The 2017 calendar year had many outstanding articles focused on high-risk topics that directly relate to emergency medicine clinical practice. As in past years, I solicited my colleagues for their opinions on the best and most useful journal publications of the year. I received dozens of selections to consider that ranged from deadly conditions, such as myocardial infarction and stroke, to more benign everyday conditions, such as pharyngitis.
I narrowed the selections to articles that provided (1) practical, immediately useful recommendations and (2) would help critically ill patients in the emergency department (ED). Given the space limitations, I again have chosen only three articles.
I'll make the usual disclaimer that these are not necessarily the best articles from a methodological standpoint, but they are practice-changing and focus on high-risk conditions where lives are at stake. This year, I also chose articles that have not received much fanfare at conferences I've attended or on social media. My summaries will be brief, and I encourage readers to seek further details from the articles themselves to learn best how to incorporate the information into your clinical practice.
What were your favorite articles from 2017? Please tell us in the comments section.
