Why did progesterone’s promise in experimental brain injury fail to translate into benefit in a large clinical trial? This 2014 journal club examines patient selection, randomisation, anticipated treatment effects and stopping for futility, using the study to explore the challenges of translating laboratory findings into patient care.
JC: Progesterone’s pleiotropic failure in head injury. St.Emlyn’s Read More
Could time spent in an emergency department offer an opportunity for sexually transmitted infection screening? This 2014 appraisal examines a trial of brief counselling and testing in young women, questioning its sample size, generalisability and whether measuring immediate uptake captures the wider value of screening.
Sexually Transmitted Infection Screening in the ED Read More
A satirical ‘Fellowship of Corridor Medicine’ introduces a serious discussion of emergency department overcrowding. Simon Carley follows the spoof with practical reflections on departmental leadership, communication, sharing risk across the hospital and supporting patients and staff when demand overwhelms the space available for safe care.
Studying for FCM (Fellow of Corridor Medicine) at St.Emlyn’s Read More
A 2014 appraisal of MR CLEAN, an early positive trial of intra-arterial treatment for selected patients with acute ischaemic stroke. Simon Carley examines imaging-based selection, pragmatic treatment choices and functional outcomes, while asking how confidently one trial could support wider adoption at the time.
JC: Intra-arterial treatment for Stroke Read More
Natalie May and Iain Beardsell discuss a structured approach to a breathless child in this 2014 induction podcast. The case-based conversation covers recognising respiratory distress, taking a history from parents, common causes including viral wheeze and croup, and deciding when to seek help or admit.
Podcast – Shortness of Breath in Children Read More
The final day of the London Trauma Conference 2014 turns to prehospital care and air ambulance operations. This report covers training and performance, introducing new procedures, difficult transfers and the human impact of fatal helicopter crashes, alongside brief discussions of emerging trauma therapies and responder technology.
St Emlyn’s at the London Trauma Conference – Day 3 Read More
Highlights and a podcast from day two of the London Trauma Conference 2014, spanning trauma in older people, children and pregnant patients. The team also reflects on performance culture, learning from deaths, the future of ATLS and debates about ultrasound, vascular access and social media.
St Emlyn’s at the London Trauma Conference – Day 2 Read More
Does more severe chest pain make a heart attack more likely? Rick Body describes a 2014 study of emergency department patients, showing the difference between a statistically significant association and a useful diagnostic test, and why mild discomfort alone cannot provide reassurance about the underlying cause.
Is severe chest pain more likely to be a heart attack? Read More
