WBM Emergency & Critical Care

Hemoptysis is an important clinical presentation that can range from minor blood-streaked sputum to life-threatening airway and respiratory failure. In this episode, we review the causes, initial evaluation, severity assessment, diagnostic approach, and management of hemoptysis.
Topics covered include:• What hemoptysis is• Differentiating hemoptysis from hematemesis and upper airway bleeding• Common causes of hemoptysis• Bronchitis, pneumonia, bronchiectasis, malignancy, pulmonary embolism, tuberculosis, and diffuse alveolar hemorrhage• Massive versus non-massive hemoptysis• Airway assessment and stabilization• Oxygenation and ventilation considerations• Initial laboratory and imaging evaluation• Chest X-ray and CT angiography• Role of bronchoscopy• Reversal of anticoagulation and coagulopathy• Bronchial artery embolization• Surgical consultation and definitive management• Practical emergency and critical care considerations
Watch the full video on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aju1pgnTIXE
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Join a growing emergency medicine, critical care, and resuscitation education community built around high-yield clinical learning.
Patreon members get access to:• Comprehensive Study Guides• Bedside One-Pagers• Clinical Reviews• Mini-Courses• Practice Questions• Ad-Free Videos• Structured Topic Collections
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⚠️ Educational Disclaimer:This content is intended for educational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for clinical judgment, institutional protocols, specialist consultation, or individualized patient care.Full disclaimer: https://whiteboardmedicine.com/disclaimer

V/Q mismatch is one of the most important physiologic mechanisms of hypoxemia and respiratory failure. In this episode, we review the physiology of ventilation-perfusion matching, high V/Q states, low V/Q states, shunt physiology, dead space ventilation, oxygen response, and the clinical relevance of V/Q mismatch.
Topics covered include:• What V/Q mismatch means• Ventilation and perfusion basics• Normal V/Q relationships in the lung• Low V/Q physiology• High V/Q physiology• Shunt physiology• Dead space ventilation• How V/Q mismatch causes hypoxemia• Response to supplemental oxygen• Common clinical causes of V/Q mismatch• Pneumonia, pulmonary edema, COPD, asthma, and pulmonary embolism• Practical interpretation of oxygenation problems• Clinical relevance in respiratory failure and critical care
Watch the full video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHEzgqx33HI
📚 Join the WhiteBoard Medicine Patreon Communityhttps://www.patreon.com/WhiteBoardMedicine
Join a growing emergency medicine, critical care, and resuscitation education community built around high-yield clinical learning.
Patreon members get access to:• Comprehensive Study Guides• Bedside One-Pagers• Clinical Reviews• Mini-Courses• Practice Questions• Ad-Free Videos• Structured Topic Collections
🌐 WhiteBoard Medicine WebsiteExplore our growing library of critical care and emergency medicine content:https://www.whiteboardmedicine.com
⚠️ Educational Disclaimer:This content is intended for educational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for clinical judgment, institutional protocols, specialist consultation, or individualized patient care.Full disclaimer: https://whiteboardmedicine.com/disclaimer

Acid-base interpretation and blood gas analysis are core skills for evaluating metabolic acidosis, metabolic alkalosis, respiratory acidosis, respiratory alkalosis, anion gap disorders, mixed acid-base disorders, ABGs, and VBGs. In this episode, we review a structured approach to acid-base physiology, anion gap interpretation, delta gap analysis, and blood gas interpretation.
Topics covered include:• Acid-base physiology and core definitions• Metabolic acidosis• Metabolic alkalosis• Respiratory acidosis• Respiratory alkalosis• Arterial blood gas interpretation• Venous blood gas interpretation• ABG versus VBG interpretation• Anion gap calculation and interpretation• Albumin correction for the anion gap• High anion gap metabolic acidosis• Normal anion gap metabolic acidosis• Delta gap and delta ratio analysis• Mixed acid-base disorders• Compensation and expected respiratory response• Practical acid-base problem solving
Watch the full video on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bC90uByQpcc
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Your support helps us continue creating high-yield WhiteBoard Medicine content for YouTube, podcasts, and beyond.
⚠️ Educational Disclaimer:This content is intended for educational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for clinical judgment, institutional protocols, specialist consultation, or individualized patient care.Full disclaimer: https://whiteboardmedicine.com/disclaimer

ICU rounds require a structured approach to respiratory failure, ventilator management, arterial blood gases, nutrition, prophylaxis, sedation, and extubation readiness. In this episode, we review a practical ICU rounds framework for evaluating critically ill patients and organizing daily decision-making at the bedside.
Topics covered include:• How to present mechanical ventilation on ICU rounds• Ventilator settings and daily ventilator assessment• Arterial blood gas interpretation during ICU rounds• Oxygenation and ventilation goals• Spontaneous awakening trials and spontaneous breathing trials• Extubation readiness and liberation from mechanical ventilation• Enteral feeding and nutrition in the ICU• Stress ulcer prophylaxis
Watch the full video on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJcSNm97O4E
📚 Support WhiteBoard Medicine on Patreonhttps://www.patreon.com/WhiteBoardMedicine
Take your learning beyond the podcast with access to:• Comprehensive Study Guides• Bedside One-Pagers• Clinical Reviews• Mini-Courses• Practice Questions• Ad-Free Videos• Structured Topic Collections
Your support helps us continue creating high-yield WhiteBoard Medicine content for YouTube, podcasts, and beyond.
⚠️ Educational Disclaimer:This content is intended for educational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for clinical judgment, institutional protocols, specialist consultation, or individualized patient care.Full disclaimer: https://whiteboardmedicine.com/disclaimer

Hepatopulmonary syndrome is an important pulmonary vascular complication of liver disease and portal hypertension. In this episode, we review the pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic evaluation, and treatment of hepatopulmonary syndrome.
Topics covered include:• What hepatopulmonary syndrome is• The relationship between liver disease, portal hypertension, and hypoxemia• Intrapulmonary vascular dilatations• Ventilation-perfusion mismatch and impaired oxygenation• Clinical presentation and symptoms• Platypnea and orthodeoxia• Diagnostic evaluation• Pulse oximetry and arterial blood gas testing• Contrast-enhanced echocardiography• Differentiating hepatopulmonary syndrome from portopulmonary hypertension• Treatment options and supportive care• Role of liver transplantation
Watch the full video on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUEJSEDFbrY
📚 Support WhiteBoard Medicine on Patreonhttps://www.patreon.com/WhiteBoardMedicine
Take your learning beyond the podcast with access to:• Comprehensive Study Guides• Bedside One-Pagers• Clinical Reviews• Mini-Courses• Practice Questions• Ad-Free Videos• Structured Topic Collections
Your support helps us continue creating high-yield WhiteBoard Medicine content for YouTube, podcasts, and beyond.
⚠️ Educational Disclaimer:This content is intended for educational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for clinical judgment, institutional protocols, specialist consultation, or individualized patient care.Full disclaimer: https://whiteboardmedicine.com/disclaimer

TIPS, or transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt, is an important procedure used in the management of complications related to portal hypertension. In this episode, we review what TIPS is, how it works, why it is performed, and the major clinical considerations surrounding TIPS placement.
Topics covered include:• What TIPS is and what the procedure creates• Portal hypertension and why reducing portal pressure matters• The anatomy of the portal venous and hepatic venous systems• How a portosystemic shunt changes blood flow• Common indications for TIPS• Refractory ascites• Variceal bleeding• Hepatic hydrothorax• TIPS contraindications and patient selection• Hepatic encephalopathy after TIPS• Liver failure and cardiac complications• Practical clinical considerations before and after TIPS
Watch the full video on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wZPfIofnwo
📚 Support WhiteBoard Medicine on Patreonhttps://www.patreon.com/WhiteBoardMedicine
Take your learning beyond the podcast with access to:• Comprehensive Study Guides• Bedside One-Pagers• Clinical Reviews• Mini-Courses• Practice Questions• Ad-Free Videos• Structured Topic Collections
Your support helps us continue creating high-yield WhiteBoard Medicine content for YouTube, podcasts, and beyond.
⚠️ Educational Disclaimer:This content is intended for educational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for clinical judgment, institutional protocols, specialist consultation, or individualized patient care.Full disclaimer: https://whiteboardmedicine.com/disclaimer

Upper GI bleeding and lower GI bleeding are common causes of emergency department visits, hospital admissions, and critical care consultations. While both can present with gastrointestinal hemorrhage, the underlying causes, clinical presentation, diagnostic evaluation, and management strategies often differ significantly.
In this episode, we compare upper versus lower GI bleeding and discuss the key clinical findings that help clinicians distinguish between the two at the bedside. Topics include hematemesis, melena, hematochezia, common bleeding sources, diagnostic testing, endoscopy, colonoscopy, CT angiography, risk stratification, and practical approaches to evaluation and management.
Whether you are a medical student, resident, fellow, advanced practice provider, nurse, respiratory therapist, hospitalist, emergency physician, gastroenterologist, or intensivist, this episode provides a high-yield framework for differentiating upper and lower gastrointestinal bleeding in clinical practice.
▶️ Watch the full video version:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaWFS20mOkI
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Educational Disclaimer:This podcast is intended for educational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for clinical judgment, institutional protocols, specialist consultation, or individualized patient care.

Upper gastrointestinal bleeding is a common medical emergency that can rapidly progress to hemorrhagic shock, massive transfusion, and death if not recognized and managed appropriately. In this episode, we review the resuscitation, diagnostic evaluation, and hemorrhage control strategies for unstable upper GI bleeding from an emergency medicine and critical care perspective.
Topics covered include recognition of unstable upper gastrointestinal bleeding, hemorrhagic shock, blood product resuscitation, massive transfusion protocols, risk stratification, proton pump inhibitor therapy, octreotide for variceal bleeding, antibiotics in cirrhosis, endoscopic hemostasis, CT angiography, interventional radiology, and practical bedside management of the critically ill patient with GI hemorrhage.
We also discuss common causes of severe upper GI bleeding, including peptic ulcer disease, esophageal varices, portal hypertensive bleeding, gastritis, and other important etiologies encountered in emergency medicine, critical care, gastroenterology, and hospital medicine.
Whether you are a medical student, resident, fellow, advanced practice provider, nurse, respiratory therapist, hospitalist, gastroenterologist, emergency physician, or intensivist, this episode provides a practical framework for approaching unstable upper GI bleeding.
▶️ Watch the full video version:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4HqaqzbJ8o
🌐 Explore WhiteBoard Medicine:https://www.whiteboardmedicine.com
📚 Looking for more emergency medicine and critical care education?
The WhiteBoard Medicine Patreon includes:• Comprehensive Study Guides• Bedside One-Pagers• Clinical Reviews• Mini-Courses• Practice Questions• Ad-Free Videos• Structured Learning Collections
Join here:https://www.patreon.com/WhiteBoardMedicine
Educational Disclaimer:This podcast is intended for educational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for clinical judgment, institutional protocols, specialist consultation, or individualized patient care.

Unstable lower gastrointestinal bleeding is a high-acuity emergency that can rapidly progress to hemorrhagic shock, massive transfusion, and death if not recognized and managed appropriately. In this episode, we review the resuscitation, diagnostic evaluation, and definitive management of unstable lower GI bleeding from an emergency medicine and critical care perspective.
Topics covered include recognition of hemorrhagic shock, initial stabilization, blood product resuscitation, massive transfusion protocols, diagnostic testing, CT angiography, interventional radiology, endoscopy, surgical consultation, and strategies for hemorrhage control. We also discuss common causes of severe lower gastrointestinal bleeding, including diverticular bleeding, angiodysplasia, ischemic colitis, and other life-threatening sources of hematochezia.
Whether you are a medical student, resident, fellow, advanced practice provider, nurse, respiratory therapist, hospitalist, emergency physician, gastroenterologist, surgeon, or intensivist, this episode provides a practical framework for approaching the unstable patient with lower GI bleeding.
▶️ Watch the full video version:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nJNBBL2Kzs
🌐 Explore WhiteBoard Medicine:https://www.whiteboardmedicine.com
📚 Looking for more emergency medicine and critical care education?
The WhiteBoard Medicine Patreon includes:• Comprehensive Study Guides• Bedside One-Pagers• Clinical Reviews• Mini-Courses• Practice Questions• Ad-Free Videos• Structured Learning Collections
Join here:https://www.patreon.com/WhiteBoardMedicine
Educational Disclaimer:This podcast is intended for educational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for clinical judgment, institutional protocols, specialist consultation, or individualized patient care.

Hepatic encephalopathy is one of the most common and clinically important complications of advanced liver disease and cirrhosis. It is a frequent cause of altered mental status encountered by emergency physicians, intensivists, hospitalists, gastroenterologists, hepatologists, and other healthcare professionals caring for critically ill patients.
In this episode, we review the pathophysiology of hepatic encephalopathy, including ammonia metabolism, neuroinflammation, and the gut-liver-brain axis. We also discuss clinical presentation, the West Haven grading system, common precipitating factors, diagnostic evaluation, differential diagnosis, and evidence-based treatment strategies including lactulose and rifaximin. Additional topics include recurrent hepatic encephalopathy and TIPS-associated encephalopathy.
Whether you are learning hepatic encephalopathy for the first time or looking to strengthen your understanding of this common complication of cirrhosis, this episode provides a practical and physiology-based review designed for healthcare professionals.
▶️ Watch the full video version:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UU9QGH-YCwI
🌐 Explore WhiteBoard Medicine:https://www.whiteboardmedicine.com
📚 Looking for more emergency medicine and critical care education?
The WhiteBoard Medicine Patreon includes:• Comprehensive Study Guides• Bedside One-Pagers• Clinical Reviews• Mini-Courses• Practice Questions• Ad-Free Videos• Structured Learning Collections
Join here:https://www.patreon.com/WhiteBoardMedicine
Educational Disclaimer:This podcast is intended for educational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for clinical judgment, institutional protocols, specialist consultation, or individualized patient care.