Emergency medicine Australasia : EMA
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Emerg Med Australas · Aug 2022
ReviewReview article: Effectiveness and risks of cricoid pressure during rapid sequence induction for endotracheal intubation in the emergency department: A systematic review.
The use of cricoid pressure (CP) to prevent aspiration during rapid sequence induction (RSI) has become controversial, although CP is considered central to the practice of RSI. There is insufficient research to support its efficacy in reducing aspiration, and emerging concerns it reduces the first-pass success (FPS) of intubation. This systematic review aims to assess the safety and efficacy of CP during RSI in EDs by investigating its effect on FPS and the incidence of complications, including gastric regurgitation and aspiration. ⋯ The results of these individual studies are not sufficient to draw concrete conclusions but do suggest that aspiration occurs regardless of the application of CP, and that FPS is not reduced by the application of CP. There is insufficient evidence to conclude whether applying CP during RSI in EDs affects the rate of FPS or the incidence of complications such as aspiration. Further research in the ED, including introducing CP usage into other existing airway registries, is needed.
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Emerg Med Australas · Aug 2022
Working towards equity: An example of an emergency department project for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and cultural safety.
The ED at St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne aims to provide excellent emergency care and cultural safety for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. High rates of people who 'Left Not Seen' and some negative experiences of care led us to improve our performance in this area. Collective desire and strong executive support generated the ED Indigenous Health Equity Working Group (IHEWG) project. ⋯ Initial outcomes have included a focus on cultural safety and trauma-informed care education. Further projects included improving identification processes, creating a welcoming waiting-room environment and fostering strong relationships between the ED and AHU. We have begun our ED journey towards equity and excellent care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, hoping this collaborative model will enable transformative change.
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Emerg Med Australas · Aug 2022
Observational StudyCOMBED: Rapid non-invasive Cardiac Output Monitoring Baseline assessment in adult Emergency Department patients with haemodynamic instability.
The application of rapid, non-operator-dependent, non-invasive cardiac output monitoring (COM) may provide early physiological information in ED patients with haemodynamic instability (HI). Our primary objective was to assess the feasibility of measuring pre-intervention (baseline) cardiac index (CI) and associated haemodynamic parameters. ⋯ Rapid, non-operator-dependent, non-invasive COM was possible in >90% of ED patients presenting with HI. Compared with tachycardia alone, patients with hypotension had lower CI, MAP and heart rate, while those with suspected infection had a lower SVRI. This technology provides novel insights into the early state of the circulation in ED patients with HI.
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Emerg Med Australas · Aug 2022
Use of clonidine in the treatment of Irukandji syndrome: A 4-year retrospective cohort study on safety, efficacy and clinical utility.
Irukandji syndrome (IS) is an extremely painful condition that causes a significant catecholamine surge and sympathetic autonomic response related to the envenomation from certain types of jellyfish. Current management involves intravenous fluids, magnesium sulphate and large doses of opioids for symptom control. Clonidine, a centrally acting alpha-2 agonist, is often used as an analgesic adjunct to reduce opioid requirements in acute pain. The present study explores the safety and efficacy of clonidine in reducing opioid requirements in IS. ⋯ Patients with IS who received clonidine required significantly lower opioid requirements than those who did not receive clonidine. Clonidine was safe to administer and should be considered early when treating IS. The optimal clonidine dose remains unclear and requires prospective studies to validate our findings.
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In paediatric migraine, ibuprofen, acetaminophen and triptans are safe, effective therapies but there is scant paediatric data informing second-line emergency treatment. ⋯ While intravenous chlorpromazine as second-line agent was mostly safe, it had unclear efficacy given the requirement for further treatment and hospital admissions.