Emergency medicine Australasia : EMA
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Emerg Med Australas · Oct 2023
Exploring Australian emergency department clinicians' knowledge, attitudes and adherence to the national peripheral intravenous catheter clinical care standard: A cross-sectional national survey.
This study aimed to (i) capture clinicians' knowledge, attitude and adherence to the first Australian national peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC) Clinical Care Standard, (ii) examine the instrument performance of the knowledge related questions and (iii) explore the educational needs for, and barriers to, Standard adherence among Australian ED clinicians. ⋯ The findings of the survey suggest that the Standard may need modification to align with the needs of ED clinicians. Future studies need to explore the applicability and relevancy of some recommendations in the ED settings as they may cause low adherence to the Standard.
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Emerg Med Australas · Oct 2023
Characteristics of paediatric pre-hospital intubation by Intensive Care Paramedics.
Emergency intubation in children is an infrequent procedure both in the pre-hospital and hospital setting. The anatomical, physiological and situational challenges together with limited clinician exposure can make this a difficult procedure with high risk of adverse events. The aim of this collaborative study between a state-wide ambulance service and a tertiary children's hospital was to describe the characteristics of pre-hospital paediatric intubations by Intensive Care Paramedics. ⋯ Pre-hospital intubation in children is performed infrequently in an extremely unwell patient group. Continued high-level paramedic training is required to prevent adverse events and ensure patient safety.
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Emerg Med Australas · Oct 2023
Definitive management of near-hanging at major versus non-major trauma centres.
The Victorian State Trauma System recommends that all major trauma patients receive definitive care at a major trauma service (MTS). The aim of the present study was to assess the outcomes of patients with major trauma after near-hangings who received definitive management at an MTS compared to a non-MTS. ⋯ After major trauma sustained from near-hanging, definitive management at an MTS did not offer a mortality benefit or better functional outcomes. Consistent with current practice, these findings suggest that most near-hanging related major trauma patients could be managed safely at a non-MTS.
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Emerg Med Australas · Oct 2023
Drug and alcohol intoxication in major trauma: Associations, trends and outcomes over a decade.
Drug and alcohol intoxication is common among injured patients altering trauma presentation and characteristics. However, uncertainty exists regarding the effect of intoxication on injury severity, as well as outcomes. The present study aims to provide an update on substance-use patterns and their association with traumatic presentation and outcome within a contemporary Australian context. ⋯ Within this contemporary Australian population, we demonstrate escalating rates of drug intoxication and declining rates of alcohol intoxication prior to trauma. Intoxication was associated with more frequent violent and non-accidental injury, and despite no difference in severity, it was associated with worse outcomes.
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Emerg Med Australas · Oct 2023
Introduction of QScript real-time prescription monitoring system was associated with a fall in pregabalin poisoning presentations to a clinical toxicology unit.
To investigate the impact of QScript implementation on pregabalin-related poisoning presentations to the ED. ⋯ The introduction of QScript was associated with a reduction in pregabalin-related poisoning presentations.