Emergency medicine Australasia : EMA
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Emerg Med Australas · Oct 2024
Post-lockdown burden of road injury involving hospitalisation in Victoria, Australia: A statewide, population-based time series analysis.
Ever since COVID-19, short-term changes in transport injury patterns have been observed. The aim is to examine both the initial and the enduring impact of government lockdown and the pandemic on road injuries requiring hospitalisation and road fatalities. ⋯ Road injury requiring hospitalisation decreased significantly during governmental lockdown and has returned to three-quarters of pre-pandemic levels (except bicyclist injuries that have remained constant), but there is an increasingly disproportionate number of fatalities. This represents a new baseline of injury burden for EDs and hospitals that manage trauma patients.
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Emerg Med Australas · Oct 2024
ReviewPractical strategies for caring for patients with functional neurological disorder in the ED.
Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) presents unique challenges in the emergency department (ED), where patients often arrive with varied and vague symptoms that can be difficult to address. This article provides practical strategies for effectively managing and supporting FND patients in the ED, emphasizing a compassionate, systematic approach, tailored treatments, appropriate use of investigations, and ensuring continuity of care. Key principles include clear communication of the diagnosis, preventing iatrogenic harm, and facilitating appropriate referrals for follow-up care. ⋯ A low threshold for investigating potential comorbid neurological conditions should be maintained when patients present to ED, especially in cases of unclear diagnoses or acute presentations, while avoiding repetitive testing that may reinforce illness behaviour. Managing FND in the ED requires a patient-centered, multidisciplinary approach. By adopting these strategies, health professionals can improve outcomes and support patients in managing their condition effectively.