Emergency medicine Australasia : EMA
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Emerg Med Australas · Apr 2019
ReviewReview article: Do inferior vena cava filters prevent pulmonary embolism in critically ill trauma patients and does the benefit outweigh the risk of insertion? A narrative review article.
Venous thromboembolic disease (VTE) increases the risk of mortality in trauma patients. To decrease the occurrence of VTE, low dose anticoagulants are commonly prescribed. This may be unacceptable in trauma patients who have a high risk of bleeding. ⋯ The clinical question posed was does prophylactic IVC filter insertion decrease the risk of PE in trauma patients? The available evidence was low level and unable to definitively answer this question. The majority of articles infer that IVC filter insertion is safe and may decrease the risk of PE. However, there is a need for well-designed randomised controlled trials to be conducted in this area.
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Emerg Med Australas · Apr 2019
Multicenter StudyValue of emergency department triage data to describe and understand patterns and mechanisms of cycling injuries.
To characterise patients presenting to EDs for a bicycle-related injury, identify contributing factors to the injuries and describe the data gaps. ⋯ Bicycle injuries carry a considerable burden to the ED and the incidence of presentations appears to be rising. The current triage data, designed to provide a rapid assessment for medical urgency, are limited to describing broad demographics, trends and causes.
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Emerg Med Australas · Apr 2019
Multicenter StudyKetamine use for rapid sequence intubation in Australian and New Zealand emergency departments from 2010 to 2015: A registry study.
This study aimed to quantify the proportion of patients undergoing rapid sequence intubation using ketamine in Australian and New Zealand EDs between 2010 and 2015. ⋯ Ketamine use increased between 2010 and 2015. Lower systolic blood pressure, the presence of an emergency medicine team leader, trauma and a higher Glasgow Coma Scale were associated with increased odds of ketamine use. Intubation occurring in a major referral centre was associated with lower odds of ketamine use.
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Emerg Med Australas · Apr 2019
Observational StudyHow closely do blood gas electrolytes and haemoglobin agree with serum values in adult emergency department patients: An observational study.
The aims of this study were to establish the bias (mean difference) and 95% limits of agreement (LoA) between electrolyte values (sodium and potassium) and haemoglobin between whole blood analysed by the ED resuscitation room blood gas analyser and specimens analysed using standard techniques in the central hospital laboratory and to determine the proportion of analyses falling outside defined clinically acceptable LoA and pathology expert defined standards. ⋯ Agreement between blood gas analysis and laboratory analysis for sodium, potassium and haemoglobin concentrations shows acceptable agreement for use in time critical clinical decision-making in ED.
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Emerg Med Australas · Apr 2019
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation retrieval factors and survival to intensive care unit discharge.
Audit of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) retrieval service operating in Victoria, Australia, regarding retrieval factors and patient survival to intensive care unit (ICU) discharge. ⋯ Retrieval ECMO achieves similar survival outcomes to in-house ECMO. The demonstrated relationship of adverse events during retrieval phase to subsequent mortality in ICU highlights the need for optimised case management and retrieval processes.