Emergency medicine Australasia : EMA
-
Emerg Med Australas · Dec 2019
Observational StudyAccuracy of parental estimate of child's weight in a paediatric emergency department.
To determine the accuracy of using parental estimate of a child's weight compared to actual weight in a paediatric emergency setting. ⋯ Parent estimate is an accurate weight estimation method when parents are willing to give an estimate. There is ethnic variation in accuracy that should be taken into account when applying this method.
-
Emerg Med Australas · Dec 2019
Role and impact of brain computed tomography in the management of drug overdoses and guideline recommendations.
Patients presenting with overdoses commonly receive computed tomography brain (CTB) scans in their assessment. There is no current guideline or validated decision support tool for neuroimaging in overdose patients. We investigated the proportion of overdose patients who received a CTB scan and its impact on management. ⋯ A high proportion of overdose patients received CTB scans. There was only a low yield in terms of management alteration. We propose that clinicians adopt a guided approach using a decision support tool to minimise unnecessary CTB scans.
-
Emerg Med Australas · Dec 2019
Beta-blocker use is an independent risk factor for thunderstorm asthma.
To identify risk factors for thunderstorm asthma (TA) in subjects ≥15 years of age from information available in routine clinical records. ⋯ Oral beta-blocker medications, younger age and Asian-born heritage are risk factors for TA. Further study is required to explore the potential association between beta-blockers and TA.
-
Emerg Med Australas · Dec 2019
Impact of electric scooters to a tertiary emergency department: 8-week review after implementation of a scooter share scheme.
A retrospective audit of presentations to a tertiary trauma centre reviewing the demographics of electric scooter injuries in the first 2 months of the scooter-share scheme, which was commenced in Brisbane in November 2018. ⋯ The findings characterised injury patterns and costs associated with electric scooters in our ED. Given the increasing popularity of electric scooters as an alternate form of transportation, our study may help to inform public policy for future injury prevention.