Intensive care papers prepared for The Big Sick 2026, covering sepsis immunotherapy, platelets, spinal cord injury, perfusion targets and prognostication after cardiac arrest. These reviews share material that did not fit into the conference session.
The RSI trial compared ketamine with etomidate for emergency intubation in critically ill adults. We examine the absence of a significant 28-day mortality difference, the cardiovascular findings around intubation and what the study does—and does not—mean for practice.
Rich Carden reviews a cohort study linking post-intubation hypotension with 30-day mortality in severe traumatic brain injury. The appraisal considers what the association means for prehospital anaesthesia and how far observational findings can guide practice.
A retrospective review of 600 patients treated for suspected sepsis in US emergency departments raises questions about antibiotic overtreatment. We examine the study’s use of hindsight, possible treatment-related harms and how its findings translate to UK practice.
Can arterial lines be placed during cardiac arrest in the ED, and what can they tell us? This appraisal reviews one department’s experience, the selection bias in its small intervention group and why feasibility does not establish better patient outcomes.
Illicit drug-induced hyperthermia presents difficult decisions under time pressure. This review discusses recognition, heat production, cooling and supportive care, drawing on clinical cases and examining the practical pitfalls of managing these uncommon emergencies.
Practical perspectives on trauma care and team leadership.
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