Editorial Volume 1 Issue 2
When I was invited to take over as Editor of this journal, I had little idea of the amount of work which went into its production. I am indebted to Paul Jenkins for staying on in the role of sub-editor, and for helping me up a very steep learning curve over the past few months. I am certain that regular readers will wish to join me in thanking Paul and his editorial team for all their hard work during the last three years. The new editorial board has been expanded to include physicians with a broad range of specialty interests. We will be making use of their expertise and their contacts within their fields to commission reviews on a range of topics relevant to Physicians involved in the Acute Medical take. The intention is to cover all of the common (and some less common) conditions presenting as medical emergencies over a four yearly cycle. Ultimately this will mean that regular subscribers will have access to a comprehensive ‘textbook’ of acute medicine, with ongoing regular updates. The cycle schedule has already been determined, and a provisional plan is listed on page 71. The second section of the journal will include some new features. Some of these will be commissioned, but we would also like to encourage submissions from the readership. Case reports of a ‘General Medical’ nature, pieces of original research and audits relevant to Acute Medicine would be most welcome for this section. ‘Viewpoint’ is intended as a soapbox for anyone with a strong opinion which they would like to air in around 1000 words. This edition contains reviews of the management of suspected pulmonary embolism, diabetic ketoacidosis, anaphylaxis and cellulitis, all relatively common presentations on an Acute Medical take. In addition, we have a detailed review of the management of severe asthma, written from an intensivist’s perspective. This should provide an insight into the management of this complex group of patients, for those of you who are unfamiliar with what goes on beyond the ITU doors. Our ‘How to do it’ feature for this edition is an ophthalmologists’ view of fundoscopy, and some key abnormalities of the optic disc. Self assessment questions and answers are included at the back of this edition. Unfortunately, external CPD credits cannot currently be accrued by completion of these, although we hope to remedy this in the near future. I am sure this will not detract from the enjoyment of reading the journal, which I hope you find as educational an experience as I have had in editing it.