European journal of emergency medicine : official journal of the European Society for Emergency Medicine
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Thrombolysis was rarely given in emergency departments in Scotland when last studied in 1996. This study aimed to review the current practice of Scottish emergency departments with respect to thrombolysis for acute myocardial infarction. ⋯ Most emergency departments in Scotland are now administering thrombolysis for patients with acute myocardial infarction. Thrombolysis, delivered either in the prehospital arena or in the emergency department, is likely to be the primary option for patients with acute myocardial infarction in Scotland in the foreseeable future.
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The objective of this study is to assess the efficacy of an animal procedure lab in improving the level of comfort in performing important emergency medicine procedures. The procedures included central venous line, chest tube, cricothyrotomy, pericardiocentesis, venous cutdown, and thoracotomy. ⋯ The use of an animal lab improves the comfort level of practitioners in performing procedures. Although procedures are best learned on patients with supervision, this is not always feasible. This lab is a useful adjunct to teaching in emergency medicine and allows participants exposure to critical procedures.
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Field trauma triage systems currently used by emergency responders at mass casualty incidents and disasters do not adequately account for the possibility of contamination of patients with chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear material. Following a discussion of background issues regarding mass casualty triage schemes, this paper proposes chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear-compatible trauma triage algorithms, based on a review of the literature and the input of recognized content experts. ⋯ This template is then modified for use in chemical, biological, and radiation/nuclear situations in which the exposed or contaminated victims have also sustained conventional trauma. The proposed algorithms will need further refinement and testing.
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Screening studies of healthy volunteers have determined that coeliac disease affects 1% of the European population. Despite this the majority of cases are unrecognized. ⋯ This review provides an update of the published data on coeliac disease. We discuss the relationship between coeliac disease and abdominal pain and ways in which this may change emergency physicians practice.