A Critical Appraisal Nugget about Positive and Negative Predictive Value and their use when interpreting diagnostic tests.
Podcast – Positive and Negative Predictive Values: Critical Appraisal Nugget 11 Read More
How feasible is a definitive trial of lidocaine patches for older patients with rib fractures? This appraisal examines recruitment, treatment crossover and follow-up in a randomised feasibility study, explaining why its clinical findings cannot establish whether patches improve pain or recovery.
Lidocaine Patches for Elderly Patients with Rib Fractures: A Feasibility Study Read More
How well do MACS, T-MACS and HE-MACS perform in emergency department patients with suspected cardiac chest pain? This appraisal examines a systematic review of their diagnostic accuracy, differences between study populations and the importance of external validation, while acknowledging the St Emlyn’s team’s involvement in developing the scores.
Systematic review of the Manchester Acute Coronary Scores. Read More
A review of a randomised trial comparing non-invasive ventilation with an oxygen mask for preoxygenation before emergency intubation. It examines the risk of hypoxaemia, the limits of the comparison and how the findings might apply to critically ill patients.
Noninvasive Ventilation for Preoxygenation during Emergency Intubation Read More
Is persistent ventricular fibrillation the same as a rhythm that returns after a successful shock? This appraisal examines a secondary analysis of DOSE-VF, comparing outcomes in shock-refractory and recurrent VF and considering the implications for defibrillation strategy.
Does the outcome from refractory VF differ from recurrent VF in DOSE-VF patients? Read More
Should bleeding trauma patients be intubated in the emergency department or the operating room? This appraisal examines an observational comparison in patients needing urgent haemorrhage control, including the association with mortality and why confounding limits conclusions about changing practice.
Risky intubations in the Emergency Department Read More
Could nebulised ketamine offer an alternative to intravenous ketamine for acute pain in the emergency department? This review examines a randomised trial, its analgesic outcomes and the uncertainties around rescue analgesia, patient selection and comparison with usual care.
Is nebulised ketamine an option in the Emergency Department? Read More
Measles is a highly contagious viral disease making a resurgence due to declining vaccination rates. It presents with initial symptoms like high fever and coryza, followed by a rash. Rapid isolation and appropriate use of PPE are critical for suspected cases.
Measles – An Ancient Foe in Modern Times Read More
