Emergency medicine Australasia : EMA
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Emerg Med Australas · Oct 2009
Clinical TrialIntranasal fentanyl in 1-3-year-olds: a prospective study of the effectiveness of intranasal fentanyl as acute analgesia.
The primary objective of the present study was to determine the effectiveness of intranasal fentanyl analgesia in children aged 1-3 years with acute moderate to severe pain presenting to the ED. We also aimed to gather information on the safety and acceptability of intranasal fentanyl in this age group. Two paediatric ED enrolled children aged 1-3 years, with acute moderate or severe pain. ⋯ Intranasal fentanyl delivery using a mucosal atomiser was well tolerated by all children. There were no adverse drug reactions or adverse events detected. Intranasal fentanyl is an effective, safe and well-tolerated mode of analgesia for children aged 1-3 years with moderate to severe pain.
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Emerg Med Australas · Oct 2009
International Federation for Emergency Medicine model curriculum for medical student education in emergency medicine.
There is a critical and growing need for emergency physicians and emergency medicine resources worldwide. To meet this need, physicians must be trained to deliver time-sensitive interventions and life-saving emergency care. Currently, there is no internationally recognized, standard curriculum that defines the basic minimum standards for emergency medicine education. ⋯ It is designed, not to be prescriptive, but to assist educators and emergency medicine leadership in advancing physician education in basic emergency medicine content. The content would be relevant, not just for communities with mature emergency medicine systems, but also for developing nations or for nations seeking to expand emergency medicine within current educational structures. We anticipate that there will be wide variability in how this curriculum is implemented and taught, reflecting the existing educational milieu, the resources available, and the goals of the institutions' educational leadership.
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Emerg Med Australas · Oct 2009
Knowledge and attitude towards paediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation among the carers of patients attending the Emergency Department of the Children's Hospital at Westmead.
The present study aimed to describe the knowledge and attitudes of parents and carers in performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation on infants and children. A self-administered questionnaire distributed to a convenience sample of parents and carers attending the Emergency Department of The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Australia from February to March 2008. Main outcome measures were the prevalence of previous cardiopulmonary resuscitation training, willingness and confidence to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation on infants and children compared with adults, and an objective assessment of knowledge of current resuscitation guidelines. ⋯ Parents and carers are willing to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation, especially on family members. However, their knowledge of the current guidelines was poor. More public education is required to update those with previous training and to encourage those who haven't to be trained.
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Increased awareness of idiopathic hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS) and readily available ultrasonographic diagnosis might mean that 'classic' presentations are becoming less common. We sought to describe the epidemiology, clinical features and outcomes of children with IHPS in the modern era. A retrospective case review of all cases of IHPS presenting to a single tertiary paediatric hospital over an 11 year period was conducted. ⋯ IHPS occurs more frequently in male and ex-premature infants. It commonly presents without the full spectrum of 'classic' symptoms and signs. Given the availability of ultrasound diagnosis, IHPS should be considered in all babies with any one of the classic findings.
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Emerg Med Australas · Aug 2009
Multicenter StudyEmergency Department diagnosis of pulmonary embolism is associated with significantly reduced mortality: a linked data population study.
We characterized patients admitted via ED with a principal hospital discharge diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE) and compared mortality of those diagnosed in the ED with those diagnosed after admission. ⋯ Making the diagnosis of PE in ED was associated with a substantial survival advantage that persisted after hospital discharge.