How should a clinical topic review be organised for assessment? In this 2012 FCEM preparation article, Simon Carley connects the written structure with the published marking scheme and explains how the written review, examiner discussion and viva fitted together.
Emergency Department Management
A personal account of the pressures of running a busy emergency department. A review of the literature about pressure in emergency medicine. #FOAM
Turning an interesting question into a clinical topic review takes more than writing up the evidence. This 2012 FCEM preparation guide discusses planning, feedback and revision, explaining why early conversations with colleagues can prevent a promising project reaching submission before its weaknesses are recognised.
What should we say before intubating someone who may never regain consciousness? Through a hypothetical major-burns case, Simon Carley explores honesty, reassurance and the opportunity for final conversations, asking whether comforting words serve the patient and family or the resuscitation team.
What does a positive or negative test result really tell us? Part two of the Risky Business series explores diagnostic thresholds, false positives and false negatives, and why the neat categories in a research table do not remove uncertainty for the clinician treating an individual patient.
Could etomidate offer an alternative for short paediatric procedures? This 2012 appraisal examines a small prospective cohort, questioning patient selection, the absence of a comparison group and the variability in sedation depth and recovery time behind apparently high procedural success.
Practical perspectives on trauma care and team leadership.
Explore the series →