Scand J Trauma Resus
-
Scand J Trauma Resus · Jan 2014
Observational StudyBrief hospitalizations of elderly patients: a retrospective, observational study.
Crowded departments are a common problem in Danish hospitals, especially in departments of internal medicine, where a large proportion of the patients are elderly. We therefore chose to investigate the number and character of hospitalizations of elderly patients with a duration of less than 24 hours, as such short admissions could indicate that the patients had not been severely ill and that it might have been possible in these cases to avoid hospitalization. ⋯ There appears to be a group of patients who cannot be adequately handled with the resources of the primary health care sector, yet who do not belong at the emergency department. Further studies are needed to create a suitable service for these patients, and to improve the continuity of the treatment and the cooperation between hospitals and the primary health care sector.
-
Scand J Trauma Resus · Jan 2014
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Observational StudyRed blood cell transfusion in septic shock - clinical characteristics and outcome of unselected patients in a prospective, multicentre cohort.
Treating anaemia with red blood cell (RBC) transfusion is frequent, but controversial, in patients with septic shock. Therefore we assessed characteristics and outcome associated with RBC transfusion in this group of high risk patients. ⋯ The decision to transfuse patients with septic shock was likely affected by disease severity and bleeding, but haemoglobin level was the only measure that consistently differed between transfused and non-transfused patients.
-
Scand J Trauma Resus · Jan 2014
Review Meta AnalysisComparison of whole-body computed tomography vs selective radiological imaging on outcomes in major trauma patients: a meta-analysis.
The purpose of this meta-analysis was to explore the value of whole-body computed tomography (WBCT) in major trauma patients (MTPs). ⋯ The present meta-analysis suggests that the application of whole-body CT significantly reduces the mortality rate of MTPs and markedly reduces the time spent in the emergency department.
-
Scand J Trauma Resus · Jan 2014
Multicenter Study Comparative StudyPrehospital risk factors of mortality and impaired consciousness after severe traumatic brain injury: an epidemiological study.
Severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a significant health concern and a major burden for society. The period between trauma event and hospital admission in an emergency department (ED) could be a determinant for secondary brain injury and early survival. The aim was to investigate the relationship between prehospital factors associated with secondary brain injury (arterial hypotension, hypoxemia, hypothermia) and the outcomes of mortality and impaired consciousness of survivors at 14 days. ⋯ Mortality and impaired consciousness at 14 days do not have the same prehospital risk factors; prehospital hypotension and hypothermia is associated with mortality, and prehospital hypoxemia with impaired consciousness.
-
Scand J Trauma Resus · Jan 2014
Multicenter StudyVariations in contact patterns and dispatch guideline adherence between Norwegian emergency medical communication centres - a cross-sectional study.
The 19 Norwegian Emergency medical communication centres (EMCCs) use Norwegian Index for medical emergency assistance (Index) as dispatch guidelines. Little is known about the use of Index, nor its validity. We aimed to document the epidemiology of contacts made to the public emergency medical phone number and the operators' self-reported use of Index as a first step towards a validation study. ⋯ There is a large variation between the EMCCs with regard to both contact patterns and use of Index. There is a relatively high overall self-reported use of Index by the operators, with variations on both individual and EMCC level.