Archives of emergency medicine
-
The introduction of a hand-held drench hose into a district general hospital accident and emergency department, for the emergency irrigation of chemically injured eyes is reported. The hose is described, together with the technique of irrigation. The advantages that a high-flow, low pressure system affords over conventional irrigation methods are discussed. The system appears to offer a simple, immediately available, effective tool for emergency eye care, which is suitable for use by a variety of personnel.
-
Cricothyroidotomy was attempted on 15 cadavers. Five out of 15 doctors failed to cannulate the trachea. The high failure rate and incidence of complications are discussed. All doctors found the experience beneficial.
-
We have reviewed the 130 patients presenting to an accident and emergency (A & E) department with a headache, followed up for 2 years. These are infrequent attenders but we have found that there is a high incidence of serious neurological pathology (16%) in this group of patients. We suggest that patients presenting to the A & E department with headache should be thoroughly examined and investigated and in the absence of a definite benign diagnosis should at least be admitted for a period of observation.
-
The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of femoral nerve blocks in patients with fractures of the neck of the femur. Thirty-six patients with femoral neck fractures attending the accident department over a three month period received femoral blocks from one of the two authors. ⋯ In all six patients who reported no benefit, the block failed objectively. There were no complications of the procedure.
-
A case of alcoholic beverage sensitivity is described which presented as acute bronchospasm. Such reactions in asthmatics are not uncommon, though their severity may be underestimated in the presence of intoxication. Indeed, such patients may be dismissed as suffering only from the effects of intoxication with obvious consequences.