Emergency medicine Australasia : EMA
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Emerg Med Australas · Aug 2020
Finger thoracostomy in patients with chest trauma performed by paramedics on a helicopter emergency medical service.
To determine the frequency of finger thoracostomy performed by intensive care flight paramedics after the introduction of a training programme in this procedure and complications of the procedure that were diagnosed after hospital arrival. ⋯ Finger thoracostomy was frequently performed by intensive care flight paramedics. It was associated with a low rate of major complications and given the deficiencies of needle thoracostomy, should be the preferred approach for chest decompression.
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Emerg Med Australas · Aug 2020
Managing Healthcare Worker Wellbeing in an Australian Emergency Department during The COVID-19 Pandemic.
Emergency Medicine staff in Australia and New Zealand are at the forefront of the healthcare response to COVID-19. This article describes a well-being plan for ED staff that has been devised to mitigate against the negative psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Emerg Med Australas · Aug 2020
Forecasting daily counts of patient presentations in Australian emergency departments using statistical models with time-varying predictors.
This research aimed to (i) assess the effects of time-varying predictors (day of the week, month, year, holiday, temperature) on daily ED presentations and (ii) compare the accuracy of five methods for forecasting ED presentations, including four statistical methods and a machine learning approach. ⋯ Calendar and temperature variables, not previously considered in the Australian literature, were found to significantly impact ED presentations. This study also demonstrates the potential of GAMs as a dual explanatory and forecasting method for the modelling, and more accurate prediction, of ED presentations.
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Emerg Med Australas · Aug 2020
Randomized Controlled TrialPropofol for migraine in the emergency department: A pilot randomised controlled trial.
To test the administration of intravenous (i.v.) propofol at a procedural sedation dose compared to standard therapy for initial management of migraine in the ED. ⋯ Initial management of migraine with i.v. propofol at procedural sedation doses significantly reduced TTD compared to standard therapy. We did not detect any significant safety concerns although the study was not adequately powered to detect safety of the intervention and requires validation.