Emergency medicine Australasia : EMA
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Emerg Med Australas · Aug 2022
Emergency department presentations and associated hospital admissions for low back pain in Australia.
To determine factors associated with hospital admissions from ED presentations for low back pain (LBP). ⋯ Rates of hospitalisation following attendance to ED for LBP increased annually by 5% between 2005 and 2013. Hospital admission rates were lower among patients from the lowest socioeconomic areas or under injured workers' compensation insurance.
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Emerg Med Australas · Aug 2022
Case ReportsToo much of a good thing: Bicarbonate toxicity following treatment of sodium channel blocker overdose.
Although sodium bicarbonate can be a life-saving antidote for patients with overdoses resulting in sodium channel blockade, there has been a concerning rise in cases referred to the Poisons Information Centre where inappropriately large doses of bicarbonate have been used resulting in iatrogenic harm. We present a series of three clinical cases where excessive bicarbonate was used to treat poisonings and discuss our approach to managing cardiotoxicity secondary to sodium channel blockade. Serial blood gas analysis should be performed when using bicarbonate to ensure pH targets are met and severe alkalaemia, hypernatraemia and hypokalaemia are avoided. We encourage clinicians to contact the Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26) or their local clinical toxicologist when managing patients with life-threatening sodium channel blockade.
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Emerg Med Australas · Aug 2022
Effect of a simplified billing form and the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on compensable billings in an Australian metropolitan emergency department - an interrupted time series analysis.
To evaluate the effect of a simplified billing form on billings recovery. ⋯ Total billings did not change. Less patients were identified, but each generated 59% more billings.