Can a Dutch prediction model improve prehospital major trauma triage in the UK? Tom Shanahan explains its retrospective external validation, the tradeoff between missed major trauma and over-triage, and why prospective testing and practical evaluation are needed before implementation.
Can a prediction model improve major trauma triage? St Emlyn’s Read More
Does topical tranexamic acid reduce the need for nasal packing when initial epistaxis treatment has failed? This 2021 appraisal of the NoPAC trial examines its negative result, the importance of preceding first aid and vasoconstrictors, and limits to generalising across different types of bleeding.
JC: Epistaxis – The NoPAC trial – Does TXA work? Read More
The first February 2021 report of RECOVERY’s tocilizumab results, written as the announcement and preprint emerged. Simon Carley and Dan Horner outline the reported benefits in hospitalised patients with hypoxia and inflammation, while flagging the need for fuller appraisal and questions about immunosuppression.
JC: RECOVERY trial shows Tocilizumab effective for COVID19. St Emlyn’s Read More
A 2021 appraisal of the Canadian TIA score’s prospective validation and comparison with ABCD scores. It explores seven-day stroke risk, the need for validation in other settings and why better prediction only helps when local services can act on the result.
JC: Canadian TIA risk score. St Emlyn’s Read More
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.
Oxygen targets in critical care: The HOT-ICU trial. St Emlyn’s Read More
Rick Body and colleagues discuss the COVID-19 vaccine evidence as the UK rollout gathered pace in January 2021. The episode notes link to the Moderna, Oxford and Pfizer trials, providing a record of the science and questions informing that early stage of vaccination.
Vaccines update January 2021: St Emlyn’s Read More
How can academics make their work easier to find, understand and discuss online? Simon Carley offers a practical introduction to professional profiles, collaboration, adapting research for different media and curating an online presence, while considering the risks of echo chambers and amplification.
#FOAMed for academics: A primer. St Emlyn’s Read More
A December 2020 review of RECOVERY’s lopinavir/ritonavir results in hospitalised patients with COVID-19. It discusses the lack of demonstrated benefit, the limits of extrapolating to earlier disease and how adaptive platform trials made rapid evaluation of proposed treatments possible.
JC: Lopinavir/Ritonavir in the treatment of COVID-19 Read More
