Does the precordial thump deliver the dramatic benefit its image suggests? This 2013 journal club examines Australian cardiac-arrest registry data, considering rhythm deterioration, the small number of treated patients and the limitations of using observational records to judge an intervention.
Could online estimates of pre-test probability help clinicians choose investigations for pulmonary embolism and acute coronary syndromes? This initial 2013 discussion examines a trial of web-based decision support, exploring radiation exposure, gaps in the calculator’s data and unanswered questions about diagnostic safety.
What did the original trial comparing temperature targets of 33°C and 36°C after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest establish? This 2013 appraisal explores sample size, uncertainty and the distinction between failing to detect a difference and demonstrating equivalence, placing the debate in its historical research context.
Should patients without ST elevation receive coronary intervention after an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest? This 2013 review explores observational evidence, presenting rhythms, symptoms and ECG findings, while emphasising that associations with survival do not establish a benefit caused by the intervention.
A 2013 journal club reviews Louise Cullen and colleagues’ validation of a two-hour strategy using high-sensitivity troponin to assess chest pain. It explores diagnostic performance, the proportion potentially suitable for early discharge and how patient selection and subsequent interventions complicate interpretation.
Simon Carley reviews the 2013 ACC/AHA STEMI guidance from an emergency department perspective. The discussion focuses on access to PCI, cardiac arrest and cardiogenic shock, and the practical challenge of transferring critically ill patients safely to the catheter laboratory.
Practical perspectives on trauma care and team leadership.
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