It’s time for the very first edition of:
A free weekly resource that harnesses the power of social media to allow some of the best and brightest emergency medicine and critical care clinicians from all over the world tell us what they think is worth reading from the published literature.
This edition contains 21 recommended reads. Find out more about the R&R in the FASTLANE project here and check out the team of contributors from all around the world.
This week’s ‘R&R Hall of Famer’
- Weingart SD, Levitan RM. Preoxygenation and Prevention of Desaturation During Emergency Airway Management. Ann Emerg Med. 2011 Nov 1. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 22050948.
Weingart & Levitan describe several crucial techniques that should be used during every ED intubation attempt but often aren’t (e.g. apneic oxygenation using nasal cannula, elevation of head of bed) and a few advanced techniques, such as using PEEP in the preoxygenation and apneic phase. Recommended by RJS, CPN, LG
Learn more: EMCrit — Preoxygenation, reoxygenation and deoxygenation; Resus.ME — Preoxygenation and prevention of desaturation
This week’s R&R recommendations
- Hauswald M. Percutaneous transtracheal jet ventilation. Acad Emerg Med. 2011 Oct;18(10):1109. doi: 10.1111/j.1553-2712.2011.01180.x. Epub 2011 Sep 26. PMID: 21951972.
Interesting description of needle cricothyroidotomy and jet ventilation with intermittent closure of mouth and nose! Recommended by MLC
- Kofke WA, Horak J, Stiefel M, Pascual J. Viable oxygenation with cannula-over-needle cricothyrotomy for asphyxial airway occlusion. Br J Anaesth. 2011 Oct;107(4):642-3. PMID: 21903652.
A supportive case for needle cricothyroidotomy in an anaesthetic crisis Recommended by MLC
- Naff N, Williams MA, Keyl PM, Tuhrim S, Bullock MR, Mayer SA, Coplin W, Narayan R, Haines S, Cruz-Flores S, Zuccarello M, Brock D, Awad I, Ziai WC, Marmarou A, Rhoney D, McBee N, Lane K, Hanley DF Jr. Low-dose recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator enhances clot resolution in brain hemorrhage: the intraventricular hemorrhage thrombolysis trial. Stroke. 2011 Nov;42(11):3009-16. Epub 2011 Aug 25. PMID: 21868730.
Another step forward in new treatments for intracerebral haemorrhage. Recommended by OJF
Learn more: EM Literature of Note — The cure for bleeding is more bleeding?
- Ng R, Yeghiazarians Y. Post Myocardial Infarction Cardiogenic Shock: A Review of Current Therapies. J Intensive Care Med. 2011 Jul 11. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 21747126
A decent review of treatment options for cardiogenic shock post MI. Recommended by OJF
- Shayne P, Coates WC, Farrell SE, Kuhn DO GJ, Lin M, Maggio LA, Fisher J. Critical Appraisal of Emergency Medicine Educational Research: The Best Publications of 2010. Acad Emerg Med. 2011 Oct;18(10):1081-1089. PMID: 21996074
This is the third edition of an annual series that I started in Academic EM which highlights the highest ranked, methodologically-sound educational research studies in EM for 2010. Recommended by ML
- Blaivas M, Adhikari S, Lander L. A prospective comparison of procedural sedation and ultrasound-guided interscalene nerve block for shoulder reduction in the emergency department. Acad Emerg Med. 2011 Sep;18(9):922-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1553-2712.2011.01140.x. Epub 2011 Aug 30. PMID: 21883635.
Trial of scalene block v sedation for dislocated shoulder. By experienced guys but the LOS was a lot less in the scalene block group. Recommended by AJN
Learn more: Emergency Medicine Ireland — US Scalene Block for Shoulder Reduction
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Infectious disease. Antiviral agents for the treatment and chemoprophylaxis of influenza. Ann Emerg Med. 2011 Sep;58(3):299-303; discussion 303-4. PMID: 21871233
< Aaa-choo! Influenza season is coming (in the northern hemisphere!). The IDSA 2011 guidelines on antiviral agents and treatment indications for the 2011-12 season. Recommended by ML
Learn more: Paucis Verbis — Influenza — to treat or not to treat?
- Grady D, Berkowitz SA. Why is a good clinical prediction rule so hard to find? Arch Intern Med. 2011 Oct 24;171(19):1701-2. PMID: 22025427.
Clinical prediction rules must be easy to incorporate, generalizable, reproducible, and lead to improved clinical outcomes. Recommended by LG
- Herring AA, Stone MB, Nagdev A. Ultrasound-guided suprascapular nerve block for shoulder reduction and adhesive capsulitis in the ED. Am J Emerg Med. 2011 Oct;29(8):963.e1-3. Epub 2010 Dec 15. PMID: 21109384.
Only a case report but yet another lovely way to anaesthetise the shoulder joint; nice description of the technique too. Recommended by AJN
- Lucassen W, Geersing GJ, Erkens PM, Reitsma JB, Moons KG, Büller H, van Weert HC. Clinical decision rules for excluding pulmonary embolism: a meta-analysis. Ann Intern Med. 2011 Oct 4;155(7):448-60. PMID: 21969343.
An overview of Clinical Decision Rules combined with D-dimer results in the evaluation of pulmonary embolism Recommended by MJ
- Tarnutzer AA, Berkowitz AL, Robinson KA, Hsieh YH, Newman-Toker DE. Does my dizzy patient have a stroke? A systematic review of bedside diagnosis in acute vestibular syndrome. CMAJ. 2011 Jun 14;183(9):E571-92. Epub 2011 May 16. PMID: 21576300
The best review of all the data of distinguishing benign vertigo from acute posterior stroke. Recommended by SDW
Learn more: EMCrit — Diagnosis of Posterior Stroke
- Neunert C, Lim W, Crowther M, Cohen A, Solberg L Jr, Crowther MA; American Society of Hematology. The American Society of Hematology 2011 evidence-based practice guideline for immune thrombocytopenia. Blood. 2011 Apr 21;117(16):4190-207. Epub 2011 Feb 16. Review. PMID: 21325604.
Excellent update on the current approach to ITP in children and adults. Always important to know how our consultants approach the issues we are dealing with. Recommended by SMF
Learn more: Pediatric EM Morsels — ITP — Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura
- Paquette K, Cheng MP, McGillivray D, Lam C, Quach C. Is a lumbar puncture necessary when evaluating febrile infants (30 to 90 days of age) with an abnormal urinalysis? Pediatr Emerg Care. 2011 Nov;27(11):1057-61. PMID: 22068068
Here’s one that will likely gain more support in the future. I still think the un-immunized child with an abnormal U/A is too risky, but perhaps the 9 week old who has had the first set of vaccinations can be saved from the LP when there is an abnormal U/A.
Recommended by SMF
Learn more: Journal Watch
- Simpson E, Moon M, Lantos JD. When parents refuse a septic workup for a newborn. Pediatrics. 2011 Nov;128(5):966-9. Epub 2011 Oct 24. PMID: 22025599
An overview of the ethical issues involved when evaluating a child for possible sepsis against the parents wishes.
Recommended by RPR
- Dewall CN, Macdonald G, Webster GD, Masten CL, Baumeister RF, Powell C, Combs D, Schurtz DR, Stillman TF, Tice DM, Eisenberger NI. Acetaminophen reduces social pain: behavioral and neural evidence. Psychol Sci. 2010 Jul;21(7):931-7. Epub 2010 Jun 14. PMID: 20548058.
Some of us are more prone to social pain, awkwardness and rejection than others. This study demonstrates (via MRI activity) that regular panadol (acetaminophen) may help alleviate the pain of modern day life. Recommended by MAJ
Learn more: LITFL — A Cure for Hurt Feelings
- Lell B, Binh VQ, Kremsner PG. Effect of alcohol on growth of Plasmodium falciparum. Wien Klin Wochenschr. 2000 May 19;112(10):451-2. PMID: 10890137.
Although just an in-vitro study, I would put forward that this treatment is dear to most critical care physicians’ hearts. It also justifies the symbiosis of gin and tonic. Recommended by MAJ
- Rogozov V, Bermel N. Auto-appendectomy in the Antarctic: case report. BMJ. 2009 Dec 10;339:b4965. PMID: 20008968.
History’s best recommendation for the use of procaine, self-confidence, tactile surgery and the boundaries of human possibility.
Recommended by MAJ
- Sanchez LD, Straszewski S, Saghir A, Khan A, Horn E, Fischer C, Khosa F, Camacho MA. Anterior versus lateral needle decompression of tension pneumothorax: comparison by computed tomography chest wall measurement. Acad Emerg Med. 2011Oct;18(10):1022-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1553-2712.2011.01159.x. Epub 2011 Sep 26. PMID: 21951681.
Nice CT based study of chest wall thickness, giving much needed caution to the common ATLS dogma of needle decompression.
Recommended by MLC
- Mycyk MB, Szyszko AL, Aks SE. Nebulized naloxone gently and effectively reverses methadone intoxication. J Emerg Med. 2003 Feb;24(2):185-7. PMID: 12609650
Nebulized naloxone can be an alternative to an IV naloxone drip for patients who ingest long-acting opiates. This case report from 2003 describes gentle reversal using the nebulized approach. This is especially helpful because patients on methadone and chronic opiates may be difficult IV access patients.
Recommended by ML
Learn more: Trick of the Trade — Nebulised naloxone
- Daulaire S. Ultrasound assessment of optic disc edema in patients with headache. AM J Emerg Med 2011 Oct 24 [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 22030203
Ultrasound detection of papilledema and papillitis Recommended by LG
The R&R iconoclastic sneak peek icon key
The list of contributors The R&R ARCHIVE R&R Hall of fame
You simply MUST READ this!R&R Hot stuff!
Everyone ‘s going to be talking about thisR&R Landmark paper
A paper that made a differenceR&R Game Changer?
Might change your clinical practiceR&R Eureka!
Revolutionary idea or conceptR&R WTF!
Weird, transcendent or funtabulous!R&R Boffintastic
High quality researchR&R Trash
Must read, because it is so wrong!R&R Mona Lisa
Brilliant writing or explanation
That’s it for now…
That should keep you busy for a week at least… Leave a comment below if you have any queries, suggestions, or comments about this week’s R&R in the FASTLANE or if you want to tell us what you think is worth reading.
About Chris Nickson
big compliment to Chris for leading this project. great concept and happyto help out on such a worthwhile endeavour. Osler wouldhave approved!