Emergency medicine journal : EMJ
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To assess the impact of HIV infection and exposure on survival in critically ill children requiring resuscitation. ⋯ Early and late case death rates are greater in HIV-seropositive than in HIV-uninfected children. 80% of HIV-infected children survived the period most influenced by the process of resuscitation, that is, the first 24 h. HIV status alone should not influence the limitation of intervention decisions in the resuscitation room when faced with a critically ill child.
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Comparative Study
Basic life support skill retention by medical students: a comparison of two teaching curricula.
In December 2005 the new guidelines for resuscitation were released and a new curriculum for the teaching of basic life support (BLS) was adopted. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of the new guidelines and teaching curriculum on the BLS skill retention of medical students 1 year following their initial training. ⋯ The most important BLS skill, good quality chest compressions, was retained by significantly more students who were taught the new resuscitation guidelines according to the new curriculum.
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To determine the value of abdominal radiography (AXR) for investigating patients attending hospital with a first episode of appendicitis (requiring appendicectomy), acute gallbladder disease or acute pancreatitis, and to identify if early (within 18 h) ultrasound or CT scanning reduces the use of AXR. Setting Two acute teaching hospitals during August-September 2008 and February-March 2009. ⋯ AXR does not aid diagnosis of these conditions but is still performed. Early ultrasound or CT scanning reduces the use of AXR and are more sensitive; methods of providing these should be explored.
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The purpose of this study was to investigate barriers to surge capacity of an overcrowded emergency department (ED) for a foodborne disease outbreak (FBDO) and to identify solutions to the problems. ⋯ Patients with FBDO could arrive at the hospital shortly after exposure without field triage and management. The incident command system and emergency operation plan of the study hospital did not address the clinical characteristics of the FBDO and the problem of ED overcrowding. Further planning and training of foodborne disease and surge capacity would be beneficial for hospital preparedness for an FBDO.
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To determine the incidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in patients diagnosed with superficial thrombophlebitis (STP) after presenting to an outpatient DVT service. ⋯ Although STP is generally considered benign, there is a risk that it may coexist or develop into DVT. The underlying cause of STP should be considered and patients with significant risk factors should be advised to monitor their symptoms closely with regard to potential DVT formation.