This clip is the very opening section of the BBC Two sitcom set in a run-down hospital - a multiple dream sequence showing the terror of a junior doctor joining the ward. It stars Doctor Flynn (Reece Shearsmith) and his elder and wiser colleague, Dr Noble (Alexander Armstrong).
OK......, if black humour isn't your thing then maybe the video isn't entertaining.........HOWEVER the Team at heftemcast.co.uk have done a very interesting review of a resus classic - the needle thoracostomy. Could we be doing it at a better site?
Check their webpage: http://www.heftemcast.co.uk/needle-thoracostomy/ for all the show notes and evidence plus subscribe and rate the podcast.
Or listen below to get an idea (but really just go to the site....)
New sepsis definitions were released in Febuary and got a mixed reception in the FOAMed world.
Thankfully EMCrit pulls together some useful reading to get you up to speed with things:
Firstly you could read the (free) JAMA paper .
Secondly you can read or download various FOAMed discussions on the topic:
“An all-star panel discuss the burning issues in sepsis right now. Hosted by Chris Nickson and I, the conversation on the controversial aspects of sepsis was lubricated with on-stage alcohol (my idea!)
Mervyn Singer (research guru, sepsis expert and self-proclaimed Sex-God) and Paul Marik (iconoclast and dogma-basher) reveal just how hard it is to describe what sepsis is. Flavia Machado (intensivist and researcher) brings common sense and the perspective from South America, representing middle-income countries. Kath Maitland (author of FEAST, African-based paediatrician and clinical trialist) talks about sepsis management issues in Africa, where sepsis strikes its biggest global impact. Heavyweight researcher and clinician John Myburgh, argues that the word “sepsis” should be removed from our language and turns the paradigm on its head, arguing for a more pragmatic approach to sepsis management. Simon Finfer (crit care clinician, clinical trialist, voice of reason) describes the history, the good, the bad and the ugly about the Surviving Sepsis Guidelines, and some of the controversy surrounding them.
There’s a fascinating, very high level discussion on antibiotics which is not as clear cut as you might imagine. You couldn’t discuss fluids without talking about fluids and this panel features several world experts on this topic. Kath Maitland’s insights from FEAST, combined with the opinions of the rest of the panel will hopefully leave you an informed agnostic.”
An excellent EBM based summary of the management of Acute Heart Failure for UK based EM trainees. Podcast below, but go to the website and subscribe to the podcast to get the full warm glowing feeling of knowing your up to date in an EM staple.
heftEMcast is produced by the Heart of England NHS Trust Emergency Department. They aim to help keep our practice up to date with the latest EBM.
This we're going back to some pretty old posts from EMCrit - but an all time classic!!
Acid Base is a traditional brain melter for me and these podcasts have been amazing in helping get to grips with it from the ground up. Its in...... (gulp) 5 parts....BUT there was a recent related post from EM Nerd (Rory Spiegel) on EM Crit talking through the equally confusing anion and osmolar gap.
Click the links below to go straight to the relevant EMCrit page with all the associated show notes, or to get started watch the videos below.
One things for sure......we'll all gonna be a lot....SMARTER!
ACID BASE Part IV: (Fluids)
Another publication from the illustrious EMERGE landed on my doormat on Friday, this time exploring the utility of lactate in the Emergency Department. Yet my understanding of lactate was turned on its head at SMACC Chicago, and it's head has never been the same since.....
Lactate NOT an acid? Lactate NOT just caused by tissue hypoxia?
There's no doubt lactate is invaluable in assessing critically ill patients, but if we are to use it more, shouldn't we understand it better?
Another chance for #FOAMed to shine, as St Emlyns step up (again) in the hour of need. Richard Carden (EM Trainee) writes an excellent blog covering dead parrots, whoop whoops, AND some physiology my brain can actually digest.
Check out the blog here: Lactate = LactHATE
Don't forget to look at the links at the bottom of the article and also look out for the SMACC Chicago talks on the same in the future.
Viva la #FOAMed
