Emergency medicine Australasia : EMA
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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.
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Emerg Med Australas · Aug 2024
Vital sign measurements demonstrate terminal digit bias and boundary effects.
The measurement and recording of vital signs may be impacted by biases, including preferences for even and round numbers. However, other biases, such as variation due to defined numerical boundaries (also known as boundary effects), may be present in vital signs data and have not yet been investigated in a medical setting. We aimed to assess vital signs data for such biases. These parameters are clinically significant as they influence care escalation. ⋯ Although often considered objective, vital signs data are affected by bias. These biases may impact the care patients receive. Additionally, it may have implications for creating and training machine learning models that utilise vital signs data.
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Emerg Med Australas · Aug 2024
Supporting equitable care of patients transferred from police watch-houses to the emergency department: A qualitative study of the perspectives of emergency doctors.
People detained in short-term police custody often have complex health conditions that may necessitate emergency care, yet little is known about their management in EDs. The present study aimed to understand ED doctors' experiences and perceptions regarding the appropriateness and management of detainee transfers from police watch-houses to the EDs. ⋯ Providing equitable healthcare to patients transported from watch-houses to the EDs is challenging but essential. Numerous opportunities exist to enhance the delivery of optimal care for this underserved population.
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Repeated intentional foreign body ingestion (RIFBI) in patients with Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (EUPD) is a common clinical presentation to the emergency department. The relationship between repeated foreign body ingestion and a co-existent personality disorder diagnosis is complex, making it challenging to manage. ⋯ Our observations following the model of care are presented herein. We encourage other health networks to adopt this model of care for managing RIBFI in EUPD.
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Emerg Med Australas · Aug 2024
Bedside urine testing for fentanyl in self-reported heroin users in a tertiary Brisbane emergency department.
To determine if patients presenting to our toxicology unit following self-reported heroin use had positive urine immunoassay testing for fentanyl or its analogues. ⋯ In patients presenting to our toxicology unit in Brisbane, we did not find any cases where the urine of patients self-reporting heroin exposure tested positive for fentanyl or its analogues.