significant modifiable factor in CaO2 is Hgb. Oxygen has to have something to bind to (Hgb) because dissolved oxygen has minimal oxygen-carrying capacity. Oxygen delivery (DO2)= CO x CaO2 Cardiac Output (CO)= heart rate (HR) x SV Stroke volume (SV)= the volume of blood ejected from the heart each heartbeat. Arterial oxygen concentration (CaO2)= [1.38 x Hgb x SaO2] + [PaO2 x 0.003] How can oxygen delivery be increased? One of the components of the equation has to be adjusted. Increase cardiac output. Increase SV- use of an inotropic agent (* medication that increases the strength of the heart contraction), ensure adequate preload (volume resuscitation). Increase HR- use of a chronotropic agent (* medication that increases heart rate). Increase arterial oxygen content Increase blood hemoglobin concentration *See pharmacology below Oxygen Consumption Oxygen consumption (VO2) is determined by how much oxygen the peripheral tissues extract and use. It is the difference between oxygen delivery (DO2) and oxygen return(ed) (SvO2). Oxygen consumption (VO2)= DO2 - SvO2. Oxygen consumption is calculated by subtracting SvO2 or ScVO2 from the amount of oxygen delivered. Venous oxygen saturation (SvO2 or ScVO2)- concentration of oxygen in the blood returning to the heart. Measured with a central venous catheter. *See below under CV monitoring for more details. Cardiovascular Monitoring There are several techniques for monitoring cardiovascular parameters, ranging from non-invasive to maximally invasive. Non-invasive methods include telemetry, pulse oximetry, and blood pressure monitoring. The benefit of these devices is their simplicity of use and interpretation. But these are error-prone, and regarding blood pressure, it doesn't provide continuous monitoring. For more info, see lecture entitled " Hemodynamics ". Arterial lines can be placed to provide continuous cardiac monitoring. The arterial waveform can indicate specific pathology (see Edwards Quick Guide to Cardiovascular Care ). In addition, an arterial line can report stroke volume variation. Stroke volume variation (SVV) is a surrogate of arterial pressure changes with inspiration/ expiration. If the change in pressure with respiratory cycles is >10-15%, it suggests the patient is fluid responsive, meaning they are likely to improve their preload (and cardiac output and blood pressure) with IV fluid administration. Central venous catheters can be placed to deliver intravenous medication as well as provide cardiac monitoring. A central venous catheter can measure the pressure of the blood returned to the right atrium (central venous pressure, CVP), which is a crude measurement of preload and right heart function. In addition, the oxygenation of the blood returning to the right heart (from the head and upper body) is reported as Central venous oxygenation saturation (ScVO2). ScVO2 reflects the balance between oxygen delivery and consumption. Arterial lines and central venous catheters are considered "minimally invasive". A pulmonary artery (PA) catheter is the most invasive device for cardiac monitoring. Similar to a central venous catheter, a PA catheter can determine the oxygenation of the blood returning to the right heart, which is the mixed venous oxygen saturation (SvO2). However, in contrast to the central venous catheter which is located in the superior vena cava (proximal to the right atria), this device is measuring blood oxygenation in the pulmonary artery (from the right ventricle), so it accounts for the blood from the entire body (unlike the ScVO2). Cardiac Pharmacology Vasoactive medications are frequently used in the ICU for the management of shock, heart failure, and other acute pathology. There are several key receptors, and understanding the function of each receptor is the key to using these different agents correctly. Receptors * α (alpha) 1- vasoconstriction * α2- inhibit norepinephrine release from presynaptic neurons * β (beta) 1- chronotrope (↑HR), inotrope (↑Ca in cardiac myocytes ↑contractility), dromotrope (↑cardiac impulse conduction velocity) * β2- vasodilation * Dopa 1- vasodilation * Dopa 2- neurotransmitter release Pharmacologic Agent Classification Each medication has a specific physiologic effect based on its particular mechanism of action. Agents may stimulate or inhibit receptors (see above) or alter the concentration of a key substance (cAMP, calcium, potassium, nitric oxide (NO)). Previous Next

  • Board Examinations | Doc on the Run

    11 < Back Board Examinations American Board of Surgery: General Surgery Boards Exam Prep Master the General Surgery Oral Boards by Dr Hassan Aziz . Dr Aziz reviews key surgical topics, including trauma, thoracic, pediatric, HPB, GI, breast cancer, endocrine, vascular. [Reference courtesy of Hassan Aziz, MD @Sharpknife_Aziz ] Surgical Education and Self-Assessment Program (SESAP). Resource for general surgeons- stay current with the latest surgical knowledge and prepare for examinations. American Board of Surgery: Surgical Critical Care Boards Exam Prep Evidence-Based Practice of Critical Care. 3rd edition, 2019. Reviews the literature regarding specific high yield critical care topics. Trauma, Critical Care, and Surgical Emergencies: A Case and Evidence-Based Textbook. 1st edition, 2010. 64 cases that review the basic principles of ACS. Previous Next

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