Blog
Traction splinting for fractured shaft of femur – why do we do it?
As the longest bone in the body, when it breaks a fractured shaft of femur is a very painful and potentially life threatening injury. One of the main initial treatments for this injury is application of some sort of traction splint, designed to apply distracting force...
ETM Podcast Episode 11: Trauma Short – Open pneumothorax
Welcome to the first ETM Course Podcast Trauma Short - bite-sized easy to digest quick reviews of practical trauma topics. In this episode we review the new UK NICE Trauma Guideline recommendation for management of open pneumothorax. In a nutshell, 3-sided dressings...
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Running a course like ETM is challenging, at times exhausting but ultimately extremely rewarding when you see the improvement in participants knowledge, skills and confidence in managing major trauma over the 3-days of the course. This reward is amplified when we read...
Large bore IV access showdown – Round 2
We got a lot of questions after round 1 of the large bore IV access showdown, mainly about the effect of points of narrowing that may be introduced to your fluid administration lines. So we set up round 2, testing the effect of a fluid warmer, an IV bung and a 3-way...
ETM Podcast Episode 10 – Bruce Paix & Andrew Perry – Haemorrhage control in trauma
In this episode Andrew Perry interviews Bruce Paix, a very experienced pre-hospital/retrieval (and military) Anaesthetist and trauma expert about haemorrhage control in trauma. This is a great episode with some real pearls. Bruce challenges the traditional teaching...
Epistaxis – Definitive ED Management
This is not specifically a post related to trauma, however we wanted to share this video, as epistaxis is a very common presenting problem in the ED. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vo7VHObXfkg&feature=youtu.be Key points to remember about traumatic epistaxis are:...
ETM Podcast Episode 9 – Ian Civil – Blunt Cerebrovascular Injury
In this episode we talk to Professor Ian Civil, Vascular Surgeon and Director of Trauma at Auckland City Hospital about the incidence, clinical features, investigation and management of blunt cerebrovascular (carotid and vertebral artery) injury. This is a relatively...
Large Bore IV Access Showdown: Do you know which IV cannula can deliver fluid to your patient the fastest?
For decades now we've all been reciting the mantra that any sick or shocked patient needs: "2 large bore IVs" We've also all been taught that "short and thick does the trick" due to Poiseuille's Law which states that flow is directly proportional to the fourth power...
The trauma world mourns the loss of Dr John Hinds
Dr John Hinds whom many of you will know from his legendary appearances at SMACC, died yesterday from injuries sustained whilst providing medical cover at a motorsports event in Ireland. All of us at ETM are deeply saddened by the loss of such an amazing trauma...
London HEMS pre-hospital REBOA video
Just over a year ago London HEMS performed the first pre-hospital regtrograde endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA). This is a potentially lifesaving treatment pioneered by the US military1 for patients with exsanguinating pelvic and lower limb...
ETM Podcast Episode 8 – Joseph Mathew
In this episode we talk to Joseph Mathew, one of the authors of a great new article on a novel technique for tamponade of bleeding related to pelvic fractures. Joseph is a Consultant Emergency Physician with the inpatient Trauma Service and Emergency Department at the...
Optimising the post-crash response – Russell Gruen TAC-MUARC Symposium 2015
If you're interested in trauma systems and their effect on patient outcomes, this is a great presentation by Russell Gruen at the recent TAC-MUARC Symposium. Russell talks about the origin and evolution of the Victorian State Trauma System, and how this has become...