Emergency Medicine Mnemonics

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).

• 🎈 Lock in Retic Logic for th...

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.

🛤️ Using a train engine ...

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

⚠️ Medical emergency! Think fever, renal f...

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 yelling “This is WAR!” 🎾 Warf...

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),

Aneurysm (Ventricular),

Thai...

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 1:10,000 epi (this gives you 100 mcg) u...

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 of Medicine in 2023. Here’s what...

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 Briefing: Before birth, the team prepares ...

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 – Kayexalate (Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate)

D – Diu...

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 diversion surgery)

• Why NAGMA?

•...

The GOLD MARK causes are divided into three major pathophysiologic groups based on the source of the acid production:

1. 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.

• Key labs: Serum osmolality, ...

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 suggests respiratory acidosis or metaboli...

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, which is often a...

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 tissues can lead to a heart stoppin...

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 in patients with underlying c...

The **SPIT** mnemonic is used to help remember common causes of **altered mental status in children**. Here's what each letter stands for:

- **S**eizures: Includes both febrile and non-febrile seizures that can cause confusion or unconsciousness.

- **P**oisoning: Exposure to toxins or ingestion of substances like medications, household chemicals, or recreational drugs.

- **I**nfections: Infections such as meningitis, encephalitis,...

Procedure Timeout Mnemonic:

This mnemonic covers the key elements to verify before starting, ensuring patient safety and team communication. Here's what **IMPACTS** stands for:

1. **I – Identify**:

- **Verify the Patient's Identity**: Confirm the patient's full name, date of birth, and medical record number using their wristband and verbally with the patient if possible.

2. **M – Match the Procedure**:

- **Verify the Proced...