#FOAMed

How should we interpret a high prevalence of pulmonary embolism among patients admitted with syncope? This 2016 appraisal examines the selected hospital population and distinguishes finding a clot from proving it caused the collapse or that treating it improves outcomes.

How do we include children when someone they love is critically ill or dying? These notes accompany a conversation with Liz Crowe about clear explanations, addressing fears and self-blame, preparing children for the bedside and supporting families through difficult conversations.

Does cardiac activity on ultrasound predict survival after cardiac arrest, and does scanning itself improve outcomes? This 2016 appraisal of REASON examines those different questions, the study’s potential biases and why absent activity should not be treated as a definitive prognosis.

What did the 2016 TARN report reveal about serious childhood injuries in England and Wales? Reviewing data from 2013–2014, this post explores injury patterns, safeguarding concerns and why every emergency department needs to prepare for children arriving outside established trauma pathways.

An archived announcement of the St Emlyn’s team’s involvement in dasSMACC in Berlin in 2017. The post introduces a recorded conversation with co-convener Roger Harris and sets out the original programme and registration timetable published in October 2016.

Recognising possible child abuse is only the start of safeguarding in the emergency department. This 2016 overview explores concerning presentations, listening to children, seeking senior help, sharing information and approaching parents with humility while keeping the child’s safety central.