Emergency medicine Australasia : EMA
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Emerg Med Australas · Jun 2023
ReviewReview article: Use of the Team Emergency Assessment Measure in the rating of emergency teams' non-technical skills: A mapping review.
The present study aims to explore the utility of the Team Emergency Assessment Measure (TEAM) in relation to the enhancement of emergency team non-technical skills based on research conducted over the last decade. In this mapping review, a citation mining process identified 22 primary studies for inclusion, published between 2012 and 2022. It provides outcome data on emergency teams' non-technical skills following team training and/or real-life patient emergencies. ⋯ The review highlights a lack of studies evidencing quality improvement or clinical impact such as change of patient care practice or health service performance. There is a need to conduct well-designed studies that explore both technical and non-technical skills of resuscitation teams and METs. Currently, non-technical skills training and repeated performance evaluations using the TEAM contribute immensely to the proficiency of emergency teams.
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Emerg Med Australas · Jun 2023
ReviewReview article: Non-penetrating neck artery dissection in young adults: Not to be missed!
Young adults who present to the ED with neck pain following non-penetrating, seemingly trivial trauma to the neck, are at risk of neck artery dissection and subsequent stroke. Sport-related neck injury is the chief cause. Physical examination may often be unremarkable, and although there may be reluctance to expose young patients to radiation, radiological imaging is central to making a diagnosis of arterial wall disruption. ⋯ Early detection of neck artery dissection will trigger clinical protocols that call for multi-disciplinary team management of this condition. In general, guideline-based recommendation for the management of neck artery dissection involving an intimal flap is by anti-platelet therapy while treatment of neck artery dissection that results in a pseudo-aneurysm or thrombosis is managed by surgical intervention or endovascular techniques. Close follow up combined with antithrombotic treatment is recommended in these individuals, the goal being prevention of stroke.
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Emerg Med Australas · Jun 2023
Observational StudyIs the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 5th Edition a useful concussion assessment tool in head-injured patients presenting to the emergency department?
Concussion is a common ED complaint, but diagnosis is challenging as there are no validated objective measures. Use of concussion tools derived from sports medicine is common, but these tools are not well validated in ED settings. The aim of this study was to assess the ability of the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 5th Edition (SCAT5) to identify concussion in ED patients presenting following head injury. ⋯ The SCAT5 test had a low specificity, was long and was frequently interrupted. We suggest it is not an ideal assessment to use in ED. The PCSS score performed well and was easy to complete. It may be useful as a standalone tool to simplify ED concussion identification.
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Emerg Med Australas · Jun 2023
Observational StudyClinical characteristics of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander emergency department patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome.
To describe the demographics, presentation characteristics, clinical features and cardiac outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients who present to a regional cardiac referral centre ED with suspected acute coronary syndrome (ACS). ⋯ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients with suspected ACS have a high burden of traditional cardiac risk factors, regardless of whether they are eventually diagnosed with ACS. These patients may benefit from assessment for coronary artery disease regardless of age at presentation.
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Emerg Med Australas · Jun 2023
Impact of alcohol policy changes on substance-affected patients attending an emergency department in the Northern Territory with police.
Assess the impact of Northern Territory alcohol policy changes to ED utilisation at Royal Darwin-Palmerston Regional Hospitals. ⋯ The sequential introduction of broad sweeping alcohol policy changes introduced by the Northern Territory government was associated with significant reductions in ED utilisation. The proximity of the introduction of interventions creates difficulties identifying individual policy influence.