Low volume blood tubes
Some additional information about low volume blood tubes in adults has been added to the Specimen collection page.
Updates
Prioritisation and decision making domain assessment criteria
The Clinical decision making page has been updated to include the ACEM prioritisation and decision making domain assessment criteria used in the clinical exam. The behaviours described make for good decision making in clinical practice.
Teaching ACEM domain assessment criteria
The Medical education page has been updated to include the ACEM scholarship and teaching domain assessment criteria used in the clinical exam. The behaviours described make for good teaching in practice.
Communication ACEM assessment criteria
The Communication page has been updated to include the ACEM communication domain assessment criteria used in the clinical exam. The behaviours described make for good communication in clinical practice.
ACEM Teamwork assessment criteria
The Teamwork page has been updated to include the ACEM teamwork and collaboration domain assessment criteria used in the clinical exam. The behaviours described make for good teamwork in clinical practice.
Allopurinol in acute gout
The Gout and pseudogout page has been updated with information indicating that initiation of allopurinol during an acute attack is probably safe, contrary to what many have thought.
Subacromial impingement
The Soft tissue injuries of the shoulder region page has been updated, including information about the lack of efficacy for surgical intervention.
Patient transport
A number of minor modifications to the Prehospital care section regarding patient transport have been made.
Insulinoma
The Hypoglycaemia page has been updated with particular emphasis on how to differentiate the causes and insulinoma.
Sclerotherapy for venous ulcers
The Leg ulcers page has been updated with some information about the role of venous sclerotherapy in the treatment of venous ulcers.
Proximal tibiofibular joint dislocation
The Dislocations around the knee page has been updated with information about proximal tibiofibular joint dislocation.
Psychosis
The Psychosis page has been extensively revised, re-organised and updated.
FBE in leukaemia
The Leukaemia page has been updated with some additional information about the FBE in leukaemia.
Metamyelocytes in peripheral blood
The Blood film page has had a minor revision, including information about when metamyelocytes might be seen in peripheral blood.
TB isolation precautions
The Tuberculosis page has been updated with additional information about the infection control measures required.
Transaminases
The Liver function tests page has been revised, particularly in relation to abnormalities of the transaminases.
Clinical uselessness of most blood gas calculations
Various pages relating to blood gas analysis have been updated to indicate the almost complete clinical uselessness of most of the calculations performed on blood gases. Many of the calculations produce highly inaccurate results and do not alter management (e.g. if someone has incomplete respiratory compensation for their metabolic acidosis, what do you do – … Read more
Faecal blood testing
The Upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage page has been updated to reflect the lack of utility of this test in the diagnosis of significant GI haemorrhage in the ED.
Haldane effect and CO2 retention in COPD
The Management of COPD page has been updated with the addition of the Haldane effect as a cause for CO2 retention in COPD and the removal of reduction of hypoxic drive of ventilation. Thanks to Farzad for the suggestion.
Anticoagulation for AF
The Stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation page has been updated including some minor modifications regarding anticoagulation (and timing of) prior to cardioversion.