The 2015 SPLIT trial compared saline with Plasma-Lyte in intensive care patients. This appraisal explains its crossover design and kidney-injury outcomes, then considers statistical power, fluid given before ICU admission and the limits of applying the results to emergency department patients or other balanced solutions.
What does a raised lactate actually tell us? This 2015 physiology discussion revisits lactate production and clearance, then explores hypoxia, the stress response and interpretation in sepsis and trauma. It questions the leap from a marker of illness severity to a treatment endpoint.
An August 2015 overview of NICE’s draft major trauma guidance during its stakeholder consultation. The post summarises the proposed approach to airway care, bleeding, imaging, analgesia and communication, and explains how clinicians could comment; it records the consultation rather than the final or current guidance.
Who might benefit from emergency department thoracotomy after traumatic cardiac arrest? This 2015 appraisal examines EAST guidance on patient selection, comparing injury patterns and signs of life while questioning estimated control outcomes, bias and the difference between impressive relative risks and small absolute benefits.
Three UK trainees reflect on what SMACC Chicago 2015 taught them about uncertainty, reading primary research and mastering the basics. Their account connects debates about sepsis and trauma with clearer team communication, personal resilience and the work required to turn conference inspiration into learning.
Remembering John Hinds through his SMACC Chicago 2015 talk, ‘Crack the Chest. Get Crucified.’ This brief tribute shares the recording and thanks the conference team for making his teaching available to the wider FOAMed community.
Practical perspectives on trauma care and team leadership.
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