Emergency medicine Australasia : EMA
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Emerg Med Australas · Feb 2020
Emergency first aid readiness in Antarctica: Australian Antarctic expeditioners' first aid credentials and self-efficacy.
To help prevent future morbidity and mortality, this study examined Australian Antarctic expeditioners' first aid credentials and self-efficacy in providing emergency first aid in extreme environments. ⋯ These findings revealed that many Antarctic expeditioners may not be adequately prepared for first aid emergencies and have low confidence in handling complex medical situations. Based on these findings, we recommend higher first aid qualifications and training tailored to the Antarctic context. These modest steps can help prevent unnecessary and costly morbidity and mortality for extreme-condition expeditioners.
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Emerg Med Australas · Feb 2020
Opioid prescribing in the emergency department of a tertiary hospital: A retrospective audit of hospital discharge data.
EDs are a common source of prescription opioids on discharge. We explored opioid prescribing practices in an ED at a tertiary hospital in Victoria, Australia. ⋯ Opioid prescribing was common in this ED, with almost one-quarter of discharge prescriptions being for a prescription opioid. This audit highlights potential areas for practice improvement including review of the quantity of opioid tablets prescribed as well as an opioid plan on discharge from the ED.
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Emerg Med Australas · Feb 2020
Comparative StudyImpact of a ketamine sedation protocol on intubation rates and undesirable outcomes in the transport of patients with acute behavioural disturbance.
To identify the effects of the introduction of a ketamine sedation protocol on the rates of intubation and adverse events associated with retrieval of patients with acute behavioural disturbance. Transport of patients with acute behavioural disturbance poses clinical and logistical management difficulties, as well as risks. Remote Australian communities are separated by vast distances. Risks to aircraft and crew, and patient and community must be balanced. Ketamine has received increasing attention in recent years for pre-hospital sedation of behaviourally disturbed patients, predominantly with psychiatric illness. This paper explores the benefits and suitability of ketamine in undifferentiated presentations, using data from the retrieval service in Alice Springs, Australia. ⋯ The introduction of a ketamine protocol is associated with a decrease in intubation, and accordingly, a decrease in adverse events, though it is not without its risks. Further analysis is required to establish the likely cost saving to health systems.