How much oxygen should critically ill patients receive? This January 2021 review of HOT-ICU examines lower versus higher oxygen targets in adults with hypoxic respiratory failure, the absence of a 90-day mortality difference and uncertainty about applying the findings to different patient groups.
A January 2021 appraisal of REMAP-CAP's early tocilizumab and sarilumab findings in critically ill patients with COVID-19. Dan Horner examines organ support and survival outcomes, strict eligibility criteria and the uncertainties that remained as the results moved rapidly into policy and public discussion.
A clinical overview of Ludwig's angina, from dental infection and deep neck anatomy to recognition and airway risk. The article reviews presentation, imaging and management challenges, with particular attention to how swelling can complicate assessment and securing the airway.
Before the fuller tocilizumab trial reports, Dan Horner examined the conflicting evidence available in December 2020. This appraisal considers biological plausibility, early REMAP-CAP announcements, adverse effects and the difficulty of discussing an experimental treatment when media coverage runs ahead of the data.
Trauma and coagulopathy are the focus of Iain and Simon's October 2020 round-up. The episode notes link to appraisals of prehospital TXA, plasma in traumatic brain injury, targeted transfusion testing and other clinical topics, alongside a conversation about coping with the second pandemic wave.
Could early prehospital plasma help trauma patients with brain injury? This 2020 review examines a secondary analysis of PAMPer, its apparent survival signal and why post-hoc findings, uncertain mechanisms and unanswered neurological-outcome questions require caution before changing practice.
Practical perspectives on trauma care and team leadership.
Explore the series →