Monthly Round Up November 2024 featured image

Podcast – Monthly Round Up November 2024 – Learning culture, chest drains, arterial lines and more

The new year has dawned, but let’s rewind and explore the lessons, events, and insights from the St Emlyns blog in November 2024 in this emergency medicine podcast. Clinical challenges, professional growth, and international collaboration have been a whirlwind. This month’s highlights encapsulate the essence of St Emlyn’s: supporting emergency medicine professionals through education, reflection, and shared experiences.


Listening Time: 31.53

Winter Pressures: A Familiar Story

Emergency departments across the UK faced immense pressures this winter, with record-breaking patient numbers and widespread internal critical incidents. Simon and Iain shared vivid accounts, including a staggering sight of 23 ambulances queued outside an emergency department in the North West. The message? Stay resilient. While every day may not be easy, small reminders like upcoming conferences or moments of camaraderie can provide solace.


Exciting Conferences Ahead: The Big Sick and IncrEMentuM

Two major events on the horizon are lifting spirits in the EM community:

  1. The Big Sick (Zermatt, February 2025): A unique, intimate conference focusing on critical care in an incredible skiing destination.
  2. IncrEMentuM (Murcia, March 2025): Spain’s flagship English-speaking EM conference celebrates emergency medicine being recognized as a specialty. Speakers like Scott Weingart, Sarah Crager, and Haney Mallemat promise to make this event unforgettable.

Tickets for IncrEMentuM are still available at incrementum2025.com, and St Emlyn’s readers can us an exclusive discount code INCREMENTUMEMLYN


Building a Learning Culture in Emergency Medicine

Simon reflected on his recent talk at the African Emergency Medicine Conference in Botswana. Emergency medicine in Africa ranges from cutting-edge private-sector care to regions where one emergency physician serves millions. Yet, one unifying theme emerged: the importance of fostering a learning culture over merely teaching.

Key Ingredients for a Learning Culture:

  1. Curiosity: Embrace a mindset that seeks to understand and improve.
  2. Growth Orientation: Recognize the potential for continuous improvement.
  3. Knowledge Sharing: Encourage the excitement of teaching and mentoring others.

Creating the Environment:

  • Psychological safety ensures team members feel comfortable admitting uncertainties and mistakes.
  • Open communication and reflection help shorten hierarchies and promote growth.
  • Commitment to learning and teaching fosters overall satisfaction, as demonstrated in a study correlating positive clinical supervision with job satisfaction, regardless of workload.

Advancements in Resuscitation Research

eCPR and the Sub30 Trial

A recent blog post reviewed the Sub30 trial, the first UK study of eCPR. While the results were mixed, it underscored the feasibility of ECMO in selective scenarios. Alice Houten’s presentation at the Tactical Trauma Conference provided fascinating insights into liquid ventilation and therapeutic hypothermia—concepts that may shape the future of resuscitation.

Arterial Line Monitoring in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest

A study from the East Anglian Air Ambulance team explored the utility of intra-arrest arterial blood pressure monitoring. Findings suggest achieving a diastolic BP of 35 mmHg is crucial for ROSC. Though not yet standard practice, the potential for target-driven resuscitation is promising.


Small-Bore vs. Large-Bore Chest Drains

Simon’s review of a meta-analysis in the Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery questioned the traditional preference for large-bore chest drains in traumatic haemothorax. The study found no significant differences in mortality or complications between small-bore (≤14 French) and large-bore (≥20 French) drains. Instead, smaller drains had shorter tube durations and comparable drainage volumes.


Navigating the “Hot Zone”: Lessons from Tactical Trauma

Claire Park’s insights from the Tactical Trauma Conference highlighted critical strategies for care in active threat environments. Her “40-70 Rule”—making decisions when 40-70% of information is available—resonates far beyond prehospital care. It’s a call to embrace timely, informed risk-taking in emergency medicine.


Toxicology Spotlight: GLP-1 Receptor Agonists

The rise of drugs like Ozempic for obesity management has brought new challenges to emergency medicine. Greg’s recent blog post explored their toxicological profiles, offering essential insights for managing potential overdoses or adverse effects.


Combatting Bad Behaviour in the ED

Liz Crowe’s talk on workplace behaviour delivered a crucial reminder: small actions, like an eye roll, can have a significant impact on team morale and patient safety. Emergency medicine demands high-functioning teams, and fostering kindness and psychological safety is paramount.

Tips for Building Trust:

  • Reflect on your behaviour and its impact on others.
  • Value feedback from colleagues at all levels.
  • Recognize that stress is no excuse for rudeness.

A Look Ahead: St Emlyn’s in 2025

As St Emlyn’s enters a new year, we’re committed to expanding our content and resources. Whether through podcasts, blogs, or conferences, we aim to support the global EM community. Want to contribute? Reach out to join our passionate team.

Thank you for being part of this journey. Let’s continue learning, teaching, and improving emergency medicine together.


What were your key takeaways from November 2024? Share your thoughts in the comments or connect with us on social media. Let’s keep the conversation going.

Podcast Transcription


YouTube


Where to Listen

You can listen to our podcast in numerous ways, ensuring you never miss an episode no matter where you are or what device you’re using. For the traditionalists, Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts offer easy access with seamless integration across all your Apple or Android devices. Spotify and Amazon Music are perfect for those who like to mix their tunes with their talks, providing a rich listening experience. If you prefer a more curated approach, platforms like Podchaser and TuneIn specialize in personalising content to your tastes. For those on the go, Overcast and Pocket Casts offer mobile-friendly features that enhance audio quality and manage playlists effortlessly. Lastly, don’t overlook YouTube for those who appreciate a visual element with their audio content. Choose any of these platforms and enjoy our podcast in a way that suits you best!


Cite this article as: Iain Beardsell, "Podcast – Monthly Round Up November 2024 – Learning culture, chest drains, arterial lines and more," in St.Emlyn's, January 15, 2025, https://www.stemlynsblog.org/podcast-monthly-round-up-november-2024-learning-culture-chest-drains-arterial-lines-and-more/.

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