The St.Emlyn’s Podcast

Episode summary Why in‑person conferences still matter in a post‑COVID world. What formats work now: short talks, interviews, demos, strong hosting. How to turn “a great day out” into Monday‑morning change. Guests David Carr — EM physician (Toronto). Leads the Annual Update in EM at Whistler. Focus: inclusive, high‑energy, “hard‑core EM” content. Haney Mallemat — EM & Critical Care (South Jersey/Philadelphia). Founder of ResusX; designs short, high‑engagement sessions that feel like live conversations. Key themes Why travel when content is online? Being in the room changes attention, reflection, and recall. Learning happens in corridors, evening sessions, and next‑day conversations. From lectures to experiences. Shift to shorter talks, couch discussions, live demos, and deliberate hosting. Format follows audience and venue. Programme design starts with the audience. Build for how people learn now. Coach faculty. Pick speakers for delivery and credibility. Strong hosting is part of pedagogy. Good chairs manage flow, time, and psychological safety so the audience can relax and learn. Social learning drives change. Purposeful social time and small‑group evening sessions create the “stickiness” that leads to projects and practice updates. Practical takeaways for clinicians Arrive with intent: bring 1–2 real patient problems to solve. Choose your format: prioritise short talks, interviews, and hands‑on if your attention is fragmented. Make it stick on Monday: debrief with a colleague, write one practice change, set a review date. Present a short “what I learned” to your team. Borrow authority wisely: take clear, referenced points (e.g., contrast allergy/nephropathy policies) back to local committees. Practical takeaways for organisers Audience first: define who you serve; let that drive length, tone, and format. Shorten and vary: fewer bullet‑heavy lectures; more interviews, panels, and no‑slide formats when it helps educators shine. Coach and curate: select speakers for content and delivery; build a pipeline for new voices. Invest in hosting: treat chairs as educators; they safeguard pacing, transitions, and safety. Design the socials: plan purposeful evening micro‑teaching and cross‑disciplinary meet‑ups. Measure impact: mandate feedback tied to CPD; analyse themes and close the loop next year. Risks and tensions Edutainment vs evidence: keep the energy without losing rigour. Access and equity: budgets, visas, disability, and caring responsibilities exclude many; amplify content post‑event. “Too innovative?” Novel formats can struggle with recognition and funding; meet audiences halfway and iterate. How conferences translate to patient care Prioritise topics that solve common bottlenecks. Put change agents on stage with take‑home resources (e.g., clear radiology guidance on contrast “allergy” and nephropathy). Encourage attendees to form local groups to implement one change within two weeks.

Dr. Ed Barnard, UK's Defence Professor of Emergency Medicine, dives into the innovative abdominal aortic and junctional tourniquet (AAJT), a tool designed for non-compressible haemorrhage. He explains its development, how it works to occlude major vessels, and why it’s considered a last-resort device. Ed discusses the challenges of using AAJT, including pain tolerance and practical application in emergency settings. He highlights the need for thorough training and governance to ensure its effective and safe use during critical trauma cases.

Dive into the heat of summer emergency medicine as the hosts explore the rising challenge of nitazenes, a new class of potent synthetic opioids. They tackle serotonin syndrome, showcasing its musculoskeletal signs and the importance of rapid cooling in drug-induced hyperthermia. Discover the implications of the new urgent care plan in the UK and the surprising findings on salbutamol for renal colic. Learn about psychonaut culture and risky self-experimentation that can complicate clinical practices. Stay informed in the fast-evolving world of toxicology!

Iain and Simon  return after a brief hiatus to discuss key blog posts from April and May on the St Emlyn's Podcast. They highlight notable conferences including IncrEMentum 2025 in Spain, The Big Sick in Zermatt, and the BASICs Conference. Discussions cover content from recent emergency medicine research, the importance of compassion and patient-centred care, and operational strategies to avoid emergency department overcrowding. Insights are also shared from fieldwork in South Africa on emergency thoracotomies and their impressive survival rates.

The discussion kicks off with cannabis edibles and their implications in emergency medicine, revealing the need for awareness among healthcare professionals. Next, the critical role of pre-hospital resuscitative thoracotomy for traumatic cardiac arrest is examined, emphasizing rapid intervention's importance. The podcast also highlights a groundbreaking study on low-dose ketamine for pain management in opioid-dependent patients. Finally, reflections on resilience and workplace culture in emergency medicine wrap up the conversation, inspiring thoughts on life and loss.

Dive into groundbreaking research as the hosts discuss the Sub 30 feasibility study for pre-hospital ECMO, highlighting its rapid implementation challenges. They compare emergency anaesthesia practices between pre-hospital and in-hospital settings, uncovering variations in patient care. Learn about the effectiveness of physician-led pre-hospital teams and their potential impact on outcomes. The economic implications of advanced interventions in emergency care are also explored, alongside insights from the London Trauma Conference. Don't miss this eye-opening discussion!

In this special edition of the St Emlyn’s podcast, Iain Beardsell and Simon Carley review the top medical papers of 2024, originating from Simon’s talk at The Big Sick conference in Zermatt. The discussion includes a comparison of non-invasive versus arterial pressure monitoring, the association of intra-arrest arterial blood pressure with ROSC, the efficacy of serratus anterior plane blocks for rib fracture management, and the evaluation of a micro axial flow pump in cardiogenic shock. They also delve into double sequential external defibrillation in refractory out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and provide a rapid-fire review of additional critical papers discussed at the conference. Notable mentions include the HEMOTION trial, PRE OXI trial, BLING III, and PARAMEDIC-3, among others. A must-listen for those passionate about evidence-based medicine in emergency and pre-hospital care. You can read more about all the trials, including links to all the papers here (part 1) and here (part 2) 00:00 Introduction and Conference Highlights 01:51 Non-Invasive vs. Arterial Pressure Monitoring 03:28 Intra-Arrest Blood Pressure and ROSC 05:34 Serratus Anterior Plane Blocks for Rib Fractures 08:38 Micro Axial Flow Pump in Cardiogenic Shock 10:49 Double Sequential Defibrillation in Cardiac Arrest 13:17 HEMOTION Trial 15:01 PRE OXI and BLING III Trials 17:08 Fluid Management in Septic Shock 18:37 Expedited Transfer vs. On-Scene Resuscitation 20:39 Intraosseous vs. Intravenous Access 21:48 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Peter Brindley, a physician and researcher, returns to discuss the intersections of social media, AI, and digital footprints in healthcare. He emphasizes the importance of an authentic online presence and the critical evaluation of information. Topics include the transformative role of AI in clinical decisions and the risks associated with misinformation. Brindley also introduces the intriguing concept of the Kardashian Index, highlighting the balance between public engagement and maintaining scientific integrity in today's digital landscape.

The hosts share exciting highlights from the IncrEMentuM 2025 conference, featuring innovative presentations and a vibrant atmosphere. They delve into the challenges of maintaining clinical skills, especially for rare procedures, and underscore the importance of diastolic blood pressure in effective cardiac resuscitation. Insights into resuscitative hysterotomy provide new perspectives on timing in emergencies. Additionally, they discuss the complexities of determining death in critical care settings, enhancing the understanding of vital decision-making in emergency medicine.

Richard Lyon, a distinguished emergency doctor and deputy medical director of the air ambulance service in Kent, shares his profound insights from the London Trauma Conference 2024. He delves into the vital role of structured debriefing and case reflection in improving clinical skills. Richard discusses how video recording can transform educational practices in emergency medicine, addressing ethical concerns while building trust. He also reflects on the challenges facing senior clinicians and emphasizes the importance of supportive environments for professional growth.