Emergency Medicine Mnemonics

When the heart rate blasts past 150, our reflex is often to grab a syringe—diltiazem, metoprolol, something to slow things down. But here’s the hard truth: if the patient is in sick-tachy—tachycardia as a secondary compensation—slamming them with rate control can be catastrophic. That racing heart rate may be the only thing keeping them alive. Pausing to ask “sick-tachy or tachy-sick?” is what sep...

Chest pain is one of the most common—and highest risk—complaints in the ED. Missing acute coronary syndrome can be catastrophic, but keeping every patient in the hospital isn’t realistic either. That’s why the HEART score has become the standard of care: a simple, validated tool to help you decide who is safe for early discharge and who needs further workup or cardiology assessment. In this episod...

In a cardiac emergency, pattern recognition saves lives. The ability to rapidly identify ST-elevation myocardial infarctions (STEMIs) — and recognize their reciprocal changes — is one of the most high-yield clinical skills you can master. But memorizing lead groupings, artery territories, and reciprocal zones can feel abstract… until now. This podcast brings EKGs to life inside a colorful, stadium...

When a left bundle branch block (LBBB) throws a wrench into your ECG interpretation, how do you know if it’s a STEMI… or just baseline noise? In this unforgettable episode, we ride full throttle into the wild world of wide QRS complexes, Scarbossa criteria, and the modified rules that help unmask true occlusion amidst the electrical chaos. Visualize Evel Knievel launching off the QRS ramp — only t...

This is the most basic, essential framework for EKG interpretation — built for emergency medicine clinicians who need clarity, speed, and confidence in the heat of the moment. Our brains are wired for movement and story. Just like remembering your morning routine — wake up, brush teeth, grab caffeine — we naturally recall sequences that follow a simple, visual narrative. In this episode, we harnes...

Step into the macrocytic anemia caboose and remember the non-megaloblastic causes with the mnemonic My Liver Bleeds a Lot: • My → Multiple Myeloma (CRAB: Hypercalcemia, Renal failure, Anemia, Bone lesions) • Liver → Liver disease • Bleeds → Hemolysis • A → Alcohol use • Lot → Hypothyroidism We start at the front half of the caboose with the non-megaloblastic nun holding a sign with crossed-out “me...

In the fast-paced, high-stakes world of emergency medicine, every second matters—especially when it comes to sickle cell crisis. This podcast takes you straight to the heart of what matters most for ED clinicians, walking you through the essential “4 R’s” that can mean the difference between stabilization and rapid deterioration: • Recognize — Identify the telltale signs of sickle cell crises earl...

Hemolytic Anemias Mnemonic for the ED: TAG MY SUITCASE In this high‑impact episode of Emergency Medicine Mind Palace, we break down hemolytic anemias into a memorable 5‑suitcase system that will stick with you on your next shift. If you’ve ever seen dark urine, anemia, or dropping hemoglobin and felt that twinge of uncertainty about which hemolytic process is at play, this episode will lock in the...

Step aboard the Anemia Train and enter the Normocytic Skeleton Car—the middle car of your anemia mind palace—designed specifically for busy ED clinicians who need fast recall without flipping through textbooks. In this episode, you’ll: • 🧠 Visualize the Normocytic Train Car: Skeleton passengers holding reticulocyte balloons, split by a divider wall between low retic (front) and high retic (back)....

Microcytic Anemia in the ED: What You’re Missing Could Kill Your Patient 🚨 Episode Summary for the Emergency Clinician: Think you’ve got anemia figured out? Think again. In this high-yield episode, we dissect microcytic anemia from an ED-first perspective and break down what you must recognize and act on fast—because missing a few key clues could mean a delayed diagnosis with deadly consequences....

In this high-yield episode, we build a visual memory palace down the “Highway to Hell” of emergency thrombocytopenia syndromes. Each stop reveals a unique and dangerous cause of low platelets you’ll encounter in the ED—brought to life through vivid storytelling, unforgettable characters, and layered mnemonics. 🚑 What You’ll Learn (Quick Hits): • TTP – Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura ⚠️ Medica...

In this unforgettable bloody podcast, we bring the clotting cascade to life through a cast of hilarious and high-yield characters designed to make clinical recall effortless under pressure. Play Table Tennis = PTT = Inside = Intrinsic. Play Tennis = PT = Outside = Extrinsic.” You’ll meet: 🟢 Lucky Number 7 — our tennis-playing war cry–shouting Factor VII who kicks off the extrinsic pathway by yell...

In this episode, we tackle STEMI mimics—conditions that mimic ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction on an EKG but aren’t always a heart attack. Why’s it critical? Because ST elevation doesn’t always mean STEMI, and misdiagnosis can waste time or miss critical conditions. ELEVATION Electrolytes (Hyperkalemia), Left Bundle Branch Block, Early Repolarization, Ventricular Hypertrophy (Left), Aneu...

How to Mix Push-dose Epi: One out, one in — makes ten Goal concentration: 10 mcg/mL Step-by-Step Mixing: 1. Start with a 10 mL syringe of normal saline (NS) • empty 1 mL to retain 9 mL of NS in the syringe. 2. Use the code cart 1:10,000 epi (100 mcg/mL) • This is the standard “cardiac arrest epi” amp (usually 1 mg in 10 mL)…the 1:10,000 prefilled syringe used during ACLS 3. Withdraw 1 mL of the 1:...

E-MOTIVE Mnemonic for Postpartum Hemorrhage: A Lifesaving Strategy The E-MOTIVE mnemonic stands for a six-component bundle aimed at tackling postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), a major cause of maternal death, especially in low-resource settings. This approach, tested in a cluster-randomized trial across 80 hospitals in Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and Tanzania, was published in the New England Journal...

This is a Neonatal Resuscitation Algorithm flowchart, specifically the NRP (Neonatal Resuscitation Program), published by the AHA in 2020. It provides a step-by-step guide for healthcare providers to follow during the resuscitation of a newborn immediately after birth, focusing on stabilizing the infant’s breathing, heart rate, and oxygenation. Starting Point • Antenatal Counseling and Team Briefi...

The 3-Step Approach to Acute Hyperkalemia 1. Stabilize: the Heart (If ECG changes) → Calcium 2. Shift: K+ Into Cells → Insulin + Glucose, Albuterol, Bicarb (if acidotic) 3. Send-it: Remove K+ From Body → Diuretics (if making urine), Kayexalate (if GI motility intact), Dialysis (if severe/refractory) I – IV Fluids C – Calcium B – Beta-2 Agonists B – Bicarbonate I – Insulin & Glucose K – Kayexal...

USED CARS mnemonic for non-anion gap metabolic acidosis (NAGMA): Why “USED CARS”? • Ureterosigmoidostomy • Saline & Chloride infusion (excessive).. chloride offsets AG • Endocrine disorders (Addison’s disease aka adrenal insufficiency, hypoaldosteronism) • Diarrhea • Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors • Ammonium chloride • Renal tubular acidosis • Spironolactone ⸻ U – Ureteroenteric fistula (or diversi...

The GOLD MARK causes are divided into three major pathophysiologic groups based on the source of the acid production: ​ Alcohols (Toxic Ingestions) → Emergency Toxins ​ Glycols → Ethylene glycol (antifreeze) and propylene glycol ​ Methanol → Windshield washer fluid, homemade alcohol substitutes ​ Why grouped together? ​ Common in suicide attempts, accidental ingestions, or chronic alcoholics. ​ Ke...

Mister Ronald McDonald (MR RM) is a helpful flowchart for interpreting acid-base disorders, specifically for determining whether a patient’s condition is due to a metabolic (M) or respiratory (R) cause: 1. Check the pH (7.4 is the cutoff) • pH > 7.4 → Alkalosis • pH < 7.4 → Acidosis 2. Assess Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) Levels (PaCO₂) • The key threshold is 40 mmHg: • If CO₂ > 40 mmHg, this sugg...

To determine if the patient requires admission or can be discharged, the Glasgow-Blatchford Score (GBS) is used. Here’s the ABCDEF mnemonic and why these factors increase the risk of an upper GI bleed: ​ A - Active: Conditions like syncope or melena indicate ongoing or significant bleeding, increasing risk severity. ​ B - Blood Urea Nitrogen: Levels ≥ 7 mg/dL suggest impaired kidney function, whic...

CENTOR criteria Fever PAIN: Strep Throat mnemonic

The “H’s and T’s” refer to a mnemonic used in medicine to help healthcare professionals quickly recall the most common causes of cardiac arrest during a code (a medical emergency requiring CPR). Memorizing these is crucial because identifying and addressing these causes rapidly can improve the chances of saving a patient’s life. Here’s a breakdown: The H’s: OK TV Hypoxia - Lack of oxygen to tissue...

These are the adventitious lung sounds Mneumonics. Strider: Everyone can take in stride. Crackles: A fine chap with firecrackers. Wheezing: Just ask any whale: Can you HAC the wheeze? Rhonchi: I BOPped the wrong guy Plural friction rub: PPP (3 words 3 P’s)

The “KEEP” mnemonic is a tool to remember the most common organisms causing urinary tract infections (UTIs). Here’s how the mnemonic breaks down, followed by key information relevant for emergency medicine boards: K - Klebsiella species • Relevance: Klebsiella is the second most common organism causing UTIs, especially hospital-acquired infections. • Key Points: • Gram-negative rod. • Often seen i...