Emergency medicine Australasia : EMA
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Emerg Med Australas · Oct 2006
Development and implementation of an education and credentialing programme to provide safe paediatric procedural sedation in emergency departments.
In the conduct of paediatric procedural sedation (PPS) within the ED the combination of powerful drugs, variable competency levels and high staff turnover carry the potential for sedation-associated adverse events. Yet, currently, there is no set programme for education and accreditation of ED staff in PPS. We set out to develop such a programme. ⋯ We present the development and implementation of a comprehensive PPS programme for emergency staff. As a result of the multicentre development process involving a community and a tertiary paediatric ED the programme will likely have broad applicability in different types of ED caring for children.
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Emerg Med Australas · Oct 2006
Training of disaster managers at a masters degree level: from emergency care to managerial control.
The world has faced huge disasters over the last few decades and concerns have been expressed by nearly all international agencies involved that there is a scarcity of managerial skills to deal with the mitigation and management of disasters. Disaster risks are also on the increase throughout Africa and Southern Africa because of changes in the development process, settlement patterns and conflicts in the region. Emergency physicians are but one important resource in dealing with disasters. ⋯ The MPH is aimed at preparing professionals from health and allied fields to play leadership roles in the management, improvement and evaluation of health and the health-care system. Emergency physicians have an important role to play in the development of disaster medicine and disaster management programmes and it is important that they engage in this activity, collaborating with colleagues of various other disciplines as appropriate. The following paper outlines the background to the programme and the current programme.
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Emerg Med Australas · Aug 2006
Comparative Study Clinical TrialComparative pharmacokinetics of Panadol Extend and immediate-release paracetamol in a simulated overdose model.
Panadol Extend is a modified-release paracetamol formulation in which each 665 mg tablet contains 69% slow-release and 31% immediate-release paracetamol. There are no data on Panadol Extend pharmacokinetics in overdose. It is unknown whether the paracetamol treatment nomogram can be used to make decisions regarding the toxicity of this product in overdose. ⋯ Reductions in Panadol Extend Cmax and AUC(0-12 h) might be related to elimination occurring during the absorption phase. In this model of Panadol Extend moderate overdose, Tmax was significantly delayed. In larger overdoses, time to peak paracetamol levels might be further delayed, because of continuing absorption from the formulation. Therefore, the paracetamol treatment nomogram might not reliably predict hepatotoxicity from Panadol Extend if paracetamol levels are measured too early.
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Emerg Med Australas · Aug 2006
Comparative StudyPresentation and management of aural foreign bodies in two Australian emergency departments.
To survey and compare the type and management of foreign bodies found in adult and paediatric ears presenting to an Australian otorhinolaryngology and a general ED. ⋯ Aural foreign bodies are a frequent presentation to the ED. Recognition of patients requiring early specialist referral is important. Adults present with a different profile of aural foreign objects to children and require different management. The use of cotton tips or cotton wool in the external ear canal and silicone ear plugs should be discouraged.
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Emerg Med Australas · Aug 2006
Comparative StudyEmergency nurse practitioner care and emergency department patient flow: case-control study.
The present study aimed to compare ED waiting times (for medical assessment and treatment), treatment times and length of stay (LOS) for patients managed by an emergency nurse practitioner candidate (ENPC) with patients managed via traditional ED care. ⋯ Patient flow outcomes for ENPC managed patients are comparable with those of patients managed via usual ED processes.