Emergency medicine Australasia : EMA
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Emerg Med Australas · Dec 2021
Use of continuous positive airway pressure and non-invasive ventilation for respiratory failure in an Australian aeromedical retrieval service: A retrospective case series.
The purpose of the present study was to investigate the use of respiratory support via continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and non-invasive ventilation (NIV) in a medical retrieval service in Queensland, Australia, with reference to transport considerations and patient safety. ⋯ The use of NIV and CPAP appears to have a low-risk profile in aeromedical retrieval even for prolonged periods of time in an adult population.
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Emerg Med Australas · Dec 2021
Observational StudyCharacteristics, presentation and outcomes of music festival patrons with stimulant drug-induced serotonin toxicity.
A large number of stimulant drug-associated deaths at music festivals in Australia were reported during the southern hemisphere summer of 2018-2019. This led to the prehospital deployment of healthcare professional-led critical care response teams. We aimed to describe the characteristics, clinical presentation, management and outcomes of music festival patrons with stimulant drug-induced serotonin toxicity managed using this model during the study period. ⋯ Severe illness was associated with a high incidence of end-organ impairment. A high proportion of patients without severe disease were able to be successfully managed at the event without transport to hospital. No deaths are reported in this series.
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Emerg Med Australas · Dec 2021
Bacterial infection secondary to Trimeresurus species bites: A retrospective cohort study in a university hospital in Bangkok.
Trimeresurus spp. (green pit viper [GPV]) inhabit several Southeast Asian countries. They account for more than 90% of snake envenomations in Bangkok. GPV venom causes coagulopathy from a thrombin-like effect and thrombocytopaenia. Envenomation can also cause local tissue reactions. The present study primarily aimed to determine the bacterial infection rate from GPV (Trimeresurus spp.) bites. Antibiotic use, microbiology report, and clinical course between those with and without infection were secondary objectives. ⋯ We found a low infection rate from GPV bites even without antibiotics suggesting prophylactic antibiotics should not be routinely prescribed in cases of GPV bite.