Subarachnoid haemorrhage is a diagnosis that can't be missed, but it is not a simple process to detect it. The first paper for discussion this month questions if a CT scan within 6 hours is sufficient for exclusion in patients with acute headache. Then there is a large-scale analysis of over 400 million ED visits in the USA, focussing in on the significant issue of self-harm in the homeless population. Next is a paper on a decision tool for suspected acute aortic syndrome, and to finish, a discussion on the change in ED culture around safety since the COVID pandemic.

Read the issue highlights: December 2024 Primary Survey

Articles discussed in this episode:

• Subarachnoid haemorrhage in the emergency department (SHED): a prospective, observational, multicentre cohort study
• Suicide and self-injury-related emergency department visits and homelessness among adults 25–64 years old from 2016 to 2021 in the USA
• Decision analytical modelling of strategies for investigating suspected acute aortic syndrome
• Culture of safety in an adult and paediatric emergency department before and after the COVID-19 pandemic

The EMJ podcast is hosted by:

Dr. Richard Body, EMJ Deputy Editor, University of Manchester, UK (@richardbody)

Dr. Sarah Edwards, EMJ Social Media Editor, Leicester Royal Infirmary, UK (@drsarahedwards)

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