Emergency medicine Australasia : EMA
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Emerg Med Australas · Jun 2024
Nationwide status of aeromedical pre-hospital and retrieval medicine in Australia.
To survey the current structure, capability and operational scope of pre-hospital and retrieval aeromedical teams across Australia. ⋯ Aeromedicine in Australia has many consistent elements, but variable contexts have resulted in a diversity of operational models.
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Emerg Med Australas · Jun 2024
Virtual Toxicology Service decreases the average length of stay of poisoned patients and saves bed days.
We aimed to assess the impact a Virtual Toxicology Service had on the ALOS of poisoned patients. ⋯ The introduction of a Virtual Toxicology Service appeared to be associated with a decreased ALOS of poisoned patients.
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Emerg Med Australas · Jun 2024
Just a head knock? Emergency physicians need to get serious about concussion.
Attention and awareness regarding concussion injury in Australia have significantly increased in the last decade. Although most of this increase is because of discussion regarding concussions from sporting endeavours, the majority of concussions are from non-sport environments including motor vehicle crashes, workplace incidents, falls, accidents, assault and intimate partner violence. ⋯ Our Opinion is to provide a constructive discussion as well as calling for ACEM to support research to provide evidence-based data. Finally, we provide some recommendations that could be implemented immediately to improve clinical practice for presentations of concussion injuries in EDs.
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Emerg Med Australas · Jun 2024
Evaluating the effectiveness of the maximum permitted dose of midazolam in seizure termination: Insights from New South Wales, Australia.
Out-of-hospital seizures demand rapid management. Midazolam plays a key role in stopping seizures. At times the first dose of midazolam proves insufficient, necessitating additional doses. Within the New South Wales Ambulance (NSWA) service, the upper limit for midazolam administration is set at 15 mg. However, the outcomes and safety of using midazolam at this maximum dosage have not been thoroughly investigated. ⋯ In New South Wales, Australia, administering the maximum dose of midazolam to seizure patients is rare but proves effective in approximately half of the refractory seizure cases. Therefore, assessing the potential for additional doses of midazolam or the use of a second-line agent is advisable.
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Emerg Med Australas · Jun 2024
End-of-life decision-making in the emergency department and intensive care unit: Health professionals' perspectives on and knowledge of the law in Queensland.
To investigate ED and intensive care unit healthcare professionals' perspectives and knowledge of the law that underpins end-of-life decision-making in Queensland, Australia. ⋯ The legal framework that supports end-of-life decision-making for adults who lack decision-making capacity has been in place for more than two decades. Despite frequently being involved in making or enacting these decisions, gaps in the legal knowledge of healthcare professionals who work in EDs and intensive care units in Queensland are evident. Further research to better understand how to improve knowledge and application of the law is warranted.