From the journal Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (CCLM).

ABSTRACT

Blood Sampling Guidelines have been developed to target European emergency medicine-related professionals involved in the blood sampling process (e.g. physicians, nurses, phlebotomists working in the ED), as well as laboratory physicians and other related professionals. The guidelines population focus on adult patients. The development of these blood sampling guidelines for the ED setting is based on the collaboration of three European scientific societies that have a role to play in the preanalytical phase process: EuSEN, EFLM, and EUSEM. The elaboration of the questions was done using the PICO procedure, literature search and appraisal was based on the GRADE methodology. The final recommendations were reviewed by an international multidisciplinary external review group. Continue reading

This study was conducted in a joint collaboration between EuSEN, EFLM, and EUSEM.

Background: Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is the third leading cause of death in Europe, with a high burden of disability for patients and their families [¹]. When the heart stops, the body and brain cells quickly deplete of oxygen. Without intervention, brain damage occurs rapidly, and death is inevitable. Unfortunately, the prognosis for OHCA patients remains poor, even when return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) is achieved. Only a few (less than 10%) of OHCA patients can be discharged from the hospital, and only two-thirds of these are discharged with a good neurologic outcome to lead an independent life [¹].

Reperfusion injury starts immediately following ROSC. Multiple pathophysiologic cascades lead to reactive astrogliosis and microglia activation and neuronal death by necrosis and apoptosis. This is one of the key component of what has been described as ‘post-resuscitation syndrome’ [²]. Mild hypothermia in the temperature range of 32 to 34°C was shown to mitigate these different pathophysiologic cascades simultaneously, efficiently limiting brain cell damage [³]. Numerous animal studies confirmed the beneficial effect of mild hypothermia [⁴]. In 2002, two landmark randomized clinical trials (RCT) in patients after cardiac arrest with shockable rhythm showed improved neurological outcomes following treatment with mild hypothermia in the range of 32 to 34°C compared to no temperature control [^5,6]. As a result of these studies, in 2005, the European Resuscitation Council (ERC) guidelines recommended the use of mild hypothermia in the range of 32 to 34°C for 24 h in unconscious adults resuscitated following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest with a shockable rhythm; for non-shockable rhythm and in-hospital cardiac arrest, temperature control was suggested as a weak recommendation [⁷].

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Welcome to the quarterly EJEM research round-up, where we present our top picks from the last three months of EJEM editions.

We are thrilled to announce that early bird registration for the upcoming EUSEM Congress 2024 is now open! This is your gateway to the latest advancements and insights in Emergency Medicine! You can now secure your space at a special rate and enjoy the exclusive benefits of your EUSEM membership. Don't miss out on this limited-time offer until 12 June!

Event Details:

Dates: From 12 to 13 October, Pre-courses  - From 13 to 16 October EUSEM congress sessions 

Location: Bella Center, Center Boulevard 9 - Indgang 7, 2300 Copenhagen, Denmark.

On the 26 October 2023, we received the incredible news that the Dutch Society for Emergency Medicine (NVSHA) had received confirmation from the Ministry of Health that Emergency Medicine has been officially recognised as a primary specialty in the Netherlands.

This achievement has come about as a result of the hard work of NVSHA and its leadership over a sustained period of some 25 years.

EUSEM warmly congratulates the NVSHA on this remarkable achievement, which will undoubtedly bring tremendous benefits to the entire healthcare system and emergency medicine doctors in the Netherlands. 

As a society whose aim is to achieve the recognition of Emergency Medicine as a specialty across Europe we feel honoured to have the NVSHA as a member and thank NVSHA for their work. We look forward to continued collaborative work to make Emergency Medicine in Europe the best it can be.

Click HERE to read the full article in Dutch 

By Wilhelm Behringer (a) and Ruth Brown (b)

^aDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Austria and and ^bImperial College Healthcare NHS trust, UK
Correspondence to Wilhelm Behringer, MD, MBA, MSc, Department of Emergency Medicine, Medical University Vienna, Vienna General Hospital

Received 28 July 2023 Accepted 29 July 2023.

Extract

Emergency Medicine is a relatively young specialty in Europe [1,2]. It started in Europe 1972, when the first 30 consultant posts were established in the UK, at that time under the name Accident & Emergency medicine, which was changed to Emergency Medicine in 2004 [3]. The European Union of Medical Specialists (Union Européenne des Médecins Spécialistes, UEMS) represents hospital medical specialists within the member states of the EU, and includes 43 specialist sections representing independently recognized specialties. Continue reading....