Could bedside ultrasound improve the assessment of patients with acute breathlessness? This 2014 journal club examines a randomised trial, separating improved diagnostic accuracy from evidence of better patient outcomes and considering how patient selection and reliance on a single ultrasound operator limit the findings.
JC: POCUS for the breathless patient. St.Emlyn’s Read More
Could medical scribes improve emergency department workflow? In this 2014 journal club, Natalie May and Damian Roland examine a before-and-after study involving electronic ordering and scribes, questioning causality, the practical significance of time savings and the implications for documentation accuracy and UK practice.
JC: Scribes in the ED? Read More
Does improving an acid–base measurement demonstrate that a resuscitation fluid is better for patients? This 2014 journal club examines a small trial comparing Plasma-Lyte with saline in major trauma, exploring surrogate outcomes, fluid volumes and why the findings could not establish a benefit in patient-centred outcomes.
JC: Plasma-lyte or Saline in Trauma? St. Emlyn’s Read More
A collection of BestBets critical appraisal checklists for clinicians preparing for journal club or examinations. The post links to tools for different study designs, including randomised trials, diagnostic studies, reviews, decision rules and qualitative research, and encourages sharing completed appraisals.
JC: BestBets checklists for critical appraisal. St.Emlyn’s Read More
Should a displaced ankle fracture be X-rayed before reduction? This 2013 journal club challenges the conclusions of a retrospective study, exploring differences between patient groups, missing documentation and the limitations of repeat manipulation as an outcome before accepting a proposed change in practice.
JC. Should we X-ray before manipulating a displaced ankle fracture? St.Emlyn’s Read More
Could viscous lidocaine help children with painful mouth ulcers drink more? This 2013 journal club examines a placebo-controlled trial, discussing oral intake, the small sample and safety concerns, and separating a plausible treatment idea from evidence of meaningful benefit.
JC: Lidocaine for paediatric mouth ulcers at St.Emlyn’s Read More
How strong was the evidence behind major transfusion protocols in trauma? This 2013 journal club examines a systematic review and meta-analysis, exploring before-and-after study bias, variation between protocols and why a statistically inconclusive pooled result may leave an important clinical question unresolved.
JC: Major Transfusion Protocols – evidence or lack of? St.Emlyn’s Read More
A 2013 journal club examines a randomised trial comparing GlideScope video laryngoscopy with direct laryngoscopy in trauma patients. It considers survival, uncertainty around a small head-injury subgroup and whether results from a specialist trauma centre apply across emergency medicine.
JC: Video Layngoscopy – Did Video kill the Laryngoscope star? Read More
