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!
Fibrinolysis for patients with intermediate-risk pulmonary embolism
Journal Club Summary Methodology Score: 3.5/5 Usefulness Score: 3/5 PEITHO Investigators. N Engl J Med. 2014 Apr 10;370(15):1402-11. Article Link This multicentre double blind RCT focused on patients with submassive pulmonary embolism and the use of...
Age-adjusted D-dimer cutoff levels to rule out pulmonary embolism: the ADJUST-PE study
Journal Club Summary Landmark Series Methodology Score: 4/5 Usefulness Score: 4.5/5 Righini M, et al. JAMA. 2014 Mar 19;311(11):1117-24 Full Article This prospective multicenter European prospective cohort study found that using age-adjusted...
Prospective multicenter evaluation of the pulmonary embolism rule-out criteria
Journal Club Summary Landmark Series Methodology Score: 4/5 Usefulness Score: 4.5/5 Kline JA, et al. J Thromb Haemost. 2008 May;6(5):772-80. Full Article In this prospective multicenter validation study, the PERC rule was found to have a sensitivity of 97.4% (CI...
2014 Canadian Guidelines for AF Management: Part 3: Unstable Patients with AF
We continue to discuss the latest recommendations for ED management of atrial fibrillation (AF) as presented in the newly published 2014 Focused Update of the Canadian Cardiovascular Society Guidelines for the Management of Atrial Fibrillation. The Guidelines PDF can...
Family presence during cardiopulmonary resuscitation
Journal Club Summary Methodology Score: 3/5 Usefulness Score: 3.5/5 Jabre P, et al. N Engl J Med. 2013 Mar 14;368(11):1008-18 Article Link This out of hospital, French randomized controlled trial found that when family members were given the option of viewing ongoing...
Safety and efficiency of a chest pain diagnostic algorithm with selective outpatient stress testing for emergency department patients with potential ischemic chest pain
Journal Club Summary Methodology Score: 3.5/5 Usefulness Score: 2.5/5 Scheuermeyer FX, Innes G, Grafstein E, Kiess M, Boychuk B, Yu E, Kalla D, Christenson J. Ann Emerg Med. 2012 Apr;59(4):256-264.e3. Abstract Link This prospective single-centre...
Hydrocortisone therapy for patients with septic shock
Journal Club Summary Landmark Series Methodology Score: 3.5/5 Usefulness Score: 3.5/5 Sprung CL, et al. CORTICUS Study Group. N Engl J Med. 2008 Jan 10;358(2):111-24 Article Link This Multicenter, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled RCT...
A randomized trial of protocol-based care for early septic shock
Journal Club Summary Landmark Series Methodology Score: 4/5 Usefulness Score: 4/5 ProCESS Investigators N Engl J Med. 2014 May 1;370(18):1683-93. Abstract Link This large multicentre U.S. RCT of 1341 septic patients found no significant differences in mortality...
Lorazepam vs diazepam for pediatric status epilepticus: a randomized clinical trial
Journal Club Summary Methodology Score: 3/5 Usefulness Score: 2.5/5 Chamberlain JM, et al; Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PECARN). JAMA.2014 Apr 23-30;311(16):1652-60. doi: 10.1001/jama.2014.2625. Full Article This double-blind, multi-center,...
2014 Canadian Guidelines for AF Management: Part 2: ED Algorithm and Risk Stratification for Stroke
We continue to discuss the latest recommendations for ED management of atrial fibrillation (AF) as presented in the newly published 2014 Focused Update of the Canadian Cardiovascular Society Guidelines for the Management of Atrial Fibrillation. The Guidelines PDF can...
