What Do Blood Clots And Dead Cows Have In Common?

You might be surprised to learn that one of the most common medications used to prevent blood clots, Coumadin (warfarin), has a fascinating origin story deeply rooted in the humble cow! Back in the 1920s, farmers noticed a mysterious bleeding disease in their cattle. Cows were literally bleeding to death from minor cuts or even spontaneously. The culprit? Moldy sweet clover silage, a common feed. This baffling "sweet clover disease" caught the attention of biochemist Karl Paul Link at the University of Wisconsin.

Link's relentless research, sparked by a farmer bringing in a dead cow, its unclotted blood, and a sample of the moldy hay, eventually led to the isolation of a potent anticoagulant from the spoiled clover. This compound was refined and ultimately led to the development of warfarin. Initially used as a highly effective rat poison, its life-saving potential for humans soon became clear. Approved for medical use in 1955, Coumadin has since become a cornerstone in preventing dangerous blood clots, all thanks to a scientific detective story that began with sick cows and moldy feed.

Welcome to the 125th edition of ResusNation!

5 Tips To Survive The Night

Working the night shift is an unavoidable reality for many of us in medicine, and while we know it comes with significant health challenges, it's a vital part of patient care. Over my years in practice, I've seen firsthand the toll it can take, but I've also developed strategies to mitigate those negative effects. This isn't just about getting by; it's about optimizing our well-being so we can continue to perform at our best, both professionally and personally. I've found that small, intentional adjustments can make a world of difference in managing the unique demands of working through the night.

From investing in those "ridiculous" wraparound blackout sunglasses immediately post-shift—trust me, blocking all UV rays is crucial for maintaining your circadian rhythm—to creating an impenetrable sleep sanctuary with blackout shades, earplugs, eye masks, and even specific room temperatures, every detail matters. I can't emphasize enough the importance of going straight home after your shift; that breakfast outing can wait. And critically, disconnect from blue light and communicate your sleep schedule to everyone in your household. These aren't just theoretical tips; they're practices I've implemented that have genuinely improved my ability to recover and thrive despite the demands of night work.

Watch the full video here and leave a comment.

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🔥 ResusX:2025 Goes VIRTUAL🔥

You've heard the buzz about ResusX:2025 happening live in Philadelphia, and now, we're thrilled to announce what so many of you have been waiting for: virtual access to ResusX:2025 is officially LIVE!

Starting today you can join us from anywhere in the world to experience three intensive days designed to sharpen your skills and elevate your critical care practice. No travel required, just pure, unadulterated resuscitation mastery delivered straight to you!

This isn't just another online conference. ResusX:2025 is a dynamic, hybrid event packed with hands-on training, essential theory, and lively discussions. Our "rockstar" faculty, true legends in resuscitation, will deliver electrifying talks, spark spirited debates, and lead live demos with incredibly realistic simulations. 

Choose Your Virtual Adventure:

Watch Live – Just $127 (Save big, usually $297!):

• Catch every moment live from Philadelphia.
• Chat with faculty and fellow attendees in real-time.
• Score some awesome prizes!

Live + Replay – Just $197 (Normally $427, huge savings!):

•  Everything in the "Watch Live" package.
• Plus, get 30-day replay access to revisit all the content.

Lifetime Access + Swag + Summaries + CME/CEU – Just $247 (An incredible deal, usually $547!):

• Includes everything from the "Live + Replay" package.
• Lifetime access to all conference content – forever!
• Rock an official ResusX:2025 T-shirt.
• Downloadable lecture summaries for quick review.
• Earn 20.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ or CEU to boost your credentials.

You're going to watch the exact same incredible content as our in-person attendees, delivered right to your screen. We even offer special discounts for non-physicians, and you can submit your burning questions for our faculty to answer live! 

Don't let this chance slip by to sharpen your skills and truly master resuscitation, all from the comfort of your home or office.

Are you ready to become a resuscitation legend? Click below to secure your virtual spot today before these early bird prices vanish!

REGISTER NOW

Can Ultrasound Make Arterial Cannulation a Hole-In_one?

Imagine you're undergoing surgery, and your medical team needs a super accurate way to track your blood pressure constantly. This is often done by inserting a small tube, called a cannula, into an artery, usually in your wrist. Traditionally, doctors rely on feeling for your pulse to guide this procedure. But what happens when that pulse is hard to find due to various medical conditions? This challenge can lead to multiple attempts, discomfort, and delays. That's why new research looking into better methods is so important for patient care. A recent study, "Palpation versus Ultrasound-Guided Dynamic Needle Tip Positioning Technique for Radial Artery Cannulation," shows that using a special ultrasound-guided technique dramatically increases the chances of successfully placing this crucial line on the very first try. 

The study found that using ultrasound with a method called Dynamic Needle Tip Positioning (DNTP) led to an impressive 88.5% first-pass succe. Not only was it more successful on the first try, but the ultrasound method also significantly reduced the time it took to successfully place the line, required fewer skin punctures, and used fewer cannulas overall. While this study was conducted by a single experienced operator, suggesting that results might vary with less experienced practitioners, the findings clearly indicate that this ultrasound technique could become the preferred way to perform radial artery cannulation. This advancement means less stress and more efficient care for patients needing precise blood pressure monitoring during critical times.

Here's my Takeaways:

• Finding: Ultrasound-guided Dynamic Needle Tip Positioning (DNTP) dramatically increases the first-pass success rate of radial artery cannulation to 88.5%.

• Practice Impact: This method could become the primary technique for radial artery cannulation, leading to quicker, more successful procedures with fewer attempts and less equipment used.

• Population: The study focused on adult surgical patients requiring arterial cannulation in a university hospital setting.

• Limitation: Blinding of the procedure was not possible due to its nature, and there was an uneven gender distribution between the groups.

Want to learn more? Read the full study Palpation versus Ultrasound-Guided Dynamic Needle Tip Positioning Technique for Radial Artery Cannulation by Sujan Dhakal et al. in Annals of Cardiac Anaesthesia.

Watch the July's Videos Now!

If you're an All-Access Member, you're in for some great content this month. We have FIVE videos hand-picked by our staff that are high-yield and our most highly watched. We're featuring

• Selman on "Brainstorming – Forgotten Causes of Delirium"
• Wydo on "Demystifying the Trauma Exploratory Laparotomy"
• Filkins on "Resus Out Loud"
• Winters on "Recent Articles in Resuscitation & Critical Care"
• Spiegel on "Finding One MAP For Everyone"

Each month we bring you fresh new content from the best of the best in resuscitation. If you're an All-Access member, go watch these videos NOW! If you're not, then sign up here.

Are you a member of ResusNation? For less than a cup of coffee, you can get even more content from CriticalCareNow. Digital teaching sessions, podcasts, free video lectures, grand rounds, and so much more can be your today. Come watch on replay all the content that CriticalCareNow does live. Check out the membership options below and decide the right one for you.

Do you want even more resus content anytime you want? For less than a cup of coffee, you can get even more content from @CriticalCareNow. Digital teaching sessions, free video lectures, grand rounds, and so much more can be your today. Come watch on replay all the content that @CriticalCareNow does live. 

Check out the membership options below and decide the right one for you.

 Get Access To The ResusNation Today!