Prompted by NICE guidance published in 2012, this discussion asks how emergency departments can improve care for people with painful sickle cell crises. It explores stigma, trust in patients' accounts of pain, individual care plans and collaboration across the emergency and haematology teams.
Should superficial venous thrombosis be observed or treated with anticoagulation? This 2012 discussion considers what ultrasound adds, unpacks the composite outcome in CALISTO and weighs treatment benefits against bleeding and burden, emphasising the importance of explaining uncertainty when making decisions with patients.
How did NICE's 2012 DVT guidance balance diagnostic certainty with the services available? Simon Carley discusses Wells scoring, D-dimer testing and ultrasound, focusing on the distinction between proximal and calf thrombosis and the uncertainty surrounding repeat scanning and anticoagulation.