European journal of emergency medicine : official journal of the European Society for Emergency Medicine
-
The paper refers to the problem of emergency medical service in Poland, which is the only European Union Member State not having activated the emergency phone number 112. This fact has caused the threat of European Union sanctions. ⋯ The necessary law was enacted in 2001, but it did not come into force. The threat of European Union sanctions may hasten its implementation; however, the weak position of the present government may cause a further delay of the reform.
-
Review
Prehospital evaluation and treatment of a presumed acute coronary syndrome: what are the options?
The earlier infarct-limiting therapy is started the better is the outcome among patients suffering from a threatened myocardial infarction. The introduction of a prehospital electrocardiogram has improved triage of patients with acute chest pain. ⋯ Other treatments of potential value in the prehospital setting are oxygen, narcotic analgesics, nitrates, aspirin, heparin, low molecular weight heparin, glycoprotein IIB, IIIA blockers, clopidogrel and beta-blockers. We need further studies, however, for most of these treatments including cost-benefit analysis, analysis of various logistic aspects and safety in order to confirm their value.
-
To investigate the influence of point-of-care laboratory results (arterial blood gases, ionized calcium, potassium, sodium, glucose, hematocrit and hemoglobin) on therapeutic interventions during interhospital pediatric intensive care transport. ⋯ During interhospital pediatric intensive care transport, point-of-care blood analyses frequently led to therapeutic interventions. Some abnormal blood results were potentially life threatening and could not have been discovered without point-of-care measurement. We therefore recommend the use of a point-of-care blood analyzer during interhospital intensive care transports, not only for blood gases but also for electrolytes, glucose and hematocrit.
-
To determine the impact of accompanying medical illnesses on the cause, course, mortality and morbidity of a geriatric trauma population. ⋯ Although not an essential factor in the cause per se, the diseases often encountered in the geriatric trauma population have a significant role on the course and mortality.