Emergency medicine Australasia : EMA
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Emerg Med Australas · Feb 2010
Comparative StudyBest Guess method: a further external validation study and comparison with other methods.
Validation of the 'Best Guess' weight estimation method on a geographically divergent external sample of children, plus comparison with APLS and Broselow weight estimation methods. ⋯ The Best Guess weight estimation method is accurate, especially in children aged 1-4 years. It moderately overestimates weight in other ages. The Broselow method was more precise, whereas the APLS method was the least accurate and precise of all. The ease of use of the Broselow method argues for greater use in the ED and prehospital setting.
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There have been few cases of cold burn related to the exposure of liquid petroleum gas (LPG). We present the case of a young woman exposed to LPG while refueling her car who sustained partial thickness burns to the dorsum of her hand. ⋯ Immediate management of LPG is extrapolated from the management of frostbite. The increasing use of LPG mandates an awareness of prevention strategies and management principles in the setting of adverse events.
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Emerg Med Australas · Feb 2010
Patterns of analgesia for fractured neck of femur in Australian emergency departments.
Fractured neck of femur is a common ED problem and poor pain management in this patient group can contribute significantly to their morbidity. The present study aims to describe current practices for managing pain in patients with fractured neck of femur in Australian ED and to identify real or potential barriers to providing analgesia. ⋯ Oligoanalgesia for fracture neck of femur in Australian ED is common and time to analgesia tends to be relatively slow. Regional techniques are infrequently used despite their recognized efficacy. Strategies for improving pain management in this cohort of ED patients need to be explored.
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Emerg Med Australas · Feb 2010
Comparative StudyMorphometric analysis and clinical application of the working dimensions of cricothyroid membrane in south Indian adults: with special relevance to surgical cricothyroidotomy.
To measure the working dimensions of the cricothyroid membrane in the adult south Indian population and to establish the association between the working dimensions and the appropriate endotracheal tube size for the purpose of cricothyroidotomy. ⋯ Working dimensions are smaller in the Indian group compared with western publications. Endotracheal tubes ranging from size 3.0 to 6.0 might be used for cricothyroidotomy in the adult south Indian population.
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The Dutch health-care system provides high-quality inpatient care, but emergency care apart from trauma is poorly developed. A model for emergency medicine based on Anglo-American and Australasian principles was introduced in 2000, and a national integrated training curriculum was introduced in 2007. ⋯ Despite this emergency medicine became a recognized specialty this year (2009). The present paper gives an overview of the Dutch health-care system and the history, current status, training and future development of emergency medicine in the Netherlands.