Scand J Trauma Resus
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Scand J Trauma Resus · Dec 2017
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyA comparison of two emergency medical dispatch protocols with respect to accuracy.
Emergency medical dispatching should be as accurate as possible in order to ensure patient safety and optimize the use of ambulance resources. This study aimed to compare the accuracy, measured as priority level, between two Swedish dispatch protocols - the three-graded priority protocol Medical Index and a newly developed prototype, the four-graded priority protocol, RETTS-A. ⋯ In this simulation study we demonstrate that Medical Index had a higher accuracy for priority level and less undertriage than the new prototype RETTS-A. The overall accuracy of both protocols is to be considered as low. Overtriage challenges resource utilization while undertriage threatens patient safety. The results suggest that in order to improve patient safety both protocols need revisions in order to guarantee safe emergency medical dispatching.
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Scand J Trauma Resus · Dec 2017
Comment LetterProper training and use of ultrasonography facilitates lumbar puncture.
With great interest, we read the study of Line Dussourd et al. concluding that ultrasonography allows better identification of anatomical structures before performing a lumbar puncture. We cannot concur with the conclusions of the study because the authors did not visualize the conus medullaris directly, nor did they assess the individual intervertebral levels. ⋯ We do agree that neuraxial ultrasound is of great benefit for the performance of lumbar punctures. Proper training and applying the correct technique, however, is necessary for obtaining all benefits ultrasonography offers.
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Scand J Trauma Resus · Dec 2017
Therapeutic hypothermia in patients with coagulopathy following severe traumatic brain injury.
Coagulopathy in traumatic brain injury (TBI) has been associated with poor neurological outcomes and higher in-hospital mortality. In general principle of trauma management, hypothermia should be prevented as it directly worsens coagulopathy. Therefore, we examined the safety of mild therapeutic hypothermia (MTH) in patients with coagulopathy following severe TBI. ⋯ Our study suggests that in comparison to control, MTH does not worsen the outcome of patients with coagulopathy following severe TBI.
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Scand J Trauma Resus · Dec 2017
Noise exposure during prehospital emergency physicians work on Mobile Emergency Care Units and Helicopter Emergency Medical Services.
Prehospital personnel are at risk of occupational hearing loss due to high noise exposure. The aim of the study was to establish an overview of noise exposure during emergency responses in Mobile Emergency Care Units (MECU), ambulances and Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS). A second objective was to identify any occupational hearing loss amongst prehospital personnel. ⋯ We found that the exposure levels exceeded the recommendations described in the European Regulative for Noise, which requires further protective initiatives. Although no hearing loss was demonstrated in the personnel of the ground-based units, a reduced function of the outer sensory hair cells was found in the HEMS group following missions.
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Scand J Trauma Resus · Dec 2017
Impact of systolic blood pressure limits on the diagnostic value of triage algorithms.
Major incidents are characterized by a lack of resources compared to an overwhelming number of casualties, requiring a prioritization of medical treatment. Triage algorithms are an essential tool for prioritizing the urgency of treatment for patients, but the evidence to support one over another is very limited. We determined the influence of blood pressure limits on the diagnostic value of triage algorithms, considering if pulse should be palpated centrally or peripherally. ⋯ As a consequence, it might be important in which location pulses are palpated according to the algorithm at hand during triage of patients.