Emergency medicine Australasia : EMA
-
Emerg Med Australas · Dec 2021
ReviewReview article: Topical antibiotic treatments for acute otitis externa: Emergency care guidelines from an ear, nose and throat perspective.
Acute otitis externa (AOE), also known as 'swimmer's ear', is a common acute problem. It is one of the most common ED presentations. ⋯ There are a number of red flags associated with AOE which require consideration when treating patients with AOE. We discuss an evidence-based approach to management of AOE in the emergency setting, with indications for specialist referral.
-
Emerg Med Australas · Dec 2021
Changes in emergency department blood product use for major paediatric trauma following the implementation of a major haemorrhage protocol.
Fixed ratio blood product administration may improve outcomes in trauma patients with massive blood loss. The present study aimed to describe the impact of a major haemorrhage protocol (MHP) on the ratio of blood products administered for paediatric major trauma. ⋯ The implementation of a MHP did not change the ratio of blood product administration in this cohort of patients because of the infrequency of massive blood loss. Future studies may focus on the impact of treating coagulopathy and hypofibrinogenaemia on patient-centred outcomes.
-
Emerg Med Australas · Dec 2021
ReviewArtificial intelligence-enhanced echocardiography in the emergency department.
A focused cardiac ultrasound performed by an emergency physician is becoming part of the standard assessment of patients in a variety of clinical situations. The development of inexpensive, portable handheld devices promises to make point-of-care ultrasound even more accessible over the coming decades. ⋯ The integration of AI into focused cardiac ultrasound will have a number of implications for emergency physicians. This perspective presents an overview of the current state of AI research in echocardiography relevant to the emergency physician, as well as the future possibilities, challenges and risks of this technology.
-
Emerg Med Australas · Dec 2021
'I'm not in GP pain, I'm in hospital pain': Qualitative study regarding patient decision-making factors in seeking care in the emergency department with non-specific low back pain.
To investigate factors contributing to the decision for a working age adult experiencing non-specific low back pain (NSLBP) to seek care at an Australian metropolitan tertiary ED. ⋯ Patient beliefs about NSLBP are important drivers of ED care seeking. Evidence-based guidelines recommend screening for red flags and then addressing pain and disability through engagement with patient concerns and providing a management plan/pathway. In the ED setting, addressing the anxieties of these patients and re-interpreting the significance of their pain may be a path to providing time efficient high-value care.