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!
A 2-h diagnostic protocol to assess patients with chest pain symptoms in the Asia-Pacific region (ASPECT): a prospective observational validation study
Journal Club Summary Methodology Score: 4/5 Usefulness Score: 3/5 Than M, Cullen L, Reid CM, Lim SH, Aldous S, Ardagh MW, et al. Lancet. 2011 Mar 26;377(9771):1077-84. Abstract Link This prospective multicentre cohort study attempted to validate...
Intravenous Droperidol or Olanzapine as an Adjunct to Midazolam for the Acutely Agitated Patient: A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial
Journal Club Summary Methodology Score: 3/5 Usefulness Score: 2/5 Chan EW, Taylor DM, Knott JC, Phillips GA, Castle DJ, Kong DC. Ann Emerg Med. 2013 Jan;61(1):72-81 Abstract Link This randomized, double-blind, double dummy study comparing...
Validation of the Simplified Motor Score in the Out-of-Hospital Setting for the Prediction of Outcomes After Traumatic Brain Injury
Journal Club Summary Methodology score: 3/5 Usefulness score: 2/5 Thompson DO, Hurtado TR, Liao MM, Byyny RL, Gravitz C, Haukoos JS. Ann Emerg Med. 2011 Nov;58(5):417-25 Article Link This retrospective registry study demonstrated poor performance of either the...
Hydroxyethyl Starch 130/0.42 versus Ringer’s Acetate in Severe Sepsis
Journal Club Summary Landmark Series Methodology Score: 4/5 Usefulness Score: 4.5/5 Perner A, et al.; 6S Trial Group; Scandinavian Critical Care Trials Group. N Engl J Med. 2012 Jul 12;367(2):124-34 Article Link This multi-centre, double-blind,...
Meta-analysis of Usefulness of D-dimer to Diagnose Acute Aortic Dissection
Journal Club Summary Methodology Score: 3/5 Usefulness Score: 3/5 Shimony A, Filion KB, Mottillo S, Dourian T, Eisenberg MJ. Am J Cardiol. 2011 Apr 15;107(8):1227-34 Abstract Link This meta-analysis of seven studies shows a pooled sensitivity...
Lactate Clearance vs Central Venous Oxygen Saturation as Goals of Early Sepsis Therapy: a Randomized Clinical Trial
Journal Club Summary Methodology Score: 3.5/5 Usefulness Score: 3.5/5 Jones AE, Shapiro NI, Trzeciak S, Arnold RC, Claremont HA, Kline JA; Emergency Medicine Shock Research Network (EMShockNet) Investigators. JAMA. 2010 Feb 24;303(8):739-46. Article...
Transfusion Strategies for Acute Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding
Journal Club Summary Landmark Series Methodology Score: 3.5/5 Usefulness Score: 4/5 Villanueva C, Colomo A, Bosch A, Concepción M, Hernandez-Gea V, Aracil C, Graupera I, Poca M, Alvarez-Urturi C, Gordillo J, Guarner-Argente C, Santaló M, Muñiz E,...
Oral Dimenhydrinate versus Placebo in Children with Gastroenteritis: a Randomized Controlled Trial
Journal Club Summary Methodology Score: 2.5/5 Usefulness Score: 2/5 Gouin S, Vo TT, Roy M, Lebel D, Gravel J. Pediatrics. 2012 Jun;129(6):1050-5. Article Link This randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial of 144 children in Montreal...
Diuretic Strategies in Patients with Acute Decompensated Heart Failure
Journal Club Summary Methodology: 3.5/5 Usefulness: 2/5 Felker GM, et al. NHLBI Heart Failure Clinical Research Network. N Engl J Med. 2011 Mar 3;364(9):797-805 Article Link This double-blind double-dummy RCT (N=308) found that there was no difference in the patient...
Subclinical cerebral edema in children with diabetic ketoacidosis randomized to 2 different rehydration protocols
Journal Club Summary Methodology Score: 2/5 Usefulness Score: 2/5 Glaser NS, Wootton-Gorges SL, Buonocore MH, Tancredi DJ, Marcin JP, Caltagirone R, Lee Y, Murphy C, Kuppermann N. Pediatrics. 2013 Jan;131(1):e73-80 Abstract Link This pilot randomized controlled...
