Physician Assistant Exam Review Podcast

In this episode of the Physician Assistant Exam Review Podcast, we walk through gestational diabetes and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy the way they actually show up on exams: key risk factors, universal screening windows, the 1‑hour vs 3‑hour glucose tests, and must‑know numbers for preeclampsia, eclampsia, HELLP, and magnesium toxicity. You'll hear "exam keys" for what to write on your wall, plus a study tip on why your score is really content × skills (how you study, test‑taking, and anxiety management), not content alone. I also share details about a free live class, Unlock Your Potential as a Student, and the August 33 Days to Pass the PANCE cohort if you want structured help turning effort into points on EORs and the PANCE. Links: physicianassistantexamreview.com/masterclass and physicianassistantexamreview.com/33

If you keep mixing up placenta previa and abruption under pressure, you're not alone. In this episode of the Physician Assistant Exam Review Podcast, we break down four high‑yield pregnancy complications in a way you can actually remember on exam day: • Placenta previa   • Placental abruption   • Cervical insufficiency   • Rh incompatibility You'll learn: • The painless vs painful bleeding pattern that instantly separates placenta previa from abruption   • Why uterine tone and fetal distress matter so much in third‑trimester bleeding questions   • When a digital exam can be catastrophic (and what to do instead)   • The classic second‑trimester, painless cervical insufficiency presentation you're expected to recognize   • How Rh incompatibility really works (sensitization, hydrops, kernicterus) so it finally "clicks" instead of being random vocab We start with priming questions to get your brain engaged, then circle back at the end so you can test recall and see what actually stuck. If you're studying hard but still failing EORs/EOCs or you're worried about the PANCE, this podcast is built for you. We focus on how you think, study, and test so your effort shows up as points. 👉 Get help beyond the podcast: • 33 Days to Pass the PANCE (33‑day system for at‑risk or struggling PA students):     https://www.physicianassistantexamreview.com/33 • Free PA school / PANCE success training (six key focus areas):     https://www.physicianassistantexamreview.com/masterclass • More articles, episodes, and resources:     https://www.physicianassistantexamreview.com

In episode 167 of the Physician Assistant Exam Review Podcast, we dive into early pregnancy complications – a tough but essential topic for PA school, EORs, and the PANCE. We cover: Ectopic pregnancy: risk factors, classic presentation, key diagnostics (beta‑HCG + transvaginal ultrasound), and when to choose methotrexate versus surgery. Abortion classifications: threatened, inevitable, incomplete, complete, missed, septic, and recurrent abortion, with a focus on what's happening at the cervical os and how that drives the diagnosis. Gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD): "snowstorm" ultrasound appearance, beta‑HCG out of proportion to dates, and key red flags like preeclampsia before 20 weeks. Then we pull it all together with one simple mental model to sort most question stems: Low beta‑HCG → think ectopic Falling beta‑HCG → think abortion Very high beta‑HCG → think molar pregnancy (GTD) This episode isn't about memorizing random lists. It's about learning how to organize the information so you can make better clinical decisions and pick the right answer under pressure. Full episode notes: physicianassistantexamreview.com/167 Free masterclass (6 skill areas PA students need to win): physicianassistantexamreview.com/masterclass Join the early wait list for the next 33 Days to Pass the PANCE cohort: physicianassistantexamreview.com/masterclass/33

Last night's workshop was so poweful I wanted to share it with you.  We cover the 6 aras where you can either lose or pick up points on your exam you can watch the replay here if you'd like that better. >​

Isabella failed her first PANCE attempt by 9 points after cruising through PA school, doing well on her EOC, and grinding through PANCE Prep Pearls and question banks. On her second attempt, she walked into the Pearson center calm, focused, and prepared with a game plan. She didn't just pass. She jumped from a 341 to a 474. In this conversation we walk through: Failing an EOR and then the PANCE, and what that does to your identity Why more content and more question banks weren't moving Isabella's score How she used the 33 Days to Pass the PANCE content calendar, dailies, and community Building a test‑day "game plan" (visualizations, breaks, confidence cues) so you don't spiral How the habits she built now carry into her first ortho PA job If you're struggling with EORs, sitting on a borderline PANCE score, or trying to come back from a fail, this episode is for you. Registration for the June 33 Days to Pass the PANCE cohort opens tomorrow. Get the details here: https://www.physicianassistantexamreview.com/33 You can also join me for the upcoming live workshop on test‑taking and performance under pressure: https://www.physicianassistantexamreview.com/workshop  

Preconception and prenatal care feels like pure memorization: Folic acid doses Visit schedules Quad screen patterns RhoGAM timing A pile of week ranges that all blur together In this episode, Brian strips it down to what actually shows up on your EORs and the PANCE, and how to connect the facts so they stick. Inside the episode: How to think about prenatal care the way the boards test it, not the way the guidelines list it Preconception counseling that gets tested: when to give 400 to 800 mcg of folic acid and when to jump to 4 mg The medications and conditions that should set off alarm bells: epilepsy on valproate or carbamazepine, warfarin, isotretinoin, lithium, methotrexate, ACE inhibitors, tetracyclines, and how they get hidden inside a question stem Screening vs diagnostic: first-trimester screens, cell-free fetal DNA, CVS, amniocentesis, and what the exam is really asking Quad screen pattern fingerprints for Down syndrome, Trisomy 18, and open neural tube defects The timelines you have to know cold: prenatal visit schedule, the one-hour glucose challenge, GBS culture, and exactly when RhoGAM goes in At the end, Brian breaks down "studying" the way he defines it inside 33 Days: not hours in the chair, but how many points you walk away with from the time you're already working. And how to build a simple system so high-yield facts like RhoGAM timing don't slip through the cracks. Show notes and full outline: https://www.physicianassistantexamreview.com/165 Learn more about the June 33 Days to Pass the PANCE cohort starting June 1: https://www.physicianassistantexamreview.com/33

Pelvic organ prolapse is one of those topics most PA students gloss over in school and then get burned by on exams. In this episode, Brian pulls from 15 years in urogynecology to make uterine prolapse, cystocele, and rectocele simple, visual, and memorable. Instead of memorizing dense definitions, you'll learn to picture the anatomy, understand what's actually happening, and recognize how these conditions show up in question stems so you can grab easy points on EORs and the PANCE. In this episode, you'll learn: What uterine prolapse is, key risk factors, and the first-line non-surgical treatment (pessary) How to distinguish cystocele vs rectocele on physical exam using anterior vs posterior vaginal wall bulges The pathognomonic symptom for rectocele (splinting) and how patients describe it How prolapse creates urinary and bowel symptoms you'll see in real-life clinical practice A practical study tip on when to memorize and when to understand and rebuildinformation This is a short, focused episode designed to turn prolapse into straightforward exam points instead of confusion. If the show is helping you, please share it with classmates or faculty. And if you're ready to go deeper into how you study, test, and perform under pressure, check out the next 33 Days to Pass the PANCE cohort starting June 1st at: www.physicianassistantexamreview.com/33

Pelvic pain and pelvic masses show up all over your exams. The challenge is not memorizing four separate chapters, it is knowing what to do with the patient in front of you: watch, work up, or get them to the OR. In this episode, we walk through four high‑yield causes of pelvic pain and masses in reproductive‑age women: endometriosis, uterine fibroids (leiomyoma), ovarian cysts, and ovarian torsion. What ties them together is the timeline and urgency: chronic versus acute, medical versus surgical, when "more ibuprofen" is fine and when delay means losing an ovary. You will learn: How to recognize endometriosis on exams (cyclic pain, deep dyspareunia, infertility) and why laparoscopy is the definitive diagnosis Which fibroids cause heavy bleeding and how location drives symptoms How to sort functional cysts from more concerning adnexal masses Why normal Doppler flow does not rule out ovarian torsion and why clinical suspicion still controls the decision We finish with a study tip on how to group related conditions so you think like the test writers (and like a clinician), not like a flashcard deck. If you are working hard but your scores are not reflecting it, this episode will help you see pelvic pain questions more clearly and avoid the common traps that cost points.

Episode 162: Vaginal Discharge, Cervical Disease, Sexual Health, and Pelvic Infections on Exams Vaginal discharge questions are "three-line trap" questions: a short stem with just enough detail to mix up BV, candidiasis, and trich. Add cervicitis, PID, cervical cancer screening, Bartholin masses, and inclusive sexual history… and a lot of smart PA students still miss points they don't need to miss. In this episode, we walk through how to recognize, organize, and execute on these topics under exam pressure. In this episode, you'll learn: How to match discharge description, pH, and diagnostics to the right diagnosis (BV, candidiasis, trichomoniasis) The difference between cervicitis and PID on exam day (friable cervix vs cervical motion tenderness) The PID "cascade" and how it leads to Fitz-Hugh-Curtis, ectopic pregnancy, and infertility Cervical cancer screening rules: when to start, when to stop, and what to do with abnormal Paps How to approach Bartholin cysts and abscesses, and why a postmenopausal Bartholin mass is never "just a cyst" How boards test sexual history, gender identity, and anatomy-based screening decisions Priming questions before you listen: Strawberry cervix on pelvic exam should make you think of what diagnosis? At what age does routine cervical cancer screening begin? What is the first-line treatment for gonorrhea? What syndrome occurs when PID spreads to the liver capsule? A postmenopausal Bartholin mass should raise concern for what? If you're working hard but your scores don't show it yet, this episode will help you see how much is pattern recognition and decision-making, not just memorizing more facts.

If you're listening on or before March 25, doors for the April 33 Days to Pass the PANCE cohort close tonight at 11:59 p.m. Pacific. This episode is different from my usual "tips & tricks" shows. It's a short, straight‑talk walkthrough to help you decide yes or no about joining this cohort so you're not guessing from the outside. In this episode, we cover: Who 33 Days is actually for (and who it isn't): at‑risk PA students, repeat PANCE / PANRE takers, and clinical‑year students staring down high‑stakes EORs or end‑of‑curriculum exams. What happens over the 33 days: the Content Calendar, daily lessons, "Five Dailies," live group calls, question walkthroughs, and community support so your effort finally turns into points on the screen. How this fits into a real life with rotations, work, kids, and limited brainpower at the end of the day. The guarantees and safety nets if you're worried about "wasting money" or failing again. If you already know this is you and you're tired of white‑knuckling it alone, you can join the April cohort here: https://www.physicianassistantexamreview.com/33 If you're listening after March 25, that link will point you to the next available cohort or a way to get on the list.

Failing the PANCE with a 326 after doing "all the right things" is brutal. Taylee walked that road. She graduated from the University of Washington, used all the big-name resources (Smarty PANCE, Kaplan, PANCE Prep Pearls, podcasts, Ninja Nerd), and still failed her first attempt. After taking a month off to breathe, she decided that simply adding more content wasn't going to fix the problem. In this episode, Taylee shares how she went from anxious, second‑guessing every answer, and running out of time… to calm, confident, and finishing sections with time to spare. Inside the February cohort of 33 Days to Pass the PANCE, she stopped asking "How many questions a day?" and started learning how to actually think through vignettes, see what exam writers are pointing to, and manage her stress on test day. The result: she went from a 326 to a 439 on her retake, a 113‑point jump, without living in question banks 8 hours a day. If you're a PA student who's failed, barely passing EORs, or just worried that your current approach won't be enough, this conversation will show you a different way to prep. At the end, I'll share details about the PANCE Prep Masterclass on Thursday, March 19 at 8 pm ET and how to join the April cohort of 33 Days to Pass the PANCE.

From "uncertain, unconfident, and scared" to "confident, assertive, and ready" Madison started 33 Days at the end of didactic year feeling like a lot of PA students do: One exam he's on cloud nine, the next is a 70 and he's thinking, "I'm done for. Maybe I should just quit." Identity completely tied to scores. Anything less than an A felt like proof he wasn't good enough. On top of that, he wasn't the "free time" student: didactic year, married, dad to a 3‑year‑old, Navy Reserves. The idea of adding one more thing felt insane. He was skeptical too. In his words, there are so many "coaches" now that the default reaction is, "What's the angle? What are they trying to sell me?" In this episode, Madison breaks down exactly what changed: Time & capacity: How he fit 33 Days into didactic year, rotations, family, and the Reserves without 6‑hour study marathons. Confidence: The moment mid‑program when he took a ClinMed exam, got an 80, and realized the anxiety spiral was gone. Same test pressure, totally different emotional response. Test‑day performance: How he used the break strategies on his pediatrics EOR so he was still thinking clearly on question 120 while half the class was mentally cooked. Framework, not just "PANCE cram": Why he says he'd almost rename it a "PA school framework" and why he thinks students should do it early in didactic or clinical, not just 33 days before PANCE. Mental health: The contrast between him and classmates with "more time, fewer responsibilities" who are burning out while he feels steady and able to actually live his life during PA school. His line that hit me the hardest: "33 Days helped me go from uncertain, unconfident, and scared, to confident, assertive, and ready to see where I could go in medicine." If you're a PA student who's working hard but riding the score rollercoaster, or a faculty member wondering what real support for at‑risk students looks like in practice, this is worth 30 minutes of your life.   And if you're a didactic or clinical‑year student listening and thinking, "That sounds like me," you'll hear exactly how he navigated the same doubts you probably have about time, money, and "one more thing" on your plate. This is proof, not theory. 

When a question mentions abnormal bleeding, most people start hunting for the diagnosis. On exams, that's how you miss points. In this episode, we walk through a simple mental checklist for menstrual disorders so you can slow down, see the pattern, and pick the right next step. You'll learn how to: Start every abnormal bleeding question by ruling out pregnancy Sort amenorrhea, oligomenorrhea, menorrhagia, metrorrhagia, and dysmenorrhea by pattern instead of panic Use a shared workup (pregnancy test, CBC, TSH, prolactin, and ultrasound) without over-ordering Recognize PCOS on sight and remember why it's the most common cause of anovulatory infertility Approach infertility workups logically, including when to start and why you always include both partners Separate menopause from other causes of amenorrhea and know when hormone therapy is actually appropriate Choose safe contraception on exams by thinking "estrogen risk first," not brand names If this episode helped, here's the big takeaway: it's not about cramming more facts. It's about knowing what to notice, how to organize it, and how to think when the pressure is on. On March 19th, registration opens for the April 33 Days to Pass the PANCE cohort. Inside 33 Days, we don't just teach content; we train how you study, how you approach questions, and how you manage yourself on exam day so your effort actually shows up as points. To get first notice when registration opens, go to physicianassistantexamreview.com/daily, jump on the email list, and you'll get all the details as soon as it goes live.

n this episode of the Physician Assistant Exam Review Podcast, we use breast complaints to do two things at once: sharpen your clinical pattern recognition and force you to upgrade how you organize your studying. We walk through the core breast topics that keep showing up on exams: mastitis vs breast abscess, fibroadenoma vs fibrocystic changes, galactorrhea, gynecomastia, and malignant breast neoplasms. You'll learn how to decide when to reassure and when to escalate by focusing on a few key levers: pain vs painless, mobile vs fixed, unilateral vs bilateral, and the red-flag skin and nipple changes you can't afford to miss. Instead of memorizing an alphabetical list like "mastitis, abscess, fibroadenoma…" we reorganize everything around the actual decisions you'll be tested on: infection vs neoplasm, benign vs malignant, reassure vs refer, and which labs or imaging come first. We'll use tight priming questions to push you on: when to think abscess, when a painless, rubbery mass in a young woman is actually reassuring, what to do with cyclic bilateral pain, what lab to check in galactorrhea, and the exact next step when you see a hard, fixed mass with skin dimpling. We also talk honestly about why most people never do this kind of reorganization: it exposes gaps, and that's uncomfortable. But that discomfort is exactly where your score improves. If you're working hard but your results don't match the effort, this episode will help you think different, work different, and score different.

In this episode of the Physician Assistant Exam Review Podcast, we tackle skin integrity from two angles: what you need to recognize on exams, and how to reorganize your studying so you can finally see (and fix) your gaps. We walk through burns, lacerations, pressure injuries, urticaria, pilonidal disease, and the big three skin cancers: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. You'll learn how exam questions are actually written: TBSA and depth for burns, time and contamination for laceration closure, staging and offloading for pressure injuries, severity (not appearance) for urticaria, and when a "weird spot" on the skin needs biopsy right now. Then we zoom out. Instead of memorizing disconnected facts, we use this content to show you how to reorganize your studying around patterns and decision points: which lesions are benign vs premalignant vs malignant, what represents true cancer, and what the very first step is when melanoma is on the table. We also get honest about why most people avoid finding their gaps, why that avoidance is quietly capping your scores, and a practical way to make gap-finding less scary and more systematic. If you're working hard but still feel exposed on derm and procedures, this episode will help you think different, work different, and score different.

In this episode of the Physician Assistant Exam Review Podcast, we walk through the "Do I worry?" side of derm: how to quickly sort benign vs concerning skin lesions using pattern recognition, not panic. Instead of memorizing every lesion in isolation, you'll learn to organize them into buckets you'll actually see on exams and in clinic: Keratotic lesions: Actinic keratosis vs seborrheic keratosis – rough "sandpaper" vs waxy "stuck‑on," and when premalignant SCC risk should be on your radar Vascular lesions: Cherry angioma, infantile hemangioma, purpura, and telangiectasias – which ones are harmless dots and which should make you think platelets or systemic disease Benign soft tissue growths: Lipoma vs epidermal inclusion cyst – the "soft, rubbery, freely mobile" mass patterns and why the central punctum matters Chronic inflammatory lesions that mimic infection: Hidradenitis suppurativa – why recurrent "boils" in the axilla/groin aren't just another abscess By the end, you'll be able to answer: Recurrent abscesses in the axillae or groin – what diagnosis? Rough, scaly, sandpaper‑like lesion on sun‑exposed skin – what diagnosis? Waxy, stuck‑on pigmented lesion in an older adult – what diagnosis? If you're working hard but your scores aren't reflecting it, that's not a character flaw, it's a systems problem. We fix that inside 33 Days to Pass the PANCE, where we train how you study, how you approach questions, and how you manage yourself on exam day so your effort actually shows up as points

In this episode of the Physician Assistant Exam Review Podcast, we walk through five derm vignettes that show up on high‑stakes exams: melasma, alopecia areata vs telogen effluvium, onychomycosis, paronychia/felon, vitiligo, acanthosis nigricans, and stasis dermatitis. Instead of memorizing another list, you'll learn how to recognize the patterns in the question stem, how to organize these conditions while you study, and how to avoid the thinking traps that quietly cost you points. If you're working hard but your scores aren't reflecting it, this is how you turn effort into exam points.

In this episode of the Physician Assistant Exam Review Podcast, we tackle one of derm's most intimidating corners: desquamation and vesiculobullous disorders. You'll learn how to quickly separate erythema multiforme, Stevens–Johnson syndrome, and toxic epidermal necrolysis by asking three simple questions: sick or well, mucosa or not, and how much body surface area is involved. Then we contrast bullous pemphigoid and pemphigus vulgaris using tense vs flaccid blisters and mucosal involvement so you can stop memorizing and start recognizing patterns. Along the way, you'll work through priming questions designed to train your brain to notice what actually matters on exam day, not just random trivia. We'll also dig into a controversial topic: extra test time. For some brains, more time helps; for others, it destroys scores. You'll hear a specific way to practice with less time and a smarter way to use approved extra time so you don't talk yourself out of right answers. If you're working hard but your scores don't show it, this episode will help you think different, work different, and score different

In this episode of the Physician Assistant Exam Review Podcast, Brian talks with Ealum, a PA student who was stuck after three failed PANCE attempts and finally made a 90‑point jump to pass on his 4th try. He had teenage kids at home waiting for life to move forward. He was in Alaska, couldn't attend a single live session, and still used the 33 Days to Pass the PANCE framework to turn things around. Inside, you'll hear: What it actually feels like to fail again and again while your family is watching Why "working hard" wasn't enough, and what finally changed in how Ealum studied How he used 33 Days completely asynchronously (no live calls, Alaska time zone) and still got results The specific mindset shifts around failure, shame, and starting over that made this attempt different How he handled test‑day anxiety on the 4th attempt after so many defeats Ealum's advice if you're on your 2nd, 3rd, or 4th attempt and wondering if you should even try again   If you're working hard but your scores aren't moving, and you see yourself in Ealum's story, registration for the February 33 Days to Pass the PANCE cohort is now open. Daily structure and score‑driven studying Test‑taking and anxiety management Built so you can win even if you can't make the live calls Registration for the February cohort is open through Thursday, January 22 at midnight. Learn more and register here: https://www.physicianassistantexamreview.com/33

In this episode of the Physician Assistant Exam Review Podcast, we take the "dreaded" childhood viral rashes and make them organized, predictable, and testable. Instead of memorizing numbered diseases, you'll learn how to sort exanthems, HFMD, chickenpox, HSV, molluscum, warts, and genital warts by pattern so you can pick the right diagnosis under pressure. We'll cover: Which infant rash appears after several days of high fever (and how to never mix it up again) How to tell measles, rubella, scarlet fever, fifth disease, and roseola apart using fever timing and distribution The difference between viral exanthems and hand-foot-and-mouth disease on exam stems Why "vesicles in multiple stages at once" should instantly trigger varicella in your mind How to separate HSV, molluscum, and warts using pain, grouping, and umbilication The key clues that distinguish common warts from genital warts (condyloma acuminatum) on test day If you're working hard but your scores aren't moving the way you want, it's usually not effort. It's strategy. On Thursday at 8 pm EST, I'm hosting a free PANCE Game Plan Class where we'll walk through: A 33‑day PANCE content calendar built from the blueprint percentages The 5‑part Score Stack system to make every exam push your score up An anxiety‑proof exam protocol you can run before and during every test Grab your seat here: physicianassistantexamreview.com/mastercl...

In this episode you'll learn how to instantly recognize cellulitis, erysipelas, impetigo, fungal rashes, scabies, lice, and common bites so you can pick the right diagnosis and treatment bucket on exam day. • Poorly defined erythema on one shin is either cellulitis or erysipelas. Which one? • Beefy red rash with satellite lesions what's the organism? • Expanding rash after a tick bite, whats' the treament? Want a 33‑day content calendar, score stack system, and anxiety‑proof exam protocol? Register for the session here  https://www.physicianassistantexamreview.com/masterclass

Not just skin facts. How to quickly tell acne from rosacea, folliculitis, perioral dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, seb derm, and pityriasis rosea on exams so you think different, work different, and score different.

Think different, work different, score different. We're walking through PANCE questions today. We finished GU so this is a solid way to pull it all together. 

Today we close out GU with testicular and urethral disorders.  We also go into some specifics on a poweful, maybe even, life changing method for dealing with anxiety and overhwhelm.    Here are the priming questions Give them a shot   Sudden testicular pain should make you suspect what condition?   Painless scrotal swelling that transilluminates suggests what diagnosis?   "Bag of worms" describes what condition?   Young girl with a small bleeding mass at the urethral opening most likely has what disorder?   Flank pain radiating to the groin with hematuria suggests what diagnosis?

This week we have another interview from a student who is finding herself a little lost, but came through it, just like you're going to.  

Cauda Equina Syndrome • Neurosurgical emergency due to compression of cauda equina nerve roots, usually from disc herniation, tumor, or trauma Clinical Presentation Severe low back pain with bilateral leg radiation, saddle anesthesia, bowel/bladder dysfunction (urinary retention, overflow incontinence), decreased rectal tone, lower extremity weakness Labs, Studies, and Physical Exam Findings Immediate MRI lumbar spine (gold standard) showing nerve root compression Rectal exam showing decreased sphincter tone Treatment Emergent surgical decompression within 24-48 hours Supportive care: Pain management, bladder catheterization Key Differentiators Rapid onset of bilateral symptoms with bowel/bladder dysfunction differentiates it from typical lumbar radiculopathy or sciatica     Epidural Abscess • • Spinal epidural infection commonly caused by Staphylococcus aureus Risk factors: IV drug use, recent spinal procedures, immunosuppression Clinical Presentation Classic triad: Fever, localized spinal tenderness, progressive neurological deficits Insidious onset of worsening back pain, fever, neurological symptoms over days to weeks Labs, Studies, and Physical Exam Findings Elevated ESR, CRP, leukocytosis MRI with gadolinium (gold standard): Ring-enhancing lesion with surrounding inflammation Treatment First-line: Immediate empiric IV antibiotics (Vancomycin + Ceftriaxone or Cefepime) Surgical drainage for progressive neurologic deficit, large abscess, or failed medical management Key Differentiators Progressive fever and neurological deficits distinguish from mechanical back pain; confirmed by MRI and inflammatory markers   Spinal Cord Injuries • • Traumatic injury causing varying neurological deficits based on level and completeness Clinical Presentation Acute trauma history, spinal shock (temporary loss of reflexes, motor/sensory function) Neurological deficits depend on injury level: Cervical injuries: Tetraplegia/quadriplegia Thoracic/lumbar injuries: Paraplegia Neurogenic shock (hypotension, bradycardia) seen with injuries above T6 due to disrupted autonomic pathways Labs, Studies, and Physical Exam Findings CT scan for initial assessment of bony injuries/fractures MRI to evaluate soft tissue and spinal cord involvement Treatment Initial management: Spinal stabilization (cervical collar, spine immobilization), airway control, neurogenic shock treatment (IV fluids, vasopressors) Surgical decompression/stabilization for unstable injuries or ongoing compression High-dose corticosteroids controversial but considered if initiated within 8 hours post-injury Key Differentiators Neurogenic shock (bradycardia + hypotension) distinguishes cervical spinal injuries from hemorrhagic shock (tachycardia + hypotension)

Over the past 14 years I've seen a lot of people make up A LOT of points, but I don't think there's anyone who's done what this student did. Listen up. This is a good one.

Not a lot of notes to go with this one. Take a look back at 127 for details. 

Cranial Nerve Palsies: What You Need to Know for Exams & Clinical Practice Ever wonder why a patient tilts their head to one side or why a "blown pupil" is a red flag? In this episode, we break down CN I–V palsies in a way that actually makes sense—no fluff, just high-yield, test-ready, and clinically relevant info. How to spot life-threatening CN III palsy The trick to diagnosing CN IV palsy (hint: it's all about head tilt) Why trigeminal neuralgia feels like an electric shock The quickest way to assess CN I–V in seconds Perfect for PA students, medical students, and anyone preparing for the PANCE. Tune in now and sharpen your skills.