Why can clinicians read the same evidence and reach different conclusions? Simon Carley uses a Bayesian analogy to explore how prior beliefs shape critical appraisal and thresholds for changing practice, suggesting ways to recognise those beliefs before interpreting a new paper.
Bayes and Belief: How pre-review belief influences critical appraisal. St Emlyn’s Read More
Iain and Simon’s March 2021 round-up covers RECOVERY results, trauma triage, cricothyroidotomy and COVID-19 thromboprophylaxis. The episode also discusses emerging concerns about vaccine-induced thrombosis, alongside the FRCEM revision guide and changes to undergraduate medical education.
Podcast – March 2021 Monthly Round Up Read More
An April 2021 discussion of post-vaccination headache as evidence about vaccine-induced thrombosis and thrombocytopenia was emerging. It explores VITT, cerebral venous sinus thrombosis and the role of clinical probability, targeted investigation and specialist input, reflecting the uncertainties and guidance available at that time.
Post-vaccine headache in the Emergency Department: what you need to know. St Emlyn’s Read More
An April 2021 guide to CODA’s online talks and discussions across education, ethics, health and the environment. Simon Carley highlights resources on evidence-based medicine during COVID-19 and the clinical and ethical challenges of responding to the pandemic in Yemen.
CODA update and links. St Emlyn’s Read More
A March 2021 appraisal of anticoagulation trials in critically ill patients with COVID-19. Simon Carley and Dan Horner examine therapeutic-dose versus usual-care thromboprophylaxis, organ support outcomes and bleeding, explaining why the findings cannot simply be extended to ward patients or treatment of confirmed thrombosis.
JC: Thromboprophylaxis on the ICU for COVID-19 patients. St Emlyn’s Read More
Iain and Simon revisit February 2021 on the St Emlyn’s blog and podcast. The accompanying article links cover TIA risk assessment, proposed emergency care standards, tocilizumab evidence, TXA for epistaxis and conversations with patients about COVID-19 risk.
Podcast – February 2021 Monthly Round Up Read More
A March 2021 review of the RECOVERY convalescent plasma preprint in hospitalised patients with COVID-19. It examines the absence of a survival benefit, donor antibody testing and subgroup findings, and reflects on why promising treatments still need randomised evidence.
JC: Convalescent plasma (still) does not work in COVID-19. St Emlyn’s Read More
What can a specialist prehospital service teach us about a rare emergency airway procedure? This review of London Air Ambulance’s 20-year cricothyroidotomy experience separates procedural success from patient survival and considers the implications for training, preparation and interpreting retrospective data.
JC: Real world cricothyroidotomy experience. St Emlyn’s Read More
