Journal of accident & emergency medicine
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Case Reports
Isotope brain scanning with Tc-HMPAO: a predictor of outcome in carbon monoxide poisoning?
Tc-HMPAO isotope brain scans were performed in three patients who received hyperbaric oxygen treatment following carbon monoxide poisoning. Cerebral perfusion imaging provides an index of severity of the initial cerebral damage which correlated with outcome.
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To assess the training that accident and emergency (A&E) senior house officers (SHOs) receive in dealing with eye emergencies, their own perceived level of confidence and competence in managing such cases, and the availability of appropriate equipment in their departments. ⋯ There is a lack of adequate basic ophthalmic training for A&E SHOs, leading to a lack of confidence on their part in the management of eye emergencies. In just over 40% of A&E departments in the United Kingdom, the management of these cases may be less than optimal because of the absence of a slit lamp.
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To determine the ability of accident and emergency (A&E) personnel to demonstrate metered dose inhaler technique. ⋯ The A&E department offers an important opportunity for patient assessment and reinforcement of metered dose inhaler technique. Staff should be made aware of the British Thoracic Society guidelines and be competent at assessing and teaching inhaler technique.
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The continual change in NHS structure demands reappraisal of both the services provided and the allocation of resources to ensure appropriate standards of care. Unfortunately this equation never seems to balance. ⋯ Nowhere in medicine is this point more pertinent than in the management of acute medical emergencies. This article examines not only how the changing face of medicine influences this situation but also possible solutions to the question who will manage these patients in the future.
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To study the potential of a short stay ward attached to an accident and emergency (A&E) department to improve care and reduce admissions to hospital by enabling elderly patients to be monitored closely for up to 24 h before being formally admitted to hospital or discharged home. Patients admitted to the short stay ward were those who appeared to need only a brief period of assessment or treatment. ⋯ The addition of a short stay ward can shorten the hospital stay for selected elderly patients and reduce the demand for inpatient hospital beds. This ward also improves the quality of care to elderly patients attending the A&E department.