Emergency Medicine

The August 2024 podcast round-up explores the timing of critical procedures, smoking cessation in the ED, intranasal ketorolac for renal colic and open peer review. The discussion connects these posts with questions about clinical judgement, resources and how we assess evidence.

Does a 2 g TXA bolus differ from a 1 g bolus followed by a 1 g infusion in traumatic brain injury? This appraisal examines a subgroup analysis of patients with CT-confirmed bleeding, separating its mortality and neurological findings from the limits of post hoc evidence.

In this episode of the podcast, Andrew Petrosoniak leads us through how simulation can be used beyond education for system design and improvement.

Does starting with anterior-posterior rather than anterior-lateral pads improve cardiac arrest outcomes? This appraisal examines an observational study in out-of-hospital VF or pulseless VT, distinguishing return of spontaneous circulation from longer-term survival and considering the biases that prevent a firm change in practice.

How should leaders respond when a team faces a serious failure? At Tactical Trauma 2024, RCMP commander Kevin Cyr discusses visible leadership, support that continues beyond the immediate aftermath and debriefing for practical learning, with reflections on what healthcare teams can take from his experience.

Day three of the RCEM Annual Scientific Conference 2024 brings together challenges to clinical dogma, preparation for rare procedures and shared decisions about chest pain. The report also reflects on compassionate care, team resilience and the experience of working in an emergency department.