CRASH – Critical Care, Resuscitation and Scientific Highlights

Editorial Policy

Editorial Policy & Methodology

CRASH – Critical Care, Resuscitation and Scientific Highlights is a monthly, independent, evidence-based editorial project dedicated to the critical appraisal of the most relevant peer-reviewed scientific literature in Prehospital Medicine, Trauma and Critical Care.

Editorial mission

The primary aim of CRASH is to identify, analyze, and contextualize high-impact scientific publications with direct relevance to clinical practice across the continuum of care, from the prehospital environment to the intensive care unit.

CRASH does not aim to provide guidelines or formal recommendations. Instead, it offers structured critical appraisal and expert interpretation to support informed clinical decision-making.

Scope of content

CRASH focuses on original research, systematic reviews, major clinical trials, and selected high-quality observational studies addressing topics including, but not limited to:

  • Trauma and hemorrhage
  • Emergency and resuscitative care
  • Prehospital and retrieval medicine
  • HEMS and advanced out-of-hospital systems
  • Critical care and intensive care medicine

Only articles published in peer-reviewed scientific journals are considered.

Selection of papers

Each monthly edition of CRASH includes five papers, selected according to the following principles:

  • Methodological rigor and transparency
  • Clinical relevance and potential impact on practice
  • Novelty or ability to challenge established paradigms
  • Relevance across different healthcare systems when possible

The selection process aims to maintain a balanced representation of trauma, prehospital medicine, and critical care.

Critical appraisal process

Each selected paper is analyzed using a structured and reproducible framework, including:

  • Study design and population
  • Key methodological strengths
  • Limitations and sources of bias
  • Internal and external validity
  • Clinical applicability across settings

Quantitative results are reported when appropriate. Uncertainty and limitations are explicitly acknowledged.

Interpretation and implications for practice

CRASH clearly distinguishes between:

  • Study results
  • Authors’ conclusions
  • Editorial interpretation

When discussing implications for clinical practice, CRASH emphasizes:

  • Contextualization within existing literature
  • Applicability to real-world prehospital and in-hospital settings
  • Areas where evidence is sufficient to inform practice
  • Areas where uncertainty remains and caution is required

CRASH does not promote protocol changes in the absence of robust supporting evidence.

Independence and conflicts of interest

CRASH is an independent, non-commercial editorial project.

Any potential conflicts of interest, financial or non-financial, relevant to the discussed content are disclosed when applicable. When no conflicts exist, this is explicitly stated.

Intended audience

CRASH is designed for clinicians with advanced training, including:

  • Prehospital and emergency physicians
  • Intensivists
  • Trauma team leaders
  • HEMS and retrieval medicine clinicians
  • Researchers and trainees in acute care disciplines

Future development

CRASH is conceived as a scalable project. Content is structured to allow adaptation to multiple formats, including:

  • Written newsletter
  • Podcast
  • Online archive
  • Potential future peer-reviewed publication

All editorial standards are maintained with this long-term perspective in mind.

CRASH

Critical Care, Resuscitation and Scientific Highlights

A monthly, evidence-based editorial project focused on Prehospital Medicine, Trauma and Critical Care. Each edition curates and critically appraises five peer-reviewed papers with direct implications for practice, from the prehospital setting to the ICU.

Papers of the Month

The first issue is in preparation. Content will be published as structured critical appraisals with clear implications for practice and explicit discussion of uncertainty.

Next issue

  • Five selected papers (Trauma, Emergency Medicine, ICU, Prehospital, HEMS)
  • Structured appraisal (design, results, strengths/limitations)
  • Practice implications (prehospital → ICU) and bottom line
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