To characterize the current state of Canadian emergency medicine (EM) resident research and develop recommendations to promote excellence in this area.

We performed a systematic review of MEDLINE, Embase, and ERIC using search terms relevant to EM resident research. We conducted an online survey of EM residency program directors from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) and College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC). An expert panel reviewed these data, presented recommendations at the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians 2014 Academic Symposium, and refined them based on feedback received.

Of 654 potentially relevant citations, 35 articles were included. These were categorized into four themes: 1) expectations and requirements, 2) training and assessment, 3) infrastructure and support, and 4) dissemination. We received 31 responses from all 31 RCPSC-EM and CFPC-EM programs. The majority of EM programs reported requiring a resident scholarly project; however, we found wide-ranging expectations for the type of resident research performed and how results were disseminated, as well as the degree of completion expected. Although 93% of RCPSC-EM programs reported providing formal training on how to conduct research, only 53% of CFPC-EM programs reported doing so. Almost all programs (94%) reported having infrastructure in place to support resident research, but the nature of support was highly variable. Finally, there was marked variability regarding the number of resident-published abstracts and manuscripts.

Based on the literature, our national survey, and discussions with stakeholders, we offer 14 recommendations encompassing goals, expectations, training, assessment, infrastructure, and dissemination in order to improve Canadian EM resident research.

Determining which patients with ureterolithiasis are likely to require urologic intervention is a common challenge in the emergency department (ED). The objective was to determine if normal renal sonogram could identify low-risk renal colic patients, who were defined as not requiring urologic intervention within 90 days of their initial ED visit and can be managed conservatively.

This was a prospective cohort study involving adult patients presenting to the EDs of a tertiary care centre with suspected renal colic over a 20-month period. Renal ultrasonography (US) was performed in the diagnostic imaging department by trained ultrasonographers, and the results were categorized into four mutually exclusive groups: normal, suggestive of ureterolithiasis, visualized ureteric stone, or findings unrelated to urolithiasis. Electronic medical records were reviewed to determine if patients received urologic intervention within 90 days of their ED visit.

Of 610 patients enrolled, 341 (55.9%) had US for suspected renal colic. Of those, 105 (30.8%) were classified as normal; none of these patients underwent urologic intervention within 90 days of their ED visit. Ninety (26.4%) US results were classified as suggestive, and nine (10%) patients received urologic intervention. A total of 139 (40.8%) US results were classified as visualized ureteric stone, and 34 (24.5%) patients had urologic intervention. Seven (2.1%) US results were classified as findings unrelated to urolithiasis, and none of these patients required urologic intervention. The rate of urologic intervention was significantly lower in those with normal US results (p<0.001) than in those with abnormal findings.

A normal renal sonogram predicts a low likelihood for urologic intervention within 90 days for adult ED patients with suspected renal colic.

The objective of this study was to assess medical students' knowledge of and attitudes toward the two Canadian emergency medicine (EM) residency programs (Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Canada [FRCPC] and Certificant of the College of Family Physicians-Emergency Medicine [CCFP-EM]). Additionally, medical students interested in EM were asked to select factors affecting their preferred choice of residency training program and their intended future practice.

Medical students enrolled at The University of Western Ontario for the 2008–2009 academic year were invited to complete an online 47-item questionnaire pertaining to their knowledge, opinions, and attitudes toward EM residency training.

Of the 563 students invited to participate, 406 (72.1%) completed the survey. Of the respondents, 178 (43.8%) expressed an interest in applying to an EM residency training program, with 85 (47.8%) most interested in applying to the CCFP-EM program.

The majority of respondents (54.1%) interested in EM believed that there should be two streams to EM certification, whereas 18.0% disagreed. Family life and control over work schedule appeared to be common priorities seen as benefits of any career in EM. Other high-ranking factors influencing career choice differed between the groups interested in CCFP-EM and FRCPC. The majority of students interested in the CCFP-EM residency program (78%) reported that they intend to blend their EM with their family medicine practice. Only 2% of students planned to practice only EM with no family medicine.

This is the first survey of Canadian medical students to describe disparities in factors influencing choice of EM residency stream, perceptions of postgraduate work life, and anticipated practice environment.

Computed tomography (CT) is an imaging modality used to detect renal stones. However, there is concern about the lifetime cumulative radiation exposure attributed to CT. Ultrasonography (US) has been used to diagnose urolithiasis, thereby avoiding radiation exposure. The objective of this study was to determine the ability of US to identify renal colic patients with a low risk of requiring urologic intervention within 90 days of their initial emergency department (ED) visit.

We completed a retrospective medical record review for all adult patients who underwent ED-ordered renal US for suspected urolithiasis over a 1-year period. Independent, double data extraction was performed for all imaging reports and US results were categorized as “normal,” “suggestive of ureterolithiasis,” “ureteric stone seen” or “disease unrelated to urolithiasis.” Charts were reviewed to determine how many patients underwent subsequent CT and urologic intervention.

Of the 817 renal US procedures ordered for suspected urolithiasis during the study period, the results of 352 (43.2%) were classified as normal, and only 2 (0.6%) of these patients required urologic intervention. The results of 177 (21.7%) renal US procedures were suggestive of ureterolithiasis. Of these, 12 (6.8%) patients required urologic intervention. Of the 241 (29.5%) patients who had a ureteric stone seen on US, 15 (6.2%) required urologic intervention. The rate of urologic intervention was significantly lower in those with normal results on US (p < 0.001) than in those with abnormal results on US.

A normal result on renal US predicts a low likelihood for urologic intervention within 90 days for adult ED patients with suspected urolithiasis.

Our aims were to evaluate left ventricular uptake of radionuclide in patients with Mustard's or Senning's procedure, comparing them with patients who had undergone banding of the pulmonary trunk and conversion to the arterial switch.

Technetium perfusion scans were performed on 27 patients (25 male), aged from 10 to 28 years with a mean of 17.8 years and a standard deviation of 5.8 years, who had undergone Mustard's or Senning's procedure for correction of complete transposition. Of the 27 patients, six had been accepted for staged conversion to an arterial switch. At the time of the study, two of the six patients had undergone completion to the switch and four had undergone banding of the pulmonary trunk with two then proceeding to the arterial switch. Cardiac catheterisation to measure left ventricular pressure was performed in all six patients and scores for left ventricular uptake of isotope were compared with echocardiographic index of the thickness of the left ventricular posterior wall and measure ments of left ventricular pressure.

Uptake of isotope by the left ventricle was generally poor, but was higher in patients following banding and conversion to the arterial switch, as well as in two patients with native obstruction of the left ventricular outflow tract, and one other who subsequently was found to have pulmonary venous obstruction. There was a positive correlation between the thickness of the left posterior wall in diastole and left ventricular uptake of isotope (r = 0.74, p< 0.05). There also a positive correlation between left ventricular pressure and uptake of the isotope (r = 0.68, p<0.05).

Uptake of radionuclide by the left ventricle after Mustard's or Senning's procedure for complete transposition appears to reflect ventricular pressure and myocardial mass. A prospective study would be required to determine the predictive ability of such scans regarding the ultimate outcome of conversion to arterial switch, but our initial findings suggest that the technique provides an additional non-invasive method of monitoring left ventricular response to pulmonary arterial banding.

To investigate the possibility that contaminated commercial activated charcoal may serve as a source for fungal colonization or infection of the lower respiratory tract.

The clinical course of a patient who aspirated commercial activated charcoal was reviewed. Fungal cultures were performed for 2 samples of an activated charcoal in sorbitol product from separate lots produced by a single manufacturer. Details of the manufacturing process were obtained from a representative of the manufacturer.

An intensive care unit in a large community teaching hospital.

A single patient with steroid-treated lung disease who developed a fatal pulmonary illness after aspirating a commercial activated charcoal product.

After aspirating the charcoal product, the patient developed respiratory tract colonization and possible infection with Aspergillus niger, Paecilomyces variotii, and Penicillium species. Similar fungal species were isolated from cultures of samples obtained from two separate lots of the same commercial activated charcoal product. Several opportunities for contamination during the manufacturing process were identified.

Physicians caring for immuno-compromised patients should be aware that commercial activated charcoal products can be a source of fungal respiratory tract colonization that may mimic or cause pneumonia.