How and why you should use local anaesthetic for arterial blood gas sampling in the ED and when to use VBGs/capillary gases instead of ABGs.

How and why you should use local anaesthetic for arterial blood gas sampling in the ED and when to use VBGs/capillary gases instead of ABGs.

Two of our registrars Shannon and Jenny talk about their experiences in the first year at Sydney HEMS. Hear two different takes on the the job, their insights into more challenging missions, and ti…

YouTube video by Coda Change

Background Paediatric generalised convulsive status epilepticus (GCSE) are some thing we see a fair amount of in Virchester. Many are a result of febrile seizures, but as we are a tertiary centre we see the full range of causes presenting to PED. Seizures that fail to stop spontaneously within five minutes are much less likely. to terminate without treatment and may lead to progressive neuronal injury, worsening outcomes, and, in some cases, death.

The Annual Update in Emergency Medicine: Saturday, February 25th – Tuesday, February 28th, 2023

This page contains registration links, a link to our cancellation policy and a place to submit your cases. For pricing information, click here. Different rates apply to medical specialists. Non-specia...

This page contains registration links, a link to our cancellation policy and a place to submit your cases. For pricing information, click here. Different rates apply to medical specialists. Non-specia...

Do you know how to perform a cricothyroidotomy?If a patient's neck is swelling in front of you and they go into cardiac arrest, what's your plan? An LMA? A video laryngoscope? Calling a surgeon? This clip from ResusX shows why there's only one life-saving answer: an emergent cricothyroidotomy. Your patient's life depends on knowing this critical skill.

The way presentations are currently constructed, delivered and received is not the result of laziness on the part of presenter or audience. Presentations are built with effort, intention and time but with a concept that breaks the result. The Japanese art of kintsugi recognises the value of a piece of pottery and in its damage, it is repaired, often with gold. Presentations are broken but should not be thrown in the trash. They can be repaired with kintsugi and returned to intended function and experiences of real value.

Ourt review of a small Feasibility study on arterial line placement during ED cardiac arrest shows high success and improved ROSC. Is it time to rethink resuscitation monitoring?

Pediatric front-of-neck-access is something we all dread to even think about. We might think we can retreat to the cognitive ease of needle based techniques, but they fail!! And if the kiddo is

Study strengthens case for families to have right to second opinion under Martha’s rule being piloted in NHS England Parental intuition is more likely to predict critical illness among children than vital signs used to monitor health, according to a study that strengthens the case for families to have a right to a second opinion under Martha’s rule being piloted in the NHS. Experts from Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, said parents should be treated as part of a child’s care team in hospital after data on almost 190,000 emergency hospital visits involving children. Continue reading...

Emergency departments (EDs) often seem to shift from calm to crisis in an instant. Why? This article explores ED crowding through the lens of complexity science and self-organised criticality, explaining how minor changes—like a few extra patients—can trigger disproportionate chaos. Using the sandpile analogy and concepts like power law distributions, we reveal why traditional linear models and static targets often fail to manage ED flow effectively. Instead, we offer a data-driven, systems-based approach: identifying tipping points, recognising early warning signs, and implementing proactive, anticipatory interventions. From real-time dashboards to weekly cycle planning and distributed decision-making, this article offers a practical guide for building resilience in emergency care. Learn how your ED can thrive in complexity, not just survive it.

Recorded at the London Trauma Conference 2024, Peter Brindley discusses social media, artifical intelligence (AI) and how those working in medicine can (and must) navigate this new world.