Articles: emergency-medicine.
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Scand J Trauma Resus · Dec 2024
Observational StudyMethoxyflurane in early analgesic therapy by ski patrol members on Swiss ski slopes - an observational cohort study.
Pain therapy is an important first-response measure in the pre-clinical care of trauma patients. Injured individuals on ski slopes are usually given first aid by members of the ski patrol. The early implementation of adequate pain therapy by these paramedical rescuers can increase patient satisfaction and have a positive effect on the entire treatment process. In this context, we analysed the administration of methoxyflurane by ski patrol members on Swiss ski slopes. ⋯ The administration of methoxyflurane by trained ski patrol members is a safe and effective option for early pain management in ski slope injuries. Methoxyflurane could thus represent a useful bridging measure, enabling the ski patrol to relieve moderate to severe pain until professional rescue services arrive. However, it does not seem ideal for lower leg injuries.
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Scand J Trauma Resus · Dec 2024
Methods and equipment available for prehospital treatment of accidental hypothermia: a survey of Norwegian prehospital services.
Accidental hypothermia is associated with increased morbidity and mortality and poses a significant challenge for both professional and volunteer rescue services in prehospital settings. This study investigated the methods and equipment available to treat patients with cold stress or accidental hypothermia before reaching hospital in Norway. ⋯ All Norwegian prehospital services, both professional and volunteer, reported having equipment available for active and passive external warming. Thermometers for detecting hypothermia were reported by all professional services. The most notable change in the equipment available to treat patients with prehospital cold stress and accidental hypothermia in Norway was the increased availability of active external rewarming equipment in 2024 compared with that in 2013.
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Review
Evaluating data sharing statements in leading emergency medicine journals: A mixed methods review.
Emergency medicine remains as the front line of healthcare, providing acute care to a diverse population during urgent and critical moments. Our objective was to systematically quantify the prevalence of data sharing statements (DSS) in high-impact emergency medicine journals and assess their implementation by contacting corresponding authors who indicated data available upon request. ⋯ Our study revealed a lack of adherence to DSS, with a slight improvement recently. Listed funding sources and publishers influence DSS presence, highlighting their policy impacts on open science. Our recommendations include increased funding for data sharing, implementation of FAIR (Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability, and Reuse of digital assets) principles, and encouraging DSS inclusion as a publication requirement to enhance transparency and reproducibility, improving patient care. Further research needs to address barriers to data sharing and develop sustainable solutions in a dynamic research environment.
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Diagnostic errors in health care pose significant risks to patient safety and are disturbingly common. In the emergency department (ED), the chaotic and high-pressure environment increases the likelihood of these errors, as emergency clinicians must make rapid decisions with limited information, often under cognitive overload. Artificial intelligence (AI) offers promising solutions to improve diagnostic errors in three key areas: information gathering, clinical decision support (CDS), and feedback through quality improvement. ⋯ Developing, validating, and implementing AI as a safe, human-centered ED tool requires thoughtful design and meticulous attention to ethical and practical considerations. Clinicians and patients must be integrated as key stakeholders across these processes. Ultimately, AI should be seen as a tool that assists clinicians by supporting better, faster decisions and thus enhances patient outcomes.