Emergency medicine Australasia : EMA
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Emerg Med Australas · Aug 2022
Informing the Alfred Registry for Emergency Care Project: An analysis of presenting complaint documentation in an emergency department.
To assess the feasibility of an ED presenting complaint (PC) tool that categorised all ED PCs into 10 categories. ⋯ The PC tool captured the majority of presenting complaints in 10 categories. External validation is recommended.
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Emerg Med Australas · Aug 2022
Emergency department presentations and associated hospital admissions for low back pain in Australia.
To determine factors associated with hospital admissions from ED presentations for low back pain (LBP). ⋯ Rates of hospitalisation following attendance to ED for LBP increased annually by 5% between 2005 and 2013. Hospital admission rates were lower among patients from the lowest socioeconomic areas or under injured workers' compensation insurance.
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Emerg Med Australas · Aug 2022
Case ReportsToo much of a good thing: Bicarbonate toxicity following treatment of sodium channel blocker overdose.
Although sodium bicarbonate can be a life-saving antidote for patients with overdoses resulting in sodium channel blockade, there has been a concerning rise in cases referred to the Poisons Information Centre where inappropriately large doses of bicarbonate have been used resulting in iatrogenic harm. We present a series of three clinical cases where excessive bicarbonate was used to treat poisonings and discuss our approach to managing cardiotoxicity secondary to sodium channel blockade. Serial blood gas analysis should be performed when using bicarbonate to ensure pH targets are met and severe alkalaemia, hypernatraemia and hypokalaemia are avoided. We encourage clinicians to contact the Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26) or their local clinical toxicologist when managing patients with life-threatening sodium channel blockade.
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Emerg Med Australas · Aug 2022
Unusual 2020 RSV bronchiolitis season in Western Australia: Not explained by weather.
To describe and explore the relationship between weather and the unusual 2020 bronchiolitis season in Western Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic. ⋯ The bronchiolitis outbreak showed no relationship to local weather patterns. State-mandated COVID-19 public health measures appear as the likely rationale.
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The axilla nerve block is versatile and covers injuries from the elbow to the hand, such as wrist fracture reductions, and may be an option to improve patient care, reduce both length of stay and resource allocation.