Journal Club

Can a rude comment disrupt clinical teamwork? This 2016 appraisal examines a randomised neonatal simulation study in which rudeness impaired performance and information sharing, then considers the limits of transferring those findings to real care and the implications for everyday professional behaviour.

How convincing were the early results for andexanet alfa in major bleeding associated with factor Xa inhibitors? This 2016 appraisal examines an interim report, distinguishing laboratory reversal from clinical haemostasis and questioning whether limited, unblinded data could establish effectiveness and safety.

Does open cardiac massage outperform closed chest compressions in traumatic cardiac arrest? This 2016 appraisal examines a small study using end-tidal carbon dioxide measurements, explaining why limited numbers and differences between patient groups leave the treatment question unresolved.

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.

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.

Could cold saline given during out-of-hospital cardiac arrest improve survival? This 2016 appraisal of RINSE examines an early-stopped randomised trial, its lack of demonstrated survival benefit and concerns about harm, while distinguishing intra-arrest cooling from temperature management after resuscitation.