The RELIEF feasibility trial: topical lidocaine patches in older adults with rib fractures.

Background: Lidocaine patches, applied over rib fractures, may reduce pulmonary complications in older patients. Known barriers to recruiting older patients in emergency settings necessitate a feasibility trial. We aimed to establish whether a definitive randomised controlled trial (RCT) evaluating lidocaine patches in older patients with rib fracture(s) was feasible.

The Randomised Evaluation of early topical Lidocaine patches In Elderly patients admitted to hospital with rib Fractures (RELIEF): feasibility trial protocol.

Background: Topical lidocaine patches, applied over rib fractures, have been suggested as a non-invasive method of local anaesthetic delivery to improve respiratory function, reduce opioid consumption and consequently reduce pulmonary complications. Older patients may gain most benefit from improved analgesic regimens yet lidocaine patches are untested as an early intervention in the Emergency Department (ED). The aim of this trial is to investigate uncertainties around trial design and conduct, to establish whether a definitive randomised trial of topical lidocaine patches in older patients with rib fractures is feasible.

Impact of perceived inappropiate cardiopulmonary resuscitation on emergency clinicians' intention to leave the job: Results from a cross-sectional survey in 288 centres across 24 countries.

Introduction: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in patients with a poor prognosis increases the risk of perception of inappropriate care leading to moral distress in clinicians. We evaluated whether perception of inappropriate CPR is associated with intention to leave the job among emergency clinicians.

Methods: A cross-sectional multi-centre survey was conducted in 24 countries.

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in Adults Over 80: Outcome and the Perception of Appropriateness by Clinicians.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of clinician perception of inappropriate cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) regarding the last out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) encountered in an adult 80 years or older and its relationship to patient outcome.

Design: Subanalysis of an international multicenter cross-sectional survey (REAPPROPRIATE).

Setting: Out-of-hospital CPR attempts registered in Europe, Israel, Japan, and the United States in adults 80 years or older.

A multicentre randomised feasibility STUdy evaluating the impact of a prognostic model for Management of BLunt chest wall trauma patients: STUMBL Trial.

Objective: A new prognostic model has been developed and externally validated, the aim of which is to assist in the management of the blunt chest wall trauma patient in the emergency department (ED). The aim of this trial is to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a definitive impact trial investigating the clinical and cost-effectiveness of a new prognostic model for the management of patients with blunt chest wall trauma in the ED.

Design: Stepped wedge feasibility trial.

Multi-centre Randomised Controlled Trial of a Smartphone-based Event Recorder Alongside Standard Care Versus Standard Care for Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department with Palpitations and Pre-syncope: The IPED (Investigation of Palpitations in the ED) study.

Background: Patients with palpitations and pre-syncope commonly present to Emergency Departments (EDs) but underlying rhythm diagnosis is often not possible during the initial presentation. This trial compares the symptomatic rhythm detection rate of a smartphone-based event recorder (AliveCor) alongside standard care versus standard care alone, for participants presenting to the ED with palpitations and pre-syncope with no obvious cause evident at initial consultation.

Methods: Multi-centre open label, randomised controlled trial.

Perception of inappropriate cardiopulmonary resuscitation by clinicians working in emergency departments and ambulance services: The REAPPROPRIATE international, multi-centre, cross sectional survey.

Introduction: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is often started irrespective of comorbidity or cause of arrest. We aimed to determine the prevalence of perception of inappropriate CPR of the last cardiac arrest encountered by clinicians working in emergency departments and out-of-hospital, factors associated with perception, and its relation to patient outcome.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 288 centres in 24 countries.

Protocol for a multicentre randomised feasibility STUdy evaluating the impact of a prognostic model for Management of BLunt chest wall trauma patients: STUMBL trial.

Introduction: A new prognostic model has been developed and externally validated, the aim of which is to assist in the management of the blunt chest wall trauma patient in the emergency department (ED). A definitive randomised controlled trial (impact trial) is required to assess the clinical and cost effectiveness of the new model before it can be accepted in clinical practice. The purpose of this trial is to assess the feasibility and acceptability of such a definitive trial and inform its design.

Cardioversion of a supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) in a 7-year-old using a postural modification of the Valsalva manoeuvre.

A boy aged 7 years presented with his parents to the emergency department (ED). He had a known diagnosis of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) and was under the care of paediatricians. He had been suffering episodes of palpitations and chest pain for over a year and had been prescribed atenolol 25 mg ON, though the side effects meant he had not taken it for a month prior to presentation.

Postural modification to the standard Valsalva manoeuvre for emergency treatment of supraventricular tachycardias (REVERT): a randomised controlled trial.

Background: The Valsalva manoeuvre is an internationally recommended treatment for supraventricular tachycardia, but cardioversion is rare in practice (5-20%), necessitating the use of other treatments including adenosine, which patients often find unpleasant. We assessed whether a postural modification to the Valsalva manoeuvre could improve its effectiveness.

Methods: We did a randomised controlled, parallel-group trial at emergency departments in England.

Problem-Based Review: Non Vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulants for the Acute Physician.

Non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs), are direct anticoagulants which inhibit specific coagulation factors and function as anticoagulants. Three NOACs are currently licensed in the United Kingdom: dabigatran, a thrombin inhibitor, and rivaroxaban and apixaban, antagonists of factor Xa. They are set to change the anticoagulant landscape, which was previously ruled by warfarin and heparins.

Modified Valsalva manoeuvre to treat recurrent supraventricular tachycardia: description of the technique and its successful use in a patient with a previous near fatal complication of DC cardioversion.

Patients with attacks of re-entrant supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) frequently present to the emergency department (ED). The Valsalva manoeuvre (VM) is the most effective and safe vagal manoeuvre and advocated as the first-line treatment in stable patients but has a relatively low cardioversion success rate. Improving its efficacy would reduce patients' exposure to the side effects and complications of second-line treatments and has other potential benefits.

Predicting outcomes after blunt chest wall trauma: development and external validation of a new prognostic model.

Introduction: Blunt chest wall trauma accounts for over 15% of all trauma admissions to Emergency Departments worldwide. Reported mortality rates vary between 4 and 60%. Management of this patient group is challenging as a result of the delayed on-set of complications.

Randomised Evaluation of modified Valsalva Effectiveness in Re-entrant Tachycardias (REVERT) study.

Introduction: The Valsalva manoeuvre (VM) is a recommended first-line physical treatment for patients with re-entrant supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), but is often ineffective in standard practice. A failed VM is typically followed by treatment with intravenous adenosine, which patients often find unpleasant. VM effectiveness might be improved by a modification to posture which exaggerates the manoeuvre's vagal response and reduces the need for further emergency treatment.

'Do you know where your cyanide kit is?': a study of perceived and actual antidote availability to emergency departments in the South West of England.

Objective: The authors set out to investigate perceived and actual availability of antidotes recommended for stocking in emergency departments (EDs) by the College of Emergency Medicine in EDs in the South West of England.

Methods: Data collectors were asked to physically locate each relevant antidote in the ED, and check whether the recommended quantity was available. If the antidote was not available in the department, the data collector located where in the hospital stocks were available.