Rectal exam has lousy test characteristics
A comprehensive review of the literature, the findings of which showed ‘compelling’ consistency: digital rectal examination (DRE) as a screening […]
All Updates, Resus, Trauma
Resus
Life-saving medicine
All Updates, PHARM, Resus, Trauma
Chest needle too short
This CT study of 110 trauma patients showed: ‘the standard 4.4-cm angiocatheter is likely to be unsuccessful in 50% (95% […]
Acute Med, All Updates, ICU, PHARM, Resus
Is defib danger overstated
No rescuer or bystander has ever been seriously harmed by receiving an inadvertent shock while in direct or indirect contact […]
All Updates, ICU, Resus, Trauma
Transfusion and ARDS
Blood transfusion in trauma is a risk factor for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). An analysis of 14070 patients in […]
All Updates, ICU, PHARM, Resus, Trauma
Delays to neurosurgery
Further evidence from the UK shows that patients with acute traumatic brain injury suffer delays in the neurosurgical evacuation of […]
Acute Med, All Updates, ICU, PHARM, Resus
oxygen for myocardial infarction – harmful?
Hyperoxia may reduce coronary artery blood flow, increase systemic vascular resistance, and decrease cardiac output. This paper argues that if […]
All Updates, ICU, Resus
End expiratory occlusion
OBJECTIVE: During mechanical ventilation, inspiration cyclically decreases the left cardiac preload. Thus, an end-expiratory occlusion may prevent the cyclic impediment […]
All Updates, ICU, Kids, PHARM, Resus
Neonatal prostaglandin E1 and apnoea
The risk of apnoea in neonates requiring prostaglandin E1 infusions for duct-dependent congenital heart disease is well described and often […]
All Updates, ICU, PHARM, Resus
Failed prehospital intubation attempts and pneumonitis
A review of 1954 out-of-hospital tracheal intubation (ETI) attempts by EMS crews revealed 444 (22.7%) patients experienced one or more […]