Emergency medicine Australasia : EMA
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Emerg Med Australas · Apr 2012
Prosthetic hip dislocations: is relocation in the emergency department by emergency medicine staff better?
Prosthetic hip dislocation is common. This study compares prosthetic hip relocations attempted within the ED by emergency doctors and those under orthopaedic care in the ED or operating theatre (OT). ⋯ There was no difference between EM and orthopaedics in the proportion of hips successfully relocated or complications in the ED; however, EM patients were discharged much sooner, with important resource implications. Procedures carried out in the OT were more successful than in the ED but resulted in prolonged hospital stays and were associated with more complications.
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To determine which of the disaster triage tag systems in use in Australia and New Zealand is better in terms of the time taken to complete the triage and the ease of use. ⋯ The Victorian style of tag was found to be the most efficient in terms of the time to complete a triage. The New Zealand tags were the easiest to use, easiest to fill in and the most preferred tag by the participants. We recommend that one of these tags be adapted for use as a nationwide system.
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Emerg Med Australas · Apr 2012
Patient satisfaction and outcome using emergency care practitioners in New Zealand.
A patient satisfaction survey was undertaken in the Kapiti District of the Wellington Region to ascertain patients' experience and opinions of New Zealand's first extended care paramedic (ECP) service before consideration is given to extending it to other locations within the region. Patient outcomes were also analysed for 1 week following ECP care. ⋯ The avoidance of unnecessary transfers to hospital is beneficial to patients, the ambulance service and the ED. This study demonstrates that patients are very satisfied with their assessment and treatment by ECPs, endorsing the proposal that the scheme should be extended across the Wellington Region, and perhaps New Zealand.
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Emerg Med Australas · Apr 2012
Case ReportsCase report on vertebral artery dissection in mixed martial arts.
A 41-year-old man presented to the ED with severe vertigo 2 days after a grappling injury while training in mixed martial arts. Imaging revealed a cerebellar infarct with complete occlusion of the right vertebral artery secondary to dissection. Management options are discussed as is the ongoing controversy regarding the safety of the sport.
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Twenty-five years on from the first fellowship examination of the College, it is timely to reflect on the issue of clinical longevity. The pressures of the emergency medicine workplace are relatively unique among the medical specialties, and might require unique solutions if emergency physicians are to continue clinical practice in the latter stages of their careers.