Articles: emergency-services.
-
Emerg Med Australas · Aug 2024
Implementation of an eFAST guideline and teaching to improve documentation practices and saving of ultrasound images.
To investigate whether implementation of a hospital-based Extended Focused Assessment with Sonography in Trauma (eFAST) guideline and teaching improved documentation and saving of images. ⋯ Developing an eFAST Standard of Care Guideline and education was associated with improvements in documentation and saving of images to ultrasound machines.
-
Emerg Med Australas · Aug 2024
Trends in reported GHB-related presentations to Sydney emergency departments between 2012 and 2021.
In overdose, gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) and its precursors can cause decreased levels of consciousness, coma and death. Here, we aim to describe reported exposure to GHB at four EDs in Sydney, New South Wales (NSW), Australia. ⋯ Increases in recorded absolute number and severity of GHB-related presentations to Sydney EDs are a major public health concern. There may also be shifts in the demographics of those with GHB-related presentations. Renewed efforts are required to understand the drivers of these increases to optimally target harm reduction approaches.
-
Sepsis is a life-threatening condition but predicting its development and progression remains a challenge. ⋯ Primary infection sites including LRI and UTI were significantly associated with sepsis development, hospitalization, length of stay, and mortality among patients presenting with infections in the ED.
-
Pediatric emergency care · Aug 2024
POCUS for Infectious Enteritis-A Retrospective Case Series Analysis.
The abdominal pain associated with diarrhea can be difficult to distinguish from appendicitis. We present a case series of all children found on pediatric emergency department point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) to have right-sided bowel wall edema. ⋯ Enteritis can initially be difficult to distinguish on clinical grounds from acute appendicitis. Bowel wall edema on POCUS in a child without sonographic signs of appendicitis strongly suggests bacterial enteritis. Early POCUS demonstrating enteritis without signs of appendicitis may decrease hospital resource usage.
-
To assess the emergency department practice context and identify strategies to improve outcomes of patients with acute pain. ⋯ Achieving impactful change in clinical practice to improve patient outcomes should start with the application of implementation methods that enable comprehensive analysis of the local practice context. The assessment should begin with collaboration with local clinicians that persist throughout the life of the study to ensure change is sustainable.