Louise Cullen and Rick Body debate whether high-sensitivity troponin is friend or foe at SMACC Gold 2014. This post brings together the recording, both speakers’ slides and background resources on troponin interpretation, including why a raised concentration does not always mean acute myocardial infarction.
A 2014 induction guide and podcast on assessing syncope in the emergency department. Simon Carley and Iain Beardsell discuss establishing what happened, gathering a witness history and using the ECG, then connect possible causes with the physiology of cerebral perfusion to structure further assessment.
Can CT measurements identify which older patients with acute subdural haematoma need neurosurgical referral? This 2014 journal club examines a proposed decision tool, questioning selection bias, measurement reliability and how a ‘surgical’ bleed was defined, and explaining why promising retrospective findings still need validation.
An introduction to planning sample size and understanding statistical power, linking effect size, precision and the risks of false positive and false negative results. Worked examples cover continuous outcomes, proportions and diagnostic accuracy studies, helping readers understand the assumptions behind calculations and ask better questions about research.
A personal playlist for the walk back to the car after a demanding emergency department shift. From difficult resuscitations to the relief of returning to family life, this companion to Car Park Five explores how music can mark the transition from work to the world outside.
Iain Beardsell and Rick Body explore high-sensitivity troponin testing in this 2014 podcast. They distinguish analytical from diagnostic sensitivity, explain assay precision and changes between samples, and discuss why results need interpretation alongside the clinical picture rather than being treated as a diagnosis on their own.