Chest drain insertion involves more than getting a tube into the chest. This 2016 teaching post discusses patient selection, analgesia, ultrasound, drain size and secure fixation, combining published evidence with the author’s practical experience and acknowledging important uncertainties.
Chest drains & aspiration: Do it better with St.Emlyn’s Read More
Does open cardiac massage outperform closed chest compressions in traumatic cardiac arrest? This 2016 appraisal examines a small study using end-tidal carbon dioxide measurements, explaining why limited numbers and differences between patient groups leave the treatment question unresolved.
JC: Push or Cut? Traumatic Cardiac Arrest Read More
Should major trauma imaging start with whole-body CT or a selective approach? This 2016 review of REACT-2 examines mortality, imaging speed and radiation exposure, while questioning exclusions, overlapping imaging between groups and whether a trial finding no difference establishes equivalence.
JC: Do we always need a whole body CT in trauma? St.Emlyn’s Read More
Simon Carley introduces a 2016 paper he co-authored on impact brain apnoea, drawing on observations from motorsport and prehospital care. The post also honours John Hinds’ contribution to the work and reflects on how clinicians’ shared experiences can prompt research questions.
JC: Impact Brain Apnoea. St.Emlyn’s Read More
Does hypertonic saline offer better outcomes than mannitol after traumatic brain injury? This 2016 appraisal explores the limited comparative evidence, distinguishes changes in intracranial pressure from outcomes that matter to patients and considers the uncertainty surrounding temporary treatment before definitive care.
JC: Salt or Sugar? Hypertonic saline for head injury at St.Emlyn’s. Read More
Why did European and UK trauma guidelines published in 2016 recommend different approaches to resuscitating bleeding patients? Iain Beardsell compares their positions on crystalloids, blood products and vasopressors, reflecting on how disagreements between credible guidelines can challenge apparently settled clinical beliefs.
The European Guideline on Management of Major Bleeding – are you in or out? Read More
A fictional Robocop trauma case provides the framework for this tour of NICE’s 2016 major-trauma guidance. The post follows care from scene to hospital, discusses areas of controversy and highlights unanswered research questions, with links to the full guidance and an accompanying infographic.
Robocop gets the NICE 2016 major trauma treatment. St.Emlyn’s Read More
Chris Gray’s report from the prehospital day of the 2015 London Trauma Conference brings together air ambulance practice, transport safety and emerging resuscitation techniques. Topics include prehospital ECMO, sepsis, REBOA and the challenge of translating specialist expertise into reliable systems of care.
London Trauma Conference #LTC2015 – Day Three Read More
