Annals of emergency medicine
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We conducted a national survey of emergency medicine residency program directors to determine which alternative devices were available in their emergency departments for difficult airway management. We also assessed the residency directors' experience in use of these devices. ⋯ The availability of devices for difficult airway management varies tremendously across emergency medicine residency programs. Only half of residency program directors had any experience with these devices, and among those that reported any experience, they are used rarely.
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Comparative Study
Comparison of patient and practitioner assessments of pain from commonly performed emergency department procedures.
To compare patient and practitioner assessments of pain associated with commonly performed emergency department procedures and use of anesthetics before these procedures. ⋯ The most painful procedures for ED patients were nasogastric intubation, incision and drainage of abscesses, fracture reduction, and urethral catheterization. Although practitioners also identified these procedures as most painful, the correlation between patient and practitioner pain assessments in individual patients was highly variable. Overall use of anesthetics before these procedures was low. Practitioners should be attentive to their patients' individual anesthetic needs before performing painful procedures.
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This article describes the history and current status of the practice of hospital-based accident and emergency (A&E) medicine in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Included are comments on training and certification, the operations of the typical A&E department, and developments in research and academics. Also included are the authors' thoughts on issues of future importance to A&E medicine. As transatlantic links at all levels become increasingly common in this dynamic specialty, we clarify unfamiliar terminology and practices for international readers.