Is there anything more bread and butter in emergency medicine than intubating patients in high-stress situations? With five million adults needing emergency intubation annually, staying updated on intubation best practices is crucial. The PRagmatic trial Examining OXygenation prior to Intubation (PREOXI), just published in the NEJM and discussed on ERcast in this free segment, could revolutionize our approach to preoxygenation and, most importantly, improve patient safety.

Extra Extra – Read All About It!! It is our pleasure to bring to you – hot off the presses – the results from the PREOXI Trial which looks at whether or not preoxygenation with non-invasive positive pressure ventilation results in better peri-intubation outcomes versus non-pressurized preoxygenation strategies. Joining us is the primary author on this paper, Dr. Kevin Gibbs, MD of Wake Forest University School of Medicine. Practice changing? Practice affirming? Does it even matter?! Check out our interview with Dr. Gibbs and see what you think!

Episode 40! In this special episode releasing at the conclusion of the PREOXI presentation at the Critical Care Reviews 2024 conference in Belfast, Ireland – we discuss the recently published PREOXI trial evaluating NIV vs facemask as pre-oxygenation for emergent endotracheal intubation. Kevin Gibbs, the first author and presenter at the conference, is our special guest.  

Drs Brian Driver and Matt Prekker join Rob Mac Sweeney to address some of the questions and comments that arose following the presentation and publication of the BOUGIE trial, comparing the use of a stylet with that of a bougie in emergency intubation.

April 16, 1978 ~ October 31, 2021 (age 43)

Obituary

James Matthew Dargin, MD, 43, of Nashua, died unexpectedly at his home on October 31, 2021. He is the beloved husband of Elizabeth (Caron) Dargin with whom he shared fifteen joyful and blessed years of marriage.

Jim, as he was known to family and friends, was born in Nashua, NH on April 16, 1978. He is the son of John P. and Virginia (Breed) Dargin of Nashua. Jim attended Bishop Guertin High School and then enrolled at Boston University for his Bachelor in Science and in turn a Doctorate in Medicine. He also completed his residency at BU, in Emergency Medicine, at Boston Medical Center, while living in South Boston. Thereafter, he completed a fellowship in Critical Care at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center before returning to New England to practice. An intensivist in Pulmonary and Critical Care, he served for the past eleven years as a physician at the Lahey Hospital and Medical Center in Burlington, MA. During that time, he held many leadership roles and was awarded multiple awards for his work, in addition to pursuing research, teaching, and mentoring others. He was highly regarded and admired by his colleagues for his deep commitment to his vocation as a physician, both in terms of his care of his patients and his teaching of future physicians.

Well beyond medicine, Jim had a great curiosity and desire for learning, whether from reading, conversation, or exploration. He loved fishing, and also watching Red Sox and Patriots games with friends and family. Absolutely above all else, he cherished time spent with family, especially with his wife and children. He will forever be remembered as the strong and loving family man he was.

In addition to his parents John and Virginia, and his wife Beth, Jim is survived by his two daughters, Paige Marie and Meredith Ann Dargin of Nashua; his brother, John P. Dargin and his wife Kathie of Nashua and his nieces, Brianna and Emma; his sister-in-law, Jennifer Matsis of Milford and his nieces Alexandra and Ashleigh; his aunt, Ann Scalcione and her husband Robert; two uncles, Paul Dargin and Joseph Breed, as well as many cousins and extended family.  Jim was predeceased by his in-laws, Normand and Sandra Caron.

Relatives and friends are invited to Jim’s visitation on SUNDAY, November 7th from 3-6 PM at ROCHETTE FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATION SERVICES, 21 Kinsley Street, Nashua.
His funeral Mass will be held on MONDAY, November 8th at 10 AM at St. Joseph the Worker Parish, 777 W Hollis Street, Nashua. Interment will follow in St. Louis Cemetery, Nashua. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Jim’s name to Beth Israel Lahey Health, please visit 

https://secure3.convio.net/bidmc/site/Donation2?df_id=6143&mfc_pref=T&6143.donation=form1 

By: Emily Luxen

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — As the Labor Day weekend concludes, Tennessee continues to see a record-breaking number of people hospitalized with COVID-19.

The latest data from the Tennessee Department of Health reveals there are now 3,597 COVID patients hospitalized across the state. Of those, 1,020 are in ICUs. Before this record influx of COVID patients, the previous record was set back in January.

Recent Stories from newschannel5.com
The most recent numbers from Vanderbilt University Medical Center show of the 218 people hospitalized over the last 7 days, 190 were unvaccinated.

“We’re seeing lots of lots people who are unvaccinated who are sick enough to be in the hospital,” said Dr. Todd Rice, a critical care physician at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. “There is some exasperation from nurses. It’s like if you just would have got vaccinated, you likely wouldn’t be here.”
Dr. Rice has been treating COVID patients since the beginning of the pandemic. He said 18 months of grueling work has taken a toll on hospital staff.

“These patients are sick,” said Dr. Rice. “They take a ton of resources, energy and time.”
Dr. Rice said doctors are also waiting to see if travel and other activities over the Labor Day weekend cause yet another spike in cases.

“Our numbers are high enough right now, I think any increase we see gets buried in the high numbers right now.”

Dr. Rice said the only way to reverse the trend is for more Tennesseans to get vaccinated. He said some unvaccinated patients have expressed regrets they didn’t get the shot, and he hopes others learn from their actions.

“There is no better way to make sure you don’t get COVID and don’t end up in the hospital than to get yourself vaccinated,” said Dr. Rice.

This wide-ranging episode, covering many angles of how we should consider doing less interventions to our patients and more transparent communication to their families, features US intensivist Todd Rice.