Emergency medicine Australasia : EMA
-
Emerg Med Australas · Jun 2015
ReviewRocket launcher: A novel reduction technique for posterior hip dislocations and review of current literature.
We provide a review of literature on reduction techniques for posterior hip dislocations and present our experience with a novel technique for the reduction of acute posterior hip dislocations in the ED, 'the rocket launcher' technique. ⋯ We have described a reduction technique for posterior hip dislocations. Placing the patient's knee over the shoulder, and holding the lower leg like a 'Rocket Launcher' allow the physician's shoulder to work as a fulcrum, thus mechanically and ergonomically superior to standard techniques.
-
Emerg Med Australas · Jun 2015
Observational StudyWeight estimation in paediatric resuscitation: A hefty issue in New Zealand.
To test the accuracy of weight estimation methods currently used in New Zealand to predict a child's weight in emergency resuscitation. ⋯ For children under 143 cm in height, the Broselow-Luten tape outperforms other weight estimation methods, accurately estimating weight in approximately three out of four children. The age-based estimation methods performed poorly overall, with variation by age and ethnicity.
-
Emerg Med Australas · Jun 2015
Multicenter StudyImproved outcomes for emergency department patients whose ambulance off-stretcher time is not delayed.
To describe and compare characteristics and outcomes of patients who arrive by ambulance to the ED. We aimed to (i) compare patients with a delayed ambulance offload time (AOT) >30 min with those who were not delayed; and (ii) identify predictors of an ED length of stay (LOS) of >4 h for ambulance-arriving patients. ⋯ Patients arriving to the ED via ambulance and offloaded within 30 min experience better outcomes than those delayed. Given that offload delay is a modifiable predictor of an ED LOS of >4 h, targeted improvements in the ED arrival process for ambulance patients might be useful.