This month for the March 2026 episode of the RCEM Learning Podcast Andy and Dave discuss ibuprofen and additional opiates in paediatric injury. Becky and Chris talk through an RCEM Best Practice Guideline on the management of sexual assault in the ED and Rob then talks with one of the authors, Maddy Dodds, about this guideline. As a TRIGGER WARNING, this does involve discussion around the topic of sexual assault. If you'd like to email us, please feel free to do so here. After listening, complete a short quiz to have your time accredited for CPD at the RCEMLearning website!

(02:35) New in EM - Ibuprofen and additional opiates in paediatric injury

• Acetaminophen (Paracetamol) or Opioid Analgesia Added to Ibuprofen for Children's Musculoskeletal Injury: Two Randomized Clinical Trials (Ali et al., 2026)

(19:15) Guidelines for EM - RCEM Best Practice Guideline for the Management of Sexual Assault in the ED

• RCEM Best Practice Guideline for the Management of Sexual Assault in the ED (2026) [PDF]

(49:36) Sexual assault in the ED - Maddy Dodds

• RCEM Best Practice Guideline for the Management of Sexual Assault in the ED (2026) [PDF]

Become a paid QI Fellow at RCEM - act now!

• RCEM Quality Fellow Job Description [Word]

Happy New Year! This month for the February 2026 episode of the RCEM Learning Podcast Andy and Dave discuss blood pressure targets in spinal cord injury. Becky and Chris talk through a New Zealand Chest Injury Guideline and Rob then talks with Charlotte Underwood and the role of gender in the assessment of abdominal pain. If you'd like to email us, please feel free to do so here. After listening, complete a short quiz to have your time accredited for CPD at the RCEMLearning website!

(02:14) New in EM - Blood pressure targets in spinal cord injury

• Early Blood Pressure Targets in Acute Spinal Cord Injury: A Randomized Clinical Trial (Sajdeya et al., 2025)

(17:06) Guidelines for EM - New Zealand Chest Injury Guidance

• Health New Zealand - National Chest Injury Guidance (2025) [PDF]

(59:44) Gender and assessment of abdominal pain - Charlotte Underwood

• Expression of interest to join this study
• Gender disparity in analgesic treatment of emergency department patients with acute abdominal pain (Chen et al., 2008)
• Race and Sex Are Associated With Variations in Pain Management in Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department With Undifferentiated Abdominal Pain (Drogell et al., 2022)
• Women's experiences of seeking healthcare for abdominal pain in Ireland: a qualitative study (Windrim et al., 2024)
• Ending the neglect of women's health in research (Galea et al., 2023)

Happy New Year! This month for the January 2026 episode of the RCEM Learning Podcast Andy and Dave discuss two papers with Dave - looking at the role of CT scanning in undifferentiated sepsis and the use of bicarbonate in acidaemia. Rob talks to Ben Clarke and Ryan McHenry about the latest TERN Study, the UnCORKED Study, and we then end with New Online! If you'd like to email us, please feel free to do so here. After listening, complete a short quiz to have your time accredited for CPD at the RCEMLearning website!

(01:59) New in EM - CT in sepsis

• Suspected infection of unclear origin at the emergency department: diagnostic yield of thoraco-abdominal-pelvic CT in non-severe patients (Dumon et al., 2025)

(16:16) Ben Clarke and Ryan McHenry - The UnCORKED Study

• Understanding corridor and escalation area care in 165 UK emergency departments: a multicentre cross-sectional snapshot study (TERN, 2025)
• TERN Research

(38:59) New in EM - Bicarbonate in acidemia

• Sodium Bicarbonate for Severe Metabolic Acidemia and Acute Kidney Injury: The BICARICU-2 Randomized Clinical Trial (Jung et al., 2025)

(50:00) New Online – new articles on RCEMLearning for your CPD

• Frances Copp - The Droopy Dribbler
• Frances Balmer - Methaemoglobinaemia
• Sarah Edwards - Genitourinary Foreign Bodies

Merry Christmas! This month for the December 2025 episode of the RCEM Learning Podcast Andy and Dave are talking about higher MAP targets in sepsis and the routine use of antibiotics for max-fax fractures. Rob attempts a festive round up of the most impactful guidelines of the year. We'll then end with New Online. If you'd like to email us, please feel free to do so here. After listening, complete a short quiz to have your time accredited for CPD at the RCEMLearning website!

(03:19) New in EM - Higher MAP targets in Sepsis

• Efficacy of targeting high mean arterial pressure for older patients with septic shock (OPTPRESS): a multicentre, pragmatic, open-label, randomised controlled trial (Endo et al., 2025)

(15:19) Most Impactful Guidelines of the Year

• European Resucitation Guidelines - Guidelines on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (ERC, 2025)
• NHS England - Urgent and emergency care plan 2025/26 (NHS England, 2025)
• NHS England - Guidance to support the commissioning and delivery of ambulance services in 2025/26(NHS England, 2025)
• NICE - NG246 Overweight and obesity management (NICE, 2025)
• NICE - NG253 - Suspected sepsis in people aged 16 or over: recognition, assessment and early management (NICE, 2025)
• NICE - NG254 - Suspected sepsis in under 16s: recognition, diagnosis and early management (NICE, 2025)
• NICE - NG255 - Suspected sepsis in pregnant or recently pregnant people: recognition, diagnosis and early management (NICE, 2025)
• RCPCH - Facing the Future - standards for children and young people in emergency care settings (RCPCH, 2025)
• RCEM - GPEMS(RCEM, 2025)

(38:07) New in EM - Routine use of antibiotics in facial fractures

• Prophylactic antibiotic use in trauma patients with non-operative facial fractures: A prospective AAST multicenter trial (Mian et al., 2025)

(47:10) New Online – new articles on RCEMLearning for your CPD

• Is Normalisation of Deviance the "Standard" in Medicine? - Neel Bhandani
• Mental Illness in Children by Jidhin Davis
• Rest, sleep, and our breaks - the conversation we cant tire of - Amar Mashru

Happy September! This month for the September 2025 episode of the RCEM Learning Podcast Andy and Dave are talking about AI interpretation of ECG findings and managing acute asthma exacerbations. We are then going back to Becky and Chris rounding off the second part of their guideline on atrial fibrillation. We'll then end with New Online. If you'd like to email us, please feel free to do so here. After listening, complete a short quiz to have your time accredited for CPD at the RCEMLearning website!

(02:13) New in EM - AI vs doctor in cath lab activations

• Accuracy of cath lab activation decisions for STEMI-equivalent and mimic ECGs: Physicians vs. AI (Queen of Hearts by PMcardio) (Shroyer et al., 2025)

(18:00) Guidelines for EM - ESC Atrial Fibrillation (Part Two)

• ESC - 2024 ESC Guidelines for the management of atrial fibrillation developed in collaboration with the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS) (ESC, 2024)

(39:03) New in EM - Management of acute asthma exacerbations

• As-Needed Albuterol–Budesonide in Mild Asthma (LaForce et al., 2025)
• Combination fixed‐dose beta agonist and steroid inhaler as required for adults or children with mild asthma (Cochrane Library, 2021)

(54:00) New Online – new articles on RCEMLearning for your CPD

• Understanding Medical Cannabis: Mechanisms, Indications and Clinical Integration - David Tang
• Safe Sedation Procedures in Adults - Duncan Russell and Shobhan B Thakore
• Unusual Agitation in Final Year Student - Cathy Wield and Mark Horowitz

Happy August! This month for the August 2025 episode of the RCEM Learning Podcast Andy returns to discuss the investigation of acute coronary syndrome in the ED. Becky and Chris begin a two part deep dive through a guideline looking at the management of atrial fibrillation. We then talk to Matt Reed about the RCEM Flagship Conference and we then end with New Online! If you'd like to email us, please feel free to do so here. After listening, complete a short quiz to have your time accredited for CPD at the RCEMLearning website!

(02:28) New in EM - Ruling out ACS in the ED

• Acute coronary syndrome rule-out strategies in the emergency department: an observational evaluation of clinical effectiveness and current UK practice (Trainee Emergency Research Network, 2025)

(19:43) Guidelines for EM - Atrial Fibrillation (European Society of Cardiology)

• European Society of Cardiology - 2024 ESC Guidelines for the management of atrial fibrillation developed in collaboration with the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS): Developed by the task force for the management of atrial fibrillation of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), with the special contribution of the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) of the ESC. Endorsed by the European Stroke Organisation (ESO) (ESC, 2025)

(47:26) Matt Reed and the Flagship Conference

• RCEM - Flagship Conference 2026

(58:28) New Online – new articles on RCEMLearning for your CPD

• Kishan Indrakumar, Thomas Moore, Mayank Nagar, Preetibah Ratenavelu, Dominique Tirian - Chemical Eye Injuries in the ED
• Katy Guy, Olivia Curtis-Hughes - Sports-Related Concussions in the Emergency Department
• Susan Elizabeth Dorrian, Sarah Jones - Disturbed or Psychiatric Patients in the ED

Additional Links

• RCEM - SECEM Conference 2025

Happy July! This month for the July 2025 episode of the RCEM Learning Podcast Rob covers for Andy and discussed two PEM papers with Dave - looking at the role of parental concern in predicting paediatric critical illness and one looking at clearing the paediatric C-spine with CT imaging alone. Becky and Chris finish up their two part deep dive through a guideline looking at the management of acute behavioural disturbance and we then end with New Online! If you'd like to email us, please feel free to do so here. After listening, complete a short quiz to have your time accredited for CPD at the RCEMLearning website!

(02:39) New in EM - Parental concern and paediatric critical illness

• Association between caregiver concern for clinical deterioration and critical illness in children presenting to hospital: a prospective cohort study (Mills et al., 2025)

(18:01) Guidelines for EM - Acute Behavioural Disturbance in Emergency Departments (Part Two)

• RCEM - Acute Behavioural Disturbance in Emergency Departments (RCEM, 2025) [PDF]

(43:37) New in EM - Paediatric C-spine clearance with CT alone

• An analysis of potential cervical spine clearance in children with computed tomography alone (Russell et al., 2025)

(01:04:51) New Online – new articles on RCEMLearning for your CPD

• Zygomatic Complex and Nasal Injury - Jonathan Whittaker
• Learning from Deaths - Liz Herrieven
• Kishan Indrakumar, Thomas Moore, Dominique Tiriant, Mayank Nagar, Preetibah Ratenavelu, Arnav Singh - Prescribing in Pregnancy - A Practical ED Guide

Happy June! This month for the June 2025 episode of the RCEM Learning Podcast Rob covers for Andy and discussed two HALO-heavy papers with Dave - looking at the London HEMS pre-hospital thoracotomy paper and a systematic review looking at resuscitative hysterotomy. Becky and Chris go on the first of a two part deep dive through a guideline looking at the management of acute behavioural disturbance and we then end with New Online! If you'd like to email us, please feel free to do so here. After listening, complete a short quiz to have your time accredited for CPD at the RCEMLearning website!

(02:35) New in EM - London HEMS Thoracotomy Outcomes

• Prehospital Resuscitative Thoracotomy for Traumatic Cardiac Arrest (Perkins et al., 2025)
• RCEMLearning July 2023 - HALO Procedures with Joseph Mathew and Dave McCreary

(15:41) Guidelines for EM - Acute Behavioural Disturbance in Emergency Departments

• RCEM - Acute Behavioural Disturbance in Emergency Departments (RCEM, 2025) [PDF]

(46:00) New in EM - Systematic review of resuscitative hysterotomies

• ---- 13:49
• Maternal and neonatal outcomes following resuscitative hysterotomy for out of hospital cardiac arrest: A systematic review (Leech et al., 2025)

(59:48) New Online – new articles on RCEMLearning for your CPD

• Medics and the Media: The Anti-social Network - Fin McNicol
• Tracheostomy emergencies in adults - Jonathan Cooper
• Pelvic Fractures – A guide to treatment within a Trauma Unit - Peter Bates, Paul Harnett, Matt Gee

Happy May! This month for the May 2025 episode of the RCEM Learning Podcast Rob covers for Andy and Dave and discusses a systematic review and meta-analysis looking at the safety of different rate control methods in treating AF with rapid ventricular response. Becky and Chris go on a very deep dive through a guideline looking at the management of patients with suspected but unidentified poisoning and we then end with New Online! If you'd like to email us, please feel free to do so here. After listening, complete a short quiz to have your time accredited for CPD at the RCEMLearning website!

(02:04) New in EM - Adverse events in pharmacological treatment of AF with RVR

• Metoprolol vs diltiazem for atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular rate: Systematic review and meta-analysis of adverse events (Hintze et al., 2025)
• Intravenous diltiazem versus metoprolol for atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular rate: A meta-analysis (Lan et al., 2021)

(09:30) Guidelines for EM - Management of unexplained poisoning in the ED

• RCEM - Management of Patients with Suspected but Unidentified Poisoning in the Emergency Department (RCEM, 2025) [PDF]

(01:01:44) New Online – new articles on RCEMLearning for your CPD

• 24 Hour Ophthalmic Emergencies Part 1 – Acute Red Eye - William Spackman
• Understanding Informed Consent: A Guide for Healthcare Professionals - Khurram Rasool
• Advanced Lines - Alexandra Cottrell, Claire Fitzgerald

Happy April! This month for the April 2025 episode of the RCEM Learning Podcast we have Andy and Dave talking about the use of beta-blockers in sepsis. Becky and Chris talking about mortality reviews in the ED. In a similarly patient-safety aligned topic I speak to Maegan Ladell talking about patient safety culture and then finally, as always, New Online. If you'd like to email us, please feel free to do so here. After listening, complete a short quiz to have your time accredited for CPD at the RCEMLearning website!

(01:47) New in EM - Beta blockers in sepsis

• Landiolol for heart rate control in patients with septic shock and persistent tachycardia. A multicenter randomized clinical trial (Landi-SEP) (Rehberg et al., 2024)

(16:34) Guidelines for EM - Mortality reviews in the ED

• RCEM - Mortality Reviews in the ED (RCEM, 2025) [PDF]

(49:26) Patient Safety Culture - Meagen Ladell

• The problem with how we view medical (and diagnostic) error in emergency medicine (Ladell et al., 2025)
• SEIPS 101 and seven simple SEIPS tools (Holden and Carayon, 2021)

(01:12:16) New Online – new articles on RCEMLearning for your CPD

• Combatting the Crowd - Peter Fielding
• Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome - Thomas Mac Mahon
• Curriculum Cup: Ophthalmology - RCEMLearning

Happy March! This month for the March 2025 episode of the RCEM Learning Podcast starts with an update from Rob. We have Andy and Dave talking about oxygen targets in trauma in the TRAUMOX2 RCT. Becky and Chris talk about a BOAST orthopaedic guideline for the management of lateral patella dislocation. We interview Raine Astin-Chamberlain about sex, gender and pregnancy in research and then finally, as always, New Online. If you'd like to email us, please feel free to do so here. After listening, complete a short quiz to have your time accredited for CPD at the RCEMLearning website!

(02:26) New in EM - Oxygen targets in trauma

• Early Restrictive vs Liberal Oxygen for Trauma Patients: The TRAUMOX2 Randomized Clinical Trial (Arleth et al., 2025)

(18:59) Guidelines for EM - BOAST guidelines for lateral patella dislocation

• BOAST - Assessment and Management of First Time Lateral Patellar Dislocation (FTLPD) (BOAST, 2024)

(45:09) Sex, gender and pregnancy in research - Raine Astin-Chamberlain

• Sex and gender reporting in UK emergency medicine trials from 2010 to 2023: a systematic review (Astin-Chamberlain et al., 2025)

(01:03:37) New Online – new articles on RCEMLearning for your CPD

• Psychological support in the ED - Charlotte Davies
• Beyond the Tick Box - Embracing Reflective Practice - Chris Walsh
• Foreign Bodies in Ears and Noses: Practi cal Tips for ED Management - Charlotte Davies and Olu Adenugba

Retaining ED staff: Policy, practice and research perspectives

• Retaining ED staff: Policy, practice and research perspectives - book your tickets