Thank you for your detailed response to my recent article outlining the history of the specialty of Emergency Medicine. You are, of course, absolutely right that the Royal Charter was granted at the time of the formation of the College in 2008 and I should have written that in 2015 the Queen granted the College its Royal title. Thank you for pointing out this error.
The paper by Sheikh and Horner [1] does not properly describe the context for vitamin C.
Fourteen trials have investigated the effect of vitamin C against post-operative AF (POAF), and significant heterogeneity has appeared between studies carried out in the USA and outside of the USA [2]. In 9 non-US studies vitamin C decreased the incidence of POAF on average by 46% (P<0.00001), but no benefit was seen in 5 US studies.
In 5 non-US studies, intravenous vitamin C shortened the duration of hospital stay on average by 16% and by 1.47 days (P<0.00001). In 7 non-US studies, oral and intravenous vitamin C shortened the duration of ICU stay on average by 7% (P=0.002)[2]. Thus, there is strong evidence from randomized trials indicating that vitamin C may influence the duration of hospital stay and ICU stay in some contexts. It is not reasonable to restrict to mortality as the only outcome of interest [1], when considering potential effects of vitamin C on ICU patients.
Sheikh and Horner do not mention that sometimes vitamin C levels are very low in hospital patients. For example, in one study 18 patients with clinical symptoms of scurvy were identified out of 145 consecutive patients [3]. Scurvy has been reported also in modern ICUs [4].
In their clinical scenario, Sheikh and Horner described a patient with pneumonia, but ignored the association between vitamin C and pneumonia. Vitamin C deficiency increases the risk of pneumonia, and pneumonia d...
The paper by Sheikh and Horner [1] does not properly describe the context for vitamin C.
Fourteen trials have investigated the effect of vitamin C against post-operative AF (POAF), and significant heterogeneity has appeared between studies carried out in the USA and outside of the USA [2]. In 9 non-US studies vitamin C decreased the incidence of POAF on average by 46% (P<0.00001), but no benefit was seen in 5 US studies.
In 5 non-US studies, intravenous vitamin C shortened the duration of hospital stay on average by 16% and by 1.47 days (P<0.00001). In 7 non-US studies, oral and intravenous vitamin C shortened the duration of ICU stay on average by 7% (P=0.002)[2]. Thus, there is strong evidence from randomized trials indicating that vitamin C may influence the duration of hospital stay and ICU stay in some contexts. It is not reasonable to restrict to mortality as the only outcome of interest [1], when considering potential effects of vitamin C on ICU patients.
Sheikh and Horner do not mention that sometimes vitamin C levels are very low in hospital patients. For example, in one study 18 patients with clinical symptoms of scurvy were identified out of 145 consecutive patients [3]. Scurvy has been reported also in modern ICUs [4].
In their clinical scenario, Sheikh and Horner described a patient with pneumonia, but ignored the association between vitamin C and pneumonia. Vitamin C deficiency increases the risk of pneumonia, and pneumonia decreases vitamin C levels in the body [5-7]. Thus, it would be unscientific to argue that the vitamin C level of a pneumonia patient is an uninteresting issue.
I agree with Sheikh and Horner that further trials are required to investigate the role of vitamin C in sepsis [1]. However, while waiting for such trials, it is reasonable to measure vitamin C levels of ICU patients and administer vitamin C to those who have low levels.
Post traumatic headaches are seriously debilitating. They are often a late symptom in the recovery from brain injury. They tend to be more frequent in female patients with post-concussion syndrome and may be associated with prior migraines. A headache log may help identify environmental underpinnings and shape the treatment plan. I am using a biofeedback protocol here in the Boston area to help down-train the sympathetic-parasympathetic mismatch that is common in TBI. The protocol involves paced breathing and has a growing body of literature in support of treating poor regulation in the autonomic nervous system. Stress of all kinds correlates highly with post-concussion syndrome often prolonging recovery. The protocol I use tends to reduce the impact of the physiological reactivity seen in many TBI and mTBI cases who are still recovering. Sleep hygiene may be a further underlying source of post-concussion syndrome and the heads associated with concussion. I have a few posts on this topic: www.concussionassessment.wordpress.com
Do the authors have data on the type of analgesia that was provided, that would enable a secondary analysis with the outcome of "time to APPROPRIATE analgesia"? Whilst there was no statistical difference on the time to first analgesia, it is possible that using an observational score will enable a clinician to provide more appropriate (stronger) analgesia to non-verbal elderly patients with long bone fractures, which would be a valuable intervention.
The article is incorrect when it states that "... in 2015, the Queen granted the college its royal charter. True independence had at last been gained ..." A glance at the footer of any printed communication sent on the college's official notepaper will reveal that the College of Emergency Medicine (as it was then named) was, in fact, incorporated by royal charter in 2008. The Privy Council granted the college its royal seal on 29 February that year, giving the college its autonomous legal identity. It had previously separated from its six parent colleges in 2006, by means of the Faculty of Accident and Emergency Medicine reconstituting itself as a limited company under the new name.
The title "Royal" is a separate matter; it is not conferred by the Privy Council, and does not necessarily imply that the organisation holds a Royal Charter. It is instead a mark of favour, granted with the permission of the monarch but in practice conferred on the advice of the Ministry of Justice and, latterly, the Royal Names Team at the Cabinet Office. The process is somewhat opaque, and the CEM (as it then was) had begun seeking the royal appellation as early as 2009. Other newer medical colleges in the UK have experienced similar lag periods between their promotion to full college status and the conferral of the royal title.
It is worth noting that royal patronage is yet another concept; the Princess Royal has served as the college's patron sinc...
The article is incorrect when it states that "... in 2015, the Queen granted the college its royal charter. True independence had at last been gained ..." A glance at the footer of any printed communication sent on the college's official notepaper will reveal that the College of Emergency Medicine (as it was then named) was, in fact, incorporated by royal charter in 2008. The Privy Council granted the college its royal seal on 29 February that year, giving the college its autonomous legal identity. It had previously separated from its six parent colleges in 2006, by means of the Faculty of Accident and Emergency Medicine reconstituting itself as a limited company under the new name.
The title "Royal" is a separate matter; it is not conferred by the Privy Council, and does not necessarily imply that the organisation holds a Royal Charter. It is instead a mark of favour, granted with the permission of the monarch but in practice conferred on the advice of the Ministry of Justice and, latterly, the Royal Names Team at the Cabinet Office. The process is somewhat opaque, and the CEM (as it then was) had begun seeking the royal appellation as early as 2009. Other newer medical colleges in the UK have experienced similar lag periods between their promotion to full college status and the conferral of the royal title.
It is worth noting that royal patronage is yet another concept; the Princess Royal has served as the college's patron since 2008, and it was she who ceremonially presented the college with its new royal charter on 1 October 2008.
We would like to comment of the use of waveform capnography (WC) as an adjunct to help determine adequate paralysis during rapid sequence induction (RSI). The article used recognition of apnoea by loss of WC as an early indicator of muscle paralysis and evidence was presented that this method improved first pass success rates and reduced time to intubation for RSI in an emergency setting.
Although apnoea can be a useful indicator for the presence of paralysis we would suggest that use of a peripheral nerve stimulator is a more accurate tool for determining when muscle relaxants have produced an adequate effect. The use of this simple and relatively inexpensive machine is standard practice for anaesthetists in determining the level of paralysis. It is also viewed as a standard for provision of anaesthesia outside of the operating theatre environment (Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland: Recommendations for standards of monitoring during anaesthesia and recovery, 2015, Page 8). We suggest from clinical experience that apnoea alone does not always reflect adequate muscle relaxation to allow for optimal intubating conditions. Reactive vocal cords may be present despite apparent correct dosing and timing of muscle relaxants. In addition, apnoea and loss of WC could possibly be a reflection of respiratory depression due to administration of the anaesthetic induction agent, opiods or a deteriorating clinical condition.
We would like to comment of the use of waveform capnography (WC) as an adjunct to help determine adequate paralysis during rapid sequence induction (RSI). The article used recognition of apnoea by loss of WC as an early indicator of muscle paralysis and evidence was presented that this method improved first pass success rates and reduced time to intubation for RSI in an emergency setting.
Although apnoea can be a useful indicator for the presence of paralysis we would suggest that use of a peripheral nerve stimulator is a more accurate tool for determining when muscle relaxants have produced an adequate effect. The use of this simple and relatively inexpensive machine is standard practice for anaesthetists in determining the level of paralysis. It is also viewed as a standard for provision of anaesthesia outside of the operating theatre environment (Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland: Recommendations for standards of monitoring during anaesthesia and recovery, 2015, Page 8). We suggest from clinical experience that apnoea alone does not always reflect adequate muscle relaxation to allow for optimal intubating conditions. Reactive vocal cords may be present despite apparent correct dosing and timing of muscle relaxants. In addition, apnoea and loss of WC could possibly be a reflection of respiratory depression due to administration of the anaesthetic induction agent, opiods or a deteriorating clinical condition.
We recognise that some Emergency Medicine doctors may not be familiar with the use of nerve stimulators and that they may not be readily available within all Emergency Departments. We suggest that Emergency Departments should consider keeping a peripheral nerve stimulator as standard equipment. We would argue that this would then permit clinicians who are familiar with their use to have a more objective ability to determine depth of muscle relaxation during RSI, leading to improved intubating conditions.
Dr. Basu et al. make an interesting observation: if you kick the dog,
eventually he will bite the mailman.
How is it we think we can treat the workers without compassion or empathy
while expecting them to treat the patients with these same virtues, ones
we don't practice?
This article and an ever-expanding body of literature make it clear:
we must treat our staff in the same way we expect them to treat patients....
Dr. Basu et al. make an interesting observation: if you kick the dog,
eventually he will bite the mailman.
How is it we think we can treat the workers without compassion or empathy
while expecting them to treat the patients with these same virtues, ones
we don't practice?
This article and an ever-expanding body of literature make it clear:
we must treat our staff in the same way we expect them to treat patients.
Sir,
You articulate and document the catalogue of evidence supporting the health impacts of climate change admirably in your editorial ‘Peering through the hourglass’ (Lemery, 2017), but the Emergency Medicine world is not as disconnected as you make out. The Red Cross Movement, known traditionally for its humanitarian action, has long had expert emergency medicine at the heart of its work on preparedness for crisis, including natural disasters such as those precipitated by climate change.
Our international First Aid and Resuscitation Guidelines (IFRC, 2016) are based soundly on science and support the interventions of lay responders and medical professionals across the globe. Our Global First Aid app is now used in 90 countries, bespoke to each one through careful translation and cultural relevance. The British Red Cross, American Red Cross and others have developed their own additional apps, specific to the disasters that might occur, such as flooding, hurricanes and tornadoes. These, too, are rooted in clinical science and educational methodology supporting the public to learn, be prepared and be resilient.
Beyond technology, our thousands of staff and volunteers across the world work closely with local authorities in their planning for natural disasters, ensuring systems are in place to cope with the practical realities, as well as the humanitarian care needed for those affected. This work inevitably draws attention to the humanitarian crises that...
Sir,
You articulate and document the catalogue of evidence supporting the health impacts of climate change admirably in your editorial ‘Peering through the hourglass’ (Lemery, 2017), but the Emergency Medicine world is not as disconnected as you make out. The Red Cross Movement, known traditionally for its humanitarian action, has long had expert emergency medicine at the heart of its work on preparedness for crisis, including natural disasters such as those precipitated by climate change.
Our international First Aid and Resuscitation Guidelines (IFRC, 2016) are based soundly on science and support the interventions of lay responders and medical professionals across the globe. Our Global First Aid app is now used in 90 countries, bespoke to each one through careful translation and cultural relevance. The British Red Cross, American Red Cross and others have developed their own additional apps, specific to the disasters that might occur, such as flooding, hurricanes and tornadoes. These, too, are rooted in clinical science and educational methodology supporting the public to learn, be prepared and be resilient.
Beyond technology, our thousands of staff and volunteers across the world work closely with local authorities in their planning for natural disasters, ensuring systems are in place to cope with the practical realities, as well as the humanitarian care needed for those affected. This work inevitably draws attention to the humanitarian crises that result from increased numbers and intensities of events linked to climate change.
Although first aid has traditionally been seen as an emergency response intervention, we have developed a ‘chain of survival behaviour’ being explicit about the role of preparation for interventions to be effective (www.ifrc.org/Global/Publications/Health/First-Aid-2016-Guidelines_EN.pdf).
This approach is now embedded across our education programmes and forms a literal and practical link between public health and emergency response, in an endeavour to bring greater recognition to their essential juxtaposition to support individual and community resilience.
Emily Oliver, Senior Education Research Manager, British Red Cross
Dr Pascal Cassan, Head, Global First Aid Reference Centre, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Lemery J, Peering through the hourglass Emerg Med J Published Online First: 09 February 2017. doi: 10.1136/emermed-2016-206500
Sir,
You articulate and document the catalogue of evidence supporting the health impacts of climate change admirably in your editorial ‘Peering through the hourglass’ (Lemery, 2017), but the Emergency Medicine world is not as disconnected as you make out. The Red Cross Movement, known traditionally for its humanitarian action, has long had expert emergency medicine at the heart of its work on preparedness for crisis, including natural disasters such as those precipitated by climate change.
Our international First Aid and Resuscitation Guidelines (IFRC, 2016) are based soundly on science and support the interventions of lay responders and medical professionals across the globe. Our Global First Aid app is now used in 90 countries, bespoke to each one through careful translation and cultural relevance. The British Red Cross, American Red Cross and others have developed their own additional apps, specific to the disasters that might occur, such as flooding, hurricanes and tornadoes. These, too, are rooted in clinical science and educational methodology supporting the public to learn, be prepared and be resilient.
Beyond technology, our thousands of staff and volunteers across the world work closely with local authorities in their planning for natural disasters, ensuring systems are in place to cope with the practical realities, as well as the humanitarian care needed for those affected. This work inevitably draws attention to the humanitarian crises that...
Sir,
You articulate and document the catalogue of evidence supporting the health impacts of climate change admirably in your editorial ‘Peering through the hourglass’ (Lemery, 2017), but the Emergency Medicine world is not as disconnected as you make out. The Red Cross Movement, known traditionally for its humanitarian action, has long had expert emergency medicine at the heart of its work on preparedness for crisis, including natural disasters such as those precipitated by climate change.
Our international First Aid and Resuscitation Guidelines (IFRC, 2016) are based soundly on science and support the interventions of lay responders and medical professionals across the globe. Our Global First Aid app is now used in 90 countries, bespoke to each one through careful translation and cultural relevance. The British Red Cross, American Red Cross and others have developed their own additional apps, specific to the disasters that might occur, such as flooding, hurricanes and tornadoes. These, too, are rooted in clinical science and educational methodology supporting the public to learn, be prepared and be resilient.
Beyond technology, our thousands of staff and volunteers across the world work closely with local authorities in their planning for natural disasters, ensuring systems are in place to cope with the practical realities, as well as the humanitarian care needed for those affected. This work inevitably draws attention to the humanitarian crises that result from increased numbers and intensities of events linked to climate change.
Although first aid has traditionally been seen as an emergency response intervention, we have developed a ‘chain of survival behaviour’ being explicit about the role of preparation for interventions to be effective (www.ifrc.org/Global/Publications/Health/First-Aid-2016-Guidelines_EN.pdf).
This approach is now embedded across our education programmes and forms a literal and practical link between public health and emergency response, in an endeavour to bring greater recognition to their essential juxtaposition to support individual and community resilience.
Emily Oliver, Senior Education Research Manager, British Red Cross
Dr Pascal Cassan, Head, Global First Aid Reference Centre, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Lemery J, Peering through the hourglass Emerg Med J Published Online First: 09 February 2017. doi: 10.1136/emermed-2016-206500
We read with interest the recent Best Evidence Topic (BET) report by L Varley and L Howard, ‘Trendelenburg position helps to cardiovert patients in SVT back to sinus rhythm.’[1] We are grateful that this BET highlighted the substantial benefit of using a postural modification to the Valsalva manoeuvre for re-entrant SVT[2]. However, whist we agree with the ‘Clinical Bottom Line’, we feel the title of this BET was misleading and does not reflect current evidence.
‘Trendelenburg position’ is typically used to describe a supine patient with the bed tilted head down below the level of the pelvis.[3] Although this position was associated with a higher rate of cardioversion in a small, uncontrolled before and after study[4], no physiological benefits of this position have been demonstrated[5] and it was not used in the REVERT trial, the largest RCT of VM modification to date.
For clarification, in our study the Valsalva strain was conducted in the semi-sitting position with movement to the supine position with leg elevation, immediately at the end of the strain. There are plausible physiological reasons why this specific sequence of postural changes and timing of strain may improve Valsalva effectiveness as described in our paper. Although it is possible that Trendelenburg positioning after straining might further improve cardioversion rates, this has not been tested to date.
We read with interest the recent Best Evidence Topic (BET) report by L Varley and L Howard, ‘Trendelenburg position helps to cardiovert patients in SVT back to sinus rhythm.’[1] We are grateful that this BET highlighted the substantial benefit of using a postural modification to the Valsalva manoeuvre for re-entrant SVT[2]. However, whist we agree with the ‘Clinical Bottom Line’, we feel the title of this BET was misleading and does not reflect current evidence.
‘Trendelenburg position’ is typically used to describe a supine patient with the bed tilted head down below the level of the pelvis.[3] Although this position was associated with a higher rate of cardioversion in a small, uncontrolled before and after study[4], no physiological benefits of this position have been demonstrated[5] and it was not used in the REVERT trial, the largest RCT of VM modification to date.
For clarification, in our study the Valsalva strain was conducted in the semi-sitting position with movement to the supine position with leg elevation, immediately at the end of the strain. There are plausible physiological reasons why this specific sequence of postural changes and timing of strain may improve Valsalva effectiveness as described in our paper. Although it is possible that Trendelenburg positioning after straining might further improve cardioversion rates, this has not been tested to date.
Yours sincerely
On behalf of the REVERT study Team
References:
1) L Varley, L Howard BET 2: Trendelenburg position helps to cardiovert patients in SVT back to sinus rhythm EMJ 2017 page 189; 34: 189-190 DOI: 10.1136/emermed-2017-206590.2
2) Appelboam A, Reuben A, Mann C, et al; REVERT Trial Collaborators. Postural modification to the standard Valsalva manoeuvre for emergency treatment of supraventricular tachycardias (REVERT): a randomised controlled trial. Lancet 201531.;386:1747–53.
3) Willy Meyer (1854-1932), in [von Langenbeck’s] Archiv für klinische Chirurgie, Berlin, 1885, 31: 495-525.
4) Walker S, Cutting P. Impact of a modified Valsalva manoeuvre in the termination of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia. Emergency Medicine Journal 2010;27:287-291
5) Smith G, Broek A, Taylor DM, et al. Identification of the optimum vagal manoeuvre technique for maximising vagal tone. Emerg Med J 2015;32:51-54.
Dear Dr Beecham
Thank you for your detailed response to my recent article outlining the history of the specialty of Emergency Medicine. You are, of course, absolutely right that the Royal Charter was granted at the time of the formation of the College in 2008 and I should have written that in 2015 the Queen granted the College its Royal title. Thank you for pointing out this error.
With best wishes
DavidWilliams.
The paper by Sheikh and Horner [1] does not properly describe the context for vitamin C.
Fourteen trials have investigated the effect of vitamin C against post-operative AF (POAF), and significant heterogeneity has appeared between studies carried out in the USA and outside of the USA [2]. In 9 non-US studies vitamin C decreased the incidence of POAF on average by 46% (P<0.00001), but no benefit was seen in 5 US studies.
In 5 non-US studies, intravenous vitamin C shortened the duration of hospital stay on average by 16% and by 1.47 days (P<0.00001). In 7 non-US studies, oral and intravenous vitamin C shortened the duration of ICU stay on average by 7% (P=0.002)[2]. Thus, there is strong evidence from randomized trials indicating that vitamin C may influence the duration of hospital stay and ICU stay in some contexts. It is not reasonable to restrict to mortality as the only outcome of interest [1], when considering potential effects of vitamin C on ICU patients.
Sheikh and Horner do not mention that sometimes vitamin C levels are very low in hospital patients. For example, in one study 18 patients with clinical symptoms of scurvy were identified out of 145 consecutive patients [3]. Scurvy has been reported also in modern ICUs [4].
In their clinical scenario, Sheikh and Horner described a patient with pneumonia, but ignored the association between vitamin C and pneumonia. Vitamin C deficiency increases the risk of pneumonia, and pneumonia d...
Show MorePost traumatic headaches are seriously debilitating. They are often a late symptom in the recovery from brain injury. They tend to be more frequent in female patients with post-concussion syndrome and may be associated with prior migraines. A headache log may help identify environmental underpinnings and shape the treatment plan. I am using a biofeedback protocol here in the Boston area to help down-train the sympathetic-parasympathetic mismatch that is common in TBI. The protocol involves paced breathing and has a growing body of literature in support of treating poor regulation in the autonomic nervous system. Stress of all kinds correlates highly with post-concussion syndrome often prolonging recovery. The protocol I use tends to reduce the impact of the physiological reactivity seen in many TBI and mTBI cases who are still recovering. Sleep hygiene may be a further underlying source of post-concussion syndrome and the heads associated with concussion. I have a few posts on this topic: www.concussionassessment.wordpress.com
Do the authors have data on the type of analgesia that was provided, that would enable a secondary analysis with the outcome of "time to APPROPRIATE analgesia"? Whilst there was no statistical difference on the time to first analgesia, it is possible that using an observational score will enable a clinician to provide more appropriate (stronger) analgesia to non-verbal elderly patients with long bone fractures, which would be a valuable intervention.
The article is incorrect when it states that "... in 2015, the Queen granted the college its royal charter. True independence had at last been gained ..." A glance at the footer of any printed communication sent on the college's official notepaper will reveal that the College of Emergency Medicine (as it was then named) was, in fact, incorporated by royal charter in 2008. The Privy Council granted the college its royal seal on 29 February that year, giving the college its autonomous legal identity. It had previously separated from its six parent colleges in 2006, by means of the Faculty of Accident and Emergency Medicine reconstituting itself as a limited company under the new name.
The title "Royal" is a separate matter; it is not conferred by the Privy Council, and does not necessarily imply that the organisation holds a Royal Charter. It is instead a mark of favour, granted with the permission of the monarch but in practice conferred on the advice of the Ministry of Justice and, latterly, the Royal Names Team at the Cabinet Office. The process is somewhat opaque, and the CEM (as it then was) had begun seeking the royal appellation as early as 2009. Other newer medical colleges in the UK have experienced similar lag periods between their promotion to full college status and the conferral of the royal title.
It is worth noting that royal patronage is yet another concept; the Princess Royal has served as the college's patron sinc...
Show MoreWe would like to comment of the use of waveform capnography (WC) as an adjunct to help determine adequate paralysis during rapid sequence induction (RSI). The article used recognition of apnoea by loss of WC as an early indicator of muscle paralysis and evidence was presented that this method improved first pass success rates and reduced time to intubation for RSI in an emergency setting.
Although apnoea can be a useful indicator for the presence of paralysis we would suggest that use of a peripheral nerve stimulator is a more accurate tool for determining when muscle relaxants have produced an adequate effect. The use of this simple and relatively inexpensive machine is standard practice for anaesthetists in determining the level of paralysis. It is also viewed as a standard for provision of anaesthesia outside of the operating theatre environment (Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland: Recommendations for standards of monitoring during anaesthesia and recovery, 2015, Page 8). We suggest from clinical experience that apnoea alone does not always reflect adequate muscle relaxation to allow for optimal intubating conditions. Reactive vocal cords may be present despite apparent correct dosing and timing of muscle relaxants. In addition, apnoea and loss of WC could possibly be a reflection of respiratory depression due to administration of the anaesthetic induction agent, opiods or a deteriorating clinical condition.
We recognise that some Em...
Show MoreDr. Basu et al. make an interesting observation: if you kick the dog, eventually he will bite the mailman. How is it we think we can treat the workers without compassion or empathy while expecting them to treat the patients with these same virtues, ones we don't practice?
This article and an ever-expanding body of literature make it clear: we must treat our staff in the same way we expect them to treat patients....
Sir,
Show MoreYou articulate and document the catalogue of evidence supporting the health impacts of climate change admirably in your editorial ‘Peering through the hourglass’ (Lemery, 2017), but the Emergency Medicine world is not as disconnected as you make out. The Red Cross Movement, known traditionally for its humanitarian action, has long had expert emergency medicine at the heart of its work on preparedness for crisis, including natural disasters such as those precipitated by climate change.
Our international First Aid and Resuscitation Guidelines (IFRC, 2016) are based soundly on science and support the interventions of lay responders and medical professionals across the globe. Our Global First Aid app is now used in 90 countries, bespoke to each one through careful translation and cultural relevance. The British Red Cross, American Red Cross and others have developed their own additional apps, specific to the disasters that might occur, such as flooding, hurricanes and tornadoes. These, too, are rooted in clinical science and educational methodology supporting the public to learn, be prepared and be resilient.
Beyond technology, our thousands of staff and volunteers across the world work closely with local authorities in their planning for natural disasters, ensuring systems are in place to cope with the practical realities, as well as the humanitarian care needed for those affected. This work inevitably draws attention to the humanitarian crises that...
Sir,
Show MoreYou articulate and document the catalogue of evidence supporting the health impacts of climate change admirably in your editorial ‘Peering through the hourglass’ (Lemery, 2017), but the Emergency Medicine world is not as disconnected as you make out. The Red Cross Movement, known traditionally for its humanitarian action, has long had expert emergency medicine at the heart of its work on preparedness for crisis, including natural disasters such as those precipitated by climate change.
Our international First Aid and Resuscitation Guidelines (IFRC, 2016) are based soundly on science and support the interventions of lay responders and medical professionals across the globe. Our Global First Aid app is now used in 90 countries, bespoke to each one through careful translation and cultural relevance. The British Red Cross, American Red Cross and others have developed their own additional apps, specific to the disasters that might occur, such as flooding, hurricanes and tornadoes. These, too, are rooted in clinical science and educational methodology supporting the public to learn, be prepared and be resilient.
Beyond technology, our thousands of staff and volunteers across the world work closely with local authorities in their planning for natural disasters, ensuring systems are in place to cope with the practical realities, as well as the humanitarian care needed for those affected. This work inevitably draws attention to the humanitarian crises that...
Dear Sir,
We read with interest the recent Best Evidence Topic (BET) report by L Varley and L Howard, ‘Trendelenburg position helps to cardiovert patients in SVT back to sinus rhythm.’[1] We are grateful that this BET highlighted the substantial benefit of using a postural modification to the Valsalva manoeuvre for re-entrant SVT[2]. However, whist we agree with the ‘Clinical Bottom Line’, we feel the title of this BET was misleading and does not reflect current evidence.
‘Trendelenburg position’ is typically used to describe a supine patient with the bed tilted head down below the level of the pelvis.[3] Although this position was associated with a higher rate of cardioversion in a small, uncontrolled before and after study[4], no physiological benefits of this position have been demonstrated[5] and it was not used in the REVERT trial, the largest RCT of VM modification to date.
For clarification, in our study the Valsalva strain was conducted in the semi-sitting position with movement to the supine position with leg elevation, immediately at the end of the strain. There are plausible physiological reasons why this specific sequence of postural changes and timing of strain may improve Valsalva effectiveness as described in our paper. Although it is possible that Trendelenburg positioning after straining might further improve cardioversion rates, this has not been tested to date.
Yours sincerely
On behalf of the REVERT study Team
...Show MorePages