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!
Azithromycin and the Risk of Cardiovascular Death
Journal Club Summary Methodology: 3/5 Usefulness: 1.5/5 Ray WA, Murray KT, Hall K, Arbogast PG, Stein CM. N Engl J Med. 2012 May 17;366(20):1881-90 Article Link This retrospective cohort study found that there was a slight increased risk of cardiovascular...
Predictive accuracy of ST depression during rapid atrial fibrillation on the presence of obstructive coronary artery disease
Journal Club Summary Methodology: 3/5 Usefulness: 3/5 Pradhan R, Chaudhary A, Donato AA. Am J Emerg Med. 2012 Sep;30(7):1042-7 Abstract Link This was a retrospective cohort study of 127 patients that found no association between ST depression during rapid...
Prognostic value of plasma lactate levels among patients with acute pulmonary embolism: the thrombo-embolism lactate outcome study
Journal Club Summary Prognostic value of plasma lactate levels among patients with acute pulmonary embolism: the thrombo-embolism lactate outcome study Methodology: 3/5 Usefulness: 2/5 Vanni S, Viviani G, Baioni M, Pepe G, Nazerian P, Socci F, Bartolucci M,...
Chest-compression-only versus standard cardiopulmonary resuscitation: a meta-analysis
Journal Club Summary Methodology: 3.5/5 Usefulness: 4/5 Hüpfl M, Selig HF, Nagele P. Lancet. 2010 Nov 6;376(9752):1552-7. Article Link This meta-analysis evaluated if dispatcher-assisted chest compression-only CPR was superior to standard CPR for citizen...
Ticagrelor versus clopidogrel in patients with acute coronary syndromes
Journal Club Summary Landmark Series Methodology: 4.5/5 Usefulness: 4.5/5 Wallentin L, Becker RC, Budaj A, Cannon CP, Emanuelsson H, Held C, Horrow J, Husted S, James S, Katus H, Mahaffey KW, Scirica BM, Skene A, Steg PG, Storey RF, Harrington RA; PLATO...
Ultrasound guided corticosteroid injection for plantar fasciitis: randomised controlled trial
Journal Club Summary Methodology: 3/5 Usefulness: 1/5 McMillan AM, Landorf KB, Gilheany MF, Bird AR, Morrow AD, Menz HB. BMJ. 2012 May 22;344:e3260. Article Link This double-blind RCT found that there was a reduction in a 100-point pain score at 4...
Low-Dose Abdominal CT for Evaluating Suspected Appendicitis
Journal Club Summary Methodology: 3/5 Usefulness: 3/5 Kim K, Kim YH, Kim SY, Kim S, Lee YJ, Kim KP, Lee HS, Ahn S, Kim T, Hwang SS, Song KJ, Kang SB, Kim DW, Park SH, Lee KH. N Engl J Med. 2012 Apr 26;366(17):1596-605 Article Link This...
Development and validation of a prioritization rule for obtaining an immediate 12-lead electrocardiogram in the emergency department to identify ST-elevation myocardial infarction
Journal Club Summary Methodology: 3/5 Usefulness: 3/5 Glickman SW, Shofer FS, Wu MC, Scholer MJ, Ndubuizu A, Peterson ED, Granger CB, Cairns CB, Glickman LT. Am Heart J. 2012 Mar;163(3):372-82 Abstract Link This retrospective derivation of an electrocardiogram...
Accuracy and Quality of Clinical Decision Rules for Syncope in the Emergency Department: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Journal Club Summary Methodology: 4/5 Usefulness: 2.5/5 Serrano LA, Hess EP, Bellolio MF, Murad MH, Montori VM, Erwin PJ, Decker WW. Ann Emerg Med. 2010 Oct;56(4):362-373 Abstract Link This systematic review and meta-analysis of multiple clinical...
Randomized clinical trial of antibiotics in acute uncomplicated Diverticulitis
Journal Club Summary Methodology: 3/5 Usefulness: 3/5 Chabok A, Påhlman L, Hjern F, Haapaniemi S, Smedh K; AVOD Study Group. Br J Surg. 2012 Apr;99(4):532-9 Article Link An open label multicenter RCT from Sweden comparing usual antibiotic treatment versus no...
