Investigation of anaemia
A large section on the investigation of anaemia has been added to the Anaemia page.
Updates
Bee stings
The Insect envenomation page has been updated with some additional information about bee stings.
Advanced airway techniques and chest compressions
The Basic life support page has been updated to emphasise that advanced airway techniques, when performed quickly, improve the effectiveness of chest compression. This is probably due to improved co-ordination between chest compression and ventilation.
Water temperature and immersion time in drowning
The Drowning page has been updated with a reduction in the emphasis on water temperature and an increase in the importance of immersion time as factors in the prognosis following drowning.
Packed cell transfusion strategy and infection
The Packed cell transfusion page has been updated with information about the 5% (absolute) increase in infection risk associated with a liberal transfusion strategy (Hb > 9g/dL) compared to a more restrictive strategy.
High flow nasal cannula therapy
The Oxygen therapy page has been updated with information about high flow nasal cannula therapy, used in infants and as apnoeic oxygenation prior to intubation.
ACEM policy statement on thrombolysis in stroke
The Thrombolytic therapy in stroke page has been updated to incorporate ACEM’s revised statement on the subject updated in March 2014 that states: “ACEM recognises intravenous thrombolysis as a potentially beneficial intervention for acute ischaemic stroke. There is however, conflicting evidence such that the administration of stroke thrombolysis by ED staff is a controversial area and cannot currently … Read more
Management of sepsis without SvO2 or CVP measurement
The Management of sepsis page has been updated in light of recent evidence that suggests the frequent measurement of SvO2 or CVP does not appear to alter outcome in severe sepsis.
EDACS accelerated diagnostic protocol for suspected ACS
The Risk stratification in suspected ACS page has been updated with details of the very important Emergency Department assessment of chest pain score and associated accelerated diagnostic pathway recently published in EMA.
Haemolytic anaemia FBE
An FBE of a patient with haemolytic anaemia has been added to the Normochromic anaemia page, despite the patient having macrocytosis (thus elegantly demonstrating the limitations of the cell size classification system for anaemia!).
Fe deficiency anaemia FBE
An FBE of a patient with iron deficiency anaemia has been added to the Microcytic anaemia page.
Erythrocytosis FBE example
An FBE of a patient with erythrocytosis has been added to the Myeloproliferative disorders page.
Erythrocytosis
The Myeloproliferative disorders page has been updated with new information about Erythrocytosis (formerly known as Polycythaemia rubra vera) following a recent BMJ review.
Benign positional vertigo
The Assessment and management of vertigo page has been updated following the NEJM review article just published on benign positional vertigo. It now includes great sounding treatments such as the ‘barbeque rotation’ and ‘Gufoni’s manoeuvre’.
Ramelteon and delirium
A small segment on the possible role of the melatonin agonist, ramelteon in the prevention of delirium in the elderly has been added to the Altered mental state page.
CSF spectrophotometry for SAH
The Investigation of suspected subarachnoid haemorrhage page has been updated following the publication of a systematic review of the subject in Annals of Emergency Medicine this week.
Bitumen burns
The Chemical burns page has been updated with additional information about the management of bitumen (tar) burns.
Modified Wells score
The Deep venous thrombosis page has been updated with the latest risk estimates for the different possible Modified Wells scores published in the BMJ. The original Wells score has been removed as is no longer considered useful.
Lymphopenia
The White blood cells page has been updated with additional information about lymphopenia and it’s causes.
Termination of pregnancy
The Termination of pregnancy page has been updated following a recent BMJ review of the subject.