AAEM Survey on Scientific Assembly Pre-Conference Courses

Emergency Department Pain Management

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Review the pathophysiology and pharmacology of acute pain.
2. Discuss current problems and barriers of acute pain management in the ED, including issues of "oligoanalgesia" and "opiophobia".
3. Describe the techniques of local and regional anesthesia and pharmacology of local/topical anesthetics.
4. Identify drug seeking behavior in the ED and to describe the ways to improve understanding and care for such patients.

Reading the Trauma CT

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Identify normal CT anatomy and systematically interpret a pan scan.
2. Recognize clinically important and subtle CT findings in patients with head, cervical spine, chest, and abdominal trauma.
3. Understand the role and interpretation of CT imaging in the evaluation of trauma patients.

Advanced Airway Management: New Tricks and Devices

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Describe various techniques which can be utilized to manage the difficult airway.
2. Compare and contrast the utilization of airway devices including flexible fiberoptic, optical lighted and rigid fiberoptic devices, and video laryngoscopy.
3. Demonstrate the practical utilization of specialty devices using low fidelity simulation models.
4. Develop a difficult airway algorithm that can be utilized in the ED setting.

Geriatric Emergency Medicine: What You Need to Know

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Identify and differentiate among common cardiopulmonary emergencies seen within the elderly population.
2. Develop a diagnostic and therapeutic strategy in the management of elderly patients presenting to the ED with back pain.
3. Examine ethical concerns in the treatment of elderly patients as it applies to autonomy, end of life and palliative care.
4. Identify and differentiate amongst medications that are efficacious and deleterious in the geriatric population for use in common presenting complaints in the ED.