Emergency medicine journal : EMJ
-
Comparative Study
Emergency medical admissions, deaths at weekends and the public holiday effect. Cohort study.
To assess whether mortality of patients admitted on weekends and public holidays was higher in a district general hospital whose consultants are present more than 6 h per day on the acute medical unit with no other fixed clinical commitments. ⋯ Patients admitted as emergencies to medicine on public holidays had significantly higher mortality at 7 and 30 days compared with patients admitted on other days of the week.
-
To report the demographic and clinical characteristics of cases of methoxetamine toxicity reported to The National Poisons Information Service (NPIS) by healthcare professionals. To assess the pattern of enquiries from health professionals to the UK NPIS related to methoxetamine, including the period of the making of the UK first Temporary Class Drug Order (TCDO). ⋯ Structured NPIS data may reveal trends in drugs of abuse use and toxicity when interpreted within their limitations. Since April 2012, there have been fewer enquiries to NPIS from clinicians, indicating reduced presentations with suspected methoxetamine toxicity to healthcare services. It is unclear if this is related to the TCDO made on 5 April 2012.
-
Observational Study
Evolved design makes ThoraQuik safe and user friendly in the management of pneumothorax and pleural effusion.
We have previously described the utility of ThoraQuik, a device designed to be fit for purpose for aspirations of pneumothorax and pleural effusions. We evaluated the safety, efficacy and operator handling of the evolved prototype, ThoraQuik II, which has a lesser profile and a spring loaded Veres needle for added safety. ⋯ Our study found the use of ThoraQuik II to be safe and easy in draining pneumothorax and pleural effusions. The changes to ThoraQuik II made it more user friendly.
-
Adverse drug reactions (ADR) cause considerable morbidity and mortality. ⋯ This study estimated the incidence of ADR-related admissions to an Irish hospital at 8.8%, with 57.3% of these deemed to have been potentially avoidable. Older patients were more likely to have an ADR-related admission. Prescribers must be aware of this increased likelihood of an ADR when prescribing new drugs to this patient population, and regularly review treatment.