Emergency medicine Australasia : EMA
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Emerg Med Australas · Aug 2021
Observational StudyAlcohol and acute traumatic brain injury in the emergency department.
There is limited research from Australasian EDs describing the demographic make-up, injury severity and impact of alcohol in patients requiring computed tomography (CT) for suspected traumatic brain injury (TBI). The present study aims to review the frequency and presenting patterns of patients who consume alcohol prior to presenting with suspected TBI. ⋯ One quarter of patients with suspected TBI had consumed alcohol prior to their injury. Predominantly, those affected were young males who reported higher rates of assault; however, alcohol use was recorded in all age groups and sex. Alcohol-affected patients presented later, potentially delaying time to diagnosis. The present study supports the call for public health interventions that aim to reduce alcohol misuse.
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Emerg Med Australas · Aug 2021
Assessing need for extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest using Power BI for data visualisation.
To estimate the number of patients in refractory out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) potentially suitable for transport to an extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR)-capable hospital in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, based on outcome predictors for ECPR, ambulance geolocation and patient data. ⋯ Retrospective data collected from existing ambulance databases can be used to model patient suitability for ECPR. Relatively few patients with refractory OHCA in Queensland, Australia, could be attended and transported to an ECPR-capable centre within clinically acceptable timeframes. Further studies of the transport logistics and economic implications of providing ECPR services for OHCA are required to better inform decisions around this intervention.
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Emerg Med Australas · Aug 2021
ReviewReview article: Paramedic pain management of femur fractures in the prehospital setting: A systematic review.
Femur shaft and neck of femur (NOF) fractures are often undertreated in the prehospital setting. These injuries can present unique clinical and logistical concerns in the prehospital setting. This systematic review aimed to investigate paramedic prehospital pain management of patients who had suffered NOF or femur fractures, and to investigate which interventions are effective. ⋯ Alternative analgesics such as auricular acupressure, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and fascia iliaca compartment block were found to be effective techniques that could be safely and competently employed by paramedics, reducing pain for patients with limited adverse events. NOF and femur shaft fractures are an undertreated injury in the prehospital setting. Traction splinting and IV analgesia remain the traditional methodologies of treatment for these injuries; however, there are alternatives such as TENS, auricular acupressure and fascia iliaca compartment block that appear to be emerging as safe and effective options for the prehospital setting.
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Emerg Med Australas · Aug 2021
Observational StudyImpact of In-hospital and Outreach models for regional P.A.R.T.Y. Program participants.
This retrospective observational study aimed to compare the impact of the Prevent Alcohol and Risk-Related Trauma Youth (P.A.R.T.Y.) Program when delivered as In-hospital or Outreach models to rural and regional students. ⋯ Although demographically similar, baseline perceptions toward alcohol, risk-taking and injury differed between groups. Improvements in perception were demonstrated across both models. These findings support P.A.R.T.Y. as an injury prevention initiative for regional youth.