Emergency medicine Australasia : EMA
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Emerg Med Australas · Feb 2023
Epidemiology, outcomes and predictors of mortality in patients transported by ambulance for dyspnoea: A population-based cohort study.
There are currently limited data to inform the management of patients transported by emergency medical services (EMS) with dyspnoea. We aimed to describe the incidence, aetiology and outcomes of patients transported by EMS for dyspnoea using a large population-based sample and to identify factors associated with 30-day mortality. ⋯ Dyspnoea is a common presentation with a broad range of causes and is associated with high rates of hospitalisation and death.
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Emerg Med Australas · Feb 2023
Injury patterns, management and outcomes of retroperitoneal haemorrhage caused by lower intercostal arterial bleeding at a level-1 trauma centre: A 10-year retrospective review.
Haemorrhagic shock is a life-threatening complication of trauma, but remains a preventable cause of death. Early recognition of retroperitoneal haemorrhage (RPH) is crucial in preventing deleterious outcomes including mortality. Injury to the 9-11th intercostal arteries (i.e. arteries of the lower thoracic region) are complicit in RPH. However, the associated injuries, implications and management of such bleeds remain poorly characterised. ⋯ The present study highlights the importance of injury patterns, particularly posterior lower rib fractures, as predictors for early recognition and management of RPH in the prevention of deleterious patient outcomes. RPH secondary to bleeding of the LIA may require early and aggressive management of haemorrhage through massive transfusion, and angioembolisation or surgical ligation when compared to RPH because of other causes.
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Emerg Med Australas · Feb 2023
The rise and falls of electronic scooters: A Tasmanian perspective on electronic scooter injuries.
Electronic scooter (eScooter) popularity has soared, despite public concerns around injury risk. We aimed to explore the burden of injury from eScooters presenting to Tasmania's major trauma centre during the first 6 months of the Hobart eScooter trial. ⋯ Overall, our 6-month prospective dataset shows that the Hobart eScooter trial has been associated with few major injuries.
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Emerg Med Australas · Feb 2023
Multicultural emergency medicine epidemiology: A health economic analysis of patient visits.
There is growing evidence to suggest that culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) patients cost the health system more than non-CALD patients because of a higher burden of disease and increased resource consumption. The present study aimed to compare the ED resource utilisation of CALD and non-CALD patients at a tertiary hospital in Sydney, Australia. ⋯ CALD status is not an independent influence on ED resource utilisation but other explanatory variables such as increased age and altered case-mix appear to have a much greater influence. There may, however, be other reasons to consider CALD loading such as equity in healthcare and to address poorer overall health outcomes for CALD patients.
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Emerg Med Australas · Feb 2023
Observational StudyToxicology presentations to a tertiary unit in New South Wales during the COVID-19 pandemic first wave: A retrospective comparison study.
To compare presentation numbers, class of exposure, poison severity score (PSS) and drugs ingested by patients in a tertiary toxicology service during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic to the corresponding time periods in 2018 and 2019. ⋯ There was a relative increase in toxicology presentations during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to an overall decrease in presentations to ED. Recreational drug use increased significantly during the pandemic compared to 2018.