European journal of emergency medicine : official journal of the European Society for Emergency Medicine
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The majority of uncomplicated toddler fractures of the tibia (toddler's fractures) do not need an orthopaedic surgeon's intervention or follow-up. However, inexperienced emergency room physicians, general practitioners and orthopaedic trainees and surgeons understandably defer to a cautious approach of referral and subsequent frequent clinical and radiographic follow-up. An evidence-based pathway can help prevent this overtreatment, reduce unnecessary radiation exposure and decrease the financial burden on families and the healthcare system. ⋯ Toddler's fractures do not require routine orthopaedic surgeon assessment, intervention or follow-up. If diagnosed and managed correctly at initial presentation, patients with toddler's fractures may be discharged safely without the need for further clinician contact. We developed a toddler's fracture clinical care pathway to reduce unnecessary orthopaedic surgeon referral and clinical and radiographic follow-up, thereby decreasing radiation exposure and costs to families and the healthcare system without risking patient outcomes.
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Comparative Study
The positive predictive value of an ambulance prealert for stroke and transient ischaemic attack.
Therapeutic options for ischaemic stroke, such as thrombolysis or thrombectomy, are time sensitive. Multiple innovations have been established to reduce the symptom-to-needle time. One such innovation is the prealerting of emergency department (ED) or stroke unit staff by prehospital personnel of suspected stroke patients. The diagnosis of stroke can sometimes be difficult, with stroke mimics being a recognized issue. The prealert mobilizes ED, stroke and imaging personnel, which, for a true-positive, improves door-to-needle times. However, there are a proportion of false-positive prealerts (nonstrokes) that have a significant resource activation implication. The aim of this study was to evaluate the positive predictive value of a prealert for stroke and transient ischaemic attack (TIA). ⋯ The diagnosis of true-positive stroke can be difficult in the prehospital environment. Although prealert has been shown to improve the patient's journey in terms of door-to-thrombolysis times, we have identified that the prealert has a significant false-positive rate that has important resource allocation and activation consequences. Further analysis of this may inform paramedic training and improve protocols for information handover.
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This study presents an analysis of clinical data of the circumstances and outcome of paediatric (0-16 years) out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (p-OHCA) in Belgium. ⋯ p-OHCA remains rare. Typically, Belgian MUGs each encounter less than two p-OHCA yearly, thus inducing a risk of being insufficiently prepared. Compared with other countries, cardiopulmonary resuscitation was not started in more cases. Even so, in many other cases, children were transported from scene to be proclaimed 'dead' very soon after, pointing to a practice of 'slow code'. This study provides 'real-life' data on p-OHCA in Belgium. As it is based on an administrative registry, it lacks information on individual cases. Large population-based registries are needed to further guide our decision making.
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Fasting during Ramadan is important to Muslims. This study describes changes in emergency department (ED) visits and in frequencies of emergency conditions and impact on clinical outcomes during Ramadan in a tertiary care center in Beirut, Lebanon. ⋯ EDs might experience a decrease in volumes, higher length of stay, and potentially worse outcomes during Ramadan. Changes in the frequencies of ED visits related to common conditions are not expected. Prospective studies documenting fasting status would clarify further the impact of Ramadan.