#FOAMed

This 2019 overview examines the emergency assessment of decompensated liver disease, from recognising deterioration and investigating its cause to managing major complications. It brings together infection, kidney injury, gastrointestinal bleeding and encephalopathy within a structured care-bundle approach.

Explore the July 2019 blog archive with this monthly podcast round-up. Its accompanying links include mass-casualty training in Pakistan, major gastrointestinal bleeding, Listeria, vena cava filters in trauma and psychological performance in the resuscitation room.

How do diagnostic decisions shape emergency care and hospital admission? This St Emlyn’s Live video and podcast introduces the future of diagnostics, placing the importance of making a diagnosis at the centre of the discussion.

What is actually in a bag of packed red blood cells? This appraisal revisits a 2001 laboratory study of stored blood, exploring acid–base and electrolyte changes while distinguishing measurements in the bag from evidence of their effects on patients.

Rusty reflects on why traumatic experiences affected him so profoundly and how therapy helped him make sense of PTSD. This personal account explores moral injury, disrupted beliefs about the world and the continuing process of understanding his own recovery.

Does a McGrath videolaryngoscope improve first-pass intubation compared with a Macintosh laryngoscope in prehospital care? This 2019 appraisal examines a randomised trial, including its early termination, crossover between devices and the limits of drawing a clear verdict from the results.