We are excited to introduce the Sixth edition of The Ottawa Handbook of Emergency Medicine. Your bedside guide for approaches to various Emergency Medicine presentations.
Highlights of the Sixth edition include the addition of: Oncologic emergencies, approach to the pregnant patient, geriatrics and more!
Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) – Recent Updates
The Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) Guidelines are the standard of care for the modern battlefield. TCCC offers operational guidelines for a range of combat personnel – from recommendations for all combatants to combat paramedics and SOF medics. Though these...
The Biliary Tree of Life: A review of common gallbladder and biliary diseases in the ED
Gallstone diseases are common and can lead to various intraabdominal emergencies. Gallstones are found in approximately 6% of men and 9% of women in the United States [1]. Epidemiological studies in Scandinavia reported even higher prevalence, finding 13-18% of men...
Hydrocortisone plus Fludrocortisone for Adults with Septic Shock
Journal Club Summary Methodology: 3/5 Usefulness: 3.5/5 Annane D, et al. N Engl J Med. 2018 Mar 1;378(9):809-818. Editorial: A Role for Hydrocortisone Therapy in Septic Shock? Question and Methods: Large multi-center, double-blinded, randomized-controlled trial...
Echoes: Taking Your POCUS Game to the Next Level
Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) is becoming increasingly prevalent in Emergency Departments (EDs) for diagnostic, procedural, and management purposes. In this post, we will examine some less known, but extremely useful, indications for POCUS. For further information,...
Tranexamic acid for hyperacute primary IntraCerebral Haemorrhage (TICH-2): an international randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 3 superiority trial.
Journal Club Methodology Score: 4/5 Usefulness Score: 3/5 Sprigg N, et al. Lancet. 2018 May 26;391(10135):2107-2115 Question and Methods: Multicenter, double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial comparing if IV TXA vs placebo, given within 8h of spontaneous...
Mechanical CPR: Past, Current, and Future
Mechanical CPR is a technology whereby a machine performs chest compressions in place of a human provider. These devices are becoming increasingly prevalent in the prehospital and in-hospital arenas, and it is inevitable that healthcare providers will interact with...
Damage Control Resuscitation (DCR) – A Summary of the Joint Trauma System Clinical Practice Guideline
Hemorrhage is the leading cause of preventable death on the battlefield. Damage Control Resuscitation (DCR) works synergistically with Damage Control Surgery (DCS) and prioritizes non-surgical interventions that reduce morbidity and mortality due to trauma and...
Mass Gathering Medicine: The New Frontier
Mass gathering medicine (MGM) is an exciting niche field of emergency medicine focused on providing emergency medical care at large events. Mass gatherings, as the name implies, are events in which “large numbers of people assemble in public or private spaces to...
Prehospital Plasma during Air Medical Transport in Trauma Patients at Risk for Hemorrhagic Shock
Journal Club Summary Methodology Score: 3.5/5 Usefulness Score: 2.5 /5 Sperry JL, et al. N Engl J Med. 2018 Jul 26;379(4):315-326. Question and Methods: Determine the efficacy of prehospital plasma compared with standard-care resuscitation in injured patients at risk...
Sodium Bicarbonate: Supply Shortages and Medical Shortcomings
We’re familiar with sodium bicarbonate as a simple buffer solution, which has been utilized for a myriad of medical indications backed up by physiologic rationale and occasional moderate-quality evidence. It comes in two forms; vials (typically for infusions) and...