European journal of emergency medicine : official journal of the European Society for Emergency Medicine
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The National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) score is used by many emergency medical services to assess the severity of prehospital patients. Little is known about its discriminative performance regarding short-term mortality. ⋯ The NACA score is an efficient way to discriminate victims regarding short-term mortality. Its performance can be enhanced by also integrating epidemiological and clinical parameters into an extended classification rule.
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Observational Study
Feasibility of continuous noninvasive arterial pressure monitoring in a prehospital setting, measurements during emergency transfer.
In severely injured or acutely ill patients close monitoring of blood pressure (BP) can be crucial. At the prehospital scene and during transfer to hospital, the BP is usually monitored using intermittent oscillometric measurements with an upper arm cuff every 3-5 min. The BP can be monitored noninvasively and continuously using the continuous noninvasive arterial pressure (CNAP) device. In this study, we investigated the feasibility of a CNAP device in a prehospital setting. ⋯ Continuous measurement of the BP obtained by the CNAP device is feasible and safe in a prehospital setting under potentially difficult conditions.
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Every year, several patients are bitten by the common European adder (Vipera berus). The aim of this study is to present a large consecutive case series of patients bitten by V. berus, and to identify signs and symptoms indicative of complicated illness. ⋯ Most patients only showed symptoms of no or mild envenomation. Fifteen percent were transferred to the ICU and five patients (all children) required fasciotomy because of suspected compartment syndrome. Only 10 patients received antivenom.