European journal of emergency medicine : official journal of the European Society for Emergency Medicine
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Comparative Study
Does it matter who places the intravenous? An inter-professional comparison of prehospital intravenous access difficulties between physicians and paramedics.
Depending on the specific national emergency medical systems, venous cannulations may be performed by physicians, paramedics or both alike. Difficulties in the establishment of vascular access can lead to delayed treatment and transport. Our study investigates possible inter-professional differences in the difficulties of prehospital venous cannulation. ⋯ Our study shows that venous cannulation is well established among paramedics. It presents itself with similar difficulties across medical professions. Not the numerous specific circumstances of prehospital emergency care, but universal factors inherent to the task will influence the success at venous catheterization.
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Multicenter Study
How do patients with chest pain access Emergency Department care?
It is important that patients with symptoms of acute coronary syndrome receive appropriate medical care as soon as possible. Little is known about the preadmission actions that patients with chest pain take before arrival at the Emergency Department (ED). ⋯ In Belgium, the GP is still the first professional to be contacted for most patients. Other patients initially rely on their partner, family or friends when symptoms emerge. Too often, patients with chest pain rely on other transport to get to the ED instead of calling the Emergency Medical Services. This study included only patients who ultimately attended the ED.
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Multicenter Study
Mortality in Spanish pediatric emergency departments: a 5-year multicenter survey.
Analysis of the causes of death in children in the pediatric emergency department (ED) may aid the development of management and prevention practices. ⋯ The main causes of death in Spanish pediatric EDs are related to previous illnesses, sudden infant death syndrome, and nonintentional lesions. Several actions have to be considered to improve the quality of care of these children in prehospital and emergency settings.
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Observational Study
Adolescent tracheal intubation in an adult urban emergency department: a retrospective, observational study.
Tracheal intubation is the cornerstone of advanced emergency airway management in children and adults and there is good-quality data characterizing intubation in both groups. There are, however, few published studies on emergency tracheal intubation in adolescents. We carried out an observational study to characterize tracheal intubation in adolescents. ⋯ Our findings suggest that the airway in adolescent patients can be managed successfully and safely in an adult emergency department where there is close collaboration between anaesthetists and emergency physicians.
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A commonly cited reason for the infrequent detection of cognitive impairment in the Emergency Department (ED) is the lack of an appropriate screening tool. The Abbreviated Mental Test 4 (AMT4) is a brief instrument recommended for cognitive screening of older adults in the ED. However, its exact utility in the detection of altered mental status in the ED is yet to be fully determined. ⋯ The present study found that the limited sensitivity of the AMT4 in identifying the majority of cognitively impaired persons restricts its use in isolation as a general cognitive screener in the ED.