Emergency medicine journal : EMJ
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More children presenting to Emergency Departments (EDs) with acute infections are now directly referred for outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy (OPAT). Sparse data exist on what clinical features in these children are associated with OPAT failure. We hypothesised that children who were younger or presented with systemic features of infection would be more likely to need admission. ⋯ In children presenting with acute infections to our paediatric ED who were deemed suitable by senior clinicians to be managed using OPAT with ceftriaxone, younger age (above 3 months) and the presence of systemic features were not independently associated with need for admission. Overall, our service was safe and no child came to harm from early ambulation during this evaluation.
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Emergency tracheal intubation during major trauma resuscitation may be associated with unrecognised endobronchial intubation. The risk factors and outcomes associated with this issue have not previously been fully defined. ⋯ Short body height and high body mass index were associated with endobronchial intubation. Before considering tube thoracostomy in intubated major trauma patients suspected of pneumothorax, the possibility of unrecognised endobronchial intubation should be considered.