Emergency medicine journal : EMJ
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For pre-hospital spinal immobilisation the spinal board is the established gold standard. There are concerns that its subsequent use in hospital may adversely affect patient outcome. This review examines the effect of prolonged patient immobilisation on the spinal board. ⋯ The spinal board should be removed in all patients soon after arrival in accident and emergency departments, ideally after the primary survey and resuscitation phases.
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A case is reported of the Lazarus phenomenon (the return of spontaneous circulation after cardiopulmonary resuscitation had been abandoned) in a patient following recreational drug use. The implications for management of cardiac arrest in the emergency department are discussed.
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To determine if there were differences in practice or intubation mishap rate between anaesthetists and accident and emergency physicians performing rapid sequence induction of anaesthesia (RSI) in the prehospital setting. ⋯ RSI performed by emergency physicians was not associated with a significantly higher failure rate or an increased number of intubation mishaps than RSI performed by anaesthetists. Emergency physicians were able to safely administer sedative and neuromuscular blocking drugs in the prehospital situation. It is suggested that emergency physicians can safely perform rapid sequence induction of anaesthesia and intubation.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
A comparison of intramuscular ketamine with high dose intramuscular midazolam with and without intranasal flumazenil in children before suturing.
(a) To compare the use of high dose intramuscular midazolam with and without intranasal flumazenil in children after suturing. (b) To compare the use of high dose intramuscular midazolam with low dose intramuscular ketamine in children before suturing. ⋯ Intramuscular midazolam (0.4 mg/kg) did not effectively sedate the children, in that a significant number still had to be restrained. However, none could remember the suturing. Intranasal flumazenil seems to be effective in shortening the time to discharge. If midazolam is to be used then a dose high enough to produce full amnesia should be used, there seems to be no advantage in increasing the dose further. Low dose intramuscular ketamine remains the drug of choice.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Sedation for children requiring wound repair: a randomised controlled double blind comparison of oral midazolam and oral ketamine.
To compare the efficacy of oral ketamine (10 mg/kg) with oral midazolam (0.7 mg/kg) in providing sedation for suturing of lacerations. ⋯ At these doses tolerance to LA injection was better in children receiving ketamine, with fewer behavioural changes noted in the first two weeks. Midazolam at this dose caused dysphoric reactions, which may have affected the results. Continuous pulse oximetry monitoring is required when using these drugs. Vomiting and prolonged ataxia occurred in a few patients.