Emergency medicine Australasia : EMA
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Emerg Med Australas · Jun 2007
Clinical outcomes of magnetic resonance imaging in blunt cervical trauma.
To determine whether MRI of the cervical spine resulted in a change in management of patients with blunt trauma and normal plain X-ray (XR)/CT of the cervical spine. ⋯ An abnormal MRI after normal plain XR and CT cervical spine studies resulted in a change in non-operative management at discharge. Early MRI resulted in one patient receiving surgery before discharge. No unstable injuries were detected by MRI that were not evident on plain XR or CT cervical spine.
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Emerg Med Australas · Jun 2007
Cricoid pressure: assessment of performance and effect of training in emergency department staff.
(i) To evaluate the theoretical knowledge and practical skills of ED staff regarding the technique of cricoid pressure; (ii) to assess the efficacy of two methods of cricoid pressure training. ⋯ Theoretical knowledge and technique regarding cricoid pressure was poor among our ED staff. Both methods of training appeared to improve performance. The biofeedback group was more likely to apply correct pressure immediately after training. The effects of training diminished rapidly with time.
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Emerg Med Australas · Jun 2007
Self-rated health in the unwell elderly presenting to the emergency department.
Self-rated health (SRH) has been shown to be a reliable predictor of functional decline and mortality. These studies, however, have largely focused on well community-dwelling elderly. We assessed whether the predictive value of SRH would still be valid for the acutely unwell older person presenting to the ED. ⋯ The ability of SRH to predict functional decline and mortality persists for the acutely unwell elderly presenting to the ED. SRH is a simple and valuable tool to assess the elderly in the ED and to identify high-risk patients who would benefit from comprehensive geriatric assessment aimed at delaying such outcomes.
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Emerg Med Australas · Jun 2007
Emerging epidemic in Australia: abdominal stab wounds. Twenty-four months at a major trauma centre.
The incidence of abdominal stab wounds treated at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Vic., Australia has noticeably increased over the 12 month period to March 2006, mirroring an increase in penetrating abdominal trauma throughout many Australian trauma centres. Management protocols for abdominal stab wounds are still contentious. The current study quantifies the increase in stab wounds at the Royal Melbourne Hospital over a 24 month period and analyses the management modalities used. ⋯ Abdominal stab wounds treated at Royal Melbourne Hospital have substantially increased over the past 12 months. Although management is still contentious, a management protocol for anterior abdominal stab wounds is proposed, outlining the role of CT scanning, conservative management, laparoscopy and laparotomy.