Journal of accident & emergency medicine
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Comparative Study
Radiography for head trauma in children: what guidelines should we use?
To audit the appropriateness of skill radiography in children attending an accident and emergency (A&E) department with head injuries. ⋯ The British guidelines overinvestigate children with head injury. This seems to have been recognised clinically, and the doctors did not adhere to the guidelines. Neither did they adhere to the American guidelines, which would have resulted in a further reduction in radiography. All the fractures identified were covered by the American guidelines. The American guidelines for skull radiography can be safely used in a British A&E unit.
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To determine whether recently bereaved people would object to being asked about organ donation immediately after the death of their relative. ⋯ Most those responding would not have minded being asked about organ donation following a sudden death. More education is needed in two main areas: (1) to raise public awareness about the shortage of donor organs; (2) to improve the medical and nursing confidence in discussing these difficult issues sensitively but more openly and frequently.
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Comparative Study
A comparison of glucagon and glucose in prehospital hypoglycaemia.
To compare intramuscular glucagon with intravenous glucose in the prehospital management of hypoglycaemia in adults. ⋯ Intravenous glucose is the treatment of choice in prehospital hypoglycaemia but glucagon should also be available for intramuscular use when intravenous access is not possible.
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To obtain a representative national picture of the type of people with asthma attending accident and emergency (A&E) departments in the UK, the reasons why they attend, and to determine the proportion admitted to hospital. ⋯ Many people with asthma attend A&E departments without first having seen their GP. In many adult cases the asthma, while severe, is not acute, but a high proportion of both adults and children are admitted to hospital. Many of these attendances and admissions are repeat attendances. To enhance the quality of care provided to those with asthma may require easier access to primary care, enhanced patient education, or enhanced health professional education. Further study is needed of a variety of potential interventions.