Emergency medicine Australasia : EMA
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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
Use of ketamine wafer for pain management by volunteer emergency medical technicians in rural Western Australia.
To describe the use of sublingual ketamine wafers administered by volunteer emergency medical technicians (EMTs) for pain management to patients in rural Western Australia (WA). ⋯ Sublingual ketamine wafer was administered by volunteer EMTs without any evidence of major adverse events in rural WA and deemed useful as an additional pain management option when long transport to hospital was needed. No other symptoms that may be associated with the use of ketamine were recorded.
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Emerg Med Australas · Oct 2023
Time to embrace sepsis pathways and antibiotic prescribing decision support in the emergency department: Observations from a retrospective single site clinical audit.
To compare clinician documentation of sepsis for infective presentations in the ED against a formal sepsis pathway in the ED and to assess appropriateness of the initial parenteral antibiotic prescription for adult patients in ED. ⋯ Our observations demonstrate that use of a formal sepsis pathway may improve the screening and early diagnosis of sepsis and septic shock and that there is a need for antibiotic prescribing guidance in the ED.
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In Queensland, where a person experiences a major disturbance in their mental capacity, and is at risk of serious harm to self and others, an emergency examination authority (EEA) authorises Queensland Police Service (QPS) and Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) to detain and transport the person to an ED. In the ED, further detention for up to 12 h is authorised to allow the examination to be completed. Little published information describes these critical patient encounters. ⋯ EEAs furnish unique records for evaluating the impacts of Queensland's novel legislative reforms.