Emergency medicine Australasia : EMA
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Emerg Med Australas · Oct 2016
Observational StudyFluid bolus therapy in emergency department patients: Indications and physiological changes.
The aim of the present paper is to study the indications for fluid bolus therapy (FBT) and its associated physiological changes in ED patients. ⋯ In ED, FBT is used mostly in patients without shock. However, after an immediate haemodynamic effect, FBT is associated with absent or limited physiological changes at 1 or 2 h. Even in shocked patients, the changes in MAP at 1 or 2 h after FBT are small.
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Emerg Med Australas · Oct 2016
Impact of population ageing on growing demand for emergency transportation to emergency departments in Western Australia, 2005-2020.
The aim of the present paper is to quantify the impact of population ageing on demand for emergency transportation (ET) to EDs in Western Australia (WA). ⋯ There has been a continuous rise in ET demand in WA, particularly in older people who have a higher urgency and requirement for admission.
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Emerg Med Australas · Oct 2016
The Emergency Medicine Events Register: An analysis of the first 150 incidents entered into a novel, online incident reporting registry.
Incident reporting systems are critical to understanding adverse events, in order to create preventative and corrective strategies. There are very few systems dedicated to Emergency Medicine with published results. All EDs in Australia and New Zealand were contacted to encourage the use of an Emergency Medicine - specific online reporting system called the Emergency Medicine Events Register (EMER). ⋯ A focus on correct diagnosis, procedure performance and investigation interpretation may reduce errors in the ED. The ability to learn from incidents and make system changes to enhance patient safety in healthcare organisations is an inherent part of providing a proactive, quality culture.
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Emerg Med Australas · Oct 2016
Use and knowledge of single dose activated charcoal: A survey of Australian doctors.
The use of single dose activated charcoal (SDAC) as a means of gastric decontamination is declining. The present study examined the potential use of SDAC in common overdose scenarios by Australian emergency doctors, compared with clinical toxicologists and current guidelines. ⋯ Our study showed that there is a significant variation in the use of SDAC between toxicologists and emergency doctors in some scenarios. Clinical toxicologists are more likely to administer SDAC in certain overdose settings. It is essential to provide education on the benefits versus actual risks of SDAC in acute poisoning so that doctors will understand when to administer SDAC or seek further advice.
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Emerg Med Australas · Oct 2016
Lower urgency paediatric injuries: Parent preferences for emergency department or general practitioner care.
Injuries are a significant proportion of lower urgency (triage category 4 or 5) child presentations to the EDs in metropolitan Melbourne. The purpose of the present study was to assess parental preferences and experiences regarding the treatment of lower urgency child injuries and the role of general practitioners (GPs) in such care. ⋯ Treatment provided in the ED for child injuries is valued highly by most parents, with a higher proportion of children with an injury being referred to the ED by their GP. Improving GP treatment skills and training opportunities may reduce GP referrals of lower urgency child injuries to the ED.