Author Archives: Thomas D

HELPING BABIES BREATHE

Posted on April 25, 2013 by Thomas D

Every once in a while there’s a different research project, something that actually makes a difference. This is one of them. A great example of how simple interventions can lead to significant results in low resource settings. The “Helping Babies … Continue reading →

Posted in Emergency Medicine | 2 Comments

RINGER’S A LOUSY VOLUME EXPANDER

Posted on April 18, 2013 by Thomas D

With colloids being miscredited by Cochrane and synthetic colloids being hammered by RCTs, it might seem we’re left with crystalloids. So how good is our standard crystalloid, Ringer’s Lactate, at volume replacing a volume depleted patient? This study withdrew blood … Continue reading →

Posted in Anesthesia, Emergency Medicine, Intensive Care | 5 Comments

ULTRASOUND FOR SPINALS AND EPIDURALS

Posted on April 11, 2013 by Thomas D

This is a well known, but fairly novel use of ultrasound. Certainly not standard in any place I’ve worked. But ultrasound for epidurals and spinals seems to be in vogue. Here’s a meta-analysis on ultrasound for spinal and epidural access. … Continue reading →

Posted in Anesthesia, Ultrasound | 2 Comments

A LETTER TO THE EDITOR…

Posted on April 5, 2013 by Thomas D

Anyone who knows the frustrations of submitting a paper to a review panel of a peer reviewed journal must read this letter to the editor. It quite accurately describes one’s feelings during the review process. As the letter says: “We … Continue reading →

Posted in Humour | Leave a comment

INSIDE COMBAT RESCUE

Posted on March 22, 2013 by Thomas D

A pretty interesting look inside the US Air Force’s Combat Rescue Choppers in Afghanistan. A five part series on youtube. Having worked in helicopters, I’m impressed with all the procedures these guys perform in-flight. BONUS: Airway porn in episode 5 … Continue reading →

Posted in Prehospital Medicine | 2 Comments

CODE BROWN: CENTRAL LINE GOES WRONG

Posted on March 15, 2013 by Thomas D

This one I got from a colleague of mine at a Scandinavian hospital, and it’s a scary reminder of the dangers of central cannulations. Placement of a large dialysis catheter went wrong – very wrong.

Posted in Code Brown, Intensive Care | 26 Comments

LOST & FOUND: TRAUMA UPDATE

Posted on March 14, 2013 by Thomas D

. I wanted to have a permanent link to this excellent trauma update and review of recent litterature by David Anderson of Greater Sydney HEMS. If you watch this 30 minute talk and look up the references I’ve listed in … Continue reading →

Posted in Trauma | Leave a comment

THAW SOME BLOOD PLEASE

Posted on February 19, 2013 by Thomas D

Cryopreserved blood can last longer, and might have superior RBC function to standard, cooled SAG-Ms. As a bonus, cryo always sounds good in a sci-fi kind of way, even if it does just mean frozen.

Posted in Tech | Leave a comment

ULTRASOUND BEST FOR PNEUMOTHORAX

Posted on February 11, 2013 by Thomas D

We know ultrasound is great for detecting pneumothorax, there’s been lots of studies confirming this, and here’s the final meta-analysis from Chest – print it and use it to slap colleagues who still want x-rays over ultrasound scans.

Posted in Ultrasound | 1 Comment

TRAUMA CARE EVOLVING

Posted on February 8, 2013 by Thomas D

Sometimes it feels like we’re not really going forward. Trends swing back and forth, new treatments and techniques get hailed one year, then falls out of favour the next. Are we moving forward at all? An article on hepatic trauma … Continue reading →

Posted in Trauma | Leave a comment