Emergency medicine Australasia : EMA
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Emerg Med Australas · Dec 2012
Prospective observational study of the practice of endotracheal intubation in the emergency department of a tertiary hospital in Sydney, Australia.
To describe the practice of endotracheal intubation in the ED of a tertiary hospital in Australia, with particular emphasis on the indication, staff seniority, technique, number of attempts required and the rate of complications. ⋯ Although the majority of results are comparable with overseas data, the rates of difficult laryngoscopy and desaturation are higher than previously reported. We feel that this data has highlighted the need for practice improvement within our department and we would encourage all those who undertake emergent airway management to audit their own practice of this high-risk procedure.
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Emerg Med Australas · Dec 2012
Prolonged length of stay in the emergency department in high-acuity patients at a Chinese tertiary hospital.
ED overcrowding is a worldwide issue, with most evidence coming from developed countries. Until now, little was known about this subject in China. The aim of this study was to investigate the situation of prolonged lengths of stay (LOS) in the ED for high-acuity patients in a Chinese tertiary hospital and to identify associated factors. ⋯ We found an excessive LOS in the resuscitation room in this tertiary hospital. The most significant reason for prolonged LOS was boarding block. Shortage of inpatient beds and reluctance of the wards to admit these patients might be the primary reasons for extremely long boarding.
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Emerg Med Australas · Dec 2012
Comparative StudyComparison of early biomarker strategies with the Heart Foundation of Australia/Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand guidelines for risk stratification of emergency department patients with chest pain.
To compare cardiac risk stratification using a 0 and 2 h point-of-care (POC) cardiac troponin (cTn), 0 and 2 h POC multi-biomarkers against the 0 and 6 h laboratory cTn reference standard. ⋯ Using a 2 h POC cTn-only biomarker strategy with the HF-A/CS-ANZ guidelines accurately identified a population at intermediate risk of 30-day events in whom further objective testing might be accelerated, allowing subsequent early discharge of the majority of this cohort. Within 2 h of presentation a high risk population could be identified in whom early management, including admission, was required.
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Emerg Med Australas · Dec 2012
Improving the attractiveness of an emergency medicine career to medical students: An exploratory study.
To describe perceptions of medical students and emergency doctors towards careers in emergency medicine (EM), and to identify influences on career choice. ⋯ Increasing the attractiveness of a career in EM requires changing student perceptions of lifestyle and satisfaction benefits, access to EM subspecialties, increasing ED research, information about job security, and improved work conditions.