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!
Clopridogrel with Aspirin in Acute Minor Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack
Journal Club Summary Methodology Score: 4 /5 Usefulness Score: 3.5/5 Wang Y, Johnston SC, Wang Y. N Engl J Med. 2013 Oct 3;369(14):1376-7. Article Link This multicenter randomized-control trial of 5,100 patients with TIA/minor stroke treated...
Efficacy and safety of the novel oral anticoagulants in atrial fibrillation: a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature
Journal Club Summary Methodology Score: 4.5/5 Usefulness Score: 3/5 Dentali F, Riva N, Crowther M, Turpie AG, Lip GY, Ageno W. Circulation. 2012 Nov 13;126(20):2381-91. Article Link This was a systematic review and meta-analysis of 12 phase II/III...
A new and rapid method for epistaxis treatment using injectable form of tranexamic acid topically: a randomized controlled trial
Journal Club Summary Methodology Score: 2/5 Usefulness Score: 3.5/5 Zahed R, Moharamzadeh P, Alizadeharasi S, Ghasemi A, Saeedi M.Am J Emerg Med.2013 Sep;31(9):1389-92 Abstract Link This single centre, ED based, parallel group randomized control trial...
The benefits of steroids versus steroids plus antivirals for treatment of Bell’s palsy: a meta-analysis
Journal Club Summary Methodology Score: 3.5/5 Usefulness Score: 3.5/5 Quant EC, Jeste SS, Muni RH, Cape AV, Bhussar MK, Peleg AY. BMJ. 2009 Sep 7;339:b3354. doi: 10.1136/bmj.b3354. Article Link This meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials comparing...
A 2-Hour Diagnostic Protocol for Possible Cardiac Chest Pain in the Emergency Department
Journal Club Summary Methodology Score: 3.5/5 Usefulness Score: 3/5 Than M, Aldous S, Lord SJ, Goodacre S, Frampton CM, Troughton R, George P, Florkowski CM, Ardagh M, Smyth D, Jardine DL, Peacock WF, Young J, Hamilton G, Deely JM, Cullen L,...
Clinical Decision Rules to Rule Out Subarachnoid Hemorrhage for Acute Headache
Journal Club Summary Methodology Score: 4.5/5 Usefulness Score: 4/5 Perry JJ, Stiell IG, Sivilotti ML, Bullard MJ, Hohl CM, Sutherland J, Émond M, Worster A, Lee JS, Mackey D, Pauls M, Lesiuk H, Symington C, Wells GA. JAMA....
Vasopressin, Steroids, and Epinephrine and Neurologically Favorable Survival After In-Hospital Cardiac Arrest A Randomized Clinical Trial
Journal Club Summary Methodology Score: 4/5 Usefulness Score: 2.5/5 Mentzelopoulos SD, et al. JAMA. 2013;310(3):270-279. Article Link This randomized, multi-centered, double blind, placebo controlled trial compared vasopressin, steroids and...
Comparison of dopamine and norepinephrine in the treatment of shock.
Journal Club Summary Landmark Series Methodology Score: 4/5 Usefulness Score: 4/5 De Backer D, Biston P, Devriendt J, Madl C, Chochrad D, Aldecoa C, Brasseur A, Defrance P, Gottignies P, Vincent JL; SOAP II Investigators. N Engl J Med. 2010 Mar...
Short-term vs Conventional Glucocorticoid Therapy in Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: the REDUCE randomized clinical trial
Journal Club Summary Methodology Score: 4/5 Usefulness Score: 3.5/5 Leuppi JD, Schuetz P, Bingisser R, Bodmer M, Briel M, Drescher T, et al. JAMA. 2013 Jun 5;309(21):2223-31 Article Link This multicentre, Swiss-based RCT adds to the literature that...
How Do I Perform a Lumbar Puncture and Analyze the Results to Diagnose Bacterial Meningitis?
Journal Club Summary Landmark Article Series - UPDATE Methodology Score: 2.5/5 Usefulness Score: 4/5 Straus SE, Thorpe KE, Holroyd-Leduc J. JAMA. 2006 Oct 25;296(16):2012-22. Article Link This overview article from the JAMA Rational Clinical Exam...
