European journal of emergency medicine : official journal of the European Society for Emergency Medicine
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Core data according to the Utstein template was compiled from all out-of-hospital resuscitations in the city of Bodø, Northern Norway, over 7 years (1992-98). Out of a population of 34,500, 149 resuscitations were attempted. A cardiac aetiology was present in 123 patients and their median age was 72.1 years. ⋯ Thirty-three per cent of witnessed cardiac arrests with ventricular fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia survived to discharge, but only 7% with asystole. When the arrest was witnessed, median response time was 5 minutes, and was 3 minutes for the survivors. To our knowledge, this is the highest survival of out-of-hospital arrests in Scandinavia reported so far, and is chiefly explained by short turnout distances.
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The objective of this study was to assess analgesic use and the use of a pain scoring system on those children presenting to a paediatric accident and emergency (A&E) department with a history of injury due to trauma. A random sample of patients who presented to a paediatric A&E department over a 6-week period with a history of limb trauma were prospectively studied. Pain severity scores were assessed on arrival and at 10, 30 and 60 minutes using the Douhit Faces Scale and any analgesia given or plaster application was noted. ⋯ Pain is a common symptom in patients presenting to A&E. Because children's pain can be particularly difficult to assess, a pain scoring system such as the Douhit Faces Scale can be a useful means of pain assessment in the A&E setting. Despite increased awareness, pain is still under treated in the A&E department.