Emergency medicine Australasia : EMA
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Emerg Med Australas · Dec 2022
Multicenter Study Observational StudyProspective, multicentre observational study of point-of-care ultrasound practice in emergency departments across Australia and New Zealand: The POCUS-ED Registry.
The present study aimed to describe the characteristics, performance, accuracy and significance of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) use in the ED, by utilising an expanded version of the ACEM-mandated special skills placement (SSP) logbook, to develop a novel clinical quality registry. ⋯ This multicentred registry provides a detailed description of the current utilisation of POCUS within special skills US placements across EDs in Australia and New Zealand. This data should inform clinical leaders in emergency US to improve both POCUS education and governance around this important tool.
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Emerg Med Australas · Dec 2022
Observational StudyEpidemiology, clinical presentations, and outcome of patients presenting to the Emergency Department after a COVID-19 vaccination: An observational study.
The World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 pandemic on 11 March 2020. In 2021, several vaccines were provisionally approved to reduce the risk of transmission and hospitalisation of COVID-19 infection. A surge in COVID-19 vaccination was seen between August and October 2021 in Victoria, Australia. We hypothesised this led to an increase in ED presentations. ⋯ A majority of patients who presented to the ED after their COVID vaccinations were young and discharged home after the initial assessment. These presentations have significantly increased the workload in prehospital settings and EDs, contributing to increased investigation usage, ED treatment space occupancy, and increased costs to the health system.
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Emerg Med Australas · Dec 2022
Comparison of abusive head trauma versus non-inflicted subdural haematoma in infants: A retrospective cohort study.
To compare the characteristics of subdural haematoma (SDH) in children under the age of 2 years, between inflicted, otherwise known as abusive head trauma (AHT), and non-inflicted aetiologies. ⋯ Infant SDH due to AHT accounts for high mortality and morbidity. Early identification of these patients in the ED with referral to specialised units that investigate for potential child abuse is essential.
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Emergency physicians often experience significant cognitive load and task interruptions in the ED. This combination results in cognitive errors and poor patient outcomes. Quality research about this topic is scarce. Raising awareness of personal thinking processes (metacognition) is one way of reducing the unfavourable impact of task interruptions on cognition.
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Emerg Med Australas · Dec 2022
Observational StudyPericapsular nerve group block for hip fracture is feasible, safe and effective in the emergency department: A prospective observational comparative cohort study.
The pericapsular nerve group (PENG) block was first described for analgesia of hip fracture in 2018. We hypothesised that the PENG block is safe and effective for patients with hip fracture when provided by emergency physicians and trainees in the ED. ⋯ The present study demonstrated that the PENG block can be provided safely and effectively to patients with hip fracture in the ED. On the basis of this pilot study, a larger randomised controlled study should now be designed.