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
Trauma
Care of severely injured patient
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% […]
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 […]
All Updates, PHARM, Trauma
Physician/paramedic vs paramedic HEMS
Two English HEMS services covering the same geographical area, one physican / paramedic crewed and one double paramedic crewed, were […]
All Updates, PHARM, Trauma
Queensland HEMS intubations
Careflight Queensland report a 9 month series of intubations by their doctor-paramedic HEMS teams who performed 39 intubations (and assisted […]
All Updates, PHARM, Trauma
Helicopter use in rural trauma
171 rural Australian HEMS missions were retrospectively analysed. Some of the data contrast starkly with the more limelight-occupying urban services: […]
All Updates, PHARM, Trauma
Pre-hospital ketamine use in London
London HEMS doctors describe their use of ketamine for pre-hospital analgesia and sedation in 1030 retrospectively reviewed cases, concluding its […]