Hello, med students. My name is Zach Olson, and thank you for downloading this week's

episode of the EM Clerkship Podcast. Another big topic this week. I got to say, since starting

this podcast, I've been very surprised at how many big topics there actually are. When I was an

intern, I figured chest pain,

shortness of breath, stroke, back pain, abdominal pain, and then other random stuff that is

uncommon. But it turns out that the amount of stuff you need to know to be a good emergency

medicine physician is absolutely just ridiculous. We see random stuff like every shift. That's why I love it. We are literally a jack of all trades.

Right when it seems like the back painters will never end, I'll get somebody with low platelets or

something. And it's just such a mental relief because I hate doing the same thing over and over and

over. It's one of the big reasons why I love my job.

Today, we are talking about thrombocytopenia, which is a big topic, low playlets. Not uncommon.

I've seen this a lot, actually, especially because we're getting CBCs on everybody, which is a completely different

conversation.

You still got to remember your symptoms of thromocytopinia, too, though.

Don't just rely on the lab test.

Platelet issues classically present as the more superficial mucosal type bleeding,

epistaxis, gingerva, maybe GII or bladder or vaginal bleeding,

bleeding to the outside of the body, usually not deep bleeding. Deep is the key word used with

the other coagulation disorders. Deep joint bleeding or deep muscle bleeding. Also remember that with platelet issues, you see those non-blanchual patikia and purpur on the skin.

Just remember those symptoms because you'll definitely see some of that during your clerkship.

But usually we catch this because we get the CBC on everybody.

Today, I want to talk about the big five causes of thrombocitopenia that you need to know.

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