European journal of emergency medicine : official journal of the European Society for Emergency Medicine
-
Comparative Study
How aware are Belgian permanent and resident emergency physicians of common medical costs and radiation doses?
To establish how aware Belgian emergency physicians are of common treatment costs and radiation doses. ⋯ Emergency doctors, whether permanent physicians or resident physicians, have a limited knowledge of both costs and radiation doses of investigations and treatments they prescribe every day.
-
Fractured neck of femur (NOF) is a common injury in the elderly, which causes severe pain and distress. Fascia iliaca compartment block using the 'Two Pop Technique' is safe and relatively easy to perform. It has been traditionally performed by anaesthetists in a controlled environment for perioperative pain relief with very good results. The purpose of the study was to investigate its applicability and success rate in a busy emergency department (ED) with changing junior staff and time pressures. ⋯ The fascia iliaca compartment block offers a very good, efficient and safe alternative to conventional analgesia in the treatment of pain in patients with fractured NOF. It should be used more by EPs as it is easy to learn and it requires inexpensive equipment.