Emergency medicine journal : EMJ
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Review Meta Analysis
Potential cervical spine injury and difficult airway management for emergency intubation of trauma adults in the emergency department--a systematic review.
Emergency airway management for trauma adults is practised by physicians from a range of training backgrounds and with differing levels of experience. The indications for intubation and technique employed are factors that vary within EDs and between hospitals. ⋯ Full literature search for relevant articles in Medline (1966-2003), EMBASE (1980-2003), and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Relevant articles relating to adults and written in English language were appraised. English language abstracts of foreign articles were included. Studies were critically appraised on a standardised data collection sheet to assess validity and quality of evidence. The level of evidence was allocated using the methods of the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council.
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Multicenter Study
Effectiveness of measures to reduce emergency department waiting times: a natural experiment.
To determine what measures were introduced by emergency departments in response to the national monitoring week in March 2003, and which, if any, of these were most effective in reducing waiting times. ⋯ Improved waiting time performance may depend, at least in the short term, more on the amount of effort expended than on introducing a single effective change. In addition, those measures most likely to be helpful are likely also to require additional resources.
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To identify correlates of alcohol related assault injury in the city centre of a European capital city, with particular reference to emergency department (ED) and police interventions, and number and capacity of licensed premises. ⋯ Marked decreases in licensed premises assaults resulting from targeted policing were enhanced by the intervention of ED and maxillofacial consultants. Capacity of licensed premises was a major predictor of assaults in the city centre street in which they are clustered. City centre assault injury prevention can be achieved through police/ED interventions targeted at high risk licensed premises, which should also target the streets around which these premises are clustered.
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There is a trend towards accelerated management of acute atrial fibrillation (AF) in the emergency department (ED). We report our experience with biphasic cardioversion of acute AF. ⋯ Biphasic cardioversion of acute AF is effective. The majority of patients can be managed as outpatients, and there is very high patient satisfaction with this approach. An initial shock energy level of 100 J is usually effective.