Markedly raised levels of C-reactive protein are associated with culture-proven sepsis or necrotising enterocolitis in extremely preterm neonates.

Aim: A serious inflammatory process is suspected when C-reactive protein (CRP) is very high, and we established the causes and outcomes when CRP was >100 mg/L in neonates.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all 277 episodes where CRP exceeded 100 mg/L between January 2007 and December 2011 at a tertiary neonatal unit.

Results: Of the 6025 neonates admitted during the study period, 258 had CRP >100 mg/L at least once.

A laboratory comparison of emergency percutaneous and surgical cricothyrotomy by prehospital personnel.

Objective: To compare the speeds and success rates of placement for percutaneous cricothyrotomy versus surgical or open cricothyrotomy.

Methods: Twenty-two paramedics (mean 9.7 years of experience), with training in both methods, were timed using a pig trachea in a crossover model.