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Why did European and UK trauma guidelines published in 2016 recommend different approaches to resuscitating bleeding patients? Iain Beardsell compares their positions on crystalloids, blood products and vasopressors, reflecting on how disagreements between credible guidelines can challenge apparently settled clinical beliefs.

Two 2016 studies examine difficult questions in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: whether amiodarone or lidocaine improves outcomes, and how resuscitation duration relates to neurological recovery. Natalie May considers study design, statistical uncertainty and why translating findings into bedside decisions needs care.

Can clinicians be both assertive and respectful? Natalie May challenges the gendered labels applied to women in emergency medicine, explores the harm of polarised assumptions and argues for mutual respect and a shared commitment to patient care when colleagues disagree.

Could a single dose of dexamethasone be an alternative to a course of prednisolone for children with an asthma exacerbation? This 2016 appraisal examines a non-inferiority trial, including patient selection and blinding concerns, and places its findings alongside earlier studies.

How should clinicians balance missed acute coronary syndrome against the harms of unnecessary investigation? In notes accompanying his UMECS 2016 talk, Rick Body explores the limits of symptoms and clinical judgement, acceptable risk and the importance of including patients in chest-pain decisions.

An introduction to FOAMed from Iain Beardsell’s AGN 2016 talk, with English and German transcripts. The post explores how blogs, podcasts and online discussion can support flexible, proactive learning, while stressing critical appraisal and their role alongside traditional teaching.