Critical Care

A Dutch randomised trial tests extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation for refractory out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. This appraisal examines survival with favourable neurological outcomes, patient selection and delays to treatment, asking how much the result reflects the system delivering ECPR.

Zaf Qasim reports from day two of the London Trauma Conference 2022. Highlights include traumatic brain injury, haemorrhagic shock, rehabilitation, ethics, thoracotomy and regional anaesthesia, alongside discussions about trauma systems, training and the evidence for REBOA.

Zaf Qasim shares highlights from the first day of the London Trauma Conference 2022. Topics include major incidents, responder wellbeing, trauma handover, prehospital blood, decision-making under pressure and the challenges of gunshot and farm-related injuries.

What do we actually mean by 'downtime' after cardiac arrest? This discussion examines how a single number can obscure periods of CPR, low flow and restored circulation, and explores clearer ways to communicate the patient's course during handover.

What distinguishes burnout from exhaustion? This article and accompanying podcast explore emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation and personal accomplishment, alongside the challenges of measuring burnout and the workplace conditions that shape it.

A 2022 appraisal of a randomised trial comparing double sequential, vector-change and standard defibrillation for refractory ventricular fibrillation. It examines survival outcomes, the limitations of a trial stopped early and the practical challenges of introducing alternative defibrillation strategies.