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The Briefing · Emergency & Critical Care

Continuous newsroom coverage of evidence in Emergency & Critical Care — newest first.

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24 stories
  1. Low MicroRNA-362 Linked to Acute Lung Injury After Murine Brain Trauma
    Journal of Trauma: Injury, Infection, and Critical Care ·Animal Study · April 29, 2026

    Low MicroRNA-362 Linked to Acute Lung Injury After Murine Brain Trauma

    Downregulation of microRNA-362-3' in extracellular vesicles fails to suppress proinflammatory TIMP-1 in a mouse model of head injury.

  2. First-Time Seizure Linked to Increased Risk of Systemic and Neurological Cancer
    JAMA Neurology ·Cohort Study · April 28, 2026

    First-Time Seizure Linked to Increased Risk of Systemic and Neurological Cancer

    A Danish cohort study finds a fivefold increase in overall cancer risk within one year of an initial seizure in adults.

  3. Non-Invasive Tools Estimate Intracranial Pressure When Invasive Monitoring Is Contraindicated
    Intensive care medicine ·Narrative Review · April 28, 2026

    Non-Invasive Tools Estimate Intracranial Pressure When Invasive Monitoring Is Contraindicated

    A review evaluates ultrasound and imaging techniques to detect intracranial hypertension in patients with coagulopathy or liver failure.

  4. Pulsed Field Ablation Reduces Recurrence in Persistent Atrial Fibrillation
    New England Journal of Medicine ·Randomized Controlled Trial · April 28, 2026

    Pulsed Field Ablation Reduces Recurrence in Persistent Atrial Fibrillation

    First-line pulsed field ablation showed a 56% success rate at 12 months compared to 30% for antiarrhythmic drugs in a randomized trial.

  5. Targeted Hepatitis B Birth Vaccination May Increase Neonatal Infections
    JAMA Pediatrics ·Cost-Effectiveness Analysis · April 28, 2026

    Targeted Hepatitis B Birth Vaccination May Increase Neonatal Infections

    A simulation of 3.6 million infants suggests replacing universal birth doses with targeted strategies could add 628 neonatal infections.

  6. Videolaryngoscopy Increases First-Attempt Success for Double-Lumen Tube Intubation
    British Journal of Anaesthesia ·Randomized Controlled Trial · April 28, 2026

    Videolaryngoscopy Increases First-Attempt Success for Double-Lumen Tube Intubation

    A multicenter trial of 916 patients shows digital visualization improves glottic view and reduces esophageal intubation rates.

  7. Serum Neurofilament Light Chain Tracks Acute Injury in Refractory Status Epilepticus
    JAMA Neurology ·Cohort Study · April 28, 2026

    Serum Neurofilament Light Chain Tracks Acute Injury in Refractory Status Epilepticus

    Elevated NfL levels distinguish cryptogenic NORSE from other seizure etiologies and correlate with poor functional outcomes at discharge.

  8. Heterogeneous Trial Endpoints Limit Evidence in Acute Kidney Injury
    Intensive care medicine ·Systematic Review · April 28, 2026

    Heterogeneous Trial Endpoints Limit Evidence in Acute Kidney Injury

    A review of 251 trials reveals inconsistent outcome definitions and measurements that hinder clinical application of renal research.

  9. Gastric Bypass Reversal Relieves Symptoms but Carries High Morbidity Risk
    Annals of Surgery ·Cohort Study · April 28, 2026

    Gastric Bypass Reversal Relieves Symptoms but Carries High Morbidity Risk

    A Swedish cohort study shows 86% symptom relief after reversal, though one in four patients faces early severe complications.

  10. Symptom-Based Dosing Reduces Discharge Time in Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal
    JAMA ·Randomized Controlled Trial · April 28, 2026

    Symptom-Based Dosing Reduces Discharge Time in Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal

    A cluster randomized trial shows symptom-based dosing shortens medical readiness for discharge when paired with the Eat, Sleep, Console model.

  11. Hemothorax Volume Under 300 mL Predicts Successful Observation
    Journal of Trauma: Injury, Infection, and Critical Care ·Cohort Study · April 28, 2026

    Hemothorax Volume Under 300 mL Predicts Successful Observation

    A multicenter study finds that traumatic hemothorax volume over 300 mL increases the risk of observation failure sixteenfold.

  12. Resuscitative Thoracotomy Yields 7.4 Percent Survival in Combat Trauma
    Journal of Trauma: Injury, Infection, and Critical Care ·Cohort Study · April 28, 2026

    Resuscitative Thoracotomy Yields 7.4 Percent Survival in Combat Trauma

    A retrospective cohort study shows survival rates comparable to civilian trauma despite high-energy blast injuries and severe hemorrhage.

  13. Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation Manages Refractory Sympathetic Hyperactivity Post-Hemorrhage
    Frontiers in Neuroscience ·Case Report · April 28, 2026

    Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation Manages Refractory Sympathetic Hyperactivity Post-Hemorrhage

    Adjunctive neuromodulation improved tachypnea and consciousness while reducing polypharmacy in a patient with intracerebral hemorrhage.

  14. High-Ratio Plasma Resuscitation Reduces Mortality in Moderate Traumatic Brain Injury
    Journal of Trauma: Injury, Infection, and Critical Care ·Cohort Study · April 27, 2026

    High-Ratio Plasma Resuscitation Reduces Mortality in Moderate Traumatic Brain Injury

    A large database analysis suggests plasma-heavy transfusion improves 30-day survival for patients not requiring massive transfusion.

  15. Donor Factors and Platelet Degranulation Drive Whole Blood Antifibrinolytic Variability
    Journal of Trauma: Injury, Infection, and Critical Care ·Cohort Study · April 27, 2026

    Donor Factors and Platelet Degranulation Drive Whole Blood Antifibrinolytic Variability

    A study of 28 whole blood units identifies distinct high and low PAI-1 activity cohorts linked to endothelial markers and storage lesions.

  16. Balanced Fluids and Saline Show Similar Outcomes in Pediatric Septic Shock
    New England journal of medicine ·Randomized Controlled Trial · April 27, 2026

    Balanced Fluids and Saline Show Similar Outcomes in Pediatric Septic Shock

    A large trial of over 8,000 children found no difference in kidney events or mortality between balanced crystalloids and 0.9% saline.

  17. Rural Residence and Social Vulnerability Predict Post-Trauma Recovery Trajectories
    Injury ·Cohort Study · April 26, 2026

    Rural Residence and Social Vulnerability Predict Post-Trauma Recovery Trajectories

    High social vulnerability increases home discharge odds in urban areas, while rural residence doubles the risk of prolonged hospitalization.

  18. Triple-Pill Therapy Reduces Recurrent Stroke Risk After Intracerebral Hemorrhage
    New England Journal of Medicine ·Randomized Controlled Trial · April 26, 2026

    Triple-Pill Therapy Reduces Recurrent Stroke Risk After Intracerebral Hemorrhage

    A low-dose combination of telmisartan, amlodipine, and indapamide lowered systolic blood pressure and major cardiovascular events.

  19. Rural Detention Centers Drive High-Acuity EMS Volume and Long-Distance Transfers
    Prehospital Emergency Care ·Case Series · April 26, 2026

    Rural Detention Centers Drive High-Acuity EMS Volume and Long-Distance Transfers

    A cross-sectional analysis reveals that 43% of emergency transports from a Georgia detention facility require 40-mile tertiary transfers.

  20. Early Thrombectomy Reduces Intubation Risk in Pulmonary Embolism
    Critical Care Medicine ·Cohort Study · April 25, 2026

    Early Thrombectomy Reduces Intubation Risk in Pulmonary Embolism

    Intervention within 12 hours of diagnosis improves hemodynamic recovery and lowers respiratory failure rates in intermediate-risk patients.

  21. Cardiac Arrest Increases Mortality and Coronary Complexity in STEMI Shock
    Resuscitation ·Cohort Study · April 25, 2026

    Cardiac Arrest Increases Mortality and Coronary Complexity in STEMI Shock

    A retrospective study of 345 patients shows that cardiac arrest in cardiogenic shock signals higher SYNTAX scores and 80% 1-year mortality.

  22. Physician-Led Program Improves Prehospital Care for Medically Complex Children
    Pediatric Emergency Care ·Case Series · April 25, 2026

    Physician-Led Program Improves Prehospital Care for Medically Complex Children

    The STARS initiative uses individualized electronic care plans and targeted EMS training to reduce unnecessary hospital transports.

  23. Early Thrombectomy Reduces Intubation in Intermediate-Risk Pulmonary Embolism
    Critical Care Medicine ·Cohort Study · April 25, 2026

    Early Thrombectomy Reduces Intubation in Intermediate-Risk Pulmonary Embolism

    Intervention within 12 hours improves hemodynamic recovery and lowers ventilation risk despite similar mortality to delayed procedures.

  24. Remote Ischaemic Preconditioning Fails to Prevent Postoperative Myocardial Injury
    British Journal of Anaesthesia ·Randomized Controlled Trial · April 25, 2026

    Remote Ischaemic Preconditioning Fails to Prevent Postoperative Myocardial Injury

    A randomized trial of two-session preconditioning in abdominal surgery shows no reduction in injury and a paradoxical troponin increase.