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!
The Canadian Syncope Risk Score
Syncope is an commonly encountered problem in Emergency Medicine, with the potential for significant morbidity and mortality to patients. Unfortunately, to date, there have not been any reliable decision tools or instruments to help us in our assessment of the syncope...
Tips for Graduating Residents
After more than a decade of undergraduate and postgraduate education, your time as residents is over! Your "watch has ended" and you are about to become THE most responsible physician for all your patients. Before absolute panic sets in here are some tips to make your...
#FOAMed: A modern controversy
Free open access medical education or “FOAMed”, is a term often confused as a catchall phrase for blogs, podcasts and social media on medical topics. While these are all platforms through which FOAMed can be disseminated, it actually encompasses the spirit and...
Opioid Addiction and Death: Are we the Problem?
There has been increased publicity and recognition of the hazards associated with opiate use and addiction in recent years, and despite this enhanced recognition, complications from opiate use are continuing to rise. This summary will highlight the opioid epidemic and...
Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole versus Placebo for Uncomplicated Skin Abscess
Journal Club Summary Methodology Score: 3.5/5 Usefulness Score: 3.5 /5 Talan DA, et al. N Engl J Med. 2016 Mar 3;374(9):823-32 Abstract Link This RCT conducted at 5 US emergency departments including over 1200 outpatients aged over 12 years...
Naproxen With Cyclobenzaprine, Oxycodone/ Acetaminophen, or Placebo for Treating Acute Low Back Pain A Randomized Clinical Trial
Journal Club Summary Methodology Score: 3.5/5 Usefulness Score: 3.5/5 Friedman BW, et al. JAMA. 2015;314(15):1572-1580. Full Article In this pragmatic 3-arm RCT of Naproxen + placebo or cyclobenzaprine or acetaminophen/oxycodone for acute low back...
What to expect when your patient is expecting! Medical emergencies in pregnancy.
The pregnant or postpartum patient presents a unique set of challenges to the emergency physician. Although life-threatening emergencies are relatively rare, they require specialized protocols and different considerations than we’re used to (i.e. medications...
Assessment of Clinical Criteria for Sepsis For the Third International Consensus Definitions for Sepsis and Septic Shock (Sepsis-3)
Journal Club Summary Methodology Score: 3.5/5 Usefulness Score: 3 /5 Seymour CW, et al. JAMA. 2016 Feb 23;315(8):762-74 Abstract Link Editorial: New Definitions for Sepsis and Septic Shock Continuing Evolution but With Much Still to Be Done Abraham...
You CAN reverse that! Reversal of NOAC’s and more..
We have seen a large surge of the utilization of New Oral Anticoagulants (NOAC's) in the past few years, as such, it has been a novel challenge when these patients present to the Emergency Department (ED) with life threatening bleeding. Dr. Michael Ho looks to discuss...
Does This Patient With Chest Pain Have Acute Coronary Syndrome? The Rational Clinical Examination Systematic Review
Journal Club Summary Fanaroff AC, et al. JAMA. 2015 Nov 10;314(18):1955-65 Abstract Link Methodology Score: 4.5/5 Usefulness Score: 3/5 This meta-analysis found that few clinical variables were strong predictors of ACS amongst ED patients presenting...
