Emergency medicine Australasia : EMA
-
To determine which of the disaster triage tag systems in use in Australia and New Zealand is better in terms of the time taken to complete the triage and the ease of use. ⋯ The Victorian style of tag was found to be the most efficient in terms of the time to complete a triage. The New Zealand tags were the easiest to use, easiest to fill in and the most preferred tag by the participants. We recommend that one of these tags be adapted for use as a nationwide system.
-
Emerg Med Australas · Apr 2012
Case ReportsCase report on vertebral artery dissection in mixed martial arts.
A 41-year-old man presented to the ED with severe vertigo 2 days after a grappling injury while training in mixed martial arts. Imaging revealed a cerebellar infarct with complete occlusion of the right vertebral artery secondary to dissection. Management options are discussed as is the ongoing controversy regarding the safety of the sport.
-
Emerg Med Australas · Apr 2012
Comparative StudyComparison of intubation performance by junior emergency department doctors using gum elastic bougie versus stylet reinforced endotracheal tube insertion techniques.
Endotracheal intubation is a challenging procedure in emergency medicine. Junior doctors lack experience and confidence in this task. The use of a gum elastic bougie (GEB) to facilitate intubation may improve success rates, especially in difficult situations. ⋯ The use of a GEB marginally increases the time taken to perform endotracheal intubation. Success rates for junior doctors attempting endotracheal intubation were not significantly different between the two techniques. Success rates for novice practitioners using a GEB were high after even limited instruction and practice.
-
Accurate determination of burn size and depth forms an integral part of the initial assessment of any burn injury. Errors might lead to inaccurate fluid resuscitation and inappropriate transfer of patients to specialized burns units (BUs). Although recent data suggest some improvement in the estimation of burn injury in adults, this has not been shown in children. ⋯ Inaccurate estimation of burn size remains a problem in children. The persistent miscalculation of burn size might be a result of the various methods employed in assessing burn area, the inclusion of simple erythema and inadequate training or exposure of first responders. Accurate assessment of TBSA-B and burn depth in children remains elusive and would appear to require additional training and education.
-
Emerg Med Australas · Apr 2012
Patient satisfaction and outcome using emergency care practitioners in New Zealand.
A patient satisfaction survey was undertaken in the Kapiti District of the Wellington Region to ascertain patients' experience and opinions of New Zealand's first extended care paramedic (ECP) service before consideration is given to extending it to other locations within the region. Patient outcomes were also analysed for 1 week following ECP care. ⋯ The avoidance of unnecessary transfers to hospital is beneficial to patients, the ambulance service and the ED. This study demonstrates that patients are very satisfied with their assessment and treatment by ECPs, endorsing the proposal that the scheme should be extended across the Wellington Region, and perhaps New Zealand.