Air medical journal
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Air medical journal · Nov 2015
ReviewAssessment of Paramedic Ultrasound Curricula: A Systematic Review.
Prehospital ultrasound is being applied in the field. The purpose of this systematic review is to describe evidence pertaining to ultrasound curricula for paramedics specifically, including content, duration, setting, design, evaluation, and application. ⋯ Paramedic ultrasound curricula in FAST and pleural ultrasound is feasible and time effective with successful application. Although fracture detection ultrasound is being used by the special operations forces, no comprehensive curriculum was described. Curricula designed to detect cardiac standstill have been too short, and successful application by paramedics has not been shown.
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Air medical journal · Nov 2015
Association Between Difficult Airway Predictors and Failed Prehosptial Endotracheal Intubation.
Difficult airway predictors (DAPs) are associated with failure of endotracheal intubation (ETI) in the emergency department (ED). The purpose of this study was to determine if DAPs are associated with failure of prehospital ETI. ⋯ Cases of FPH/SED have more DAPs than NPH/SEDs.
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Air medical journal · Nov 2015
A Ketamine Protocol and Intubation Rates for Psychiatric Air Medical Retrieval.
The air medical transfer of psychiatric patients with acute agitation is a regular requirement in only a few countries, with ours (Australia) being one of them. The optimal strategy has yet to be well described, ranging from physical restraints to general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation. In an Australian air medical service, Royal Flying Doctor Service (Queensland Section) rates of endotracheal intubation required for patient management were retrospectively compared before and after implementation of a ketamine sedation protocol for this patient population. ⋯ In an Australian air medical service, the implementation of a ketamine sedation protocol for the management of the acutely agitated patient requiring air transfer has reduced the number of intubations in this patient group.
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Air medical journal · Sep 2015
Ventilation Monitoring in Severe Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury at Nontrauma Centers.
Pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) guidelines should direct patient management. This retrospective study compared ventilation monitoring practices of nontrauma center (NTC) personnel and air medical crews (AMCs) in pediatric patients with severe TBI at NTCs after endotracheal intubation. ⋯ AMCs showed superior ventilation monitoring after intubation in pediatric patients with severe TBI. Ventilation monitoring was not routinely conducted by NTC personnel, signifying areas to improve patient care.
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Air medical journal · Jul 2015
Interhospital Transfer Center Model: Components, Themes, and Design Elements.
Timely access to advanced and specialist treatment often requires rapid interhospital transfer of patients from community hospitals to tertiary care centers. Transfer systems are variable in structure and process and are described in the literature as being fragmented, complex, and difficult to navigate. ⋯ The Interhospital Transfer Center Model provides a useful framework to guide the design, implementation, and evaluation of interhospital transfer systems.